.11211 i DIV%
TOW ANDA:
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scautba2 m ot iunp, /nip 28, issq,,
:BEICION'S HISTORY.
, rRAcr IRON BENTON'S " THIRTY TEARS lIWM
ro TED STATES SENATE : ”.--IN COURSE OF FUEILIoi.
11'04 a MESSRS APPLETON.]
1610.—John Quincy Adams, President.
:rt
o . e . between Mr. Clay and Mr. Randolph.
Ras Saturday, the first day of April , towards
0 . the Senate not being that day-in session, that
Randolph came to my room at Brown's Hotel,
olothout explaining the reason of the question)
ineif 1 was the blood-relation of Mrs. Clay?
, s srered that 1 was, and he immediately replied
put an end to a request that he had wished
.tnake of me. and then went on to tell me that he
received a challenge trom Mr. Clay—had
was ready to go out—and would! apply
Ta:nalt to be his second. Before leaving,
me tie would make my bottom the deposi
a secret which he should commit to no oth
-500 I: was, that he did not intend to fire at
Oat fie told it to me because he wanted a
ass of his intention, and did not mean to tell it
second, or anybody else; and enjoined in
-ecrecy until the duel was over Ttils was
Cott notice l had of the affair. The circum
.e. of the delivery of the 'challenge I had from
rat Jewp Mr Clay's second, arid they were
iiectly cliwictettelie 01 Kr___Raildolpti that I
them in detail, and in the Generals own
tras unable (0 Fee Mr Randolph until the
•mng of the 1,1 of April, when I r•alled on him
purpo,e of delivering lhe note Prey ious to
on,!l , .hrv , ver, f thon4ht it proper to ascer
-vn Randolph himself, .rhether the tutor
,lach Mr Clay had received—that he con
oatnally accountable for the at-
Mil
„ w r , coriect. I accordingly Informed
hat I was the bearer of a message
- t run-equenee nt an atl.ck ”vhich
'MA u,,01) his pf 'vale well as public
er al ;a , Sonale—thal 1 was aware 00 one
lqueslifin him out of the Senate for
! , 1 Irby e. unless he chose volutitart.
wivdeges as a member 01 that bo
.llr I:alido!pti replied, that the conmitution
bun. but he would never shield himself
sacs a sub•eriuge as the pleading of his
a senainr from Virginia; that he did hold
.reroun , able to Air ,Clay ; but he said that
en:an had Ins! two pledges io redeem—one,
, ela3 bound himself to fight any member of
Represeritalivo who acknow.
rn.eit the author of a certain publication in
.J, , !,6la paper; and the other that he stood
:e,] e,tabllsh certain fame in regard to a great
room .he would tint name ; but, he added,
;101,1 receive no verbal message from Mr Clay
A a.,y from him most be in writing.
that I was not authorized by Mr Cay to
14:0, or receive, any verbal ezplanataons—
r Pc I had made for my own 'misfile
:.
a• ,d upon my own responsibility—that the On
', -easale of which I was the bearer, was in wri-
I !,ea presented the note, and,remarked that
,a ea- ho,tlicig of Mr Clay's pledges ; but that if
exi•wed as t* (Mr Randolph) understood
em tat tie was aware of them when he made
'ea Ack c‘inplained of. he could not avail him•
nem—;he. by making the attack, I thought
a tat waived them himself. He said he had not
intention of taking advantage of the
't%et rat' tred to—that he had mentioned them
err 'a remind me that he was waiving his pri•
';e.riot only as a senator from Virginia, but asa
to gentleman—that he was ready to respond
• Clay. and would be obliged Id me if I would
in note in reply—and that he would, in the
le of the day, look out for a friend. I declined
zthe bearer ol his note, but informed him my
season tof declining was, that I thought he
o himself to consult his friends before taking
leplrant'a step. He seized my band, saying,
oa are right. sir, I thank you for the suggesOon;
is Au not take my note, you must not be
)3•,r1 , if you should not hear from me to-day.
^k al only two Iriends, and there are etr
L s ancericonnected with one them which may
me of his service=, and the other is in bad
wa.s sick yesterday, and may not be
i a,,suaed hut that a ay reasonable time uliich
raight final necessary ci take, would be satisrac-
I took leave of hto ; and it is due to his
.:nor 10 say, stint his earing was throughout
the: of a hag .toned, chivalrous gen
leman of the 0i,.1 school."'
