Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1818-11-24

| it, and so far from being the most essential
part, ii is but the husk. In vain will you
employ your endeavours TO educate your
children, unless you give seed TO the
heart, as well as culture to the understand
ing unless you make their moral frame
the subject Of your assiduous and well d.
rccted care unless you take at least as
much pains to make them to be well
principIed aud of virtuous manners, as to
make them shine 10 learning and accom-
plishmen,s for intellectual improvement,
il their morals are neglected, will tend to
render them wise only to do evil. Ifyou
train up your boy to strict regard TO
truth, iiouesiy and integrity. and deep
reverence Of all that is sacred; and if you
train him up in habits Of industry, temper.
ance, and love Of order-it is then, and
only then, you can reasonably expect that
he will pass through the perilous crisis be-
fore him uncontaminated, and that his
manhood will be crowned with honour.
The following remarks on the late duel, are so
full of good sense, and consonant to the feelings
of every rational Christian, that do not feel
willing to let them pass unrecorded in our COL
umns. finer. Daily ADJ.
FROM THE EXETER wATcHmAS.
DUEL BETWEEN PERRY AND HEATH
We ovPy to-day the particulars of the
late duel between Commodore Perry aud
Capt Heath, the result Of the quarrel
which happened between these two Off
GERS while on the Mediterranean service
last season. Public curiosity expects
from newspapers an account Of every
thing connected with the public service /;
which dishoDours at once the man and
the country which has exalted him. 1t
is deep stain upon the nation itself, that
SO little horror is felt when her great men
lend their sanction 10 the absurd and
abominabIe custom of duelliug. II a gov
eminent which acknowledges in its con-
stitution sense Of moral and religious &C
countability, whose institutions depend
upon the existence of virtue among the
people, can devise no means to arrest the
progress Of this foul crime among its i'm
mediate servants, when and where must
we look for its abolition. If such man
as Com. Perry, high in character and in
office, who solemuly acknowledged the
existence and providence Of God when
he announced to his country the victory
which has raised him TO his present rank
if such men are not bold enough TO re-
fuse their sanction to this ridiculous and
criminal custom--to whom are we to
look for an example of this sort of cour-
age. The atheist may be duellist it ne
can elude the laws of man, for he ac-
knowledges DO other Lawsuit Perry is
not an atheist. The man who is called
a coward may be tempted to suffer him
self TO be shot at, to prove that he Tears
not death--but who can call Perry
coward The young and unsuccessful
candidate for promotion may fight duel
to make himself notorious-but does
Perry need this pitifuI mode of acquiring
celebrity. We look in vain for any con-
|sideration which can afford the shadow
Of extenuation for such crime in such
man. 1t was ever defiance of the laws
of God-It is now defiance Of the NOR
al sense Of the nation, for we believe that
three fourths of the rejecting part of our
countrymen view this custom as we do,
as barbarous, absurd aud sinful. The
penalties of the law have been affixed to
it as felony. Legislatures Of the nation
and of the states have denounced it as at
once criminal and disgraceful: the plain
est maxims Of common sense, and every
common feeling of human nature is at
war with it, and yet Com. Perry has con-
sented to give TO practice SO degraded
by man aud forbidden by the Deity, the
sanction OF his high example. The re-
Election is indeed melancholy.
But the Commodore calls this " an
atonement to the violated rules Of the
service" He will tell us that the habits
and feelings Of his profession expected
it at his hands. What of all this; every
body knows that the thoughtless hotspurs
Of the navy and the army are advocates
of duelling. But if such nonsense is
ever to be corrected, if such habits are
ever to be altered, it was for such men
as Perry and Decatur TO effect this refor
nation. Their reputation for courage is
not at hazard. Their character and for
tunes hang not upon the applauses Of Mid.
shipmen. Their laureIs can derive no
lustre from profitless exposure and cold
blooded homicide. Their country has
appointed them to high rank in the de-
feuce of her rights, and will reward their
services with gratitude and honour, but
she has no rewards TO bestow upon the
vioIater of her laws-she has no tears to
shed over the unhallowed grave of the
duellist. Crime and reproach must hang
unon the memory that without this single