The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-06-15

~ nv h'@a'Nh Illfus " lhl' 81
! Manr : crlrd In abruptly. address
ing one Who seemed the most de
lighted with La Crnix. lyon win
have gained your epanicts at TIN
point of the sword. yon " 10 have 81
many honorable wounds as testimo-
malls of ynur services. ran Won SUI
fer Yourself 10 be daz1lrd by the
irothy nothings Of a man who owes
bis promotion 10 favor alone ?
siloW cried St Maur. hriqklv
drawing back his chair. which was
close tn that of Ld Crnix. is it real :
" possible that ynn belong To class
whlrh all brave mrn detrst =
Yes, captain. II is unfortunately
true, my commission Is neither the
need nj my services, nor The fruit
Of the sulFragcs Of my companions.
God knows often have regretted
that il should be 50, aud impatienll,
wait Tor an opportunity Of proving
To my comrades, that am worthy
to march with them under the ban
ners OF my country
That is all very we'll for the fu-
ture.' said st Maur coldly :. but il
is nothing 10 the purpose at present.
Nalmoni has insulted YOU. and there
is bat one way in which You can ait
swer him. What = adlrd he
more warmly, seeing that la Cruix
remained silent, would you prove
Yourself inSensible Ia the honor ni II
F,rnchman He is a sad coward,
the lieutenant
" ithont noticing bis speech. La
Crolx said To ST. Maur, Il should
indeed prove myself inscnslble 10
honor were | to commit base &C.
ton; but | defy the world to prove
me guilty of one
What, do you not think il base
to suffer Yourself to be called COW
ard p
No for if abuse dishonored a
man, whose name would be nnsIain-
ed The most illustrlous patriots.
The greatest heroes might then be
dishonored by the foil y III The drunk
ard, or thr Infamous language OF a
black guard =
Ali -. pshaw all this sort of alb
straCt reasoning does very well in
the discussions Of phlos pie y
Or the writings OF moralists i; bat
We learn a different lesson IN the
school OF honor. In a word. our
creed is. that an insult leaves n stain
whlchcanonly he cltacrd by the blood
ntthe iEsnlter. Such has always been
The custom of the army, and he who
enters ltmust conform Ia lis usagcs.
beg pardon. thls custom IS not
80 ancIe"t as You suppose the
Greeks and Romans
What have We 10 do With them
The customs Of France are the on
y customs that Frruchinen ought
10 follow il ~ clear enough that
you must fight your antagonist, on
he must apologize To You. Or
i apoIogize 2 cried Valnont, 'nc-
yer =
You must fight then, NJ. LA
Croix, or quit the regiment
i hope to settle ,he affair with
out doing the one OF the other, by
bringing back my comrade to scnti.
ments more Just 10 me, aud mnre
honorable To himself
lie turned tn the door, but Val.
mont called 10 him III an impcrious
Tone. before yoa go, sir, | expect
YOU will name The hour and place
where you will meet me tom PROV
!, to decide our differences
M. NaImnhi. know you t. be a
brave, and would willingly think
You an honorable man. take then |
request you. three days 10 reflect ON
Ibis subject to ask yourself coolly
aud dispassIonately, how far this
thirst for the blood of a man who ne
Yer il nred you is consistent with
, true honor | hope at the end oil
that tine to find you in more just
way of thinking. and that you will
assist me to convince these gentle
men, that it is not necessary to shed
blood because "a word has been drop
ped inconsideraicly.' At these words
cries Of Indignation resoundcd from
all present, and La Croix left the
room, While they were swearing
that lie should fight or quit the rcgi-
mrnt.
The sights With which they had