Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1905-01-11
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[Repsodaced from Colnmbia Telescope.
April %, 1920

>h >h CatuIudys Vue ON uay OF April,
1926, at half past four O'Clock, a
meeting took place between Mr..
Clay and Mr.. Randolph, upon a call
of the former in consequence of GER
tain expressioEt used by the latter in
a recent debate in the Senate, which
Mr.. Clay considered dTensiye, and
applied personally to hin
Mr. Randolph was attended by
Col. Tetnall, of Georgia, and Major
Hamilton, of South Carolina; Mr..
Clay by Gen. Jesup, of the Army,
and Mr.. Johnston, of Louisiana.
The parties met on the ground,
exchanged salutations, and took their
stations.
The pistol of John Randolph,
which was suspended by his side,
went off. II was perceived to be an
accident and SO pronounced by Mr..
Clay. Immediately, however, upon
the report of the pistol, Mr.. Ran
dolph turned to Col. TatDall an
said, 81 told you so.'' Col. Tatnall,
then turned to Gen. Jesrp, observed,
"Sir, the fault is mine; Mr.. Ran
dolph protested against the use of
the hair trigger; it was at my ex-
press instance the hair was sprung"
Another pistol was Immediately
handed to Mr.. Randolph, the parties
resumed their stations and exchanged
shots without effect.
Immediately after the report of
the pistols, while Col. Tatnall and
Gen. Jesup were reloading, Col. Ben
ton, of Missouri, rode up and united
with Mr.. Johnson and Major Hamil-
ton in an effort to stop the affair,
which proved Intellectual. The par
ties again took their stations, and
the word being given, Mr.. Clay
raised his pistol and fred, and the
ball passed through Mr.. Randolph's
clothes-Mr. Randolph reserved his
tire-holding his pistol perpendicu-
larly up, said, 81 do not fire at you,
Mr.. Clay" and discharged his pistol
in the air. He added, "It was not
my intention to have fired at you at
all, the unfortunate circumstance of
my pistol going off accidentally
changed my determination" At
this instant Col. Benton came up and
said, eyes, Mr.. Randolph told me so
expressly eight days ago." The
parties simultaneously approached
towards each other, both with 'ex-
tended hands, Mr.. Randolph remark
ing, "Sir, ! give you my hand"-
which was cordially received by Mr..
Clay; and the affair thus honorably
and happily closed.
The friends of the parties, without
consulting their respective princi-
pals, in the hope of terminating the
difference in a manner alike honor
able to both, were induced to delay
the period of meeting for few days.
Intelligencer.
This much from the statement of
the friends of the parties upon the
ground. Justice to Mr.. Randolph,
to Virginia and to the people require
more. The challenge was sent from
Mr.. Clay to demand satisfaction for
words used by Mr.. Randolph, in
debate, and without specifying the
particular language excepted to.
Mr.. Randolph Immediately deter
mined to accept the challenge. He
called on Col. Benton, and after
ascertaining that that gentleman was
a relative of Mrs. Clay. sold him that
he could not ask him to be his friend
on the field. "But, Sir" said he, "I
have come to make you the deposi-
tory of my confidence, to be used by
you at the time when, in your opin-
ion, it shall be proper to disclose it.
/ now say to you," he continued,
"Mr. Clay has challenged me. /
have no explanation or apology to
give. ] have determined to accent
his invitation. / will receive his fire,
without returning it. 1 (said Mr..
Randolph) am alone II fall, there