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were two ofthe most extraordinary men ou


country in its prodigaIity had produced :


bout 10 meet in mortal combat. Will,


Tattnall was loading Randolph's pistol
approached nv friend, believed for th


last lime took his hand there was not j


lis touch the quivering of one pu'satlon


He TUNED TO me and said. "Clay IS cain
but not vindictive. ] hold my purpose. Ham


iiion. IN any event; remember this '-OI
| handing him his pistol, Col Tatnall sprung
the hair trigger. NJ. Randolph said. ''Talt
! nall. although am zone of the best shots ir
| Virginia, with either pistol or gun, vet
never fire with the hair trigger; besides.
have thick 5uckskin glove on, which viii
destroy the delicacy OF my touch. and the
trigger may fly btfore know where am y
But. from his great soicitude for his
friend, Ta:tnall insisted upon hairing the
trigger. On taking their position. the fact
turned out as Mr. Randolph anticipated his
pistol went off before the word, and the
muzzle down.


The moment thus event took place, Gen.
Jessup. Mr.. Clay's friend, called out that
he would instantly leave the ground with
his friend If this occurred again. MIR CLAY
AT once exclaimed il was entiIely an acci-
dent and begged that the gentleman might
be allowed To- 90 on. On the wo,d being
given. Mr. Clay fred without effect. Mr.
Randolph discharglng his pistol in the air
The moment Mr. Clay saw that Mr. Ran
dolph had thrown away his fire. with gush
of sensibiitv, he instantly approached Mr..
r. and said. with an emotion never can
forget IL trust in God. my dear sir you are
nod off hat hos | 1
not have harmed you for a thousand worlds :"
Deeply affected by this scene. | could not
refrain from graSping Mr. Clay bv the hand
and said, My good sir, we have been long
separated, but after the events Of to dav. |
feel that we must be friends forever" We
haCe eCer been so.


do not know that should have referred
TO this transaction. if did not believe this
last incident had no small influence on an
important public event in Mr. Clty's life.
allude TO the celebrated compromise on the
action OF the tariff Of 1923. by the Senate uf
South Carolina.


need not recapituate the circumstances
which precipitated the measure, or the fear
ful situation in which the country was pla-
ced; when Mr.. Clay and Mr. Calhoun SIAN
dirg as ii were, over the troubled water. ap-
preached nearer 10 each other to still the an
grv flood. part from al; public conside-
ratons which could adequately find their
origin in his own patriotism. | have al ways
believed. although piide and delicacy have
hitherto forbid an explanation. that the touch
of our hands on the old battle field, on the
banks ofthe Potomac, was not without IT'S
influence on Mr.. CLAW, when uniting his
exer.ons to those of Mr.. Calhoun, to com
pose this seemingly disastrous quarrel he
took an anxious and friendly estimate of
wha, he deemed the difficulty of my own
POSITION. But 10 the vicissitudes of all hu-
man things. how strangely the relations of
patty had been changed. Here, OIL the one
hand. was Gen. Jackson, to whom South
Carolina had dedicated the embodied spirit
of all her sons, beleag aguering her with his
troops. and Mr. Clay. who had been the un-
spared object of her reproach; striving to
avert confict2


feel. sir, that the country owes him a
large debt OF gratitude for his exertions at
this conjnncture. and that the South has
never done him Justice There was no day
in the week, Sundays excepted. on which
the volunteers which | had the honor 20
at that time in Charleston, would
not have gone on. and have given Gen
Jackson's regulars battle. if this was to have
decided the issue notwithstanding our inst
of the skill and gallantry ofthe
Distinguished officer to whom their com
nand had been con6ded. ana who on try
ing occasion added TO his known valor so
benienant desire for peace and concilia-
ion But we knew that on the discharge
3f the first musket, the streets of our city
would run with fraternal blood Mr. Clay
en-, his hand to stay the torrent Can we
hen regard with Indifference the services
IF such man rendered at such time.


You will permit me TO remark that
now take no part 10 the politics of the coun-
nv have not voted for years a. no election
lor do know that | shall vote the next
i've years to come. Engaged in an anx-
ous and ardent effort to paw my debts by
iIling the soil on the banks of this river.
he sunny acclivity of public honors has no
attractions .or me-I seek the valley, and
prefer the shade There was time when
might have cherished other aspirations,
ut that time has gone forever Retired.
therefore. from contest OF parties. think my
very position makes me witness beyond
exception. But still my opinion may be of
very little value such as they are. you are
entitled to Them


