The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-03-28
Of" He says further, "No amount Of
fasteningS could keep out the pillagerp.
Nothing was too sacred to be stolsn or
destroyed"
Clay and RanaolnI,.

|
The frequent allusions of late TO his.
toric duels calls our attention TO that
| meeting" which connects the names OF
Henry Clay and John Randolph. Both
were k,outhern men, being natives OF
| Virginia, aud yet there was lifa.lor1
difference in their opinions. Clay was
an advocate for the war of 1912, while
Randolph opposed it, aud their ahtag-
onism appeared in frequent collisions.
They toor opposite eides in the Missouri
compromise, which Randolph resisted
with all his powers. The latter entered
Congress at swenty-six, and was for al
most thirty years ono Of the most inter-
esting characters of tho capital. His
pnngent repartee, his brilliant wit and
his fervent oratory gave him @ distinc-
ton which has never been attained by
any other. Congressman except John
Quincy Adams. The expression "mas-
terly inactivity" is > sample of his gift at
word coinage. 1t WAS conceded by his
friends that he vas often partially insane.
but his freaks never brought him under
lunatic commission. Ny former pastor
Games w. Alexander, predecessor of
John HalI who met him occasionally.
held this opinion. He wrote from Wiz.
ginia to friend, Everybody fears him.
and his power Of sarcasm and invective
are such that no one pretends to contra
DICT him" Randolph Ta5 Jno OF the
most remarkable horse fanciers of his
day, and his stud included a score of the
very finest breeds, some of which wero
nevor used. He once attended public
meeting dressed in O suit of VirPipis
homespuD, with leather breeches, and on
the same occasion whipped one of his
servants III the court yard. Such were
among the ecceptricities of this strange
man, but he followed the example Of
Washington in bequeathing liberty to
his oIaves.
In 1924 John Quincy Adams was
elected President. and Henry Clay, who
had been one of the rival candidates, was
made Secretary of State. This appoint
ment aroused Rando)ph's indignation,
and he publicly denounced is as "com-
bination between the puritan and the
blackleg." Clay could do no more than
send q challenge, which was accepted,
and both were old enough to know better.
The evening before the duel Randolph
sent for General Hamilton, of South
Carolina, and told him he intended 70
receive Clay's fire without returning it,
adding, nothing shall induce me to
harm q hair OF his head. I will not
make his wife widow nor his children
orphans" His eyes filled with tears,
and after @ brief chat his visitor took
leave, but returned at midnight. He
found Randolph reading Paradise LOST
on whose beauty he began to expatiate
in his usual eloquent manner. The duel
was then mentioned, and Randolph's de.
cision was objected to, since his second
had refused to see him shot down in such
e manner. "Weli, sir" eaid Randolph,
eff I see the devil in Clay's eye and
malice prepence to take my life, then /
may change my mind"
The next afternoon the meeting took
place on the banks of the Potomac.
Randolph saw ''no devil in Clsy's eye,"
but the calm expression Of man who
felt the Importance of his honor. Says
3eEnil.os. ."I shall 1eTaf forget the
scene as long as live. Here were two
of the most extraordinary men our
country had ever produced about to
meet in mortal combat. I took Ran
dolph's hand while the pistols were
loading, but felt not the quivering of
one pulsation. He turned to me and
said, Clay is calm, but not vindictive.
l hold my purpose, Hamilton-remem.
Der this.' The meeting was soon con.
summated. Clay fired without effect, and
Randolph discharged his pistol il the
air. Az soon as Clay cav this he in
stantly approached his former antagonist
and exclaimed with unconcealed sensi.
bility, 4 trust in God, my dear sir, you
are untouched. After what has occurred
/ would not nave harmed you for thou
sand worlds" They parted, and never
were embittered again by political strife.
Soon afterward Randolph retired from
Congress. and on his last yiHit to Wash.
ington he held final interview with his
former opponent, which was of tender
character. - -