These were the circumstances of the delivery of
challenge, and the only thing necessary to give
Weir lull character is to recollect tbat, with
prompt acceptanc e and positive refusal to es
anti this extra cut about the two pledges,there
a perfect determination not to fire at Mr. Clay.
u ltetertnination rested on two grounds : first,
I . :reuyiwillirpv i .. 4 to huri Mr Clay ; and, next.
that re!urn the tire would be to an
." and would be an implied acknowledgement
Ir Cray's tight no make him answer This he
]:ct do, neither by implication nor in words.
:he rh:rit 01 any person to queelior'
Senate for wools spoken within it. He
' a tii.nocho n between man and senator. As
1., ' hp !,ad a constitutional Immunity, given fpr
s
laurpue3. and which he would neither stir
-tr nor compromise: as an individual he was
"021ve satisfaction for what was deemed an
/ 11 " mould receive, but not return a fire. it
touch as to ra) : Mr Clay may file at me
/at tlas offended him :.I will not, by returi.ing
admit has right to do so. This was a sub
141:iction, and that in a case of life and des.,
4 :'t Very clear to the common intellect; but to
k vidolpb both clear and convincing. His
al
e !edge'. unredeemed," wb ic.:l
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might have plead in bar to Mr. Clay's challenge,
and would not, waif another sarcastic cut at Mr.
Adams and Mr. Clay, while rendering satisfaction
,for 'Cuts already given The " member of the
House," Mr. Geo. Kremer, of Pennsylvania, who,
at the time of the presidential election in the House
of Representatives, bad avowed himself to be the
author of an anonymous publication, the writer of
which Mr. Clay had threatened to call to account
if he would avow himeelf = and did not. The "great
man" was President Adams, with whom Mr. Clay
had had a newspaper controversy, involving a
question of fact—which had been postponed. The
cause of this sarcastic cut, and of all the keen per
sonality in the Panama speech. was the belief that
the President and Secretary, the latter especially,
encouraged the newspapers in their interest, to at
tack him, which they did incessantly; and he chose
to overlook the editors and retaliate upon the in
stigators, as he believed them to be. This be did
to his heart's content in that speech—and to their
great annoyance, as the coming of the challenge
proved The " two friends" alluded to, were Col.
Tatnall and myself, and the circumstances which
might disqualify one of the two were those of my
relationship to Mrs Clay. of which he did not know
the degree, Whether of affinity or consanguinity—
' considering the first no obstacle, die other a com•
plete bar to my appearing as his second—holding,
as he did, with the tenacity of an Indian to the ob
ligations of blood, and laying but liule stress on
marriage connexions. His affable reception and
courteous demeanor to Gen. Jesup were according
to his high breeding, and the decorum which be
longed to such occasions A duel in the circle to
which he belonged was ‘, an affair of honor"; and
high honor, according to its code, must pervade
every part of it. General JeAup had come upon an
unpleasant business. Mr. Randolph determined to
put him at his ease; and did it so effectually as to
charm him into admiration The whole plan of
his conduct; down io contingent details, was cast in
hi. mind instantly, as if by intuits:sn, and never de
parted from The acceptance, the refusal to ex
plain, the detertnival on riot to fire, the first and
second choice of a friend and the circumstances
which might disqualify one and delay the other,
the additional cut, and the resolve to fall, if he fell,
no the soil of Virginia— was all, to his mind, a sin
gle emanation—the flash of an instant. He need
ed no consultations, no deliberaticns, to:arrive at all
these important conclusions. I dwell upon these
small circumstances because they are characteris.
tic, and shov; the man—a man who belongs to his
tory and had his own history, and should be known
as he was. That character can only be shown in
his own comlucl—h is own words and acts : and ibis
duel with Mr. C;uy illustrates it at many points. It
is in that point of view that I dwell upon circum
stances which might seem trivial, but which are
not so, being illustrative of character and significant,
to their smallest particulars:
The acceptance of the challenge was in keeptng
with the whole proceeding—prompt in the agree
ment to meet, exact in protesting against the right
to call him out, clear in the waiver of his constitu
tional privilege, briehand cogent in presenting the
case as one of some reprehension—the case of a
member of an administration challenging a senator
for words spoken in debate of that administration,
and All in brief, terse, and superlatively decorous
language. It lan thus: "Mr Randolph accepts the
challenge of Mr. Clay; at the same tfme lie pro
tests against the right of any minister of executive
government of the United States to hold him respon
sible for words spoken in debate, as a senator:lmm
Virginia, in crirnination r f such minister, or the ad
ministration under which he shall have taken office
Colonel Tatnall, of Georgia, the bearer of this let-.
ter, is authorized to arrange with General Jesup,
(the bearer of Mr Clay's challenge) the terms of
meeting to which Mr. Randolph is invited by that
note."
