The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-07-12

Col. Benton's History.


J, IsxrsAor FROM COL. DEMONS "rHnrY YEARS IN rHr
+ UNITED STATES trSArE,s IN COURSE or PuBncATIosl
As.uo ls26John Quincy Adams, r, ssnieni.-Dust BE-
twsss On. CtIy and Mr.. Ramd9iph.
- Irwss Saturday. the first day of April. towards noon
the Senate not being that day in session. that Mf, Ran
do'ph CANE 70 my room at Browns Hotel. aud (wiihou'
explaining the oil the question: asked ms was
the blool-Isai.oa TO Nj Clay answered thai was
and he Immediately replied that that put an end 10 re-
qaesl no had wished 10 make OF me- ana 'neh went
On 10 Iell that he had just received challenge from
MIR Clay had accepted IT, ready ogo out and would
apply 10 Col. ranal be his second Before leaving
he told he would make my bosom The depository OIL
secret which be should commit 10 no other person; Il
was, that he dil not intend TO lire at Mr. Clay Hestod
il to me because he wanted witness of his intention.
and did not mean Tell il 10 his second any body else
and eniaiued nyolabe secrecy until the duel over
This was the first notice had of the affair. The cir.
eumsances OF the delivery OF the challenge had from
Gen, Jesup. MI Gays second. and they per-
fecy CHARACTERISTIC OF MIR Randolph, that give Them in
detail, and IN the Generals words b 81 a. s#e
I" 1 wa, unable 10 see Mr, Randolph until tho morning
of The Isl OF April, when called him Tor the purpose
of delivering the Previous presenting IL, how
bn,e whether tie fotmation whioh Mr. Clay had Re.
cevedta, he considered himself personally account.
able The atrack on hi--yas correct, accordingly
informed Mr. Randolph that | was the bearer of
sage from Nc Clay, Ia consequences Of an attack which
in the Senate; that was aware no one had rightto
question him OF the senate for anything said in do
asa member Of bo1y Mr. Randolph replied shat tue
constitution did protect him, bn.he wontd never .held him
self under such subtrrugs the pleading OF his prvi
iege as senator ION Veinia that he did hod himself
had frst Two pledges 10 redeem one he had bound
himself TO yhtany member OF the Honse OF Hep,esena-
certain publication ia Philadelphia paper; and the
other that he stood pledged establish cessan facts
added he could verbal message from Mr. Clay
that any from him must be in writing replied
,lu 1 rfnri y.I pnspr prpn
receive any verbal expanationshat The inquiries had
made were for my own satisfaction and upon my own re-
sponsbl'ity the only message OF which was the
bearer was IN writing then presented tie note, and
hs e @ he m RSnd he sa
and he OF them when he made the attack
planned OIL he could not avail himself OF them-thst b,
making lie attack ,hopght he lad waived Them himself
lie said he had not the rcmoes intention Of taking advan
them merely 10 remind de that he waving his privi
iege, not only senator on Virginia, but private
would be obliged 10 me ii would bear his note ii reply
and that he would ia the of The day lookout for
formed him ny only reason for declining was, lha, /
sheught he owed it 10 hnse consult his friends before
taking so important step He seized my hand, saying
'You right, sir thank you for the suggestion bar,
syon do not .ake my note, you must not be impatient #
you should not hear from me to-day now hink OF only
friends and there circumstances connected with
the bad beslihhe sick yesterday, may
not be oat to-day assured him 'a' any reasonable time
tory. took leave Of him and is due his memory
say that hs bearing was tarouhou The interview that of
These were the circumstances Of the delivery OF The
challenge, and the only thing necessary give them
their full character IS to recoect that with this prompt
acceptance and positive refusal 10 xan and this extra
about the pledges, there perfect detenl-
nation not 10 fire at MIR Clay That determination rest
q. on two grounds first, an entire unwngness 10 hurt
MIR Gay and, next, conviction that 10 the fire
would be 10 and would be implied acknowl-
edgnen of MIR Clay's right 10 make him answer This
he would no, do, neither by implication in words
tie denied the right OF person 10 question him out OF
The Senate Tor words spoken within H. He took dsiinc-
ton between man aud senator. As senator he had
attutlonal immunity, given for 4 wise purpose, and
sghch he would neither surrender nor compromise as
Individual he ready give satisfaction for what
deemed an injury. lie would receive but not return
fire. Ii was much To say: Mr.. Clay may fire at
for what has offended him; will not, by returning the
fire, admit his right 10 do This subtle disiinc-
ton. and that in OF lie and death. and
clear 40 the common intellect; but 10 Mr. Randolph both
clear and convincing His auson 10 the 1.-TWO pledges
unredeemet," which be might have plead in bar Mr.
Clays challenge, and would not another sarcastic
cut AIR Adams and DIR. Clay, while rendering salts
faction for cuts slreadv given. The "member OF the
House" was Mir Geo Kremer, OF Pennsy vana, who, at
the time OF the presidential election IN the House Of
Representatives bad vowed hmse TO be the author of
anonymous publication, the writer Of which MIR Clay had
threatened 10 call TO account if he would avow himself
and did not The ''great man" was President Adams,
with whom Mr., Clay had had newspaper controversy,
involving question OF fact, which had been pos poned
The cause OF this sarcastic cut and OF all the keen per-
sonalliy ~ the Panama speech, the belief that the
President and Secretary The latter especially ragged
the newspapers in their Interest ailack him, which
Tors and retaaie upon the nsgators, he believed
them to be- This he did his hearts content in that
speech nd TO their great annoyance, the coming Of
the challenge proved. The "ivo friends" alluded 10
were Colonel Tansll and myself and the circumstances
which might dlsqualIiy OF the two those OF my
relationship TO Mrs Clay, OF which be did know The
degree, whether OF affinity co0sanguinIty-consdeT
ing the FIRST no obstacle, the other complete bar my
appearing his accommodating, be did with the
nacity indian 10 The obligations OF blood and lay
log but ltte sess marriage connexions. HIS afahle
reception and courteous demeanot TO Gen Jessp
codng 10 his high breeding, ADD the decorum which be-
longed TO such occasions duel 10 the circle To which
he belonged "an affair Of honor y and high honor.
according TO its code, must peryade every part OF it, Cen
eral Jesup had upon an unpleasant business
Mr.. Randolph determined 10 put him at his and did
II so edeciually as 10 charm him into admiration The
whole plan OF his conduct down TO contingent details,
in his mind Instantly, by intuition and never
departed from The acceptance, the refusal 10 explain
the determination not 10 e the bret and second choice
OF Trend. and the circumstances which might dsqua-
fly aud delay the other the additional cut and The
resolve 10 fall, II lie fell the soil OF Virginia was all
TO his mind, single cmanaion the flash of an instant
lie needed consultations, deliberations 10 arrive at
all these important conclusions, | dwell upon these
small circumstances because they characteristic. and
show the mana man who belongs TO history, and has
his own history, and should be known $ he was Tba,
character only be shown in his conduct his
words and aclA and this duel with Mr. Clay illustrates
upon circumstances which might trivial but which
not go being illustrative OF character and significant
TO their smallest particulars .Eu H=#
The acceptance ct the challenge in keeping with
the whole proceedngrromp IN the agreement 10 meet,
call him