Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-11-25
Account of the Graves-CiIIy Duel.

letter written by Ex-Governor Wise, of Vir-
ginia, one of the seconds 10 the affair, to q
friend now temporarily resident in Washing
ton The letter is dated in 1855: = Wash. Rep,
In 1887 the u. s. bank contest was ended by
the expiration OF its charer, never to be rcviv.
ed. Soon afterwards saw tho error Of my
views in regard to its recharter and would
never again maintain them.
10 prevent the crash of millions and the
loss to the innocent which did follow, | had
contended mantully for continuation of the
corporation BY Congress long enough at least
TO save the public credit and to case the down
fall Of the baok to private individuals, stock
holders, note holders aud creditors and debtors.
bank had to be- by violence, and no other man
could have effected it but General Jackson. |,
made bitterness of political feuds which
hope never to see again. The Pennsylvania
bank system was worse. and r,juicc still that
| warred upon it from the start.
The excitement at the time brought ME into
the chef difficulty Of my iifa-the celebrated
Graves and CilIey duel Of 1889. Without MY
knoyledpe counsel. advice, information or
suspicion even, the Hon. WIN. J. Graves, Of
Kentucky carried letter for James Watson
Webb, of New York, to the Hon. Jonathan
Cilley | have never seen that paper, accord
ing 10 my recollection, to this hour. Mr. Gil
ley had said something harsh of Webb IN de-
bate in the House Of Representatives. Webb,
believe, demanded satisfaction Of Mr.. Clley
though Mr. Graves, as his freud aud bearer
of bis challenge. Mr.. Cilley declined to re-
ceive the paper, as Mr.. Graves alleged, on the
ground that he did not choose to be held ac.
EQUITABLE for words spoken 10 debate, and
would not recognize Webb's right to call upon
him for words spoken of and concerning him on
the floor of the House How this was | never
knew, for was informed nothing about the
affair for days, perhaps week, after 1T com-
menced Mr. Graves had consulted with
Webb, with Mr.. Clay, and witt other persons
before be came to me for advice. Then his
only anxiety was to do his full duty to his
principal, and no more.
advised him that Mr. Cilleys ground was
perfectly tenable and could not be excepted TO-.
The ground that he did not choose to waive his
constitutional privilege, not to be held account
able for words spoken in debate, did not aSsail
the character of MIR. Webb as a gentleman.
H said he admitted that, but Mr.. CiIley had
expressed his ground to him verbally, and theu
declined TO put it 10 writing in the form he had
assumed in his first interview with him. | ad-
vised him then to address him respectfully in
writing and to request him to say upon what
ground it was that he declined to receive the
note of Webb at his bands This he did.
did not carry the letter. The reply of Mr. CiIlcy
was unsatisfactory 10 this; that it did not admit
what MIR. Graves had stated to have occurred
verbally between them in the first interview.
This seemed to raise question of vcracty; but
[ still advised Mr.. Graves not to go further
than to demand whether Mr.. Cillcy meant to
ass,I his statement as untrue He repeatedly
saw Mr. Clay, as his chief adviser, and, after
some day or two of delay, he camo TO me to take
his challenge to Mr.. CiIley. | declined to do
so. and begged him to sleep uponit one night.
The next morning after his application to me
he came TO my room and again urged NE to
bear his challenge. discussed the matter with
him, saving [ saw no ground OF challenge save
that of veracity and if he called upon that
ground I was sure Mr.. Cilley would disclalm all
impeachment Of his veracity, and that would
disclaim imputation upon Webb; he could
plead his privilege only without affirming or dis
claiming anything to him. He then, at my table
drew up his challenge, placing it expressly on
the ground that MIR. CiIley had assaulted his
statement as to what occurred between them
when he first carried Webb note. | still de-
clned TO take it, and he then pressed me to
20 with him to the room of Mr.. Clay and TO
confer with him. | did so. Mr.. Graves aud
myself submitted our differences Of views, when
Mr.. Clay took the challenge which Graves had
written and pronounced it to be improper, be-
cause he had based his call upon the wrong
grouod-the ground ofveracity. lie said there
was but one issue 10 the case-Mr. Cilley ha !
declined to receive Webb's note at Mr.. Graves
hand, and unless be would discalm imputation
upon Webb as gentleman, Mr.. Graves was
bound by the code of honor to step into Webb 5
shoes and to challenge directly for that caus".
He threw the challenge written by Graves
aside, and drew the form of one which was
taken afterwards to Mr.. Ccy, with his own
hand and pen. Mr.. Graves copied it and then
again pressed me to bear it. declined on the
ground that | did not approve of the FORM |
differed in opinion with MIR. Clay, and could
not bear the challenge if it was based upon a
point of punct!lis which never could be adjust
ed in any case without blood. BY this time Of
the interview Mr. Menifee, of Kentucky, had
come 10 and sided against my opinion, and as
soon as | declined, MIR. Graves applied 10
Messrs, Clay and Menitee to bear witness that,
in my absence on one occasion ID the House,
be had, without asking the right or the wrong
of my controversy, taken up my personal quar-
rel, and was ready to fight for me; that be had
more confidence 10 me than 10 any one else as
his friend on the ground, and that if allowed
him to 60 there without guarding his life and
honor, and he was brought back q corpse
or crippled, that be desired his wife aud bis
children and his family to know that had fail
ed to stand by him after knew that he was
49, caIl |
with him or not. I could not stand this ap-
peal, and told him at once that would consent
to guard bis life aud his honor if he was bent
on fighting against my advice. | then bore
his challenge, copied by Mr.. Graves from Mr..
Clays manuscript. My plan immediately was
formed in my own mind to prevent the hostile
meeting. At night General George W. Jones'
a noble, brave man, brough hit the acceptance,
and the tcrms-cighty yards and riAes-I de-
termiued. Again was taken to Messrs. Clay
and hlenifee. Mr. Clay Instant y exclaimed:
mo kentuckian can back out from rifle. y
That settled the matter. | knew nothing of
,l,o ,roo,op NOR NH RI find q rifle The