This protest which Mr. Randolph entered against
the right of Mr. Clay to challenge him, led to an
velanation between their mutual friends on that
delicate point—a point which concerned the inde
pendence of debate, the privileges of ilia Senate,
the immunity of a member, and the sanciity . ol the
constitution It was a point which Mr. Clay felt;
and the explanation which was had between the
mutual friends, presented an excuse, if not a justifi
cation fur his proceeding. Ile had been informed
that Mr. Randolph, in his speech, had avowed his
responsibility to Mr. Clay, and waived his privilege
—a thing which, it it had been done, would have
been a defiance, and stood for an invitation to Mr.
Clay to send a challenge . Mr Randolph, through
Col. Tainall, d savOived that imputed avowal, and
confined his waiver Of privilege, to the time of the
delivery 01 the challetiO, and in answer to an in
quiry below it Was delivered.
The following ate the communications between
the respective seconds on this point :
In regard to the protest with which Mr. Ran
dolph's note concluder, it is due to Mt. .Clay to say
tbat he had been informed Ms Randolph did, and
would, hold himself responsible toJiim for any ob
servations be falai): make in in relation to him
aid that I (General Jesup) distinctly understood
.11 - OCLI Mr. Randolph, before I delivered the note
of Mr Clay, that he waived his pri4dege as a see
ator "
• To this Ccl. Tatnall replied :
' "As ihis expreseion (did and would hold him
self responbihle, Sc ) may be construed !i2 mews
that Mr. Randolph had given this itittmation not on
ly before called upon, but in such it Mariner as to
throw nut to Mr. Clay something, Like an Invitation
to make ruch a trait, I have,uii the pint of Mr. Ran
dolph. to disavow any di...position, when expressing,
his Lead meats to waive his privilege as a senator from
Virginll,lollllole, 111 any alai, a oull, upou . tairi
personal sului!iscliou the concluding paragraph of
your none, 1 - pre..urne, Is intehded to show - merely
that you did riot present a, note, such as that;Of
Clay to Mr. Ragifolph, , unul You,hadascertaihed
I
willingness to waive. big .privilege as a seoator.—
ells I iZer, s;I was to you: recol;cc:ion, t;:a;:!..o
c.- r —stir:^..:,,::, .a/.r3v - 't e
IMMIE
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY AT TOWANDA,, BRADFOiIi . O'hitak GOODRICH,
' ll4 I,LEOAROLIIPMS OF vsavarcuTtim rapt 41011;: ARTSIIP*-1.
expression of such a readiness,-oni the part of bli
Randolph, was in reply wan in on that point
made by yourself."
Thus an irritating circumstance in the affair was
virtually negatived, and its offensive import wholly
disavowed. For my part, Ido not believe that Mr.
Randolph need such language In his speech. I
have no recollection of having heard it. The pub
lished repon of the speech, as taken down by the
reporters, and not revised by the speaker, contains
nothing of it. Such gasconade was foreign to Mr.
Raneolph's character. - The amnion .was not one
in which these son of defiance. are thrown out,
which are either to purchase a cheap reputation
when it is known they Will be despised, or to get
an adtintage in a challenge when there
is a design to kill. Mr. Randolph had none of these
views with respect to Mr. Clay. He bad no desire
to fight him, or to hart him, or gain cheap charac
ter by appearing to bully him. He was above all
that, and had
. settled accounts with him in his
speech, and wanted no more. Ido not believe it
was said; but there was a part of the speech which
might have received a wrong application, and led
to the erroneous report—a.part which applied to a
quoted passage in Mr. Adam's Panama message,
which he conJemned and denounced, and dared
the President and his friends to defend. His words
were, as reported unrevised : Here I plant my
tool ; here I fling defiance right into his (the Pre
sident's) teeth; here I throw the gauntlet to him,
and the bravest of his compeers, to come forward
and defend these lines " Ste. A very palpablerde
fiance this, bat very different from a summons to
personal combat, and from what was related to Mr.
Clay. It 4118 an unlortunate report, doubtless the
effect of indistinct apprehension, and the more to
be regretted as, after having been a main cause in
inducing the challenge, the disavowal could not
atop it.
