The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-04-23
Famous Encounters Between
Members OF Congress.

Us
Senators and Representatives during
their tern as members, have been killed
iu-duels.
The most tragic duel in Congress was
that in which the eloquent Jonathan Cii-
ley Of Maine was killed by w j. Graves
of Kentucky. Ciiley was the most bril-
liant Northern Representative Of his
time.
The matter was from tie reading ii le-
bate by Cilley of a report concerning
James Watson Webb, then the editor OF
the New York Courier. Webb sent
challenge by Graves, which Cilley refused
to receive, as he bad no desire for a quar-
rel. Graves considered this refusal as an
insult, aud demanded satisfaction. So
much was then said in Congress b
Southcrners about the c)wardice OF
Northern men that Cillcy felt called upon
to accept. Webb sent his challenge Feb
ruary 2l, 1888, Cilley was killed the 24th.
The parties met IN an open field little
outside the district, on the MARYLAND
side, just at the close of the wintry after
noon. Graves had with him Henry A.
Wise of Virginia aud Senator Crlttenden
Of Kentucky Cilley was accompanied
by congressman Jones Of Wisconsin and
Bynum Of North Carolina. congressman
Calhoun and HaweS of Kentucky looked
on as spectators. The distance was
eighty yards, the weapons rifles. The
first time Cilley fired first, but neither
was hit Cilleys friends then asked for
settlement. The surgeon urged that
the demands Of honor had been satisfied
Wise insisted that the fight should 90 on,
and again the men took their places.
This time Graves fired first, and again both
missed. Graves, as Wise said, per
emrtorially and repeatedly insisted oD
another shot. At this point the
outsiders demanded that the fight
should stop. Wise would hear moth
ing Of it unless Cilley would declare
Webb to be man of honor or persist in
his refusal to accept the challenge on his
privilege as a member. Cilley declined
to do either, but again expressed his
avOwal of no ill-.eeling towards Graves.
1t was near dark when the two men again
took their places. If this shot does not
settle it, will propose to shorten the dis
tance, said Wise, and it was agreed to-
Both men fired the third time very near
ly togethe. Cilley dropped his rifle,
beckoned ~ his second. said to him. ~
am shot put his hand to the wound,
fell, and in two minutes was dead. Early
in the day Webb had agreed with two
friends to 60 around to Cilley's room.
Then they were to force him to fight
Webb on the spot, or gives Webb
meeting before Graves. If he refused to
do either they were to shatter his right
arm Not finding him, they went around
to Bladensburg where the duel was ex-
pected to occur. They agreed that
Webb should then approach Ci!ley. claim
the quarrel, insist on fighting him, and
assure him that if he lifted his rifle on
Graves. Webb would shoot him on the
spot. 1t was supposed by them that
Wise would raise his rifle on Webb, where
upon it was agreed that Webb should in
stantly shoot Cilley, and then they should
defend themselves the best way they
could. Not finding the duelists they de-
termincd in case Cilley had killed Graves
to murder him at the first opportunity.
This determination they had the hardi-
hood to publish in Webb's New York
paper. A great funeral was given to
Cilley three days after his death, and a
special committee of seven members APP
pointed to investigate the manner of his
death The inquiry lasted several weeks.
SO bitter were the friends of Graves that
threats were made against the committee.
Toucey of Connecticut, afterwards Buch-
anan's Secretary OF the Navy. was the
chairman, and he said that the committee
had been warned to be on their guard.
They reported that the whole body Of
duelists had violated the priv !eges OF
the House The eye of reason, they
said, can discover, in the whole course
of Mr.. Ciley, no offense towards those
who pursued him. Nor can his death be
vindicated or excused by any circumstance
! whatsoever, not even by that custom,
which was formerly supposed TO be a
proof of some kind OF courage, but which
| has In modern times degenerated into a
| game of chance and a scramble Tor undue
advantages. They therefore recommen
| bed that Graves be expelled and Wise
censured. The debate went on for three
weeks. Graves friends delayed action
| by every conceivable means. At first
two-thirds of the house seemed determ
/ ined to support the committee. But they
were finally wearied out. At one time
Graves tried to prevent the report from
going into the G}obe. This was allowed,
| and then the matter was Indefinitely post
poned. That fall Graves was reelected
to Congress, and died ten years after
ward. None of the parties were tried in
in any way. Crttenden was afterwari,
! Governor of Kentucky. Seua or again,
and la'er Attorney-Genera Of tie United
States under President Fillmore. Jones
of Wisconsin, who bad acted as Ciliey !,
sec nd, felt aggrieved at the committee :
report. and was unseated from Congress
soon after. But ten years ter he turn
ed up in the senate from Iowa, where he
served until near the close of Buchanan :
term Ills ,oyalty became suspected
when the war broke out, ana he spent
some time in Fort Warren. Boston har-
bor Bynum. Ciilcy' other friend, soon
after fought due with Jcnifer OF Mary
land. in winch several shots were ex
changed without harm to either party
In the next C0rgless he had Z j iilculty
on the f por Of he House with Congress
man Garland % Louisiana, and then wa,
lost TO sic mt.
The first Congressional challenge was II
| l7q7 when Thomas Btunt, member
from North Carolina called out George
Thatcher, then in the House from Mas
sachusetts and aiterward Justice OF III,
Supreme Court 1t rose out of some hot
words in debate Thatcher replied to tht
effect that being husband and father
he could not thiFk Of accepting the invi
tation without the consent OF his wife
then at home in Massachusetts. whom h.
would Immediately INSULT. That wa
tie end of it.
Dewitt Clinton was challenged i
1903 BY Jonathan DAYTON Of New Jer
; Scy. Both were Senators. Clinton ha'
a cu,ed Dayton Of utterirg an untrut
: .in debate Wien Dayton sent de
5 maud for a meeting. Clinton said i
r writing that he had not intended til
: slightest imputation upon the veracit
General Dayton. This dmeRde wa