New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-09-06
DUEL BETWEEN CLAY AND RAN
DOLPH.
BY JAMES PARTON.

BY JAMES PARTON.
Mr.. Clay was Secretary of State at the
time Mr.. Randolph was Senator from
Virginia. John Quincy Adams was Pres.
ident of the United States. john Randolph
too prone to believe evil of all men, and
especially of his political opponents, was
persuaded that Henry Clay had gained the
office he then held by corrupt bargain
with the President. He firmly believed
that Mr.. Adams had said to Mr.. Clay, in
1927, when the election of a President
devolved upon the House of Representa-
tives
"Make me President and I will appoint
you Secretary Of State, and you as my
successor
Thus believing, it was hard for man of
Mr.. Randolph's inscriptions fuency TO
avoid betrsying bis belief Accordingly
in April, 1925, in the course of one of his
wandering, sarcastic harangues, after in
sinuating that Mr.. Clay had forged public
document, Randolph concluded with the
following words, in reference to recent
vote
"After twenty-siX hours exertion it was
time to give in / was defeated, horse, foot
AhA 0ioSOOAo SuS up anu GlEpn bIUhO
down by the coalition of Blifl and Black
George-by the combination, unheard OF
till then, of the Puritan and the blackleg.n
Blifl and Black George are two cbarac.
tiers in Fielding's celebrated novel of Tom
Jones'" Blifl being sniveling hypocrite,
and Black George an audacious robber.
Every one who heard Mr.. Randolph use
these words understood Blitl to be the
NaplTao prauidant Tnhn nn,pory Z
who, however, was no Puritan. but q Uni
tartan, like his father before him. Black
George could be no other than Mr.. Clay,
who, in earlier life, was known to have
been g gambler, as most gentlemen of the
time were. The passage of Mr.. Randolph's
speech relating to the alleged forgery was
as follows:
"a letter from the Mexican Minister at
Washington, submitted by the Executive
to the Senate, bore the ear marks of having
been manufactured by the Secretary Of
State"
On reading the report Of this most IN
justifiable speech. Mr.. Clay wrote chal-
lenge and sent it by his friend, General
Jesup. General Jesup called upon Ran
dolph and informed him that he was the
bearer of a message from Mr. Clay, in con-
sequence of an attack recently made upon
him in the Senate; both as a private and a
public man.
81 am AWARE said General Jesup,
that no one has right to question you
out Of the Senate for anything said in de-
bate, unless you choose voluntarily to
waive your privilege as a member Of that
body"
Mr.. Randolph replied that he would
never shield himself under the protection
of the Constitution, and held himself
accountable to Mr.. Clay.
a. am ready to respond to Mr.. Clay
said be, Sand will be obliged to you II
you will bear my note in reply and in
the course Of the day will look out for a
| friend.n
General Jesup declined bearing the
note, saying that he thought Mr.. Randolph
owed II to himself to consult his friends
before taking so important step. Mr.
Randolph seized General Jesup's hand
and said
sYou are right, sir, thank you for the
| suggestion but as you do not take my
note, you must not be Impatient should you
not hear from me to-day. now think Of
only two friends, and there are circum,
stances connected with one Of them which
may deprive me Of his services and the
other is In bad health. He was sick yester-
day, and may not be out today
General Jesup requested him to take his
own time, and babe him good morning
This was Saturday, April l, 1926. Nj
Randolph Immediately went to the lodg.
ings Of Colonel Benton, Of Missouri, and
upon finding him, asked him bluntly, with.
out giving him any reason for the question.
Are you blood relation OF Mrs. Clay?'i
an, !" said Colonel Benton.
That" rejoined Randolph, aputs an
end to request which wished to make Of
you.n
He then related to Colonel Benton The
| particulars of the interview with General
Jesup, and as he was taking his leave be
told Colonel Benton that he would make
bis bosom the sole depository Of an impcr.
.ant secret. He said that he did not intend
20 fre st Mr.. Clay, but meant to keep this
lnteno9A secret, and enjoined secrecy
upon Colonel Benton until after the duel
u ne cQarae the day Colonel Tatnall
o. Georgia. coAveysd Mr.. RandoIph's ac'
ceptenes Of "a ehallenge, which Wai
couched IN tue iolIosiDe terms;
MT. Randolph 1t4fis the challenge b
MI. Clay. At the sane iIma ~ nretAafl
against the right Of any a'.nislsr at ne ~
eeutive governments 81 ste EfnIfea gfatai
to hold him responsible fof zorss analrer
In debate az Senator iKdsa NiTssnsr \
cfiml1ation Of such minister. a. ia II
miDislgalion under which he SHIN nav.
taken Office. Colonel TafnaIl, Of Go5<5,S
We nearer 81 this letter, "a aulh6fIssS y
4 strange ulkh General 1esap. (lAe tls.{
of NJ. Clay a challenge ne tofins al NJ.
.ase.lqG % 4hieh M. Randelph IS inslt|
Nj Ties nois.n
kess further cofrsspeadenos took plAel
between ihs parties relative to ne cefTssi