Thus the agreement for the meeting was abso
lute; anctoiccording to the expectation of the prin
cipals, the meeting itself would- be immediately;
b'ut their seconds, from the most laudable leafing',
determined to delay it, with the hope to prevent
it—and did keep it oil a week, admitting me to a
participation in the good work as being already
privy Id the affair and friendly to both parties. The
challenge stated no specific ground of offence—
specified no exceptionable words. It was peremp
tory and general, for an "unprovoked attack on his
(Mr. Clay's) character," and it dispensed with ex
planations by alleging that the notoriety and indis
putable existence/of the injury superseded the ne
' cessity . lor . thetZ Of course this demand was bot
tomed on a report of the words spoken—a verbal
report—the full daily publication of the debates
having not then begun—and was of a character
greatly to exasperate Mr. Clay. It stated that in
the course okhe debate Mr. Randolph said, "That
a letter from General Salazar, the Mexican minis
ter at Washington, submitted by the Executive to
the Senate, bore the ear-mark of having been man
ufactured or forged by the Secretary of State, and
denounced the administration as a corrupt coalition
between the puritan and black-leg; and added at
the same time, that he Mr. Randolph) held him•
self personally responsible for all that ha bad said."
This was the report to Mr. Glay,"and upon which he
gave the'abeolute challenge, and received the ab
solute acceptance, which shut out all inquiry be.
tween the principals into the causes of the quarrel.
The seconds determined to open it, and to attempt
an accommodation, or a peaceable determination
of the difficulty. In consequence, Gen Jesup sta
led the complaint in a note to Col. Tatnall thus:
" The in,ury of which Mr. Clay complains con
sists in this : that Mr. Randolph has charged him
with having forged or , manufactured a raper con
nected with the Panama mission; also, that he has
applied to him in debate the epithet of black leg
The explanation which I consider necessary is, that
Mr. Randolph declare that he had no intention of
charging Mr. Clay, either in his public or private
capacity, with forging or faleifyir g any paper, or
misrepresenting any fact; and also, that the term
black leg was not intended to apply to him." To
this exposition of the grounds of the complaint, Col.
Tatnall answered : " Mr. Randolph informs me that
the words used by him in debate were as follows:
" That I thought it would be in my power to show
evidence sufficiently presumptive - to satisfy a Char
lotte (county) jury, that this invitation was maim
lammed here—that Salazar's letter struck me as
bearing a strong likeness in point of style to the
other papers 1 did not undertake to prove this,
but expressed my suspicion that the tact was so.
I applied to the administration the epithet, puritan
ie.-diplomatic-black-legged admMiatration." Mr.
Randolph, in giving these words as those uttered
by him in eebate, is unwilling to afford any expla
nation as to their meaning and application." In
this answer Mr. Randolph remained upon his on
&al grour.d of refusing to answer out of the Sen
ate for words spoken within it ! lit other respects
the statement Mille words actually , spoken greatly
amelimated the offensive , report, the coarse and
insulting words, "forging and falsifying" being dis
avowed, as in fact they were not Used, and are not
to be found in the published report. The speech
was a bitter philippic and intended to be so, liking
I op point the alleged coalition between Mr Clay
and Mr. Adams with respect to the election, and
their ettinii to gee up a popular question contrary to
our policy of non entanglement with foreign na
tions, in sending ministers to the et:ingress of the
Ante' man states of Spagish origin at the isthmue of
Panama. I heard it all, and. though sharp and cut
tiug, I think it might have been heard without arty
noani:evtation of resentment by Mr Clay. The
part which he took so seriously to heart, that of
having the Panama invitations manulactured in his
office, was to my mind_uetbing more than altribut.
ing to him a diplomat* superiority whit* enabled
him to obtain from the South American ministers
the invitations that be wanted; and nor et all that
they sere 'speckle abriestione: atti . 1114. - .
preseion, 11 11/44,Fts pre; purikes,"7a.'.was ii*tily
Farusam t.) sti:ke by at. 'ss ;0 aid which, being
=
t. '
without foundation, might have . been di c srirmled.
rpreeented these views to th e patties,!and 0 the'Y
had Come from Randolph might have been
sufficient, bat be was inexorable and would not
aothorize sword to be said beyond what he had
written.'
