Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-07-09

justification for his proceeding lie had been informed
that Mr. Randolph, in his speech had avowed his re-
sponsbility to Mr. Clay and waived his privilege thing
which If Il had been done would have been defiance
and stood for an invitation 70 Mr. Clay to send cha
| lenge Mr.. Randolph, through Col Tatnal disayowed
that imputed ayowa and confined his waiver Of privilege
n the time of the delivery Of the challenge aud in
swer to an inquiry before it was delivered
The following the communications between the
| spectiye seconds on this point
In regard to the protest with which Mr. Randolphs note
concludes due Mr. Clay say that he had been in
formed Mr.. Randolph did, and would hold himself respons
lie 10 him for any observations he mi h make ia relation
him and that Gen Jesupl distinctly understood from Mr.
Randolph before delivered the Of MIR. Cay, that he
waived his privilege a . senator
To this Col. Tatnall replied
Az this expression (dd and would hold himself RESPONSE
BILE dc may be construed that Mr. Randolph had
given this nmation not only before called upon but in such
TO throw Mr. Clay something like inyi-
ation to make such ca have the part of Mr.. Ran
doh 70 dsaros any disposition when expressing his readi
to waive his privilege Senator from Virginia, TO in
yte, in any call upon him for personal satisfaction.
The concluding paragraph Of your note proume is intend
Ell to show merely that did such that
Of Mr. Clay Mr. Randolph until you had ascerined his
willingness waive his privilege Senator This infer,
was in your recollection that the expression of such
readiness the part Of Mr. Randolph in reply to in
quiry on that point made by yourself"
Thus irritating circumstance in the affair was vir-
tualy negatved, and its offensive import wholly disavow
ed. For my part, dc not believe that Mr.. Randolph
used such language in his speech have no recollection
Of having heard it. The published report of the speech
speaker contains nothing of it, Such gasconade was for
eign to Mr. Randolphs character The occasion was not
in which these sort Of deances thrown out which
are either to purchase cheap reputation when it is
known they will be despised get advantage in
extracting challenge when there design TO kill Mr.
Randolph had of these views with respect to Mr.
Clay. He had no desire to fight him to hurt him,
gain cheap character by appearing to bully him. Hewas
above all that and had settled accounts with him in his
speech and wanted more. do not believe it
said but there part of the speech which might have
port: part which applied to quoted passage in Mr.
Adamss Panama message, which he condemned and de-
bounced and dared the President and his friends de-
end His words were, reported unrevised: Here
plant my foot: here fling defiance right into his (he
Presdents) teeth; here throw the gauntlet him and
the brayest OF his compeers to forward and defend
these lines, &C. very papabe defiance this but very
different from to personal combat, and from
what related Mr. Clay IL was an unfortunate re
port doubtless the effect Of ndistinc apprehension aud
the to be regretted as after having been main
cause inducing the challenge the disayowal could not
stop it.
Thus the agreement for the meeting absolute and
according to the expectation Of the principals the
ing itself would be Immediately; but their seconds from
the most audabe feelings, determined to delay it, with
the hope to prevent it, and did keep it off week. admit
ting me to participation in the good work being al
ready privy the affair and friendly TO both parties.
The challenge stated no specific ground Of offence speci
fed exceptionabe words twas peremptory and gen.
era for unprovoked attack his alr. Clay char
acter," and it dispensed with explanations By alleging
that the notoety and ndisputabe existence Of the nu
~ superseded the necessity for them Of course this de-
mand was botomed on report Of the words spolen--a
verbal report, the full daily publication Of the debates
having then hegun-and of character greatly TO
exasPerate Mr. Clay 1t stated that in the Of the
debate Mr.. Randolph said
That letter from General saazar tho Mexican Minister
at Washington submitted by the Executive the Senate
bore the of having been or by
the Secretary Of State, and denounced the Administration
corrupt coaltion between the puritan and Lackeg and
added at the time, that he Mr. Randoph) held himself
personally responsible for all that he had said"
| This was the report to Mr. Clay and upon which he
gave tue absolute challenge and received The absolute
acceptance which shut all inquiry between the prin-
cpalsuo the causes of the quarrel The seconds deter
mined to open IT, and to attempt accommodation or
peaceabe determination of the difficulty In consequence
General Jesup stated the complaint in note TO Col Tat
nall, thus:
"hs injury q which Mr.. Clay complains consists Ia this
that Mr. Randolph has charged him wish be~ia forged
manufactured paper connected with the Panama misn
also thathe has applied him IN debate the epthet black
leg. The explanation which consider necessary is tha
Mr. Randolph declare that be had intention Of chargr
Mr.. Clay either 10 his public private capacity with fog
ing asyng any paper incorporating any fact
also that the term blaek-leg not intended Apply
him"
To this exposition Of the grounds Of the complaint Col
] Tatnal answered.
Mr Randolph informs me that the words used by him il
debate a. follows That thought it would be in my
power show evidence sufficiently prcsumpre 10 sasy
Charlotte county jury that this invitation manuflctu
ed herethat Salazars letter struck bearing strong
likeness the other did
dertake TO this but expressed my suspicion that the
fact applied the Administration the spthet
plomatc blackegged Administration Mr.. Ran
opa in giving these words these uttered by him in de-
bate is unwilling to afford any explanation their
ing and application"
In this answer Mr.. Randolph remained upon his ORR
gna ground Of refusing Of the Senate for
words spoken within it, In other respects the statement
Of the words actually spoken greatly ameorated the
offensive report. the and insulting words forg
ng and ngng being disavowed, as in fact they were
not used and not to be found in the published report
The speech was bitter philippe, and intended TO be
taking for its point the alleged coalition between Mr.
Clay and MIR. Adams with respect the election and
their efforts to get up popular question contrary
policy Of acknowledgement with foreign nations in send
ug Ministers TO the Congress Of the American States
Spanish origin at the Isthmus Of Panama heard il all
and though sharp and cutting think il might have been
beard without any manifestation Of resentment by Mr..
Clay The part which he took seriously heart that
Of having the Panama invitations manufactured in his
Office, was 10 my mind nothing than attributing to
him dplomatc superiority which enabled him to obtain
from the South American Ministers the invitations that
he wanted and not at all that they spurious abri
cations AZ to the expression, biacksg puran il
merely 20 strike by antthesis and which
being without foundation might have been disregarded
presented these views to the parties, and il they had
come from Mr. Randolph night have been sufficient but
he memorable, and would authorize word 20 be
said beyond what he had written
AN hope o. accommodation having vanished the SEQ
onds proceeded 10 for the duel The afternoon
81 Saturday the Sh Of April fixed upon for the time
the right bank OF the Potomac, within the State Of Vr-
gnia above the Little Falls bridge the place pistols
cd by two seconds and surgeon, and myself At liberty
attend mutual friend There be practising
with pistols, and there and the words one
two, three" stop" after the word "fre," were
~ agreement between the seconds and for the humane
purpose q reducing the result possible to
chance, ~ h. given out in quick succession The Vrgi