The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-03-28


between a member of the
United States senate,
John Randolph Of Virginia, and Henry
Clay Of Kentucky, secretary of state.
Back of the duel lay the conflict be-
tween two political theories, those of
President John Quincy Adams, sup
. ported by Clay, and those of a future
President, Andrew Jackson, supported
by Randolph. But the immediate cause
OF the duel was speech which RAN
dolph had made in the senate.
The debate which produced this
speech was of minor Importance. 1t
had to do with a resolution calling
for the production of certain docu-
ments. But Randolph made it the oc-
casion for such a vitriolic speech as
only he could make. He assailed the
administration, paying particular at
:tention to the "close association in 1t
OF the austere, correct and pious
Adams with the frequently drunken,
necessarily gambling Clay" and end
ing up with these famous words: II
was defeated horse, foot and dragons
cut up and clean broke down by the
coalition of Blifil (Adams) and Black
George (Clay)-by the combination.
unheard of till then, of the Puritan
with the blackleg."
Heretofore Clay had ignored the
whispering campaign against him, based
on his drinking and his gambling. But
this was denunciation which he
could not disregard. He challenged
Randolph to duel and as word of
the affair got out the excitement in
Washington was tremendous Thomas
Hart Benton, senator of Missouri, by
permission Of the principals, was al
lowed to attend the duel which was
held on.the afternoon of April 8, 1926.
Noted for his eccentricity and rum
ming true to form, even on the duel
ling field, Randolph appeared for the
encounter with a white flannel wrap
per over his coat. Despite the fact
that his seconds had haired" the trig-
ger of his pistol, he insisted upon
keeping on a pair of thick buckskin
gloves even though these would de-
stroy his delicacy of touch and per-
haps cause him to fire before the word
was given. And that is exactly what
happened. AS he stood holding his pis-
toll, muzzle downward, it was dis
charged Clay's seconds Immediately
protested but Clay silenced them and
demanded that his opponent be given
another pistol.
When the word was given both men
fired but neither shot took effect, al
though Randolph's bullet nearly struck
Clay in the leg and Clay's bullet
passed close to Randolphs waist. Ben
ton Immediately rushed in and tried
to stop the fight, but Randolph angrily
refused. He had determined to make
a grand gesture and was willing to
fmperil his life to make it. So the
pistols were reloaded and again the
men fired. The secretary of state put
his bullet through the senator's coat,
but the latter purposely fired high in
the air over Clay's head. At this, Clay
rushed forward with outstretched
hand. II trust in God, my dear sir, you
are untouched. After what has oc-
Cured, would not have harmed you
for thousand worlds !" he exclaimed.
"You owe me a coat. Mr.. Clay" re-
piled Randolph with a smile.
The whole affair is Characteristic of
John Randolph of Roanoke, for surely
he was the strangest American of his
time and perhaps of all time. Gerald
w. johnson in a recent biography of
him, published by Minton, Balch and
Company, calls him "A Political Fan
tastic'' and perhaps fantastic" is a
more apt word than either eccentric
or strange when applied to his life,
both private and political.
Declaring that she has come down
In history with one Of the most terri
Bile regulations ever attached to an
American politician who never was
convicted of murder, or treason or
theft" the biographer points out that
he was in public life for third of
! century, during which he served as
J congressman and Jefferson's floor
leader in the house of representatives.
as senator from Virginia, as ambas-
sador to Russia, as a member of the
constitutional convention of Virginia
and on many commissions and spe-
cial missions. But, he declares, he is
not remembered for these services.