AU hopes of aecomodation having vanished, the
seconds proceeded to arrange the duel. The af
ternoon of Saturday, the Bth of April, was fixed
upon for the time-.the right bank. of the Potomac,
within the state of Virginia, atitiie the Little Falls
bridge was the place, pistols-the weapons, distance
ten paces.-each party to be attended by two sec
onds and a surgeon, and m 3 sell at liberty to attend
as a mutual friend. There was to hello practising
with pistols, and there was none ; and the words
"one," " two," " three," " atop," after the word
"fire," were, by agreethent between the seconds,
and for the humane purpose of reducing the result
as near as possible to chance, to be given out in
quick succession. -The Virginia side of the Poto
mac was taken at the instance of Mr. Randolph.—
He went oat as a Virginia senator, refusing to com
promise that character, and it be fell in defence of
its rights, Virginia Soil was to him the chosen
ground to receive his blood. There was a statute
of the state against duellnig with her ; but
as he merely went oat to receive a fire without re•
turning it, he deemed that no fighting, and conse
quently no breach of her statute. This season for
choosing Virginia could only be explained to me,
as I alone was depository of his secret. The week's
delay which the seconds had contrived was about
expiring. It was Friday evening, or rather night,
when I went to see Mr. Clay for the last time be.
fore the duel. There had been some alienation be
tween us nee the time of the presidential elec.-
lion in tMouse of Representatives, and I wished
to give evidence that there was nothing personal
in it. The family wore in the parlor-company pres
ent—and some of it stayed late. The youngest
child, I believe James, went to sleep on the Gola—
n circumstance which availed me for a purpose the
next day. Mrs. Clay was, as always, since the
death of her daughters, the picture of desolanon,
but calm, conversible, and without the slightest ap
parent consciousness of the impending event
When all were gone, and she also had left the par.
lor, I did what I came fur, and said to Mr. Clay
that, notwithstanding our late political differences,
me personal feelings towards him were the same
as formerly, and that, in whatever concerned his
life or honor, my beat wishes were with him He
expressed his gratification at the visit and the dec.
laration, and said it was what he would have ex
pected of me. We parted at midnight.
Saturday, the Bth of April—the day for the duel
—had come, and almost the hour. It was noon,
and the meeting was to take place at 93 o'clock
I had gone to see Randolph before the hour, and
for a purpose; and, besides, it was so far on the
way, as he lived ball way to Georgetown, and we
had to pass through that to cross the Potomac into
Virginia at the Little Falls Bridge. I hod heard
nothing from bim on the point of not returning the
fire since the first communication to that effect,
eight days before. 1 had no reason to doubt the
steadiness of his determination; but felt a desire
to have some fresh assurance of it after so many
days' delay, and so near approach of the trying mo
ment. I knew it would not do to ask him the
question—any question which would imply a doubt
01 his word His sensitive feelings would be hurt
and annoyed at it. So I fell upon a scheme to get
at the inquiry without seeming to make it. I told
him of my visit to Mr: Clay the night before—of the
late sitting—the child asleep—the unconscious tran
quili'y of Mrs. Clay ; and added, I could not help
reflecting how different all that might be the next
night. He understood me perfectly, and immedi
ately said, with a quietude of look and expression
which seemed to rebuke an unworthy. doubt, "
shall do nothing to disturb the sleep of the child or the
repose rjihe mother," and went on with his employ
ment—his seconds being engaged in their prepare
lions in a different room, which was making codi
cils to his will, all in the way of remembrance to
friends; the bequests slight in value, but myelin
ble in tenderness of feeling and beauty of express
ion, and always appropriate to the receiver. To
Mr. Macon he gave sonic English shillings, to keep
the game when he played whist His namesake,
John Randolph Bryan, then at school in Baltimore,
and since married to his niece, was sent for .o see
him, but sent off before the hour for going out, to
gave the boy from a possible shock at seeing him
brought back. He wanted some gold—ghat coin
not being then in circulation, and only to be obtain
ed by favor or purchase—and sent his fal://illi mat,,
Johnny, to the United States Branch Bank to get a
few pieces—American being the kind asked fur
Johnny returned without the gold, and delivered
the excuse that the bank bad none. Instantly his
clear silver-toned voice was beard above is natur•
al pitch, enclaiming: " Their name is legion l—
and they ate liars from the beginning. Johnny
bring me my horse.", His own saddled-horse was
brought him—for he never rode Johnny's, nor John
ny hie , though both, and all his hundred horses,
were of the finest English blood—and rode oil to the
bank down Pennsylvania avenue, now Corcoran &
Rigg's--Johnny following, as always, forty paces
behind. Arriving at the bank, this scene, accor
ding to my informant took place. " Mr. Randolph
asked for the state of his account, was shown
and found to b,ome four thousan I dollars in his
laver. He *shakier it. The teller took, up pack
ages of bills, and at asked , in what sized notes
he would have it. r 4. I want moneyr said Mr.
