Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-04-09
tho state, and any or ths

20 to anotncE ssatOs -
~ys that the District attornies
40 an oath to execute the law
harvesting dnels. by giving IN
,.t;on. Sc. The seventh is high
;moortant; and is in these words.
-, vovds. which from their usu
aaastruction and common aecepta
are considered as insults, ana
lOI ato violence and breach OF the
GU shall hereafter be aetionabie'
es' ~ nlea, exception or demurrer
~ i, s. hsrearter be received in any
a ,'s, 10 prevent jury from pas
ou.s ,bsreop.' Tho Sin section re-
s ,sI former law.
We oonsider this as the most .Ju-
,..on. hill that has been introduc
= s any legislature. TO prevent du-
s,i;o.. The lower classes OF socie
saIdom resort to dueis. To BIB
e. life excluded from the possibili
!. ~ oe obtaniog an Office Of Importance
he state must have powerful of
e., Bu, the section which renders
.salts actioaable. must have saiu
.sex effect 10 the regulation OF the
sanrs The offended. when called a
|,;as' .coundreI. Sc instead of knock
Inc down the offender with a cane,
- 'resorting 10 duel, without loss
II honor. or being charged with q
|,,aOt of spirit. may receive damages
|nrooort toned to the Silence, establish
s;s own character, and punish the
s slauderer, by loss of money and re-
|putation.
II is Of little consequences in what
,anr,age an insult is conveyed. Ii
q 4 saws 70 B "yoa lie" B, unless he
has great eainmand over ais temper.
Will seek Immediate satisfaction by
\ hjow. II would eventually. be
much snoTsto BIS credit instead ola
3blsw ora challenge, to bring his ac
zion. IF innocent, the accnser is for
lever stsmpt as a slsnderer, and B's
&aharacter FOE truth is eenfrmed.r
bat If Bis really guilty of falsehood.
ts save his reputation. let him strike
or fight a duel. and thus escape the
sonyiefion of falsehood, leaving the
world in doubt. The person against
whom an action is brouglu fer an in
sult, ought to have a right to prove
the seeuscr guilty of the falsehood.
/ or any other crime with which he
Iis charged. at the same time ne ought
60 show that he had backgrounds foe
5giyins the insult at the time and in
Che manner il was given; for tho
! q nan NAV have been guilty ofislse
9hood. theft, drunkenness. or other
erine, the guilt does not justify an
uuproyoked ard wsrton accusation.
! 1t 'may be notorious. or even capable
Iof proof, that rnanhas been gnilty|
Of adultery bat he would deserve
punishment. who. without provoca
ton. should charge the offender with
bis crime, 10 presence Of his wiiel
snd children, or at psblic Assem-
bly.
B. conversing with A On politics.
expresses his opinion or conviction on
4 Che subject A deliberately asserts
fhat;ho man Of truth or moral no
uesty can hsrbor such sentiment,
Or be so convinced. This Insult is the
rsme ss lyon lie" or :. you are a.
seoundrel." and jury ought TO give
damages from to 5000 10 proper
ton TO the characters Of tie parties
and the aggrsvatien ofthe offence.
a few trials and convictions with,
exemplafy mulcts would soon have
an effect 10 teaching civility and care,
order and poliieless. to the :. unruIy
member and the malignant, igno-
rant or ineonsiderate pen.
Ina speech Of Mr.. Giles, universally
admired At the time by all the democrats
"a fasOr Of the bill for repeating the act
appointing sixteen judges, much is said
against what is called the patronage sys-
TEN, the support of which is attributed
% me administrations Of Washington
s "a a ac, !his executive patronage
W.T. Ihes declares, was maintained byi
ianoiag the debt proper of the U. States|
quo y assuming the debts of the sepa-
sa'e states" Shortly after this event
an indlan war sprang up. he could not |