Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-04-11

name If0m lnaL OplVtOu, winch his LGsi
act alone has made so justly his due
There is DO hesitation, however, with the
writer, 10 saying that contrary course
should be pursued; and that an important
end would thereby be gained that Of
fixing more indelibly, upon the name oil
the dnellist, the impress OF everlasting
disgrace; and upon his deed the constant
expression Of public horror aud detesta.
tion. Instead Of the attempt TO rescue bis
reputation from reproach, and Of pronoun-
cling him the 8 hero. brightest Of bis coun-
Itry's stars let the public papers fearless
| Iy speak the truth; aud paint bis deed the
blacklist Of The black, the foaIest of the
foul. Let them attach an inlamy to il
which no former glory may retrieve. Or,
| if it be too much for the dueList TO live 10
/ tine contempt aud abhorrence Of ali men,
lei, then, his memory rot ;-let the silence
Of public indignation and disgust rest upon
both The perpetrator and his deed; iii
the oblivion they deserve enwrap them
both for ever. Without any reasoning or
the subject, the assertion may be made !;
with an appeal to the feelings Of all good
men, 10 the sacredness OF law, to the jus
tice of heaven for its truth; that no situa-
tion however peculiar, no circumstances
however unusual, can justify the act Of the
duelist. No splendor of talents, no extent
of services, 10 height of fame, should save
his reputation from eternal iniamy.-No:
not the talents, the services. nor the fame
of even DECATUR. For DECATUR could
once boast them all.--Bnt the freshness
Of his fame" he withered and blasted b,
his fall: the value of his services be over
balanced by doing his country, 10 his Iasl
act, irreparable wrong. For, TO what
purpose did he serve his country, aud de-
fend her honour, her rights, her very life
in the periIous fight, il, after all, he turn
ed his murderous weapon against, and
made bis last fatal stab at, that maternal
bosom, which he had spent bis whole lif'
to protect ?-To what purpose did he twin
his own brows with wreath, which might
have lived and flourished green for ever,
III, at the last, he tore it, regardless OF
himself and his country, from his lofty
head, and trampled it beneath him 10 the
dust? All! the crime is objectionable
and is so in Just such degree, as the tall
enls aud services of its author were great
and splendid I'VE cannot, however, deep
as is our adherence of II, restrain Out
sorrow at DgcATUR's fate; and our grief
for our country's loss. We would fain ex
claim, @! that he had fallen, as PERRY
fell where honour, glory, duty called
him! Then, how cheerfully would We
have united our efforts with those OF oui
countrymen, to wreath for him.. with all
the enthusiasm of American spirit, chap
let undying as all the generous feelings OF
the soul ;--unfading aud verdant as y
might be, while watered with the tears Of
affection, and moistened ny the softes'
showers of nations grief.
But it is not so: and we are compelled.
however reluctantly, yet with all sincerity,
to Join the author of the Ocean Harp
in the following striking and forcibIe i'm
precautions against every duellist, who ma,
have dared to lift his hand 10 violation OF
the laws of his country aud his God.
Come, dogs of DEATH spit forth your furious foam,
Destroy the sweet securities of home
Be widows curses, and the orphans cry,
Your morning hail. your midnight lullaby;
In pleasures chase, may every darling trust,
Like Sodom's apples, dissipate to dust;
Where'er ye die, may none be there to weep;
May poisoned shrubs shed venom where ye sleep,
Their madd ming psans round the MURDERER'S
gravel" o.