Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-10-29
6istorital.
THE CLAY AND RANDOLPH DUEL.

be published, has found its way into the
newspapers, giving circumstanlal account
OF the duel between Clay and Randolph in
1926. Col. Benton was present at the
meeting and knew every step that was Ia
ken by the parties, or their friends, from
the day Of the challenge 10 the day OF re-
conciliation-all Of which he relates with
great particularly, and, no doubt, with
equal accuracy. The cause Of the chal-
lenge was spoken in debate-the verbal
! report of which, as communicated to Mr..
Clay, represented Randolph 20 have said
"That a letter from General Salazar, the
Mexican Minister at Washington, submit
ted by the Executi e TO the Senate, bore
the earmark of having been manufactured
or forged by the Secretary Of State, and de-
nounced the Administration as corrupt
coalition between the Puritan and blackleg !;
and added, at the same time, that he, MIR.
Randolph,) held himself perfectly respon-
sible for all that he had said"
Randolph, however, authorized his
friend, Col. Tainal, TO say TO Mr.. Clay's
friend, Gen. Jessup, thatthe words used by
hun in debate were as follows:
"That though,it would be in my power
TO show Charlotte county jury that this
invitation was manufactured here-that
Salazar's letter struck me as bearing a
strong likeness, in point OF style, to the
other papers. do not undertake TO
prove this, but expressed my suspicion that
it was so. applied 10 the Administration
this epithet. "Putilanic, diplomatic,
blackegged Administration" NJ Ran
dolph, in giving these words as uttered by
him in debate, is unwilling TO afford any
explanation as TO their meaning and appli-
cation"
Every expedicnt that could be thought
ol TO prevent hostile meeting, was eX-
hausted by The friends OF the parties in
vain. As the next best thing, the seconds
agreed to SO arrange the terms of firing that
if either party got hit it would be as near
an acciden! as possible. The meeting took
place on the Sth of April, on the right
bank of the Potomac, within the State Of
Virginia Col. Benton proceeds
The place was thick forest, and the
immediate spot little depression or basin
in which the parties stood. The principals
saluted each other courteously as they took
their stands. Col. Tatnall had won the
choice of positions which gave TO Gen.
Jrssup the delivery OF the word. They
stood on liue east and wsst-a small
stump just behind Mr.. Clay; low gravelly
bank just behind Mr.. Randolph. The lat
ter asked Gen. Jrssup to repeat the word
as he would give il; and while in the ac,
Of doing so, and Mr.. Randolph adjusting
the butt OF his pistol TO his hand, the muz-
zle pointing downwards, and almost 10 the
ground, it fired. Instantly Mr. Randolph
turned to Mr.. Tatnall aud said 81 protes-
ted against that hair trigger" Col. Tatnall
took the blame to himself for having sprung
the hair. Mr.. Clay had not received his
pistol. Mr. johnson, JOSIAH J one of his
seconds, was carrying it 10 him, and still
several steps from him. This untimely
fire, though clearly an accident, necessarily
gave rise 10 some remarks, and a species Of
| inquiry, which was conducted with the
utmost cellcacy, but which, in Itself, was
of nature to br inexpressbIy painful to a
gentleman's feelings. Mr.. Clay stopped it
| with the generous remark that the fire was
cleally an accident, and it was so unani-
mousy declared.
Another pistol was Immediately furnish
ed; an exchange Of shots took place, and,
happily, without effect upon the persons
MIR. Randolph's bullet struck the stump
behind Mr.. Clay, and MIR. Clay's knocked
up the earth and gravel behind Mr. Ran
dolph, in line with the level OF his hips,
both bullets having gone SO true and close,
that it was a marvel how they missed. -
The moment had come for me to intrpose.
! went among the parties and offered my
meditation, but nothing could be DONE
MIR. Clay said, with that wave Of the hand
with which he was accustomed TO put away
trilfes, ''IhiS is child's play" !" and required
! another FIRE. Mr.. Randolph also demanded
another fire. The seconds were directed
| 10 reload.
AT the second round, Randolph received
the fire OF Mr.. Clay, which knocked up
the gravel in the same place as the first
then raising his pistol, and firing it in the
air, he said, 81 do not fire at you, Mr.
Clay" AS he said this, he advanced and
offered his hand. He was met nthe same
spirit They came together, halfway, and
shook hands, MIR. Randolph saying, jocose-
ly, "You owe me coat, Mr.. Clay" (the
bullet having passed through the skirt OF
the coat, very near the hip,) 10 which MIR.
Clay promptly and happily replied, 81 am
glad the debt is no larger"
II was Randolph's original Intention not
to fire at Clay at all and this intention,
early in the preliminaries was confidently
communicated to Colonel Benton alone
But on the day Of the duel, under the in
iluence of Misrepresentation, Randolph
modified his first purpose so far as 10 shoot
at Clay, not with the design OF killing him,
but if possible to lame him. After the first
fire, however, the misapprehension alluded
TO having been explained he renewed TO
Col. Benton his intention to fire into the
air, and he did so.
On Monday the parties exchanged cards,
and social relations were formally and
eourteously restored. Col. Benton, in con-
clusion, says this was about the last high
toned duel he ever witnessed, and he at
tributes its fortunate issue to the noble
character Of the seconds, as we'll as TO the
' generous and heroic spirit Of the principals.