Randolph, potting emphasis on the w ord; , and at
that time required a bold man to intimeie,. that
United Status Bank notes were not money. The
-Loney, beginning to understand him," and willing to
make nitre, said, inquiringly; " , you etall . silver 7"
",larnat,utty.sponex.l" tbe i Theo the,
tenet boxei , is coupler , Bald foliqtY
Have, you ".caN I*..Bantlolph e ,4? rat iljp!l
- pcisinesh*:! spill he.. Bi_glat 061 e
the attention oldie cashier (Mr. Richard Smith)
t~
was attrac.ed to what Was going on , mite' up, Grid
understanding the question, and its cause, told iff,
Randolph there was a mistake in the,answer given
to his servant—that they bed gnftl,,.and be should
hove wrist he wanted. In Ism, he bad entrapp
ed for a law pieces, which' he wanted tbr e special
purpose. This brought about a coteptimise.' The
pieces of gold were received—the cart end the sil
ver dispensed with; bit the account is the bank
was closed, and a check taken for the amount on
New York. He returned and delivered me a
sealed paper which warm open if he Was killed
"---give back to him if be' was not; aleoopen
slip, which I was to read before Igot to the ground.
This slip was a request loud in' his lett breeches
pocket, if he was killed, and find so many pieces
of gold—l believe nine—tike three lormyself, and
give the same number to Tatnall and • Hamilton
each, to make seals to wear in remembrance of
him. We were ail three at Mr. Raniftilpfa's lode.
mg.% then, and WOO sat eat--Mr. Randolph and his
seconds in a carriage, 1 following him on horse.
back.
I have already said that the count was to be
quick after giving the word " tire,.' and for a rea
son which could not be told tc the principals. To
Mr Randolph, who did not mean whits, and who,
though agreeing to be shot at, had no desire to be
hit, this rapidity of counting out the time, and quick
arrival at the command stop," presented no ob
jection. With Mr. Clay it was different. With
him it was all a real transaction, and gave rise for
some proposal for more deliberateness in counting
off the time ; which, being communicated to Col.
Tatnall, and by him to Mc. Randolph, had an ill
effect upon his feeling., and aided by an untoward
accident un the ground, unsettled for a moment the
noble determination which be had formed not to
fire at Mr. Clay. I now give the words of General
Jesup : " When I repeat to Mr. Clay the r %void'
in the manner in which it would bi-given, he ex
pressed some apprehension that, as he was not ay. ,
costomed to the use of the pistol, he might not be
able to fire within the time, and for that reason
alone de,ired that it might be prolonged. I men
tioned to Col. Tatnall the desire of Mr Clay. lie
replied : If you insist upon it, the time must be
prolonged, but 1 should very much regret it." . I in
formed hint I did not insist upon prolonging the
time, andi was acre Mr. Clay would acquiesce.—
The original agreement was carried oni !"
I knew nothing of this until it wasitoo law to
speak with seconds or principals. 1 had crossed
Little Falls bridge just alter them, and came to the
place where the seri ants and carriage had stopp
ed. I saw one of the gentlemen, and supposed
they had all gone to the spot where the ground, was
being marked on; but on speaking to Johnny, Mr.
Randolph, a ho was still in his carriage and beard
my voice, looked out from the wintloW and said to
me : " Colonel, since I saw you, and since! have
been in this carriage, I have heard somethin g
which may make me change my ifeterminatwn.;—
Col Hamilton will givei yop a note which will ex
plain it." Col. Hamilton was thetrin the carriage,
and gave me the note, in the cowers of the evening
of which Mr. Randolph spoke. I .eadily comprit
hended that this possible change of determination
relating to his sight; but the emphasis with which
he pronounced the word may,' clearly showed that
his mind was undecided, and left itiloubtful wheth
er he would fire or riot. No further conversation
took place between us ; the preparations fur the
duel were finished ; the patties went to their pla
ces ; and I went forward to a piece of rising ground,
horn which I could see what passed and hear what
was said The faidiful Johnny followed me close,
speaking not a word, but evincing the the deepest
anxiety for his beloved master The place watt it
trick forest, and the immediate spot a little degree.
