Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-03-14

to Mr.. Wise to take his challenge to Mr..
Cilley. Mr., Wise declined to do so, and
begged him to sleep upon it for at least
for one night. The next morning he went
to Mr.. Wise's room, and again urged him
to bear Mr.. Cilley his challenge. Mr..
Wise then discussed the matter. and told
he saw no reason or ground for chal-
lenge save that ofvsracity, ,-that If he called
him out upon background. he was sure Mr.,
Cilley would disclaim all impeachment OF
his veracity. and there would be an end
to the whole affair. Aud in doing this. Mr..
Cilley was still not bound to disclaim i'm
putation upon the character of James
Watson Webb:-he could plead his pri>
vilege only, without affirming or disclaim>
ing anything as to him. He then. at the
instance Of Mr.. Wise drew up his chal-
lenge placing it expressly on the ground
that Mr.. Cilley had assailed his statement
as to what occurred when he first carried
Webb's note. Mr.. Wise again refused to
be the bearer Of the challenge. Mr..
Graves then urged him to go with him to
Mr.. Clay's room. They went. and sub
mtted each their respective differences Of
opinion. when Mr.. Clay took the chal-
lenge which Mr.. Graves had written, and
pronounced it to be improper, because he
had based his call upon the wrong ground
that of veracity. Mr.. Clay said that
there was but one issue in the case, and
that was. that Mr.. CilIey had declined to
receive Mr.. James Watson Webb's note
at the hands Of Mr.. Graves. and unless
Mr.. Gilley would disclaim imputHtion up
on Mr.. Webb as gentleman, that lie,
Graves, was bound by the code of honor
to step into Webb's shoes, and to chal-
leugo directly Tor that cause. Mr.. Clay
then threw the challenge aside. as writ
ten by Mr.. Graves. and dlew the form Of
one, which was afterward taken TO Mr..
CilIey. with his own hand and pen. Mr..
Graves then copied it again. and propo-
sed TO Mr. Wise to be the bearer. He
declined again on the ground that he did
not approve the form in which the chal
lcnge was written; and. moreover, as the
challenge then stood it was upon n point
Of punctilio which could not be ad justed
in any case without blood.
By this time of The interview. Mr..
Mencfec Of Kentucky had come in and ST.
ded with Mr.. Clay against Mr.. Wise. Mr..
Wise still declined to bear the challenge.
/
Menefee to bear witness that on one &C.
casion. in the absence of Mr.. Wise from
the House Of Representatives. he had.
without asking the right or the wrong OF
Mr.. Wise's controversy. taksn up his
personal quarrel. and was ready to fight
for him that no had more confidence in
him than any one else. rs his friend, on
the ground and that if he, (Wise) suf-
Tered him to 60 upon the field without
guarding his lie and his honor. and he
was brought back a corpse. he desired
his wife. his childrcn, and his friends TO
know that he (Wisc) had failed to stand
by him after he knew he was determined
to fight whether he (Wise) wished him
or not. IS there an honest. courageous
and chivalrous heart that beats in the
breast Of man that could have withstood
such an appeal coming as it did. under
such circumstances, and at that parlicu>
lar time ?
After this appeal had been made by
Mr. Graves. Mr. Wise told him that if
nothing else would do him but to fight.
and that against his advice, he would
consent to guard his life and his honor.
Mr.. Wise then carried the challenge to
Mr.. CiIley. copied by Mr.. Graves from
Mr.. Clay s manuscript. Mr.. Wise then
resolved in his own mind to prevent, if
possible, the hostile meeting. After
nightfall, General George W. Jones
brought an acceptance. and the terms
proposed-eig yards. with rifles. Mr..
Wise demurred. Mr.. Clay instantly ex-
! claimed: " No Kentuckian can back out
from rifle" ar. Wise's object still be-
ing that Of delay, he met Gen. Jones the,
next morning and said he must have time
TO go to. Philadelphia for rife. as he did
not know whero else to get one that was
reliable. Mr.. Jones replied Certainly,
sir, there must be gun which can be re-
lied on in tbs whole DISTRICT of Columbia!"
AT this answer Mr.. Wise was some
what yexed. and replied. :" il you know
OF one, would be glad if you would
furnish me with it." Thereupon,
the next morning. q ride, powder
flask, bullet moulds, &C., were found up.
on Mr.. Nise's table, with polite note
rendering the ride, DC, to Mr.. Graves.
This was co doubt done bona tide upon
! the part of General Jones but il certainly
had the bad effect Of fastening tho duel.
This doubtless would not have happened
had General Jones understood the object
which MIR. Wise had in yiew-that of de.
lay. The arrangements being thus far
made. there was no time for playing. Mr..
Graves went cut the morning previous to
the meeting to practice with the riie. He
proved himself 70 DO very bad shot at
mark. His hand was 90 huge and clunl>
sy. his fingers so coarse, that he could
not '' taste" q hair trigger. He would in
variably Ere before the word vas given,
and could not hit barn door at eighty
yards. BY this time Mr.. Wise had pro
cured a fine large rife from hfr. John @