Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-29
HOUSE or DELECArEs.
: SAfUhDAf, JAM IU, To-F II. u"
DEBATE ON THE BILL FOR THE RELIEF OF Il

/.
| chair as Collows:
Mn. SPEAKER My present situation is t,o
embarrassing to require any explanation. II
Is always with me a state of fearful! responst
biiity TO be thrown into the front, on ques-
ton OF such importance but unspeakabIy
SO, when taken by surprise before a crowd
ed house. and assembled city Ha,-
ing expected several gentlemen to haze
preceded me, and TO have acted rather as !.
1corps de reserve which except in cases II
extremity, are seldom brought Into action
In this expectation, to my infinite regret, 81
have been disappointed Yet probably 1
ought not TO be surprised that situation so
appalling TO man Of my years with some
little experience, should be declined by gtn-
tlemen much younger in both. Permit me
then, MIR. Speaker, relyisg on your accus7.>
TONED support, and the usual indulgence Of
tnis House, TO present myself first in The
breach, IN confident expectation of the most
prompt and efficient aid from those who may
fellow me.
This preamble and bill is not a direct at
tack upon the anti-duelling law, with The hon
est avowai Ola wish TO repeal il; I must be
permitted 10 say il wants that merit. In tn.
present state oI public opinien and feeling, an
attempt of that kind might subject the mover
to charge official ignorance Of public seni-
mrnt, or disregard TO the best interests of the
community. They are. an attempt, SIR, To ar
rive at given point obliquely, which could
not be approached in front, or by direct
line They are an attempt which, if success
ful, their friends hope, and enemies fear, may
hereafter, render repeal practicable, the
act totally inefficient. believe il may with
out arrogance, and with due respect to her
younger sisters br asserted, that Virginia in
most strong and important measures, has tax
EN- The lead, and exercised kind of parental
authority over the younger branches of the
great family composing the Union. Thus
IL Tell TO her lot first 10 enact that law so ad-
mIrably calculated Ia suppress the practice of
dueiiug, which has subsequently been adopted
almost literally into the codes of several
States, and some others are preparing 10 i'm
prove II by adding further pains and disabil-
lies. But some of those states (if am cor
rectly Iniorined,l who have adopted il, by ex-
tending similar indnigencies To that now ask
ed, have prouced the very effects now dep
precated and against which do most SUI
EMMY protest.i Virginia too has been equally
fortunate In resisting every effort Ia inroad.
upon the PROVISIONS or evade the sanctions az
this law and con, inced Of lis salutary influ-
ence on society, has committed it to us en-
TIRE, and more than proof against the puny
opposition OF q few restless characters, who
have frequently planned its destruction
by tn" elaborate speech. on Yesterday bv
The gentleman irem Madison, (ior such
think 1t will be found, should it appear before
the puhhc,) have been relieved from u task
IN the performance of which must haze px-
perenced great difficulty from the scan;y
means of inflammation here within nv resch i
mean tracing lie practice of ducllinE from lts
origin.
In addition Ia what has been said by th,,
gentleman from Madison, permit me, sir. Il,
uok back lU near six Thousand wears info th.
world, and for one moment *
anime whether the seeds or germ of this dead
y upas are any where there to be discovered
which having survived the devastation of the
ho"d IN the lapse of time, has taken such deem
root ana grow 10 SUCH an enormous size. II,
modern times, as, Ia stunt shrisel and XIII
every Scion or shrub Of ,irtne peace, harmo-
ny. or gn"h order, which have sprung IN with.
IN The banefnf Influence offs shadow.
The first duel which, find On record. yyas
mat fought betwIxi Cain and Ab.l, Two uf
me hrst ihree men OF which we have any ac.
count, IN which Abel fell and this account
Is drawn from the very highest authority. from
the deepest, and most remote antiquity. And
we una the practice much cens,Irrd by ,h,
historians even of that early period. Itisnof
indeed, iuiiy asctrtaincd who gave the chal-
lense, although think the weight of aulhorl-
~ charges II on Cain, who appears TO have
been AN uncultisafed farmer, his brother ex
ercisinS the more simple and Innocent en-.
pi"yment OF Shepherd ; and because Cain i,,,-
pears To- have been severely reprimanded. and
cast cut as fugitive aud vagahond on the
earih neither does il certainly appear wis
had the choice, or with what Weapups they.
fought. think 1t probable, the etiquette OF
the profession WAS not then settled. or the
laws OF honor revised and reduced 10 a cudpf
as they long since have been Perhaps thu
courts OF honor were not regularly orgapizpd
or their decisions and opinions correctly report
ed certain it is, they have not come down f.,
our day.
Mr.. Speaker, permit me now by few Links
to unite the hlsiSry Of this profession. in ,bp
antedllnv'an world with that period from,
which the gentleman from Madison has 49,,
particularly traced il, to the present day. Tie
most remarkable now rrcollectpd was the do,
ei fought beiwiXt David and GnIiah.' with
particular description Of the arms used by the
c"mHtants, the issue and consequences of the
combat; those beiwixt JOab and Abner. The
generals commanding in the civil wars h..
twlxt Inc tribe of Judah and the IsraeIites be.
WIKI Joab and Amasa, younger officer who
hah Deen promoted over JOab in the command
OF Inc army bet"ixt Joab and AsaheI, rash
young nian who would fight at all events: and
finally, betwixt Joab and Benaiah. the gene,
alIsslmo ct the army, where Joab fell. aid
met the meried fate Of all duellists fur J,,.l,
was the greatest and most successful durlIi.,
nf his or perhaps Of any day. TO comul, (,
tins chain of events, | shall only mention fl7,.
combat, call u what you please, bctwixt lie
CnrlatlI and the HOrat, so famous i'm Roma,
history. Those cases have been enum.rnt,.t
not as exactly analOgOustO modern duels I,,.f
being notorious and recorded insfances oc d.