Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-07-12

hand, and said
g You are right, sir. THANK you for
the suggestion but as you do not take
my note, you must not be impatient Il
you should not hear from me to-day. ]
now think Of only two friends, and there
are circumstances connected with one oi
them which may deprive me of his ser
vices, and the other is in bad health
He was sick yesterday and may not be
out to-day"
Gen. Jesup requested him to take his
own time, and bade him good morning
This was Saturday, April 1, 1925. Mr.
Randolph Immediately went to the
lodgings of Col Benton, of Missouri,
and upon finding him, asked him bluntly,
without giving him any reason for the
question:
Are you blood relation of Mrs
Clay's?"
q I am, said Col. Benton.
TThat, rejoined Randolph, puts an
end to a request which I had wished TO
make of you.
He then related to Col. Benton the
particulars of the interview with Gen
Jesup, and as he was taking his leave he
told Col. Benton that he would make his
bosom the sole repository Of an impor-
tant secret. He said that he did not in
tend to fire at Mr.. Clay, but meant to
keep this intention a secret until after
the duel. In the course of the day Col.
Tatnall, Of Georgia, conveyed Mr. Ran
dolph's acceptance Of the challenge,
which was couched in the following
terms
a. Mr. Randolph accepts the challenge
of Mr.. Clay. At the same time he pro-
tests against the right of any Minister
Of the Executive Government of the
United States to hold him responsible for
words spoken In debate as Senator Of
Virginia, in elimination of such minis
ter, OF the administration under which
he shall have taken Office. Col. Tatnall,
of Georgia, the bearer of this letter,
is authorized to arrange with Gen. Je-
sup (the bearer Of Mr.. Clay's challenged
the terms of the meeting to which Mr.
Randolph is invited by that note. -
Some further correspondence took
place between the parties, relative to the
of the report upon which Mr..
Clay's action was founded Mr.. Ran
dolph admitted its substantial correct
ness. He ACKNOWLEDGED that he did ap-
ply to the administration the epithet
puritanic, diplomatic, black-legged ad-
ministration; but he peremptorily de-
elined to give any explanation whatever
as to the meaning or application of those
words. Owing to several causes the duel
did not occur until exactly one week
after the sending Of the challenge, dur
ing which time the friends of the parties
did all that was possible to promote a
reconciliation, but in vain.
Col. Benton had been for some time
from Mr.. Clay, owing to po-
litieal differences, but on Friday even
ing, the night before the duel, he called
on his old friend and political chief, to
show him, as he said, that there was
nothing personal in his opposition. The
secret had been well kept, and no one
in the house knew Of the impending
event.
The family were in the parlor, Col.
Benton relates, company present, and
some of it stayed late The youngest
child, believe, james, went to sleep on
the sofa. Mrs. Clay was, as always
since the death of her daughters, the
picture Of desolation, but calm, con
versatile, and without the slightest ap-
parent consciousness Of the impending
event.
When, at length, the family and com
pany had all retired, Col. Benton ap-
preached Mr. Clay and assured him that
his personal feelings toward him re-
manned the same as formerly, and that
in whatever concerned his lie and honor
Mr.. Clay had his best wishes. The Sec
-etary Of State responded cordially, and
1t midnight they parted The next
morning Col. Benton called upon Ran
iolph, chiefly anxious to learn whether
he still retained his intention not to fire /.
he told him of his visit to Mr.. Clay the
hight before-of the late sitting-the I
hid asleep-the unconscious tranquil
ty Of Mrs. Clay.
90 l could not help thinking, added
Jol. Benton, how different all that might .
,e the next night"
Mr.. Randolph quietly replied, as he (
ooked up from writing his will
" l shall do nothing to disturb the
leep of the ehild or the repose of the /
nothern
A few minutes after he sent his man
ervant to the United States Branch |
Bank to get nine pieces of gold-as
carce a eeommodity at that day as at 4
present. The man soon returned, saying
hat the bank had no gold Instantly /
he masters shrill voice was heard ex-
laiming
Their name Is legion and they are .
lars from the beginning Johnny,
,ring me my horse. %
A few minutes after he was at the .
,ank counter, asking the state Of his ac-
cunt. -Four thousand dollars was the
mount Of money which he had in the
,ank, and he asked for it. The teller
eek up some packages Of bank notes,
nd politely asked him in what sized
Totes he would have it.
" want money I" roared Randolph.
The teller, little puzzled, said, " You
7ant silver p
The teller then, lifting some boxes to
he counter, asked him in his politest
one
Have you a cart, Mr.. Randolph, to
,ut .. in?'
That is my business, sir, said the
Tirginian.
At this moment the cashier came for
yard and ascertained what Mr.. Randolph
wanted, and gave him the nine pieces of
,old, which he condeseended to take,
nd returned with them to his lodgings.
Then he gave Col. Benton note, re-
Iuesting him, if he was killed, to feel in
is left breeches pocket and take out
old. Three Of the pieces were for Col.
benton himself, for a seal, and the other
* we're to be divided among two other
riends for the same purpose.
It was about sunset, in a thick forest
4 the Virginia shore of the Potomac,
he antagonists met to decide their diff
srences by exchanging shots. A pistol
-as handed to Mr.. Randolph, loaded and
v.rsA sAh bas~ k-s.sc.or auI ooas