Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-08-07
CLAY AND RANDOLPH.

The story of aiie duel between Henry Clay
and John Randolph is familiar to most per
sons; not so their Subsequent reconcilia-
ton, and manner of It's accomplishment. =
It took place many years after the hostile
meeting. In regard to it, Mr.. Clay wrote
to a friend, in tie year preceding Dir. Ran
doph's death, as follows;
GU ask me how amity was restored
between Mr.. Randolph and myself? There
was no explanation no Intervention. Oh
serving him in the Senate one night, and
looking as if be we're not long for this world
and being myself engaged in work Of
peace, with corresponding feelings | shook
hands with him. The salutation was cor
dial On both Sides I afterwards left a card
at his lodgings, where understood he had
been confined by sickness" In the last
public speech that Randolph made, after
dwelling on the threatening danger Of dis
union, he is reported to have said: "There
is one man, and one man only who can
save this Union that is Henry Clay. l
know that he has the power; Ibelieve he
will be found to hare the patriotism and
frmness equal to the occasion"
The cause Of the duel between these dis
tinguished men was the following insulting
language used by Mr.. Randolph towards
Mr.. Clay, IN secret sessio Of the Senate,
in 1925:
"This man-( mankind, I crave your
pardon) this worm Qittle animals, for
give the insult, )-was spit out Of the
womb Of weakness raised to a higher
life than he was borne to, for he was raised
to the society Of blackguards. Some for
tune kind to him, cruel to US, has tossed
him to the Secretary of State. Contempt
has the property Of describing, but she
stoops, far short CT hifl.. She would die
before she woald reach him he dweils Be-
low her fall | 1ould hate him if I did net
)despise him. It is not What he is, cut where
he is, tsh.t puts nny thoughts n ast.cs.-
This alphabet, which writes Che name Of
Thersites, of BLACKBOARD, of saualidity,
refuses her letters for Lirn. That mind
which thinks Of what it cannot express, can
can scarcely think on him. A h7perboao
for meanness would be ah ellipsis fer Clay"
| CONSERVATISM OF MASONRY.
The New Orleans Bulletin remarks con-
corning the Masonic fraternity Of the United
States
"Here is body 81 men Composed u al
classes and professions, entertaining every
kind Of opinion upon religion and politics,
and existing in every State Of the Union,
who come together and exhibit among them
selves the utmost harmony Of 'iseliag and
action. No word Of opprobriuln escapes
from the lips Of any one 10 insult 4 wound
| the feelings Of another. No fierce anathe-
ma Of sections is heard. No extravaganza
is INDUCED in. Everything is done decent
| ly, respectful, dsniGed The bitterest po-
litical enemies meet face to face, and you
shall never know by their actions or words
that they do not belong to the same party
Religionists the most opposite embrace each
other in the arms Of an exalted charity. -
Fanaticism finds no entrance into the socie-
lty of brotherhood Not wave Of discord
disturbs the waters Of the inner temple. no
plunge into the abyss Of atheism, rant, or
lawlessness, shocks the moral sense Of man
kind. Nc revolutionary hydra comes up
from beneath to break up the foundation Of
order and send the tornado over the tair face
Of society"
It then asks why it is the Christina
churches do not profit by the example at-
forded them by this philanthropic fraterai-
ty. Quoth the Bulletin
E But what is the secret Of their unanimi-
ty, Of their harmony, Of thait brotherly
love, Of the conservative front which, with
out trenor they maintain, amid the gene
raj commotion, hatred and fanaticism exist
ing around them? It is found it seems to
strike us, in one ord-toleration.