Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-10-05
THE CRUEL CODE.

81 read that interview in the Post
Dispatch" said well known citizen re-
Gently, Gin which Mr.. Lewis claims
that most of the New Orleans duels he
had known were nothing but murders,
the result of that frivolous, bravado tyle
which was so common before the war.
lie was right, too. Many of them which
I have witnessed were simple murder
but the almighty code removed that
stain. The rules of 'honah' had been so
Nefined and fined down again that often
8 man would get himself so entangled
by accident that, without the slightest
desire to do so he would have to go out and
kill or get killed just because the code
said that was the proper thing to do.
Take the famous Graves-Cilley duel as an
example. Cilley's epitaph should havet
been, Killed for technicality."
''Do you remember the particulars"
81 do, very well, for l was friend Of
the parties, and was present on the field
when Cilley was killed. You perhaps
remember that j. Watson Webb, the
editor, wished to challenge Congressman
Cilley for anallusion Cilley had made to
him in debate. Congressman Graves
carried Webb's challenge. Cilley de-
Glined to receive it. Graves grew eX-
cited Immediately. He wrote to Cilley,
demanding to know and to have stated
I'm writing whether he (Cilley) had not
said in refusing to accept Webb'S note
that he meant no disrespect to me; that
y0u could not consent to get into diff
.cuHies With conductors of public jour
mails for anvthiug you might say in de-
bate, and that your objection to receiv-
ang Webb's note was not because of any
personal objection to him as gentleman.
Then began a course of hair splitting,
which looks nonsensical enough, but
which ended in the murder of Cilley. 1t
seems that The latter had taken the very
grounds expressed in Graves note, but
that he Ceclined to put them into writ
ing. He did not think that any man
had a right to demand this from him.
His reply was; L decline to receive
Col. Webb's note because l do not care
TO be drawn intoa controversy with him.
/ neither affirmed nor denied anything
concerning his character as gentleman,
but did say intended by the refusal no
disrespect to you
sEThis,did not satisfy fire eating Graves.
He must have an answer in detail to the
questions he had put. So he wrote again,
demanding to know explicitly whether
he would dlscla1m any objection to Webb
as gentleman, saying in terms: L in
Quire whether you declined to receive
his communication on the ground of any
personal objection to him as gentleman
sr man of honor. L shall expect cate
gorical answer
--CIlley replied: Il regret that my note
of yesterday was unsatisfactory to you;
but cannot admit your right to pro-
pound the question 20 which you de-
mand a categorical answer, and there
fore decline any further response to it
Graves responded as follows: AS
You refused to receive note which |
bore to YOU from Col. Webb, and have
refused to decline on grounds which
would exonerate me from all RESPONSE
bility in the affair, am bound to ask
. that satisfaction, etc.
son this provocation the parties met.
AfCgT tic first fire a reconciliation was
attempted. After consultation Cilley
authorized his second to make the fol-
lowing statement: l meant no disre-
spect to Mr.. Graves in refusing to accept
then, and do now, the highest respect
: and kindest feelings. l declined to re-
: ceive WeDb's note because l did not
choose to be brought into controversy
with him.
~fItshould be stated here that the note
which caused the trouble was not chal-
lenge, but a letter asking an explanation
This did not suit Graves. Cilley further
stated that he refused to disclaim any
disrespect for Col. Webb, because he did
mot choose to be drawn into an explana-
Ffion concerning him. At this shots were
AGAIN exchanged Cilley's second again
claimed that the matter ought to end
here. He stated that his principal had
fully demonstrated his courage, that he
had expressed full respect for Mr.
Graves, and that the matter ought to enc
here. Mr.. Wise Graves second) re
piled that Mr.. CilIey had already, in an
-afher correspondence, disclaimed disre
-spect to Mr.. Graves, but that Graves fell
bound to protect the honor of his friend
Col. Webb. Mr.. Cilley was again request
ed to say that he did not intend to rehec
ON Webb's character in declining hi
note. He replied in the same words
that he declined to receive Webb's note
because he did not wish to be drawn in
itoa controversy with him. The parties
then took places a third time. The
sighting was being done with rifles at sc
yards. At the fire Cilley fell and ex
.pired in few minutes"
Was not Webb present. on the field?'
No; but he wanted to be. Webb was
senraged and Inundated beyond expires
sion at Cilley's refusal to accept his note
and on the morning that Cillev and Grave
went out to fight Webb went to tn,
4ormer's room for the purpose of fightins
him with pistols on the spot or forcini
him to arrange a meeting. Cilley wa
mot there, of course. Webb immediate
lily thought that he was fighting Grave
On the old Bladensburgh grounds ant
rushed out there with his friends. Thei
progrimme was that upon reaching tn
ground Webb should approach Cille.
and demand meeting and should Civ,
Ciiley notice that if he pointed his riff
mt Graves, or attempted to fight the due
with him, he webb would kill him OF
the spot. If Cilley refused the meeting
Webb was to cover him with his pisto
;and shoot him the instant he raised hi
giae toward Graves. OF course, at this
ar before this, Webb and his friend
would be attacked by Graves and hi
seconds, who would be bound to protec
Cilley. If the duel had been fought a
BladeHSburg it is probable that terrible
butchery would have been the result"
political duels were not common in
the south?"
Eyes, twenty-five years ago southern
,ers always fought, and about ANYTHING
Political feuds were always settled tina
way. The duel between Mason and Nc
Carly of Virginia was case in point
Trouble had long existed between tn,
men, who were cousins. Mason was
United States senator, and resigned
TO fight McCarty. He wrote
<eMy dear sir, have m,
commission for the sole and special pun
pose of being at liberty to fight you
duel / have effected such arrange