Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-07-13
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wanted for special purpose This brouxh, sbou, corr
promise The pieces Of gold received the cart and
suver dspensed with b1tthe In bank we clos
ed, and check taken for the amount ON New Yorh m.
returned and delivered sealed paper which was y,
open II he was kIcd-give back TO him n he was not
Aso A. open slip which Was to read before goa TO The
ground rhs slip request 70 feel In his i.X breech
60 pocket II he killed. and hnd 80 MANY niece. Of
go'd-l believe nine-takc three for myself and give
tho same number to Tatnall and Hamilton each 10
make seals to wear in remembrance u him. We were
al three AZ Mr. Rsndolphs lodgings then and soou AL
out Mr.. Randolph and his seconds 10 carriage foov
Ing him on horseback o.
have already said that tho count vas To be ou;ck r.
ter giving tho word SIRE" and for reason which could
not be told to the principals To Mr.. Randolph who ala
had desire to be hit this rapdi,y of eoonting on. h
time and quick arrival the command .stops prescn,ed
no Objection With Mr.. Clay it different with him
y, Ts all res transaction and gave ri.s to some propo
being communicated TO Col Tatnali and by him TO Mr.
Randolph, had m effect upon his feelings and aided
oy an anovard accident on tho ground unsettled for
moment the noble determination which no had formed
not hre at Mr. Clay now give tho words OF Jesun
when repeated to Mr.. Clay the 'wordn the manner
IN which It would be gwen he expressed apprehen.
nou that as he was not accustomed tho use of be p
toll no might not be able TO fire within tho time and f
that reason alone desired that might be prolony.d
mentioned to Col Tatnah the desire Of Mr.. Clay He re-
Piled, III you insist upon H. the timc must DO proonesd
but should very much regret it, informed him ali
not insist upon prolongng the time and was ,urc NJ
Clay would acquiesce. The original agreement was car
knew nothing Of this until it was too late 10 ,,.,l
Win the seconds or principals l had crossed the
Little Falls bridge just after them, and come to ths
place where the servants and carriages had sonned
saw none Of the gentlemen and supposed ,he. IA =,
gone to the spot where the ground was being al OFT
but on speaking TO Johnny, Mr.. Randolph who was sill,
IN bis carriage and heard my voice. looked out from, IN.
window, and said to Colonel since sav Won al
since have been in this carriage have heard somo,hi
which may make ms change my determination. Colonel
rthon mul give you note which win explain it"
N
note in the course Of the evening of which Mr. R,nd
spoke readily comprohendcd that this possible chance
Oh Se'ernahon related to his firing but the emphasis
With which he pronounced the word "mav, CLEARLY
showed that his mind undecided and left il donhfl
whether he would FIRE or not No further nvorss,;
loon place between u.s. the preparations for the duel were
nnnned the parties went 10 their places; and vent
forward to piece Of rising ground from which oud
see what passed and hear what was said Tho f;,h6
Johnny olioweime close, speaking word but eyiuc
ing TIE deepest anxiety for his beloved master The
place was thick forest and the immediate spot E,Ia
depression or basin in which the parties stood Tn
principals saiu'ed each other courteousy as they took
their stands Col Tsna had the choice of position
which gave to Gen. Jesup the delivery Of the word Tbc
stood on line east and west-a small stump inst bebna
Mr. Clay low gravey bank rose just behind Mr. Ran.
doph. This latter asked Gen. Jesup TO renest ha -,
as he would give IL; and while In the act Of do;n 90
and Mr. Randolph adjusting the butt OF bis nsoI y, rs
hand ,he muz1e pointing downwards and almos, To the
ground it hred Instantly Mr.. Randolph turned N Col
Tatnall and sad II protested against tb,, hair ',.,
Col Tatna took blame to himself for having spruns .b
nar. Mr. Clay had not then received his pistol. Mr.
