National Republican., 1875-07-01

Rev. John s. q. Abbott does not seem to be
more particular with regard to his data than
Gen. Sherman. He has recently Published an
article on the famous Bowdoin class of 1925 and
Its recent semi centennial, which that veteran
journalist, James Watson Webb, picks to pieces
in the following interesting style:
The Rev. John s. O. Abbott contributes to this
weeks Independent an article on the remarkable
class which graduated in 1925 at Bogdoin col
brated on the st6 Of July, when Mr. IonTfsiiow
will read o poem, and the Rev. DR.. George b.
Ubeever viii deliver the Grafton.
OF Jonathan Ciley, Mr.. Abbott says:
ale was q born politician, and Immediately
plunged, with all the ardor Of his impetuous ma
ture, into the political strife of the day He soon
entered the Legislature, and rose rapidly to the
Speakers chair, being regarded as the leader Of
his party, which was then in the decided ascend
chosen n to represent Lincoln district in the Ma
tional Congress. The Congressional career Of
Mr.. CIllsy was tragicslly short and sad. In
Commented Nth great sepsrity upon the course
Pursxed by the editor Of the Nep York C1uctsr
and Enquirer. The editor fastened to Washing
tsna aAe n JAenk shslsnEs through his friend, Mr:
ienge on the ground, q irGs said, hat TIE editor
trds NOT in character gentleman. This rendered
IL nscsssGry for Mr.. Graves, according to the Ia1s
of honor 10 take the place of the principal Seu
eTal prominent dueIisfs i1ere consulted upon the
question. They decided that there cGs no alter
s ss;,or "a S M oy a seesSf
ehdiienSe from Mr. Graves Mr.. CiIey's Teit-
Grated decidratioR that he entertained no disre-
speet for Mr.. Grares tCGs Of no GrGh"
TO the Editor Of iae EUeRing Post:
ask you to republish the forgolng from your
issue Of last Monday, for the purpose Of saying
that the reverend writer's account Of the duel be-
tween Mr.. Cilley and Mr.. Graves OF Kentucky
in which Mr.. Cilley fell (which have placed In
cierSSman % ar NAV Be- excuse excused for writing ssnsa-
tional articles, but when the material for such
articles consists Of vague rumors and the char
Al uf--g,.r Nk.a 0F haad
are alike assaiIed for eject, sthe truth OF his
tory" demands vindication.
Mr.. Abbott. in the course Of his comments on
the result and consequences of the Cllley duel,
renders his article still more sensational by the
following abuse Of the memory Of Mr.: Graves:
sn who Ssd not the
slightest antagonism TO Mr.. Cllley, was 60
shocked, In view Of the ruin he had caused, that
he endeayored to deaden his anguish with the In
tOxicating cup, and came to the melancholy end
to which all such are doomed"
This, too, is . cruel misstatemeut, and the rev.
erend gentleman could have had no didiculty In
verifying the falsehood Of the report" to which
he alludes II he had exercised ordinary discre-
tion. Doubtless some one Of the family Of the
late Mr.. Graves viii demand the author Of this
report" which, 7 am assured, never had any
existence in Kentucky.
Il is now nearly forty years since MI: CLIley
tragedy have nearly all passed avsy, and envy
not the man who has revived the recollection OF
emily reckless Of the nortiicftion and pain he
has 50 wsntOnly inflicted upon Mr.. Graves fam
lily and friends.
by this purely sensational article, permit me TO
give you the following facts, deliberately certi-
fied TO by Mr.. Graves in his report of his irst In
"After Mr.. Ciliey had read your note, he said:
| i decline giving Colonel Webb the meeting he
CiiIey answered: ON the ground that BY the Con.
stitution am not responsible for words spoken In
debate continued: you take no exception,
Hnlo- IL ahh lwSi "
iaid-'Csrtainly not. I am not personally &C.
qusinted with Colonel Webb, but he is the friend
Of many OF my associates and have never heard
This United States Bank question has entered
largely into politics. and isthe leading political
ntS Il ses Mr. osy
lie expressed to Mr.. Graves my satisfaction with
the result, and considered the matter closed, as in
On the following morning Mr.. Graves came tc
me on the floor Of the House and informed me
that, under the advisement Of Henry A. Wise, oil
Virginia, he was on his way TO Mr.. Cilley to de-
mand that he should put in writing the converse.
ceding. Isntreated him not to do So Ia as il would
inevitably result in personal affair between
| him and Cilley, who was then smartlng under the
/ censure of Colonel Benton and other political
friends for the course be had pursued, MT. GRAVES
said that Mr. Wise had told him that 1t was alb
| solutely necessary for the protection Of his OWE
undressing nim note specifying the grounds
/ upon which he refused the challenge Of which be
had been the bearer. l insisted that Mr.. Wise
| was interfering with what did not concern him
that he [Grayes) had delivered my note to MI
Cilley, and received and accepted his reply tha
he had made his report to me, and that haS
him for his friendly services, and considered tht
matter closed, not to be meddled with By out
To this Mr.. Graves responded: "Thst is 80;
| your affair Is closed; but have personal atail
4 Of my own to settle with Mr.. Ctlley, In which
i other friends. You have nothing to do with it
/ am acting for myself not ty,,u, you;",
Mr.. Graves then went 70 Mr: Sillsy and a. recepi
| view of the day previous. Mr.. Cllley conceded
| its correctness, and Mr.. Graves informed him
ting forth the facts Of the case as conceded b.
both. Mr.. Cilley said, very sternly, that was i'm
possible. Mr.. Graves insisted, and reminded MI
Cilley that If he persisted, he (Graves) would b
compelled TO make such refusal personal affair
MT. Ciiley answered, "As you please. +" and CLOSED
the interview. did not see Mr.. Graves agaii
You will perceive By the foregoing that, as Mr.
Cilley took no such ground as Is alleged BY Mr.
article which have italicized, is pure invention
BY whom invented, leave Mr.. Abbott 70 explain
Mr.. oilley, II is conceded on all hands, was
gallant, highminded gentleman, who ehafe.
greatly under the braggadocto tone and spiri
which at that time characterized the Southerl
n al took
| washington his favorite rife. When challenges
| by Mr.. Graves, he designated the rifle as tn
| weapon to be used. Mr. Graves could not object
| although it Is said that until the evening befor
| the meeting he had never fred ride.
| In the contest for the Presidency between M
| charged the death Of Mr.. Olley upon Mr.. Clay
| Thereupon Mr.. Graves addressed letter 70 MI
| Clay, which was published in the NationaI Infe
| Hgencer, Courier and Enquirer, and presume
| the Erening Post, giving substantially the fact
Of the case as herein narrated. That letter place
upon Mr.. Wise the entire responsibility Of the ur
called-for duel between Mr.. Graves and Hr. OIL
ley, and stated distinctly that Mr.. Clay did no
know of the affair until amer the challenge, die
tated by Mr.. Wise, had actually been sent.
commend that letter TO the careful perusal Of tn
| Rev. Mr.. Abbott.
raanaetfullV