Evening star., 1936-09-27
RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE WAS BRILLIANT SON OF VIRGINIA
MERCIFUL IN HIS GREAT DUEL
Fiction Mixed With Facts in Stories of His Dominant Place
American Life as Associate of Great Leaders-F1 Real
Romance-Attitude on Slavery Question.

was the political meteor Of Con-
gress.'"
At the time Of the duel Randolph
was serving in the Senate, having
been appointed there in 1925.
1t is said he did not like Clay, nor
any other Kentuckian, for that mat
ter. Indeed, it might be truthfully
said that there were many people
whom he did not like. and one very
bad habit he had was in expressing
his personal dislikes in public. and
these in scathing terms, which he did
in the speech he made in the Senate
which brought on the duel.
John Quincy Adams, the reader will
probably recall, was elected President
by the House of Representatives. par
ticularly to the dislike of those favor
ing Andrew jackson, who had re-
ceived SO electoral votes to "a re-
ceived by Mr. Adams. incidentally.
the election of 1924 seems to have
been a free-for-all, since, besides these
two candidates, there were also in
the running for the presidency Henry
Clay and William H. Crawford, and
for Vice President John c. Calhoun,
Nathan Sanford, Nathaniel Macon
and Martin Van Buren. Henry Clay
and Andrew Jackson also received
votes for Vice President.
Evidently, Mr.. Randolph did not like
the selections made by the House, and
he did not like the Presidents foreign
policy, and he did not like Mr.. Clay
for accepting the office of Secretary
of State, and maybe he had dislikes
for a few other things besides. At any
rate, this Is the way he paid his re-
spects in the Senate to the President
and Mr.. Clay:
THE letter from Gen. Salazar, Mex
! ican Minister to Washington sub
mitted by the Preident to the Senate,
bears the earmark Of having been
manufactured or forged by the Sec
retary of State. denounce the ad-
ministration as being puritanic, dip
lomatic, black-legged coalition. Fur
thermore. I hold myself responsible
for all have said. Here I plant my
foot; here I fling defiance right into
his teeth (the President's); here ]
throw the gauntlet to him, and the
bravest of his compeers, to come for
ward and defend these lines" etc.
| As A result, challenge was sent by
Mr.. Clay to Mr.. Randolph. and
the latter accepted it. Both parties
selected seconds: Mr.. Randolph. Gen
Hamilton and Col. Tattnall and Mr.
Clay was represented by Senator
Johnson Of Louisiana and Gen. Jes-
sup.
The place, We are told, was at the
Little Falls. just beyond the Chain
Bridge, at that time a thick forest,
and 35 years later spot described as
being at the base of Fort Marcy.
Mr.. Randolph had declared his in
tention of not firing at Mr.. Clay
However, at the first count Of lone
two. three!" both men fired. without
effect. OF the second exchange oi
shots. Senator Benton says:
Mr.. Randolph left me to resume
his post, utterly refusing to explain
out of the Senate anything that he
had said therein, and with the positive
declaration that he would not return
the next fire. I withdrew little
way into the woods and kept my eyes
fixed on Mr.. Randolph, whom then
knew to be the only one in danger
I saw him receive the fire of Mr.
Clay, saw the gravel torn up in the
same place, saw Mr.. Randolph raise
his pistol and discharge 1t into the
air, saying, I do not fire at you, Mr.
Clay! Mr.. Randolph Immediately ad-
vanced. offering his hand. The mo-
ment Clay saw that Randolph had
thrown away his fire. advancing with
extended hand, he said with emotion;
"'I trust in God, my dear sir, you
are untouched. After what has oc-
Cured I would not have harmed you
for a thousand worlds
They met halfway, shook hands
Mr.. Randolph remarking jocosely
You owe me coat. Mr.. Clay
The second bullet had passed
through the skirt of his flannel dress
ing gown, very near the hip. Mr.
Clay promptly and pleasantly replied
I am glad the debt is no greater"
Indeed, it is quite evident that Ran.