The weekly Placer herald., 1853-10-01
The Clay and Randolph Duel.

| lfOrtnCOmiug work, entitled hlrtY years
in the United States Senate" The frs,
volume is about ready for delivery. The
Washington papers contain IA long extract,
givingthe history of the famous duel be-
tween Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Randolph. We
copy a part of it as All interesting detail
of an witness to this event, which has
made so much noise in the world:
had crossed the Little Fall's bridge
lust after them, and come to the place
where the servants and carriages had stop
ped. I saw none of the gentlemen, and
supposed they had all gone to the spot
where the gronnd was being mark d off;
but on speaking to Johnny, Mr.. Randolph
who was still in his carriage and heard
my voice, looked out from the window
and said to me, "Colonel, since | saw
you, and since | have been in this car
riage, have beard something which may
make me change my determination Col.
Hamilton will give you a note which will
explain it.'' Co. Hamilton was then in
the carriage, and gave me the note, in
the course of the evening, of which Mr..
Rando ph spike. readl comprehend
ed that this possible change of deterlnina-
tion re ated to his firing; but the emphasis
clearly showed that his mind was undeci-
ded, and left il doubtful whether he wnu ld
fire or not. No further conversation took
place between Us; the pre- paratI0hS for
the due were finl>hed; the pa ties went
to their places; and went forward to Il
piece of rising ground, from which ]
could see what passed and hear what was
said The beautiful Johnny followed me
close, speaking not ii word, but evincing
the deepest anxiety for his beloved master
The place was IA thick forest, and h~ i'm
mediate spot little depression, or basin,
in which the parties stool. The prnnci-
pals saluted each other courirouSly as
they took their stands. Go atnal had
won the choice of position, hlch gave
to Gen .jesup the de livery of the word
Thev stood on ii line east and west-n
small >tunp just behind Nlr. Clay; low
grave ly bank rose just behind Mr. Ran
dolph. This latter asked Gen. Je>up 10
repeat the word as he. would give it; and
while in the act OF doing so, and MIR.
Randolph adjusting he butt of his pisto
to his hand, the nIuZzle pointing DOWN
wards, and almost to the ground, 1t fired
Instantly Mr.. Randolph turned to Colonel
iatnal and sad 81 protested against
that hair trigger" Col. Tatnall took
blame to himself for having sprung the
hair. Mr. Clay had not then received
his pistol. Mr.. johnson (Josah,) one
of his seconds, was carrying it to him,
and still severa steps from him. This
untinely fire, though clearly an accident,
necessarily gave rise To some remarks,
and a species OF inquiry, which was CON
I,,.toI with tho n IalI..nrN hpt
hich, itself, was OF nature to be i'll
ings. Mr.. Clay stopped it with the gene
rous remark that the fire was clearly an
accident, and it was SO unanimously de-
clared.
Another pistol was Immediately fur
nished; an exchange of shots took place,
and, happily, without effect upon the
persons Mr.. Randoiph's bullet struck
the stump behind Mr. Clay, and Mr.. Clay's
knocked up the earth and gravel behind
MIR. Randolph, and in a line with the
level of his hips, both bullets having gone
so true and close that it was IA marvel how
they missed. he moment had come for
me to interpose. went in among the
parties and offered my mediation, but no.
thing could he done. Mr. Clay said,
with that wave Of the hand with which
he was accustomed to put away trlfie,
"1hts is child's piay," and required ano-
ther fire. Mr.. Randolph so demanded
another fire. The seconds we're directed
to re- load. While this was dong pre-
vailed on Mr.. Randolph to walk away
from his post, and renewed to him, more
pressingly than ever, my opportunities to
yield to some accommodation; but found
him more determined than | had ever
seen him, and for the first time impatient,
and seemingly annoyed aud dissatisfied
at what was doing He was indeed all
noyed and dissatisfied. The accidenta
fire of his pistol preyed upon his feelings.
He was doub chagrined at it, both as
IA circumstance susceptible in itself Of All
unfair Interpretation, and as having been
the immediate and controlling cause of
his firing at Mr.. Clay. He regretted this
fire the instant ii was over. He felt that
it had subjected him to imputatinns from
which he knew himself to be tree-a desire
TO kill Mr.. Clay, and "A contempt for the
laws of his beloved State; and the an
noyances which he felt at these vexatIous
circumstances revived his original deter
,nination, and decided him rrevocably to
carry it out.
1t was in this interval that he tod me
what he had heard since we parted, and
to which he Iuded when he spoke to me
from the window of the carriage. 1t was
to this effect: That he had been informed
by Col. TatnaII that it was proposed to
rive out the words with more de iberate-