The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-14
Duels That Didn't Come Off.

OuelS mat DlCn I Come OF.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir !:
1here Is no doubt, l think. that Henry
Clay once sen a hostile message 10
John Quincy Adams. The facts are
gwen on the authority of an acquaint-
ance, who was formerly an officer in
our navy. and personally c~ognizant of
the circumstances. In the year 1914.
some time in February. the sloop-of-
warJohn Adams. Capt. samuel Angus.
IN which vessel my informant was a
mldshlpman at the time, sailed from
New York for the North of Europe.
having on board as a passenger the
hon. Henry Clay, one of the Commits
sloners who were TO negotiate the
treaty of Client. John Quincy Adams
and Jonathan Russell. the other Com
mlssloners, Joined the ship in Europe.
and she proceeded TO her destination.
which was Gottenburg. in Sweden.
Clay suffered much from sea sickness.
while Adams and Russell experienced
no inconvenience.
One fine day the two last-named
gentlemen, wishing to while away the
time, prevailed on Mr.. Clay to accom-
pany them up into the foretop. where
they had arranged to have him sub
jected TO the old sea custom. taking
his choice between paying his footing
and being made a spread EAGLE. e.,
tied to the rigging until he complied.
The toll demanded by the sailors in
such cases is a bottle of grog.
The three diplomats arrived safely
in the top, Messrs. Clay and Adams
going through the .'lubber's hole"
and MIR. Russell. who had been q sailor,
over the bullock shrouds. In the
meantime the tQpmen, who had been
duly advised of the joke, bounced
upon the three adventures. and made
them fast to the weather rigging.
Messrs. Adams and Russell submitted
quietly, promised to pay their footing,
and We're at once released but Mr..
Clay resisted vigorously, became stub
born and indignant, and could not be
induced to promise anything. His
companions left him tied to the rig
cling and reached the deck. Capt.
Angus, learning what was going on.
instantly ordered Mr.. Clay to be re-
leased. The Kentuckian came down
in q towering rage, and an angry scene
followed. He could not be persuaded
to look upon the affair as a jest. Tho
consequence was a serious rupture be-
tween himself, Capt. Angus, and the
other two gentlemen. With Mr..
Russell he became recOnciled after a
time but not SO with Mr.. Adams, to
whom. it vas believed on board the
ship, he sent a challenge to fight a
duel. No hostile meeting took place,
however, but on their arrival at Got
tenberg the gentlemen went to diff
ferent hotels.
TIfc IN 7 p bod n Nnrv- to 80 o,1.n-
involving the death of the gallant
contrivance. Mr.. Clay, who was as
| ever knew, and l was acquainted
complaint to be made to the Secretary
of the Navy against the Captain for
''unwarrantable conduct in permitting
and conniving at the aforesaid insult
to official dignity" Capt. Angus re-
piled discourteously, and was sus-
pended. He reioined, and was ar
rested under specific charges from the
Secretary of the Navy. This drew
from the unfortunate sailor an angry
remonstrance: and, under the excite
ment of what he deemed gross in JUS
tice, his mind became de1anged. and
he ended the unhappy controversy by
committing suicide. At the time he
was in command of the Brooklyn
Navy Yard.
That John Randolph, the old Nir-
ginia gentleman. whose adhesion to
the code was a matter of faith, should
have once refused a challenge. may
seem almost as incredible as the con-
duct of Mr.. Clay on the occasion al
luded to; yet that is the fact. On the
31st of December. 1907, Mr.. Randolph,
then a member of Congress, intro
duced and read certain documents
relative to the conduct of Gen. James
Wilkinson, in command of the army
at the time of Aaron Burr's conspiracy,
charging Wilkinson with having be-
trayed his trust and with having been
in the pay of the King of Spain. Mr..
Randolph also called on Mr.. Clark of
New Orleans, the father of Mrs. Myra
Clark Gaines and a member of the
House, who, he said. was able, IT
compelled, to give still more damnlng
evidence: and concluded by moving
that the President of the United States
be requested to cause an inquiry to be
made into the conduct of Gen. W1lkln-
son. The result of this accusation is a
matter of history: but not so well
known is an incident connected with
it which accounts for the inveterate
rancor with which Randolph followed
up his startling disclosures. Wllkln-
son sent a friend to Randolph, com
planning of the injury done TO his
reputation and demanding satlsfac-
ton. The next day Mr.. Randolph
returned an answer, declaring his be-
lief in the truth of the charges against
Wilkinson. and concluding in the fol
lowing words: In you. sir, | can
recognize no right to hold me &C
countable for my public or private
opinion of your character that would
not subject me to an equal claim from
Col. Burr or Sergeant Dunbagh. |
cannot descend to your level. This is
my final answer" Wilkinson posted
Randolph as a "prevaricating, base.
eliminating ~scoundrel, pOltroon and
coward" The naughty Nirginian