Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-02-03
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1.-THE C;ilev Duel"

1.-THE Ciilev Duel.
Without any desire or ambition to enter into dis
cussion of the article published in the last True a.
merican, under the above caption, we will simply
PROFOUND few questions to the editor OF that paper
Did he vote for Henry Clay for the Presidency in
1874? Was not Mr.. Clay party to the Graves and
Cilley duel? Did Mr.. Clay fight duel with John
Randolph? Was he not the challenging party? Did
he not demand second fire, remarking, when friends
alter the first fire. desired to adjust the difficulty that
such proposition was ''mere chld's play?
We make these inquiries without intending, but
disclaiming, any imputation upon the character of
the honorable dead But desire to know, if these
questions answered in the affirmative, whether it
was not equally bad to vote for Mr.. Clay Tor Prtsi-
dent of the t. S., as it will be to vote for Mr.. Wise
for Governor of Virginia? If the ''Scotch Irish of
Augusta voted for Mr.. Clay, they refuse, upon
the grounds altered by Tie -tmefean, to voe for Mr..
/ Wise?
Our opinion, canddly given, of the publication in
the American, is, that it is ungenerous and Liberal
and Will do more to public sentiment in behalf
of Mr.. Wise than any thing else the N0Nothing or
gans can publish. 1t is a resort that reveals the a
gencies to be employed to defeat Henry A. Wise-a
man whose private character is far above thcreach
OF the servile and ebittered missiles Of his deamers
as to defy their touch. 1t is resort that exhibits
more than any thing else have seen, the weakness
OF the party which opposes him. 1t is clear and con-
vlneng to our mind that the boased power Of the No
Nothings in Virginia is all fudge. When party re-
sorts to such desperate and contemplate means
When party compromises dignity, and seeks to de-
lame the private character OF an opponent instead Of
meeting hun fairly upon relevant issues, must le-
Ultimately conclude that it is corrupt and imbecile.
We are willing that the Scotch Irish, and all 9TH
er classes, shall judge Mr.. Wise by tc article pub
shed in the American, if they will take into consd-
Grafton the fact, (Which candor and justice should
have impelicd the editor to have statedO that Mr.
Wise was at that time acting with the wing party,
and the Democratic Ecview was the embittered and
rcsentul sdyocatc OF DefocGatc men and measures.
ANY who may sead the article will discover in it
the hi.tefes parizan bearing and the most vndiotive
partizan resentment. at is not o3ica satemsnt.
1t is simply the reflex Of the unbiased opinions of an
Incorporating POLITICAL and probably personal en-
envy. Every line reveals these features-evey syia-
bic attests that no impartial judge seeking to trans
nit plain, unvarnizhed history of very unhappy
affair TO posterity, penned the article
But must let Mr.. Wise speak for himself on this
subject. In the debates of Congress for 1872 as pub
lished in the Congressional Globe, after Mr. Adams
had alluded to Nj. Wse's connection with the Ci,ey
continues !oows
Mr. Wise said: Now he had an opportunity of saw
Ing what he had long wished to say He thanked
God that there large assembiage here to hear
it. An opportunity had length arrived for him to
indicate himself, now and forever, from the charge
OF instisatns and advising the duel OF Graves aud
Ciley. he gentleman from Massachusetts, had
charged him with being an instiyator and adviser OF
that duel, and OF Being getty than 1.-THE man
who pulled the Trigger lie was now Calling toi
the reading Oh the journal i'll the case, with the
view incidentally Oh convictiHg him OF that charge.
lie said tia. he was glad to that the two Senators
lion kentucky who then Cat the time OF tue due)
Represented that State, were here now present
One OF them Mr. Ciay] was just sitting IL uediata-
y behina tue gentleman foa s..assacfiusstts And
he Could appear to As his witnesses that his ad
vice "a not the advice relied upon followed in the
preliininaies o. that dael-it the advice OF anoth
ef, higher, hatter, and more distinguished man
which relied on. And as to WAT occurred upon
1 the gro,.ad IL there armed second, to guard
the lie OF his friend, with written instructions in his
pocket. Aud the only regret he had was, that he
vas induced To % there, nat approving the p.emi-
Larry steps which had been taken in chat tight.
Aud h. again declared that he @as not responsible
Tor the ADVICE on solitary preliminary nj the dael,
and that he was responsible merely sor being con
cerned in the duel at all, contrary To his own jud
mont, a,il for acting the advice aid Judgment OF
others given to Nj. Graves.
lie said Mr. John j. Grttenden and Mr. Menefee,
the colleagues OF Mr.. Graves, were both present
! the ground As his sgb-,eeonds with whom he
bound and obliged to advise every question which
occurred there, and with whom he did advise and
counsel on every point, and that there not sim
gle point on Which Mr.. clittenden and Mr. Meneee
differed with him, Mr.. W. Ii he was responsible,
they were responsible Mr.. Jones had to go to his
two sub seconds, as had to 60 to NIL Ggittenden
and Mr.. Mcneee
| Let the reader judge between the two statements
the from bitter pa ezan editof-he other from
the official report.