Johnson (Josia) of his seconds was carrvin e.,
him, and still several steps from him Tb. un,iyn az
though clearly accident necessarily gave rise ~ som
remarks and species OF inquiry, which was conducted
win lne utmost deiicacy but which, in ITSELF was Of
nature TO be inexpressiby painful gentIemans feel
ngs Mr. Clay stopped with the generous remark that
the hre was clearly accident and Il was so mani;
n'ousy declared Another pistol was Immediately fur.
nisneu an exchange OF shots took place and hanniv
without effect upon the persons Mr. Randolnbs hn.,
struck the stump behind Mr.. Clay, ard Mr. Claws
Knocked up the earth aud gravel behind Mr.. Ran
doph and In line with the level of his bins ho,h
bullets having gone so true and close that Il was
a marvel how thay missed. The moment had com. g.
me to nterpose went among the parties and offered
my mediaon but nothing could done Mr. Clav s,;d
with that of the hand with which he was
to put away te This is ehfs pldv ~ and reop;rcd
another fre Mr. Randolph also demanded another fire
The seconds directed to reload While ,h;s -.
doing prevailed Mr. Randolph 10 walk awav fro, ~
post and renewed to him, pressngy than ever INV
opportunities to yield to accommodation but fnnd
MN more determined than had ever seen him and for
the hrst time impatient and seemingly annoyed and a.,
ished at what doing. lie was indeed annoyed and
dssaushed The accidental FIRE of his pistol proved unon
MS feelings He was douby chagrned NJ II both a.
circumstance susceptible in itself of an unfair
and as having been the immediate and controlling
OF his hiring at Mr. Clay He regretted this fire the
was over ue let that had subjected him imputa.
ions from which he knew himself be ree-a desire to
Kill Mr. Clay, and contempt for the laws of his beoved
Stae and the annoyances which he felt at these
revived his original determination and de.
cided him irreyocably to carry il out
II was in this interval that he told me what bs boa
heard since we parted and TO which he alluded when he
spoke 10 me IRON the window Of the carriage II was TO
this effect: That he had been informed by Col Ta,nsn
that was proposed give the vods with more delhi
erateness so as to proong the for taking aim This
information grated harshy upon his feelings II unset
his purpose and brought his mind TO the inquiry las
he now told me, and found il EXPRESSED in he not,
which he had Immediately written in pencil 10 annzs me
OF his possible change whether under these circumstan
ees ne might not "d'doLe his adversary This note is
ucl tf.l
point. Ii ran thus: " ''''
Information received from Col Tatna since got into
the carriage may induce change nv mind Of NOT re
turning Mr.. Gays fire. seek not his death would
not nave MS blood Ipon my hands-t will not be unon
my sou shed In selfdefence-for the world lie has de-
termned, by the use OF long preparatory caution nv
words, to got time to kill me- Nav NOT than J;sahis
him Yes, i'll please ''''
1t has bean seen by the statement Gen. Jesup nlresdv
gwen that this information" was ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
that Mr.. Cay had applied for prolonoation of nm;
Tor the purpose Of getting aim but only TO enable
MS unused hand long unfamiliar with the pistol to fire
Hthn Tue limited tne; that there was prolongation
In fact either granted insisted upon; but he was In
doubt and General Jesup having won the word he was
having him repeat in the way he was 10 give il out
Wnen his niger touched the hairtgger How unfortu.
nate mat did not know Of this in TO speak to Gen
Jesup, when one word from lin would have set all right
and saved the imminent risks incurredi This inquiry
May not disable him1" was still ON Mr. Randolph
mind, snd dependent for its solution on the rising Incl
dents OF the moment when the accidental FIRE of his Mis-
tol gave the turn to his feelings which the doubt
But he declared TO that no had not aimed At the life
OF Mr. Clay; that lie did level as high as the knees
not higher than tho knee-babd; for Il was no mercy TO
shoot man in the knee" that his only object was 70
disable him and spoil his aim. And then added with
beauty OF expression and depth Of feeling which no stu
died oraoyy can ever attain and which shall never for
get these impressive words "I tooud not hare Ger, rim;
fall MORALLY or eUsn dohJy ROUNDED for all he land
that battered by the King Of Floods and all his tributary
hfsdm' lie iet me to resume his post utterly refusing
explain out Of the Senate any thing that he had s,jd Is
IT, nd with the positive declaration that he would not re-
turn me next IRE Withdrew little way into the woods
and kept my eyes dIel upon Me-. Randolph, who then
knew 70 be the only one Ia danger saw him receive
tue hre OF Mr. Cly, the gravel knocked up In the
same place, saw Mr. Randolph rise his pstldiscbnrge
IN the air heard him say, ~ do fire at vou M
1ldy and Immediately advancing and offering his hand
ne was met N the same spirit They met half way
Gcodt M Clay'--(the bullet had passed through the
SKIRT Of she coat vey near the hp)-to which Mr. Clay
promptly and happily replied, ~ glad me e5t Is no
gIeRT: bad come up aud prompt 10 proclaim
what had been obliged 10 keep secret for eight davs
Iha uaNa