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236

Henry Clay

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,000.00 USD
Henry Clay

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Auction Date:2010 Aug 11 @ 22:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
ALS signed “H. Clay,” one page both sides, 8 x 10, August 16, 1844. Letter to Dr. I. G. Goble. In part: “I wish you could obtain and pursue the correspondence which passed between Messrs. Wise, Graves and me regarding the lamentable affair between Messrs. Graves and Cilly [sic] published about 3 years ago. I have not a copy of it, but you can obtain it in N. York. It establishes 1st that the draft which I suggested of the challenge was made expressly with the view of leading to an adjustment of the dispute amicably, and not, as alleged in the clip you forwarded, to close the door.

2nd That I never believed that the controversy would occasion a hostile meeting, but consistently thought that it ought to be, and would be, amicably settled.

3rd, That I was ignorant that the partners were to meet in combat, and where and at what hour they were to meet.

And 4th that when I accidentally learnt that they had gone out to fight, although I did not know the hour nor the place, I advised the police to be called out and they were called out; but they missed the parties; in consequence of their having taken an unexpected route.

I was not upon the ground, and had nothing whatever to do with the conduct of the combat. My agency, as far as I had any in the whole transaction, was directed to the object of an amicable settlement of the difficulty. The propagation of this duel story is part of a concerted system of falsehood, detraction and calumny, which a part of the press of our opponent has adopted to conduct the Presidential campaign. Without any possible measure or principles to recommend to the consideration of the American people, the Editor who condoned it has abandoned the field of truth, of manly argument, and of fair discussion, and resorted to the endorsement of falsehood, fraud and forgery. But they will find the Whig cause and the Whig candidates as invulnerable to these base and savage means, as they have found their plans of public policy more and more endeared to the people of the U. States.”

Integral second page bears an address panel in Clay’s hand. In very good condition, with partial separations along fragile mailing folds (almost complete separation along topmost fold), scattered light creases, writing show-through from opposing sides, and postmark and seal clipped from second page.

The “lamentable affair between Messrs. Graves and Cilly” is a reference to an 1838 duel between congressmen Jonathan Cilley of Maine and William Graves of Kentucky. Cilley had verbally attacked a New York newspaper editor on the floor of the House of Representatives, and when Graves later tried to deliver a reply from the journalist to Cilley, the congressman refused—an act Graves took as a personal affront. Clay’s participation in the matter revolved around crafting Graves’ challenge, which led to questions of Clay overall involvement. Here, six years after the event (which brought business in the nation’s capital to a temporary halt), Clay, a Whig presidential candidate, reiterates his defense and his participation in the “lamentable” matter.
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