The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-08-03
The Clay and Randolph Duel.

The Clay and Randolph Duel.
Everybody has heard of Col. BENToN's s
forthcoming work, entitled .sThirty Years
in the United States Sena.e.'' The first
volume is about ready for delivery. The
Washington papers contain a long extract.
tween MIR. CLAY and Mr.. RANDOLPH. We
copy part OF it as an interesting detail
OF an eyewitness to this event, which has
made so much noise in the world:
had crossed the Little Falls bridge Just
after them, and come to the place where
the servants and carriages had stopped.
saw none Of the gentlemen, and suppos.
ed they had all gone to the spot where the
ground was being marked 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 I saw you.
and since have been in this carriage,
have heard something which may make
me change my determination. Colonel
Hamilton will give you note which will
explain it." Col. Hamilton was then in
the carriage, and gave me the note. in the
course Of the evening, Of which MIR. Ram
dolph spoke. lreadily comprehended that
this possible change of determin alton re-
lated to his firing; but the emphasis with
which he pronounced the word s.may'
clearly showed that his mind was unde-
cided. and left it doubtful whether he would
fire or not.
No further conversation took place be-
tween us; the preparations for the duel
were finished; the parties went 10 their
places; and went forward, to piece OF
rising ground, from which / could see wha,
passed and hear what was said. The
faithful Johnny followed me close, speak
ing not word, but evincing the deepest
anxiety for his beloved master. The place
was thick forest, and the immediate spot
little depression. or basin, in which the
parties stood. The principals saluied
each other courteously as they took their
stands. Col. Tatnall had won the choice
of position. which gave TO Gen. Jesup the
delivery of the word. They stood on a
line east and west-a small stump behind
Mr.. Clay; low gravelly bank rose just
behind Mr.. Randolph. This latter asked
Gen. Jesup to repeat the word as he would
give it; and while in the act oi dol so,
and Mr.. Randolph was adjusting the butt
OF his pistol to his hand. the muzzle point
ing downward, and almost to the ground
it fired. Instantly Mr.. Randolph turned
to Col. Tatnall and said: 81 protested
against that hair trigger Col. Tatnal
took blame to himself for having sprung
the hair. Mr.. Clay had not then received
his pistol. Mr.. Johnson Josiah, one o
his seconds, was carrying tito him, and
| still several steps from him. This nntime-
ly fire, though clearly an accident, neces
sarily gave rise to some remarks. and .
species of inquiry, which was conducted
with the utmost delicacy, but which, ir
itself, was of a nature to be inexpressibl,
painful to gentleman's feelings. MIR
Clay stopped it with the generous REMARK
that the fire was clearly an accident, ant
it was so unanimously declared.
Another pistol was Immediately furnish
ed. An exchange of shots took place. ant
happily, without effect upon the persons
Mr.. Randolph's bullet struck the stumI
behind Mr.. Clay, and Mr.. Claws knock
ed up the earth and gravel behind Mr.
Randolph, and in line with the level 0
his hips, both bullets having gone SO tru,
that it was marvel how they missed
The moment had come for me to interpose
| went in among the parties and offeret
my mediation. but nothing could be done
Mr.. Clay said, with that wave Of the hant
with which he was accustomed to put awal
trife, This is child's play!', and re
quired another fire. Mr.. Randolph ais.
demanded another fire. The second
were directed to reload. While this wa
doing, | prevailed on Mr.. Randolph I,
walk away from his post, and renewed t.
him more pressingly than ever, my i'm
portunities to yield to some aocommoda
Ition; but found him more determines
than had ever seen him, and for the frs
time impatient and seemingly annoye,
and dissatisfied at what vas doing. Ill
was indeed annoyed and dissatisfied
! The accidental fire OF his pistol preye,
iupon his feelings. He was doubly cha
grined at it, both as a circumstance sus
slceptible in itself Of an unfair interpreta
ton, and as having been the immediat
f and controlling cause of his firing at MI
Clay. He regretted this fire the instant
was over. He felt that it subjected him. t
|, |imputations from which he knew himself /
be free-a desire to kill Mr.. Clay, and
3 contempt for the laws Of his beloved State
and the ennoyances which he felt at thes
/ yexatious circumstances revived his or
j, ginal determination. and decided him il
revocably TO carry it out.
Il II was in this interval that he told m
what he had heard since we parted. an
to which he alluded when he spoke to m
from the window of the carriage. Il we
10 this effect: That he had been informe
J. by Col. Tatnall that it was proposed /
, give out the words with more deliberativs
j ness, so as to prolong the time for takin