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

From DR.. Humhleton's History Of the Political
Campaign of 1865, in Virginia.
THE GRAVES AND CILLEY DUEL.
Upon no subject has there been so much
Misunderstanding. misrepresentation. and
wiIful ana unbushing fAlsehOOd as upon
The unfortunate meeting between MeSSrS.
Graves and Cilicy. And upon no subject
has there ever been SO much general ex-
element and deep-grOundcd PreJud'ces
aroused. 1t WAS the peculiar and un~
avoidab!c misfortune of Henry A. Wise
10 be connected with this sad affair. Not
that he could not have avoided it. but not
as an honorable man. in an honorable way +,
to an importunate friend. This subject
has been fruitful theme with the tne>
mics and traducers Of Mr.. Wise to arouse.
excite and prejudice the popular mind
This effort of his foes has to some extent
been successful with those who were ig-
norant Of the particulars of this duel. its
antccedents, sc. We have used every
exertion to get possession Of all the facts
come cted with this affair, which we sub
nit in rs condensed form as possible !:
In 1887 political excitement was grea-
ter than was every known in the Con-
grcss OF the United States. The House
Of Representatives was composed of a
number of able AMI fiery debaters, and
| the issues then before that body frequent
! " brought the talent Of the House in col
| lsion. The Hon. Jonathan Cilley, Of
Maine, took issue on one occasion, upon
some subject. with the Hon. James Wat
son Webb, OF New York, and made what
he considered legitimate attack upon
him. Mr.. Webb took exceptions to the
language used. and demanded satisfac,
ton. He called upon the Hou. William
J. Graves, of-Kentucky to act as his friend.
Mr.. Graves, without the knowledge.
counsel, advice. infor nation, or suspicion
of Mr.. Wise, carried letter from Mr..
Webb to Mr.. Cilley. The letter that was
carried has never to this day been seen by
Mr.. Wise. Mr.. Cilley declined to receive
the letter, as Mr.. Graves alleged. on the
ground that he did not choose to be held
accountable for words spoken in debate,
and would not recognize Mr.. Webb's
right to call upon him for words spoken
of AID concerning him on the floor Of the
House. All this had happened
week before Mr.. Wise knew a syllable Of
it. Finally, Mr.. Graves took exceptions
to Mr.. Cilley's not receiving the letter Of
Mr.. Webb at his hands, aud consulted
with Messrs. Clay and Webb upon that
point several days before he mentioned the
subject to Mr.. Wise When Mr.. Graves
came to Mr.. Wise for the first time for ad-
vice, he said to Mr. Wise that his only
anxiety was to do his fuH duty to his
principal. and nothing more. Mr.. Wise
then advised him that Mr.. Cilley's ground
was perfectly tenable, and could not be
excepted to, as he did not choose to be
held accountable for n constitutional pri-
vilege-for words spoken in debate-be-
cause he did not consider that he had as
sailed the character OF James Watson
Webb, as a gentleman. This e1plana-
ton satisfied Mr.. Graves in that respect i;
but he said Mr.. Cilley had expressed his
grounds to him verbally and then refused
to commit them to writing in the form
which he had inferred from the last inter
view with him. Mr.. Wise then advised
Mr.. Graves 10 address Mr.. Cilley respect
fully in writing, and request OF him to say
upon what ground it was he then declined
to accept the note at his hands from
James Watson Webb. This Mr.. Graves
did, but not through Mr.. Wise. Mr..
Cilley's answer was unsatisfactory in
this that it did not admit what Mr.
Graves had stated to have passed verbally
between them in their first Interview
This raised question, seemingly. of Ve-
racity. But still Mr.. Wise advised Mt.
Graves not to go farther than to demand
whether Mr.. Cilley meant to assaii his
~.