The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-06-02
Randolph and Clay.

John Randolph's duel with Henry
Clay is probably one of the most inter
esting incidents in his life. Clay was
his equal in brilliance. courage, and
ability, and from the beginning these
men, both born to command, and we'll
fitted for high positions among men,
were antagonistic, and after Clay had
control of the department of State this
antagonism developed into absolute and
virulent hostility, more especially on
Randolph's part. The duel originated
from some biting and slanderous remarks
made by Randolph about Clay. When
the message of the President on the
Panama mission was sent to the Senate
Randolph did not like the tone Of the
message, and der ounced it and its
authors, Adams and Clay. In speaking
of one passage in it he said: "Here I
plant my foot; here.I fling defiance right
into his teeth; here I throw the gauntlet
to him and the bravest of his compeers,
to come forward and defend these lines.
In concluding his speech he said: 81
was defeated. horse, foot and dragons
CUT up, clean broke down, by the
coalition of Biefl and Black
Gcorge-by the combination un-
heard of till then, of the Pu-
ritan with the bla,ckleg." This, with
the remark that a letter from General
Salazar, the Mexican minister. submitted
by the President to the Senate, ''bore
the ear-marks of having been manu-
factured or forged by the secretary of
state" stung Clay. He demanded an
explanation. This being fatty refused,
q challenge was the result, and these 'two
foremost men of the nation" met on the
''feld of honor" Randolph never in
tended to hurt Clay if it was avoidable,
and when honor was satisfied and no in
jury was done Randolph said to Colonel
Benton, II would not have seen him
mortally or even doubtfully wounded
for all the land that is watered by the
King of Floods and all his tributary
streams" On the conclusion of the af-
fair Clay said to Randolph, knowing
that he had fired in the cir, II trust in
God, my dear sir, ttat you are untouched.
After what has occurred would not
have harmed you for the world"
He seldom missed an opportunity to
attack Mr.. Clay, nor did he ever fail to
come out victorious in these verbal wars.
During q stormy debate over a measure
in which he, as usual, opposed Mr..
Clay, who was the Speaker of the
House, he made a long and fiery
speech, full of bitter sarcasm and per-
sonal abuse leveled ut the chair. He
drew n picture of Mr.. Clay as he was re-
ported to have been in early life, in the
following severe language: Suppose,
Mr.. Speaker, that young man, emigrat-
ing from Virginia to Kentucky, utterly
lacking in moral principlc--a rouc and q
blackleg, should by trickery aud dis
honorable dealings, manage to have him
self elected member of the House.
Suppose this man, by bargain and sale,
should succeed in securing the seat you
now occupy, suppose that young man to
be yourself, what"
"The gentleman is out of order," in
terrupted the Speaker.
II am in ORDER" said. Mr.. Randolph,
calmly. The chair decided against him,
and Mr. Randolph appealed to the
House, which sustained the chair.
81 have nothing more to say, MIR.
Speaker" said Randolph, 81 drew a
picture from Imagination. You applied
it to yourself, and the House has sus-
tanned you in your application. ."-CleOe-
land Lea3er.