Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-01-12
Toe sGosoiag Bis are s,ouv 5ef5re tie
Legislature.
A BILL.
TO SUPPRESS DWELLING.

" berras experience has eyiuced th al
HFho exist'ns remedy FIR the suppression
rcs ii'c haibarious custom Of Dasi.ing, is
ms"tqiat- to he pufpose; and the pro
ss;stss ann Consequences Of the evil, have
- ccfnr 8" destructive as 10 u ouifr an
Nchosy on he PARK of the Legislature. &c
arrest a.viee, the result OF iga4vancs ard
c1rSsriss,. ia lifcsl nstb BY the .. ecep,s
- slssia - sos Nv be n Y. Sxs Et:laois !
&sor remedy WHEREOF,
H. Belt enacted by the General AS
secibsy, that IL any person whatsoever,
SNAIL cbsllengs smother 10 fight duel,
wan any weapon, or 10 aay manner what
SeeFcr, The ptobable issue Of which, may
81 migh esult in the dca5s of ,he chal.
Ja1ger or chaIlengedi o. If any person
SHAH accept challenge DC fight dae
nplh Any person, or IN any way whatsoever,
She ptc6able issue OF inch MAY or Nigh
te'rnisetc 10 the death OF Ise challenger
os challenged; such person shsiI be N
capable OF holding or beng eleclsd 10 a.
ny poet Of profit or em-Iunlsnt, civil a,
military, under the government of The
'.coininohweai n.
?. And he il further enacted, tina, from
and at'sf The pes,iog of this asa every OIL
'ic%r's c'eil or D'Ilita'y, Who sbIh be ap
,PIe'ed 20 any Office under this common
~4ailbl she'll in addition to the oath now
prescribed by law, ;aketAe following oa..l {;
!, A D do solsinnIy swear, hat haze
7not been engaged directly or indirectly,
IN a doei, snee the passage e the acl,
'rn3issi "An eet TO suppress Duelling,.
nor VII ] during my CON inaance in Of.
nee, be ctTeetiy or Indirectly concerned in
duel. So help me Col.
3. And be II further ena2ed, that no
person offending iu eiIhe, way as aforesaid,
sh1ll eyer thereafter be capable oil bring.
EES or preserving an? suit or a6'ian, ei.
tier al cpTpoa law or in chancery, and
tl'as any action or suit IRIS itned or com.
Ti'nced, by sDch perssn shall be dis.nis.
sed, hcnsoeyer The iaGl Of his having,
SonDpueil either ct the said odences snail
be eeiabr bed uiter Any era ,1kFrs adj,
ssniase hereof
81 Ard be IL further endGleS that when
Int commission of either of the said OF.
E"r;cas, shall be established against ass
person, Ia any civil aclioD or by any Grim
nal ProsecuioV, the Tecc1d n such aci on
shall BE- good evidence in every snit OF
arl,cn, which may thereafter arise ~ .ke
purpose os proving si,ier If th= utIer ces
nintsssid. although the party or paft,es 10
such subsequent spii or action, was nor q
parry " the suit or action whereby the
said fate wss esiabi he d.
,. and be IL further eaaeed that IL
shall be ihe duty of Sc Judges OF the cir-
Gus C ur's ard The county courts al their
qyaHcr!y sessions, 10 give IN charge ex.
pressly 20 the jury ell IN: laws IN force, to
suppress deei'iDg, also 10 charge she Jury
10 plesent all persons Concerned la carry
ing, sending or accepting the challenge,
and II any person shall be presented 10
such courts, he said courts shall, if they
have jurisdiction of sad ofIerces, proceed
to trial of the same in the ordinary way
and if not, that the presen,ment shall
be either certified by order OF The court to
such court have jurisdiction, as has or shall
be considered in law a sufficient authority
for magistrate 10 ISSUE his warrant 4.
gsinsi the accused, when an examining
court is necessary.
g. And be it fu Their enacted, that when
any Judge or magistrate Of this common.
wealth, has good cause to suspect any
person or persons, are about to be enga.
ged IN duel, he may issue his warrant
10 bIlng the paTties before him, and II he
shall blink PropeF to take Of them re-
cOgnizsnce TO keep the peace, he shall in.
seTt IN The coDd tioD that the party or
parties shall not during The tire for which
they were bound, directly or indirectly be
concerned 10 a duel, either with the per.
son suspected or any 1thsY person within
The time limued by The recognizance.
z. And be il further enl,.ed, thai If a.
ny person or persons shall for the purpose
ct gliding be operation OF tbs provision
81 Shis law, leave The state; the person
~ persons 50 offending shall be deemed
as guilty, and subject TO me like penal.
ties as if the offencc had beea committed
within this Commonwealth and The of.
fender or offenders may be tried in any
court 10 this Commonwealth having luris.
dic,ion is criminal csses.
Ard whereas :hc existing laws and usa'
ge5 Of this Commonwealth preclude the
punishment oil those who are gully Of the
most irritating insults by words unless &C
conpan'ed by certain circum sisnces o
succeeded Ivy such And whsrels this o