The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-01-18

could be effected, would, in the presrni Fate of
fociesy, produce 4 greater evil than duelline IT.
ielf Men will differ. Their ardent and irrita-
bic tempers will occaionaliy throw them into
Icolliiion with each other. Offences muft
" come--as foon NAV the wares OF the ocean
ceale to roll, provocations to ariie from hui
man frailty." IF the prefent mode of decd-
ing controversies is aboiifhed, recourle may lie
had TO meaGlres hill more dreadful. Men OF
FINAL failure will not be trampled upon By the
ferocious and gigantic members OF the commu-
nifty. Weapons Of defence will be worn, which
will be ufed upon the fpot, under the influence
of every angry and vindittive patton. The fp-
rit of vengeance will be excited and diluted
parties will be formed: the magistrates will
not dare to interfere /: and anarchy may lay
waite our cities. But a duel. it mutt be rccol-
leeted, is always confined to the parties them
felves: il is generally conducted with great
deliberation, and is often prevented by an ac-
acknowledgement OF error relulting from retlec-
ton, by the in.erpohtion of friends, or the
timely exer,ion of magifterial authority. Pro-
badly, therefore, the practice Of duellng is up
on the whole more favorable to human life,
than its fupprcfIion would turn ont to be u: as
1t is certain that the Introduction of fire arms
has rendered modern battles lefs bloody than
thoie of antiquity. The laughter of Jemappe
and Marengo, was much lefs dreadful than
that of Thrafymene and Gamma. In fact, the
palions which have marked the human charac-
ter in all ages, are not 70 be eradicated. Their
progrefs in one direction may be checked by
the power of the government, but they infant
ly take another courfe, and often become more
fierce and deftructive in their ravages than they
would have been, If, initead of being oppofed
by the force, they had been guided by the wifi.
dom of the law.(g)
Thus IN Tome ofthofe countries, where duel
ling is not pradifed, that fentiment which here
impels man offeeling, to call his enemy to the
held, feeks for qualification in the ftiletto and
the poifoned cup. In Spain and italy formerly,
duels never occurred but it is probable that
more men fell in one year in thofe countries by
potion and ahafiinatiou, than PERTH by duel
ling, in century.(b)
In oppohtion to the reaioning like this, it is
faid that the Greeks and Romans were brave
and high fpirited people, and that they never
thought of deciding private controversies by
a formal appeal to the fword. An Athenian ge-
neral did not feel diihonored by having cane
angrily raifed to ftrike him nor did Cefar
think 1t neceiiary TO refent the conduit of Ca
to, though he was fcorned and infulted in the
prefence Of the Roman fenate.
The application ofthefe facts, is not dilnef-
ly perceived. The only inference fairly dedu-
chile from them is, that the manners and fenti-
menus oI inc SreeKS ana Romans were IN their
refpeet different, from thofe of the northern Eu-
ropeans and the people of America. But whe-
Their their fyfem of deciding controversies was
better than that which fuperfition and the fri
ri or Chivairy have introduced in modern times,
is quefion which volume of facts like theft.
would leave totally undecided It is true that
duels were not fought, bat is it to be inferred
thatiniures were forgiven, and that iniiIlts were
not refepted In the tumultuous afiemblies of
the people, where parties armed with clubs and
daggers were conducted by their different lea
ders to the forum, innumerable victims were Of
fered up 70 private malice, as well as to party
rage. In fact, every man who took an active
part in the affairs of bis country, was in perpe-
tual danger of his life. He was therefore gene
rally attended by armed aflociation of friends
and clients to the capitol and the forum, and
his houie was often guarded in the night againft
the apprehended attacks of his perfonal and
political enemies. In fuch fate of fociety, tu-
muts and bloodfhed were unavoidable. Peace
aud fecurity were baniihed : and the friehtful
anarchy which deiolated Rome(D in the latter
ages Of the republic terminated in abfolute mill
tary defpotiim. In the country where no op-
portunity ofgratifying hatred or revenge could
be afforded by numerous afenlbes, thefe dead
ly paffionS impelled multitudes 10 have recourfe
to potion. In the ihort fpace of few months,
at period when public virtue was in its high
eft fplcndor, upwards OF 5000 perfons in one
province were convicted and captaiiy punlIhed
for this offence, which at the prefent day is as
rare as it is atrocious.(k
/ol Th;s remark NAV he ;IlunrsteJ hi, r.r, r.