The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-08
TODAY IN HISTORY
nThe Purltan and the RIacklea."
WHAT HAPPENED APRIL s

Because John Randolph styled John
Quincy Adams and Henry Clay ''the
Puritan and the Blackleg," Clay fought
his memorable, but bloodless, duel with
Randolph on April s, 1926. During the
exciting campaign when John Quincy
Adams won the presidency. the fight lay
chiefly between himself and his opponent
Andrew Jackson. Henry Clay was, at
that time, an important figure in politics
Clay was no friend OF Jackson. nor OF
Crawford, another candidate. and even
he and Adams were not and had never
been, close political friends. But when
Clay announccd that he would vote for
Adams, his adherents followed his exam
pie, and Adams won. receiving the votes
OF thirteen states while seven states
voted FOR Jackson and four lor Crawford
Adams made Clay secretary of state.
and the jackson party raised the cry thar
there had been n bargain, a corrupt bar
gain between Adams and Clay. This cry
was kept up for four years. and IL PLAYED
an important part in the next presidcn-
tial election, Clay got into trouble with
John Randolph about the matter. Ran
dolph was n remarkable man in many
ways. He had entered congress I'm 1893
when scarcely more than a boy and had
soon attracted attention by his tall. awk
ward appearance. his unsoyerpablc tenn
per his keen wit and biting sarcasm.
During his long career In congress.
Randolph made many an enemy quail
when the object OF his sarcasm was
pointed out by his long, hoDy fingers. As
a Wit he has never been cQualcd on the
floor OF congress. He usually talked ss
he chose about any one; and on one oc.
casion referred TO Adams and Clay as
"thc Puritan and Blackleg' Clay was
angry when he heard this He had
chafed rcstlessly under public accusa-
lions. Now he could contain himself no
longer. He challenged Randolph to a
duel, The latter was not angry with
Clay. lie had called him a blackleg; but
ne often used such terms without eN-
Pecting them TO be taken too seriously.
le1 ,.s1c al 10, h.. god nd
the two men met March S. on the right
bank OF the Potomac river, within the
state of Virginia, with loaded pistols
They each fred once without effect Clay
antagonists coat.
Randolph then Gred into the air. threw
down his pistol. and stepped toward Clay
and extended his hand. This was too
much. Clay's face changed in an instant;
he threw his pistol to the ground and ran
20 meet Randolph and the latter said.
with mock seriousness:
Mr. Clay. you owe me new coat.
I'm glad the debt is no greater said
Clay and the two men INDUCED in a
long. fervent handshake. Afterward
him uortally wounded for all the land
that is watered by the king OF floods and
all its tributary streams"
The story of this duel was widely cir
culated and It's outcome considerably
amused the public rather than gave them
much serious concern John Randolph
was the seventh In descent from Poca-
hontas. the beloved daughter OF the great
emperor of the Powhatans, and usually
added the suffix. "of Roanoke" to his
name.
The historian thus sums up his char
acter: He was brilliant without sound
sense; morose and rascible, with a kind
ly heart toward friends; an apparently
gloomy fataNst-almost an atheist at
times-yet overflowing. frequently. with
pious thoughts and sentiments.
1T is said that on one occasion, he
ascended a lofty spur Of the Blue Ridge
at dawn. and from that magnificent OBJ
servatory saw the sun rise. AS its light
burst In beauty and glory over the vast
panorama before him. he turned to his
servant and said, with deep emotion
Tom, II anybody says there Is no God
tell them they lle Thus he expressed
the deep sense which his soul felt of
the presence OF a Great Creator"
April is the day on which Ponce de
Leon first landed In Florida G5I3)s on
which steam navigation was established