sron where the parties stood. The. principals salut
ed each other courteously as they took dusk stands
Col. Tatnall had won the choice of position, which
gave Gen. Jessup the delivery of the word. They
stood on a fine east and west—a small stump just
behind Mr Clay; a low gravelly bank rose just
behind Mr. Randolph This latter asked Gen Jes.
sup to repeat the word as he would give it ; and
while in the act of doing so, and Mr. Randolph
adjusting the butt of his pistol to his hand the muz
zle pointing downwards, and almost to the ground,
it fired. Instantly Mr Randolph tamed to Colonel
Tatnall, and said : " I protested against that hair
trigger." Col. Tatnall took blame to himself fur
having 'prong the hair. Mr. Clay had not then re
ceived his pistol. Mr. Johnson, ,(Josiah,) one 01
his seconds, was carying it to him, and still several
steps from him. This untimely fire, though clear
ly an accident, neceggibrily gave rise s to sortie re
marks, and a species of inquiry, which was con
ducted with the utmost delicacy, but which, in it
self, was of a nature to be inexpressibly painful to
a gentleman's feelings. Mr. Clay stopped it with
the generous remark that the tire was clearly an
accident, and lit was so unanimously declared.—
Another pistol was immediately furnished; any an
exchange of shots took place, and, happily, with
out effect upon the persons. Mr. Randolph's bullet
struck thestump behind Mr. Clay, and Mr. Clay's
knocked up the earth and gravel behind Mt Ran
dolpb, and in a line level of his hips, both bullets
having gone so true and close that it was a marvel
how they missed. The moment had come for me
to interpose. I wentin among the parties and of
fered my mediation; but nothing could be done—
Mr. Clay said, with a waive' of the hand with andel'
he was accustomed to put away a trifte," 7his to
play!" and re4aiterranothe Ran
dolph also demanded another fire. - The„leaonds
was directed to re-load. While !his
,wintdpiN I.
prevailed.on Mr- ileAulalfth to .wait 10 410 0 IR- 4 4 8 ,
post, and renewed to him manapreasinglythan
or, my importopitzes,to yieldio,,some,:accpmoda:
tion; but I ' Wind thes r utoratimetibillea theta - bad!
ever seen him, and for the first time impatitakiithi'
seentinglyithtidyedibid dittiatiafteid whail-was:
doini: - "l#e was
The accidental flielifhleplOol4tVetl: i4Peocrhiy,
feelirss. He was doubly chagrined at ft, butli is
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a Liscur lance susceptible iti ascii of an eolith tn
terpretatioo, and as having, been the immediate
and conftoliing eaose of his thing at Mr. Clay. lie
regreted this fire the instant it was over. Ile felt
that it had subjected bim to trout which
he knew-himself to be Iree—a deaf's, to kill Mr.
Clay, and a contempt for the laws of his beloved
state ; and then annityinces which he felt at them
veiatione circumstances revived his original deter
minailons and decided him irrevocably to carry it
out.
ft was in this interval that he Cold me - Whit be
had heard since we parted, and to which we allad.
ed when be spoke to me from the window of the
carriage. It was to this effect : Thai be had been
informed by Col. Tatnall, that it was proposed to
give trot the words with more deliberateness, 40
as ro prolong the time for taking aim. The infor
mation grated harshly upon his feelings. It onset ,
ded his purpose, and brought his mind to thei ,in
quiry (as hemow told me, and as I found express.
ed in the note which he had immediately writtstka
in pencil to apprize me of his possible change,)
whether, critter these circumstances, he Might nut
" disable - his adveisary 1 This note is so character.
istic and such an essential part of this Whir, that I
here give its very words; so far as it relates - tothis
point. ft Mn them ;
" Information received Iron) Col. Tatnall since
got into the carriage may induce me to change my
mind,. of not returning Mr. Clay's fire. I seek not
hie death. I would not have his blood upon Chin
hands—it will not be upon my soul if shed in sell
defence—tor the world. He has determined, by
the use of a long, preparatory caution by words, to
to get time to kill me. May I not, then, disable
him f Yes if I please."
