Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-08-18
Col, Benton's History.

The long promised history of thirty years in
the United States Senate is in the press and will
shortly be published by Appleton g. Co., of New
York. A chapter from 1t has appeared in the
New York Euening Post which describes in
very minute style all the particulars of the fam
Gus duel between Henry Clay and John Ran
dolph. but which seems 10 us rather tediously
drawn out. The following extract contains the
particulars of the mertlng, but the description Of
the proc ellngs relative to this event occupies
whole chapter of the work, and some three COL
nmns of the Post.
The PRINCIPALS saluted each other courteously
as they took their stands C,l. Tatnall had won
the choice of position, which gave to Gen. Jes-
sup the delivery of the word. They stood on
line east and west--a small stump stood just be-
hind Mr. Clay; a low gravey bank rose just
behind Mr.. Randolph This latter asked Gen.
Jessup 10 repeat the word as he would give it;
and while in the act of doing 80, and Mr.. RAN
dolph adjusting the butt of his pistol to his hand,
the muzze pointing downwards. and almost to
the ground, it fired. Instantly Mr.. Randolph
turned to Col. TatnalI, and said, | protest
against that hair trigger" Col. Tatnall took
blame to himself for having sprung the hair. Mr..
Johnson. (Josiah,) one of his seconds, was carry
ing it to him. and still seven steps from hun.
This untimelv fire. though clearly an accidents
necessarily gave rise to some remarks, and sps-
cles of inquiry, which was conducted with the
utmost decacy, but which, in itself, was Of a
nature to be irexpressibly painful to gentle
mans feelings. Mr.. Clay stopped it with the
generous remark that the fire was clearly an ac-
cident, and it was SO unanimously declared.
Another pistol was Immediately furnished an
exchange Of shots took place, and happily with
out effect upon the persons. Mr.. Randolph's
bullet struck the stump behind Mr.. Clay, and
Mr.. Clays the earth and gravel behind Mr.. Ran
dolpb. and in line with level Of his hips, both
bullets having gone so true and so close that 1t
was marvel why they missed.
The moment had come for me to nterpose. /
went among the parties and offered my media
ton, but nothing could be done. Mr. Clay said,
with that wave Of the hand with which he was
accustomed to put away uae, This is mere
chd's play" and required another fire. Mr..
Randolph also demanded another fire. The Sec
onds were directed to reload. While this was
doing prevailed on Mr.. Randolph to walk away
from his post, and renewed to him more press
ingly than before, my mpol ptunities to yield
to some accommodations but found him more
determined than ever had seen him, and for the
first time impatient, and seeming annoyed and
dissatisfied. The accidental discharge Of his
pistol preyed upon his feelings. He was doubly
chagrined at it, both as circumstance suscepti.
BILE in itse { Of an unfair Interpretation, and 40
having been the immediate controlling cause Of
his firing at Mr. Clay. He regretted this hrs
the minute il was over. He felt that 1t had sub
jected him to imputa,ions from which he krew
himself to be free-a desire to kill Mr.. Clay,and
contempt to the laws of his beloved State, ana
the annoyances which he felt at these vexatious
circumstances had revived his original determi-
nation. and decided him inevccably to carry It
out.
At the second fire Mr. Clay hit precisely %
before. and MIR. Randolph did FIRE in the air