Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1823-01-11

he aci to sprpress The %practice of
dueliins wss wiseiyf enaefed, and has
neeq productive Of saiu,ary effects.
he frightful mischiefs resulting from
his practice called for the strongest
measures Of legislative interpretation.
Those baneful ills entailed upon the
community, have been eradicated by
the law in question, and the Judgment
Of society confirms its ameiiorate con-
di,ion. A law which is the parent of
such beneficial consequences, should be
touched with the utmost caution. & an
preached with deiicaey and circum.
spection. Its operation has endured
for nearly thirteen years, and the pub
lie Judgment. made up by the light IT
experience. forbids its repeal. An ex.
ttaordinary corporation Of causes,
may require release of the penalties
as measure dictated by public policy
and demanded upon The unchangine
principles ofpubiic justice.-r The pas
sage OF this act introduced a new
principle into our penal code. The
delinquent was made not only his
own accuser, with the indispensable
necessity of self condemnation but
that Legislation was bold and high
handed which gave law against inve-
tefate prejudice, settled opinion, and
he current Of public sensibility. The
keen and vindic,ive jealousy of the
law struck at the root of the evil as the
most efiicacious mode of graduating it.
The period following its enactment,
was one of painful aud trying anxiety.
Public sentiment had not declare ed
itself in favor of the new law, and the
condition of that man is worthy Of
deep ceIhmiseratien who was called
upon to Admit either 10 the denuunc
ing of shame and disgrace, or the ter
rible vengeance Of violated Justice.
The school Of honor had taught its
maxims. and had fixed it's rules a.
monS these, the necessity for duelling
10 personal, contests, was well settled.
He who undertook to resist this
mandate must have been endued with
more than ordinary courage and vir.
tue a weight Of character and cons
tidencs in himself rarely posse,sed.-
That noble, though capricious p.iDci-
pie, which il is alike difficult either TO
define, OF to refer TO any fixed fouuda.
ton In reason or morals which is the
proper centinel of happiness and in
teSrity, as well as the source of digni-
~ and greatness, had not then repo.
sed itself in the impregnable fortress
OF its own purity, because society re-
CURED, that its defence should be
made by personal conflict with its IA.
sailsnt.-The effects of the anti du-
cling statute, have gradually evolved
themselves. aud public sentiment fol-
lowing those effects, by like graduation,
has undergone Its change spi-
,ii OF cbivairy formerly aronsing the
human hear. and siakingi it with deeds
OF violence, is confined within the
irammels of reason. The judgment
exerts over turbulent passions of our
nature, its cooling aud is better infiu.
euce. The discreet and rejecting por-
ton of the community have settled
down in sentiments of aversion TO such
ccnfliets-the chivalr0us have heer
drilled into subsection by the iney ita-
bic visitation of the law. Pnblie o.
pinion and the law Itself are at length
in unison.-The lapse of years was
necessary to accomplish this object;
hnt during the period of discrepancy,
the wises, and the best among u. had
the courage 10 face death, though not
the firmness to Withstand the tarren,
of public opinion. A wise and be,
nignant legislature will excuse wha,
il cannot justify, and will rot WELD
the seourSe against men who followed
public sentiment when it predominated
over the law but that lime has past, and
can nsveT again nccur. We are Taught
when 'canbing the deinquencies of onr fell.
low beings, 10 look tn the heart and dis.ect
1t. motives as The safest mean, Of detecting
the interviewer shades Of moral turpitude.
and by mounting to The source of human
action, TO arraign the lurking mischief OF
Intention. This ia the great rrecep, of di.
vine as we'll as human lsw -Tsking this
text for our guide, how will the ,efiIiouers
standP A sense of honor, the offspring of
popular will, has been their fatal delusion.
Governed by mc,ives, whose purity none
can question, is there goi,, ? None can be.
IeVeit-fheir very examples have contri.
bufed TO checi- the current of public senii.
men', and to give efficscy to your isw ard
!" Tue "u"uie prayer OF contr1tlon, peOhc
forgiveness is collected. After being dragged
to the slter OF reform end tortured .here for
years, they pray to be spared from imms
iston. They en.reat you not to denounce
them as aliens in the land of their nativity !;
ara IN this prayer your committee cords
ally concur.
1t is not spprehended tbst any i'll Effects
will result from pursuing this course IL csunot
cIsep into precedent, because a similar state
OF things can never sgaio occur sud, the