The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-04-08

pUIL BETWEEN RANDOLPH AND CLAI.
"The night before the duel" says
Gen. James Hamilton, of South Caro-
lima, Mr.. Randolph sent for me. IL
found him calm, but in a singnlarly
kind and confiding mood. He told
me that he had something on his mind
to tell me. He then remarked:
Hamilton, / have determined to re-
ceive, without returning, Clay's fire;
nothing shall induce me to harm a
hair of his head l will not make his
wife "a widow, or lis children orphans.
Their tears would be shed over his
grave; but when tie sod of Virginia
rests on my bosom, there is not in this
wide world one individual to pay this
tribute upon NINE His eyes filled,
and resting his head upon his hand,
we remained some moments silent.
/ replied my dear friend (for ours
was sort posthumous friendship,
bequeathed oy our mothers,) deeply
regret you have mentioned this sub
ject to me: for you call upon me to go
to the field and to see ) ou shot down,
or to assume the responsibility, in re-
gard to your own life, i'm sustaining
your determination to throw it away.
But on this subject, a mans own con
science and his own bosom are his
best monitors. i will not advise, but
under the enormous and unprovoked
personal insult You have offered Mr..
Clay, cannot dissuade. feel bound
however, to communicate TO Colonel
Tattnall your decision. He begged
me not to do so. and said he was very
much afraid Tattnall would take the
studs and refuse to go out with him.
l however sought Colonel Tattnall.
and we repaired aoout midnight TO
Mr.. Randolph's lodgings, whom we
found reading Millions great poem.
For some time lie would not permit
us to saw one word i'm relation to the
approaching duel; and he ut once
commenced one of those delightful
criticisms OH passage of this poet, in
which he was wont so enthusiasticai-
ly to indulge. After a pause, Colonel
Tattnall remarked: Mr.. Randolph.
I am told that you have determined
not to return Mr.. Claws fire; j must
say to you, my dear sir, if | am only
to 90 ont to see You shot down, yen
must find some other friend MIR.
Randolph remarked that it was his
determination. After much CONVEX
sation or the subject. i induced Col.
Tattnall to allow Mr.. Randolph to
take his own course. as his Withdraw
al, as one of his friends, might lead 10
very injurious misconstructions. At
last Mr.. Randolph, smiling, said, well
Tatnall, promise you one thing, If l
see the devil in Clay's eye, and that
with malice prepense he means 70
take my life, may change my MIND.
A remark l knew he made merely
to propitiate the anxietfes of his
friend.
"Mr. Clay and himselfme at four
O'Clock the succeeding evening, on the
the banks of the Potomac. But he
saw no devil in MIR. Clay's eye but
man fearless, and expressing the
mingled sensibility and firmness
which belonged to the occasion.
al shall never forget this scene as
long as live. 1t has been my mis-
fortune to witness several duels, but l
never saw one, at least in its sequel,
SO deeply affecting. The sun was set
ting behind the blue hills of Ran
dolph's own Virginia. Here were two
of the most extraordinary men our
country in its prodigality had pro-
duced, about to meet in mortal COM
bat. Whilst Tattnall was loading
Randolph's pistols, / approached my
friend, | believed, for the last time.
took his hand: there was not in its
touch the quivering of one pulsatlon.
He turned to me and said, Clay is
calm, but not vindictive-l hold my
purpose, Hamilton, in any event; re-
member this On handing him his
pistol, Colonel Tattnall sprang the
hair trigger. Mr.. Randolph said,
.Tattnall, although / am one of the
best shots in Virginia, with either a
pistol or gun. yet / never fire with
the hair trigger; besides, ] have a
thick buckskin glove on, which will
destroy the delicacy of my touch, and
the trigger may fly before / know
where am But, from his great So
iicitude for his friend, Tattnall insisted
upon hairing the trigger. On taking
their position, the fact turned ont as
Mr.. Randolph anticipated; his pistol
went off before the word, with the
muzzle down.
"The moment this event took place
General Jesup, Mr.. Clays friend,
called out thst he would instantly
leave the ground with his friend, il
that occurred again. Mr.. Clay at
once exclaimed it was an accident.
and begged that the gentleman might
be allowed to go on. On the word
being given MI. Clay fired without
effect, Mr.. Randolph discharging his
pistol i'm the air. The moment MIR.
CLAY saw that Mr.. Randolph had
thrown away his fire, with a gush OF
sensibility he instantly approached
Mr.. Randolph and said, with an emo
ton | can never forget-'l trust III
God sir. YOU are untouched: after what
has occurred, would not have harm
ed you for thousand worlds.
The close of this passage in Mr.
Randolph's career. makes too COM
plete a picture to be omitted. Re-
turning from his mission as minister
TO Russia, broken in health, sick at
heart at deaths door-he went into
the Senate chamber and took his seat
in the rear of Mr.. Clay. That gen.
tleman happened at that time to be
on his feet addressing the Senate.
"Raise me up," said Randolph, IL
want to hear that voice again." When
Mr.. Clay had concluded his remarks
which were very few, he turned round
to see from what quarter that singu-
lar voice proceeded. Seeing Mr.
Randolph, and that he was in dying
condition he left his place and went
to speak to him; as he approached,
Mr.. Randolph said to the gentleman
with him, "raise me up" AS Mr.
Cldv offered his hand, he said, mir
Randolph, hope you are better, sir. :
NO sir" replied Randolph, 81 am a
dying man, and | came here expressly
to have this interview with YOU"
They grasped hands and parted,
never to meet more.