Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-07-12
Col. Benton,s History.
fExrRAcr FROM COL. BEsroa's .srH1Rry YEARS IN
THE UNITED STATES sENATE,' IN COURSE
OF, PUBLICATIONS.
ammo ls26.-John Quincy Adams, Presidents
Duel betpeen Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Randolph.

Duef bettneen mr.. Clay ana MIR. Randolph.
1t was Saturday, the first day of April, towards
noon, the Senate not being that day in session that
Mr.. Randolph came to my room at Browns Hotel,
and without explaining the reason of the ques-
tom ask ed me il was the blood relation of Mrs.
Clay? Ianswered that was, and he Immediately
replied that that put an end to request that he
had wished to make of me, and then went on to
tell me he had iustreceiyed q challenge from Mr.
Clay, had accepted it, was ready to 90 out, and
would apply TO Col. Tatnall to be his second
Before leaving he told me he would make my
be som the depository of secret which he should
commit ton other person: twas, that he did not
intend to fire at Mr.. Clay. He told it to me be-
did not mean to tellitto his second, or anybody
else and enjoine secrecy until the duel
was over. This was the first notice had of the
affair. The circumstances of the delivery of the
challenge had from Gen. Jesup, Mr.. Clay's
second, and they were perfectly characteristic of
MIR. RandolphthatI give them in detail, and in the
Generals own words:
al was unable to see Mr.. Randolph until the
morning of the LIST of April, when called on him
for the purpose Of delivering the note. Previous
to presenting it, however, l thoughtit proper to
ascertain from Mr.. Randolph himself whether the
information which Mr.. Clay had received-that he
considered himself personally accountable for the
attack on him-was correct. accordingly in-
formed Mr.. Randolph that was the bearer of a
message from Mr.. Clay, in consequence of an at
tack which he had made on his private as well as
no had right to question him out of the Sem
ate for any thing said in debate, unless he chose
voluntariyto waive his privileges member of
that body. MIR. Randolph replied that the consti-
tuition did protect him, but he would never shield
himself under such subterluge as the pleading of
his privilege as Senator from Virginia; that he
did hold himself accountable to Mr.. Clay; but he
said that gentleman had first two pledges to redeem
one, that he had bound himself to fight any men,
Der of the House of Representatives who should
himself the author of: certain pub
LEGATION in a Philadelphia paper; and the other
that he stood pledged to establish certain facts in
regard TO great man, whom he would not name;
but he added, he could receive no ye' bal message
from Mr.. Clay-that any message from him must
be in writing. replied that was not authorized
by Mr.. Clay 10 enter into or receive any verbal
panations-that the inquiries had made were for
my ow satisfaction and upon NY own RESPONSE
b.lity-that the only message of which l was the
b carer was in writing. then presented the note,
and remarked that knew nothing of Mr.. Clay's
pledges; but that if they existed as he (Mr Ran
dolph) understood them, and he was aware of
them when he made the attack complained OF, he
could not avail himself of them-that by making
the attack i thought lie had waived them himself.
He said he had not the remotest intention of TAX
ing advantage of the pledges referred TO; that he
had mentioned merely to remind me that he was
waving his privilege, not only as Senator from
Virginia, but as private gentleman; that he was
ready 10 respond to Mr.. Clay and would be obliged
10 me ii would bear his note IN reply; and that
he would III the course of the day, look out for
friend. j declined being the bearer of his note,
but informed him my only reason for declining was
that thought he owed It to himself 10 consult his
iiends before taking so important step. He seized
my hand, saying, sYou are right, sir. thank you
for the suggestion: but you do not take my
note, you must not be impatient if you should not
hear from me to-day. now think of only two
friends, and there are circumstances connected
with one of them which may deprive me of his
services, and the other is in bad health--he was
sick yesterday, and may not be out to-day /
assured him that any reasonable time which he
might find necessary to take would be satisfactory
took leave of him; and it is due to his memory
to say that his bearing throughout the inter
view, that of high toned, chivalrous gentleman
of the old SCHOOL,
These were the circumstances OF the delivery
ofthe challenge, and the on'y thing necessary to
give them their full character is to recollect that
with this prompt acceptance and positive refusal
TO explain, and this extra cut about the two pledges
there was perfect determination not TO fire al Mr..
Clay. That determination rested on two ground,:
first, an entire unwilingness to hurt Mr.. CLAY;
and, next, conviction that to r,t turn the FIRE
would be 10 answer, and would be an implied ac-
acknowledgement of Mr.. Clays right to make him
answer. This he would not do, neither by impli-
cation nor in words. He denied the right of any
person TO question him out Of the enate for words
spoken within it. He took distinction between
man and senator. As senator he had a constitu-
tional immunity, given for wise purpose, and
which he would neither surrender nor comprom-
lSe as individual he was ready to give satisfaction
for what was deemed aninjury. He would receive
but not return a fire. 1t was as much as to say:
MIR. Clay may fire at me forwhat has offended him;
will not, by returning tue fire, admit his right to
do SO. This was a subtle distinction, and that in
of life and death, and not vely clear to the
common intellect; but 10 Mr.. Randolph both clear
and convincing. His allusion to the 1.-TWO pledges
which he might havf plead in bar
to Mr.. Clay's challenge, and would not, was an
other sarcastic cut al Mr.. Adams, And Mr.. CLAY,
while rendenig satisfaction for cuts already given.
The '.member of the House''~ was Air. Geo. Kre
mer, of Pennsylvania, who, at the time of the
Presidential election in the House of Representa-
tives. had avowetl himself to be the author of an
anonymous publication, the writer of which Mr..
Clay had threatened to call 10 account il lie would
ayow himself-and did not. The .tereat man.
was President Adams, with whom Mr.. Clay had
had newspaper controversy, involving a ques-
ton of fact, which had been postponed. The
cause OF this sarcastic cut, and of all the keen per-
Sonality in the Panama speech, was the belief
that the President and Secretary, the latter espe-
cially encouraged the newspapers in their interest
to attack him, which they did necessarily; and lie
chose to overlook the editors ami retaliate upon
the instigators, as he believed them 10 be- This
he did TO his hearts content in that speech-and TO
their great annoyance, as the coming of the chal-
lenge proved. The sstwo friends alluded to were
Col. Tatnall and myself, and the circumstances
which might disqualify one of the two were those
OF my relationship to Mrs. Clay of which he did
not know the degree, whether vi affinity or consan-
the frstno obstacle, the 9TH
er complete bar to my appearing as his second
holding, as he did, with the te acty of an Indian,
to the obligations of blood, and laying but little
stress on marriage connexions. HIS afabie recep-
ton and courteous demeanor to Gen. Jesup were
according to bis high breeding, and the decorum
which belonged 10 such occasions. A duel IN the
circle 10 which he belonged was can afair of hon
orr" and high honor, according to his code, must
peryade erypart os,it. General ] esup had come
uponan unpleasant business. Iur. Randolph de-
termined to put him at his ease and did it SO eec-
tually as to charm him into admiration. The
whole plan of his conduct, down to contingent
details, was cast in his mind instantly as if by in
ance, the refusal to explain, the determination not
10 fire, the first and second choice of friend, and
the circumstances which might dsqualif ~ one and
delay the other, the additional cut and the resolve