Mr. Clay On Duelling

Some political fnends of Mr. Glay in Pennsylvania have recently written him a very pious, friendly letter on duelling, and among other things took the liberty to ask, if challenged, whether he would ever fight a duel again? This was rather a tough question for Cia man of honor" to answer; and he wrote a reply, dated at Ashland, Aug. 1, in which he assures his friends that there are issues before the country far more important than duelling, a practice which afiects but a very few individuals, and then proceeds as follows: "I expressed, in strong terms of condemnation, my opinión against duelling in a letter which I addressed to my constituents, in March, 1824, which is to be found in the pubhshed collection of my speeches. Again, within a few years pasf, I gave evidence of my strong disapprobation of it, by voting, in the Senate of the U. States, for the bill for suppressing duelling in the District of Columbia. With these proofs of my sentiments, I think, gentlemen, you ought to be satisfied. But you ask me whether, iflwere challenged to fight a duel, I would reject the invitation'? Considering my age, which is now past 67, 1 feel that I should exposé myself to ridicule if I were to proclaim whelher I would or would not fight a duel. It is certainly one of the most unlikely events that can possibly be imagined, and I cannot conceive a case in which I should be provoked or tempted to go to the field of combat. But, as 1 cannot foresee all the contingencies which may possibly arise, in the short remnant of my life, and for the reason which I have airead}' stated, of avoiding any exposure of myself to ridicule, I cannot reconcile it to my sense of propriety to make a declaration one way or the other." Here it will be seen he declinesjanswering in the negative for two reasons - because he might be ridiculed for it - [what a reason for ':a man of honor" te give!J and because "contingencies might arise" in which he "might be provoked or tempted to go to the field of combat!!!" To see a venerable, reverend man of the age of 67 go out to raise his withered arm toattempt the life of a fellow citizen would indeed be a revolting sight. Yet Mr. Clay intimates that he may yet present that spectacle to the nation! Nor would sucb an event be very wonderful, when we consider that nothing but the intervention of the civil authorities prevented a duel between Messrs. Clay and King only three years since. The histopv ofthisaffair, says the Christian Freeman, was published at the time in the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser- then and still a Clay Whig paper. From this source we derive the following faets, which will show whether "Henry Clay is no more a duelist than the best of our Washingtonians is a drunkard." Senator King had made a speech which displeased Mr. Clay, who, in reply, "gave him (King) a tremendous castigation, ending with the declaration that what he had said respecting himself (Clay) was "tivjust, false and cowardly" Mr. Clay. (continúes the account) spoke not hastily. Every word of liis speech was measured, and utlered with an evident intention to abide the consequenccs" - which simply means a determinaron to meet in mortal combat the man whom he had charged with falsehood and cowardice. King immediately left the Senate chamber, beckoning Senatop Linn from Missouri to follow him. Linn soon returned, and called Mr. Clay out. This looked as if a duel was in prospect. The account in the Commercial thus proceeds: "Having retired, the Doctor, commenced something like a speech. '1 want to hear nothing of that.' said Mr. Clay; 'i presume you have a challenge; I ACCEPT IT" Dr. Linn replied that he had no challenge: that it was true one had been written, but it had been torn up. - Further conversation was attempted, but Mr. Clay had no patience to listen, and was evidently determined neither to explain or retract, and referred Dr. Linn to his friend, Mr. Archer. The scène was one of deep interest and great concern in the Senate. The lobbies and galleries were crowded, and when the Senate adjourned, all knew that a duel was on foot. But before sundown, the par lies were both arrestcd by the civil authorities, and held to baïl in the sum offive thousand dollars each to keep the peace."