It has been seen by the statement of Gen. Jesup,
already given, that this " information.' was a mis
apprebenioni that Mr Clay hail not applied for a
prolongation of time for the purpose of geting sure
aim, tot only to enable his
familiar with the pistol, to file %%Li t.i the ;. in it e d
time; that there was no par lon;r6ii.n, to h ci, ei
ther granted or insisted urn' hit hr was in doubt
and Gen. Jesup having won the word, he tt as hat
ing him repeat it in the way Le t• a. :c ;it e it cut,
when his finger touched the ban- Hot': nr.•
fortunate that I did not know of this in time tar
speak to Gen. Jesup, when one word from hint
would have set all tight, and saved. ihe imminent
tisk incurred. This inquiry, r May I not disable
bent" was still on Mr. Randulptee mind, anti de
penitent lot its strinfion on the rising incidents of the
moment, when the accidental fire of hispistol gave
the turn to his feelings which solved the doubt—
But hedeclared to me that he hadnot aimed at
the life of Mr Clay ; that he did not level as high
as the knee—not higher than the knee•band, " for
it was no merry to shoot a man in the knee ;" that
his only object was to disable. him, and spoil his
aim. And then added, with ebeauty of expression
and a depth of feeling which nn sitidied oratory can
ever attain, and which I shall never lorget, space
impressive words: "1 mould not hare sun him fall
mortally or even rfatibtfully trot/sided, for all the land
that is watered by the King of Floods and all his tri
butary streams." He left to resume his post, utter
ly refusing to explain out of the Senate, anything
that he had said in it, and with the positive declar
ation that he would not retuin the next fire. I with ?
drew a littleway into the woods, and kept my eyes
fixed upon Mr. Randolph, who I then knew to be
the only.orie in danger. I saw him receive the
tire of Mr. Clay, saw the gravel knocked up lathe
same place, saw Mr. Randolph raise his pistol--
discharges it into the air—heard him say, " I do trot
fired you, Mr. Clay''—and immediately advancing,
pod offering his hand. He was met au the same
spirit. They met half way, shook hands, Mr. Ra
ndolph saying jocosely, " /0// otre me a coat, Mr.
Clay"—(the bullet had passed through the skirt of
the coat, very near the hip)—to which Mr Clay
pomptly and happily replied, " lam glad the debt
is no greater." I ha.t come up, and was prompt to
proclaim what I had been obliged to keep secret
for eight days. The iny of all was extreme at this
happy tenumation of a most mit cal affair, and we
immediately lett, with lighter hearts han we bro't.
I stopped to sap with Mr. Ramlnlph and his friends
—none of as wanted dinner that day—and had a
characteristic time of it.' A runner came in from
the batik „to say that they had over paid him, by
mistake, Sl.lo that day. lie answered, " I believe
it is year rule not to canal mi..t-tiv.s except al the
time ; and at yoar.counter. o And with that answer
the runner had to retam. When gone, Mr. Ran
dolph said,. "1 trill pay it tot Mond-ry ; people maNt
W Ames', if bank, are not." lie asked.tor the seal
ed paper he hart given me, opened it, took out a
check for •fit Ono, drawn in my favor, and with
which I was requester/ in have him caroled, if kill
ed. to Virginia,. and buried under his patrimonial
oaks—not let him be buried at Ws-hin.rl o , 4 w i t h
an hundred hacks aver him. He ini.k tite,tiltl from
his left breeches prickei, in us. (Hamilton,
'Fantail arid I,) " Geurlerneti, Clay's bad shooting
shan't rob you of your-seals. I am going to Lon
don, and will have them made fur yott,'' which he
did, and mostebarameristwaLly, an far as mine was
concerned. He went to the herald's office tn Lon
don, and inquired fur-the Benton family, of which
I bad often told him there max nope, as we only
dated on that side from my grandfather in Nonh
I Carolina. But name waslounti, and with it a
coatof arms—among the quarterings a lion rams
pant. That isthe family, sad lie ; avid had the arms
engraved on thermal, the Paine which I have since
habitually worn ,
and added nie uvula, Fuchs non
i
verbis .of wlntth he was anerwaoi. accustomed to
say,rlte non should be cha 'igen into rl. Put, enough.
run into these details. not tue.t !y t o relate an
'eseent,.but io show cliatauter ; and it I have not done
nOI6IIEII for wantof Material, but to ability louse it.
On Monday the partiesexclianged cards, and so.
cial relations were formally and courteously minor.
ed. It was about the lett_ high-toned duel it gi
have.witneysed, and among the ,highest,Wne,ju nti
hisii 'tor •witnessiok i lml so haPPily,i4ndired to
issue a numlt'due ambits sham
tilit of the seionds'as way as to the erierous awl
tititaio!olsirbt (her 'Cisitielly duelli ng
11..64 4k.fiiien dorii•butloot trios es WI
is it. date ; thotiteyolie4,'tisivie kthvet, black
gdardiommid'ittreet• assasspiition . Under the pretext
of sell-defence,
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