Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1883-07-31
TINE oRAygs-orLLEr DUEL.

In 1898 Gen. james Watson Webb
challenged Mr. Nathan Cilley, a mem
Der Of Congress from Maine, for mis-
representing this bank transaction ON
the floor Of Congress. Mr.. Cillcy re-
fused to meet him, ON the ground that
he was not responsible for words spoken
in debate. Mr.. Graves, Of Kentucky,
Webb's friend, inquired whether he took
any exception to Webb personally, TO
which Cilley replied, Certainly not !"
but that he could not and would not be
responsible for words spoken in debate.
Graves reported the result to Webb,
who agreed 10 consider the affair ut an
end. Subsequently Mr.. Cilley's friends,
including Mr.. Benton, censuredin no
measured language Cilley's ground Of
refusing the challenge. Graves related
10 the Hon. Henry A. Wise, the present
Governor of Virginia, what had occurred
and the final settlement of the affair,
when Wise told him that Cilley's friends
would compel him to deny the ground
Of settlement, and urged him 10 get
Cilley's signature to a letter recapitu-
lating what had occurred, in a manner
which was calculated to place him
in a very equivocal position. Graves
adopted his counsel, and told Webb
what he intended. Webb begged
him to do nothing Of the kind, as il was
driving Cilloy intoacorner, insisting that
Inc webb being satisfied and the mat
ter disposed Of, nobody had a right to
NEEDLE with or open it, and begged
Graves not to heed Mr.. Wises advice,
which could not fail, in the then-heated
state Of the public mind, to lead 10 dis
astrous results. But Graves said: "No,
/ am advised To do this for the protec-
ton of my own honor, and shall com
pei him 10 sign this letter. II is my
affair / am attending 10, and not yours.''
Webb continued his circumstances and
his entreaties 10 let the matter rest but
all in vain. Graves had been told 10y
Wise that his own honor required the
signature to the letter, and ho deter
mined 10 have it. Never was there CIV
en- such thoughtless counsel to a high
minded and honorable man, and the
consequences were just what Webb had
predicted. Cilley, who was a brave and
well-disposed man, smarting under the
censure of his friends for having simply
done his duty in refusing 10 fight "A duel
for words spoken in debate, most
peremptorily refused to sign the
letter rendered 10 him or to
make any explanation whatever upon
the subject-secretly rejoicing, no
doubt, at the opportunity of proving
that he had not declined the duel from
personal fear. Thereupon Graves sent
a challenge to Cilley by Wise. They
fought with rifles, and Cilley fell. Webb
from that time TO the present has never
spoken TO Wise, and has always held
him morally responsible for the sad re-
suit, as he also did Graves and all who
knew the particulars of the affair In
the Presidential contest of 1874 Mr..
Wise attempted to make Mr.. Clay re-
sponsible for the death of Cilley, but
Mr.. Clay called forth the statement from
Graves, which completely exonerated
Mr.. Clay, and in which he stated that,
after the matter had been finally set
tied TO the entire satisfaction of Gen.
Webb and himself, Mr.. Wise had in
duced him TO demand from Mr.. Cilley
the letter which led 10 the duel, in Iii.
rect opposition to the entreaties OF
Webb; and further, that Mr.. Clay knew
nothing of the matter until Mr.. Cilley
had refused to sign the letter which
Mr.. Wise had counseled, and when the
question Of veracity had thus been
raised and fight became inevitable
Harpor's Weekly, 1853.