Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-11-09
Saturday, November 8, 1872.
From, the Georgetown Courier.
The Duelirg Ground of Randolph
and Clay.

On the right bank of the Potomac, in the
State of Virginia. about three miles above
Georgetown, there is spot made memorable
by an event which has long had its place in
history; an event which has always been in
vested with that personal and political inter-
est that attaches TO the great men who figured
conspicuously in the past, and which the vicis-
situdes Of subsequent years have not served to
depreciate The spot is located short dis
,apce absve the Little Falls, where the river
spauued by what is now known as the " Chain
Bridge" 1t is identified by depression
which forms a deep basin or hollow, and at
the time, was concealed by thick forest. 1t
is the dueiag ground of Randolph and Clay.
1t was here that these men met in deadly en-
counter, and had resort to the " code Of honor y
as the enly means Of adjusting difference that
had its origin in words spoken by Mr.. Ran
dolph in the Senate of the United States.
The duel occurred on the Sth day Of April,
1925, during the administrator Of John
Quincy Adams Aside from its importance
as a memorable incident Of other days, it is
enveloped in a mantle of memories and aSso-
Citations that will ever keep it fresh in the
minds of the citizens of the capital. The ap-
pearance of the place, of course, is somewhat
changed The deep forest that, by its accom-
modatins shelter, shielded the combatants
from the public view is gone; but the hollow
ground is there, and one can almost fancy that
lie discovers the foot marks Of the hostile par
ties, as they stood, grasping their deadly
weapons, at an intervening ten PAGES" that
deadly proximity prescribed by the code. "
Some of the incidents connected with the
duel Of Randolph and Clay are interesting to
recall. The quarrel grew out Of what was
known as the Panama Mission" which was
an administration measure, pushed by such
means as were available to the executive 1t
had for its object the assembling of the Ameri-
can States of Spanish origin, the American
Government to place itself at the head. The
" mission was to convene at the lSthmus of
Panama, which was the connecting link Of
the two Americas John Sergeant, Of Penn
sylvania, and Richard Clark, Of Kentucky,
were the Ministers nominated to represent the
United States Their confirmation was strong
ly resisted, aud was only assured by the votes
of Democrats, whose assent was gained by
that sver-seductive inducement, executive
patronage. The opposition to the enterprise
was intense, inasmuch as the origin of the
" mission was believed to have political as
well as diplomatic significance. In Mr.. Ran
doph's hostile speech, he made the point that
there was political coalition between Mr.
Clay and Mr.. Adams The latter had been
elected President by the House, to succeed
Mr.. Monroe, General jackson, John Quincy
Adams, and William H. Crawford being the
contestants. Mr. Adams was elected, though
General Jackson was the choice of the people,
he having received ninety-fSur electoral votes,
MI Aud1-S S1shty -iOHi, CAV. 'i'' Ni""'N'N
forty-one. Mr. Clay was Mr.. Adams Secreta-
ry of State.
Mr. Randolph charged that the letter of
General Salazar, the Mexican Minister at
Washington, to the President, inviting tho
mssisn," was manufactured here, and his De.
nunciatory language contained the epithsts
" puritan aud blackleg" Mr. Clay inter-
prsted the speech as charging him with forg-
ing or originating the Salazar letter, aud iden-
titled himself as the party to whom Mr.. Ran
dclph applied the term blacklss," and Mr..
Adams as the prescribed puritan" The
challenge occurred Immediately after the ut
terance of the offensive words, and General
Jesup was the bearer of it. 1t was delivered
on Saturday, the lst Of April, and the duel
was delayed, by consultations between the
seconds, until the Saturday following. In his
private explanations, Mr.. Randolph referred
to the exact language Of his speech, affirming
that he applied to the dministration-which
included the President and his CabiBet-the
epithet, puritanic-diplomatic- black logged
Prt he decI,ned 70 oiva an