Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1853-12-09

dolph accepts the chhlienge oil Mr.
Clay; ut the same time he protests a.
gainst the right Of any minister Of the
executive government of the United
States II hold him responsible fol
words spoken in debate. rs senator
from Virginia, in elimination of such
minister, or the administration under
which he shall have taken Office
Colonel Tatnall Of Georgia, the bearer
Of this letter. is authorized TO arrange
with Gen. Jesup (the bearer of Mr.,
Clay's challenge) tho terms of the
meeting TO which Mr.. Randolph is in.
vited by that note"
This protest which Mr.. Randolph
entered against the right of Mr.. Clay
to challenge him, led to an explanation
between their mutual friends on that
delicate point-a point which concern
ed the independence of debate, the
privileges of the senate. the immunity
of member, and the sanctity of the
constitution. Ii was point which
Mr.. Clay felt; and the explanation which
was had between the mutual friends,
presented an excuse, il not a iustiiica-
ton for his proceeding. He had been
informed that Mr.. Randolph, in his
speech, had avowed his responsibility
TO Mr.. Clay. and waived his privilege
"A thing which, IT, had been done,
would have been u defiance, and stood
for an invitation TO Mr.. Clay TO send a
challenge. Mr.. Randolph, through
Col. Tatnall. disavowed that imputed
avowal. and confined his waiver OF
privilege TO the time of the delivery of
the challenge, and in answer to an
inquiry before IL WAS delivered.
The following are the communica-
tons between retrospective seconds on
this point:
"ln rcgaid to the protest with which
Mr. Randolph's note concludes. II Il
due to Mr.. Clay to say that he had
been informed that Mr. Randolph did,
aud would. hold himself responsible 10
him FOR any observation he might make
In relation 10 him; and that | { Gen.
Jesup) distinctly understood from Mr..
Randolph, before delivered the note Of
Mr. Clay, that ho waived his privilege
~ n senator"
To this Col, Talnall repliedi
"As this oxpreasion-dId and would
hold himself responsible, &c.-may
be constructed 10 mean that Mr., Ran.
dolph had given this intlmation not
only before called upon. but In such n
manner ~ 10 throw out 10 Mr., Clay
something likean invitation 10 make
such call | have on the part Of
Mr., Randolph, 10 dsayow any dIspo.
Altlon when expressing his readiness
10 waive his privilege rs senator from
Virginia, 20 Iusltu, Ia any oese, a call
upon him for personal aatlsiactlon.-
The concluding paragraph OF your note,
! presume. Is Intended to show merely
that you did not present note, such
~ that Of Mr. Clay 10 Mr., Randolph,
until you had aseortalnod hts willing
ness to waive his privilege NJ senator,
This Infer. ~ II was In your reeolleo.
ton. that the expression OF such read
inesa on the part Of Mr., Randolph, was
In reply TO anInqulry ON that polntmade
by yourself"
Thus m irritating circumstance In
the affair was virtually negatived. and
ita offensive import wholly dlsayowed,
For my part, | do not believe that Mr.,
Randolph used such language In his
speech, have no recollection Of hay.
Ing heard IT, The published report OF
the speech, rs taken down by the re-
porters, and not revised by tho speak.
or, contains nothing of IL. Such gus.
conade WIS foreign TO Mr., Randolph's
character, The occasion was not one
In which these sort OF deiiances arc
thrown out, which arc either 10 pur-
chase u cheap reputation when II Is
known they will be despised, or to get
m advantage in extracting q challenge
when there Is a design to kill. Mr.,
Randolph had none Of these views
with respect TO Mr.. Clay, lie had no
desire 10 fight him, or TO hurt him, or
gain cheap character by appearing TO
bully him. He was above all that,
and had settled accounts with him in
his speech. and wanted no more. do
not believe IL was said; but there was n
report Of the speech which might have
received wrong application, and led
10 the erroneous report--a part which
applied 10 quoted passage in Mr.
Adams Panama message, which he
condemned and denounced, and dared
the President and his friends to defend.
His words Were, asreported unreyised;
Here plant my foot: here fling dc.
tiance into his the President's) teeth
here throw the gauntlet to him, and
the bravest of his compecrs. to come
forward and defend these lines, DC
A very palpable defiance, this, but
very different from a summons To per-
sonal combat, and from what was re-
lated to Mr.. Clay. 1t was an unfortu-
nate report, doubtless the effect of in.
distinct apprehension, and the NOR,
to be regretted as, having been a mair
cause in inducing the challenge, the
disavowal could not stop it.
Thus the agreement for the meeting
was absolute; and, according to the
expectation of the principals, the NEE
tingitself would be Immediately; bu
their seconds, from the most laudabl,
feelings, determined to delay it, Will
the hope to prevent it-and did keel
it off week, admitting me to a partic
ipation in the good work, as being al
ready privy to the affair, and friendl,
to both parties.
The challenge stated no specif'
ground of otfence-specified no excep
tionable words. 1t was peremptory
and general, for an "unproyoked at
tack ON his Mr.. Clay's) character,
and it dispensed with explanations b,