Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-06-21

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of animosty, and, least of all, of the highly
vindictive feelings necessarily aroused by a
question of veracity, than the very evident mis-
apprehension which Mr.. Graves labored under
IN regard to some parts of the note of James
Watson Webb, Of which he was the bearer
"The COMMITTEES will not, in Justice to Mr..
Graves, harbor the belief that there were rank
ling secretly in his bosom any vindictive or
hostile feelings towards Mr.. Cilley, growing out
of any question of personal yeracity, and
prompting him to carry deadly warfare under
another pretext, not only without direct and
explicit disclosure of the real cause of diff
Guilty, such as would have left no misapprehen-
sion on the mind of any one, but under circum
stances which misled the other party and his
friends, and left him, under that false impress
sion, to forfeit his life.
"The committee have, therefore, come to the
conclusion that the words spoken by Mr. Cilley
In debate IN the House Of Representatives, the
refusal OF Mr. Cilley to receive demand for
explanation of those words, and his refusal to
assign any other reason for it than that he
chose TO be drawn into no difficulty upon the
subject, were the causes which led to the death
OF Mr.. Cilley, under the circumstances which
have been substantially detailed"
General Webb says, in conclusion: 81 did
not assail the offending party, without first
making the inquiry which was alike courteous
and proper; and achen he pleaded his privilege,
1 promptly acknowledged its force and aban-
doned all idea Of violating his person, on in
any other ray intc.tsring NTH the freedom of
debate" How General Webb reconcies this
statement with the following facts reported by
the special committee, we leave him to decide !:
"Early in the day on which he fell an agree
ment was entered into between James Watson
Webb, Daniel jackson, and William Fl. Nor
ell, to arm themselves, repair to The room of
MIR. Cilley, and force him to fight Webb with
pistols on the spot, or to pledge his word of
honor to give Webb meeting before Mr..
Graves, and, if Mr.. Cilley would do neither, to
shatter his right arm. They accordingly took
measures to ascertain whether Mr.. Cilley was
at his lodgings, and finding that he was not,
they proceeded well armed to Bladensburg,
where it was said the duel between Mr.. Graves
and Mr. Cilley was to take place. Before ar.
rlving there, it was agreed between Webb,
jackson, and Morell, that Webb should ap-
proach MIR. Ciley, claim the quarrel, insist on
hghting him, and assure him that if he aimed
his ritie at Dir. Graves he webb would shoot
MN Mr.. Cllley) on the spot. 1t was supposed
by them that MIR. Graves or Mr.. Wise, or some
Of the party, would raise a weapon at Webb,
it was agreed that Webb should in
santly shoot Mr.. Cilley, and that they should
then defend themselves in the best way they
could. Not finding the parties at Bladens.
burg, they followed in pursuit TO the old Maya.
zine, and thence to the shore of the Potomac.
near the arsenal, at Greenleaf's point, whence.
it being after o'clock, p. m, they returned TO
the city to await the result at is unnecessa.
~ to add say they, in statement drawn up
by Webb. signed by Jackson and Morell. and
published in the New York Courier and En-
9aire1, what would have been the course of
Colonel Webb if Mr.. Graves, instead of Mr.
Cilley, had been injured. Suffice it to saw
hat II was sanctioned by US; and however
much we deplored it, We could not doubt but
he extraordinary position in which he would
have been placed would have warranted the
course determined upon." 1t is difficult to i'm
lgine what is here darkly Swallowed forth, if it
be not that, had Mr.. Cilley survived the en-.
counter with Mr.. Graves, and had the former
suffered in it, it would then have been the fate
Of Mr. Ciley to have encountered an assassin
We Will now sum up the several points, and
cave the reader to decide whether we have
lone General Webb "justice" or not We
ook the ground that General Webb was in no
to assume the championship Of the
reedom of Congressional debate because be
lad challenged member for words spoken IN
iebaie. 1t turns out that his communication
vas not technical challenge, but notice that
( the language used was not explained or re.
racted a challenge would follow.
We assumed that the death Of Mr.. Cilley by
he hands Of General Webb's friend was atbe
Of that quasi challenge Gen.
Webb says we were I" in error in regard to the
,ause Of the melancholy affair = but that his
friend challenged and killed Mr.. Cilley on The
round Of question Of veracity between them.
The report of the special committee distinctly
tates that the only cause of the death of Mr..
Jilley was his refusal to accept the note or
radsi challenge of General Webb, and that
here was no pretence that a question Of vera.
'ity between Messrs. Graves and Ciley was
he cause Of the challenge which resulted in
he death Of the latter. We assumed that in |
challenging Mr.. Cilley for words in debate
General Webb violated his privileges and dis. |
egarded the freedom of debate Gen. Webb |
ays that he was satisfied with the answer
given BY Mr.. Cilley, claiming the privilege
which the Constitution confcrs, and that when |
ie pleaded his privilege he abandoned all idea |
II violating bis person. The report Of the |
pecial committee utterly negatives the asser.
ion that Mr.. Cilley claimed his privilege. II
hows, further, that General Webb did not
'bandon all idea Of violating his person, bu, |
hat, after he had been challenged by Mr.. |
5rayes for declining to acknowledge General
Webb to be gentleman and man of honor.
GENERAL Webb, in company with two friends, |
vi armed to the teeth, sought for him dill.
emily, with the avowed purpose Of SCATTERING
us right arm or shooting him down If he Der.
listed in his refusal TO fight General Webb.