The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-03-30


lis ahsurdity 4 enofmity, by reit
sing their snllragcs In those VIM en-.
gage in it. We should soon have ~,
occasion 10 lament its prevalence
and It's horrible consequences. Sure
| " the persersiou and mallgnity 0I
human nature, in liz various evil
propcusities exhibit ,ircs aud crime
enough for our vlrtuonS citizens and
patriotic statesmen IN dcplore with
out giving cuCotnagemcnnt In an
unnatural arbitrary custom, the OF
spring OF barbarism aud superstlti
on--for such was the origin nj du-
cling. And yet, ''tell il not In Cath,
publish II not in the streets of Aslic-
lon." the very hall of our Rcprcsen-
tatiycs in Congress. rc.eChoes the
admirine plaudit of this Gothic Gus
tom. Tue citadel, sacred to liberty
and intelligence, aud consrcrated TO
the dearest rights Of our country,
must witness and resound the despe-
rate and deadly deeds of those who
fight and fail in single combat. Az
nndcniablc proof If this fact was
furnished II few n1fH*4ta since, III one
of the most eloquent speeches that
VAS ever delivered IN the House Vi
representative In that speech the
unhappy and deprecated sentiment
was publlekly aNowed n advocated.
Let me ask has the Warrior. who
has nobly fought for his country. IN
the hour III Its perlIons encounter
who has learlessly walked The fields
nt death X stood the bursting blaze
Of the bloody onset-haS le any
need to convince TIE world he ~
brave. by retiring To some darksomc
pathway, u settle a childish point of
honour Must such Il man. cpnsci-
Gus Of the purity Of his intentions,
aud whose bosom sHclls with The no
bic sentiments which honour aud |
virtue inspire, descend 10 the arena
Of the gladiator Must he rashly
sport with that life which God has
gwen him, or take away that of his
nj the call of hismurdpr-
pn4 opponent No: the man who
Ii : hts 4 duel. may be, or he may not
be. IA coward. 4 m0mentary passi-
Oh, or deliberate egcugc, or blind
delusI0n, may operate to impel the
votaries OF dnelllng. 10 acts
of bloodshcd and murder. But a.
the standard ol right and wrong il
inmutably fixed aud az eternal ~
the throne ot God. II there ~ a fool
the ducllist For, blindluid x wild
". against reason. conscience and |
religion. hr makes mn iniidcl plunge.
beyond the hope OF redemption. A
frall creature. cnJoylng the space OF
a few days, y soon enough II make
the dread discoveries Of eternity,
with his coffin aud his shroud ~
view. to balance his chance upon a
bullet, and To barter thousand |
hopes, human aud divine, YEA. bis
destiny, upon a lash OF
Il pisiol-trll u4 Oi another folly that |
equals this. Before ~ income iva
bic a risk ~ INCURRED and for IA
point often comparatively worthless.
or suppose 1t a. Important AZ you
pleasc--Ict the dnclllsl panse.--Let
lin measure ana comprehend the
sum total al the consequences Of
what he ~ about 10 Il Let nm
place before his eyes fully, the prIhr
and the rosl ; aud then Nc shall
hope he will attempt rather II sp!t
en- his dcath-bed by the virtue, Of
and the noble deed "i
charity than rush himself, OF send d
tcIIoN sinner, uncalled, to The dread
tribunal Of God.
To CountrraCt the magnitude and
enprmlly of thIs ch II, lei there he DUl
one sentiment in the COM nnnlly.
Let our guardian legislators, aud
tie dispensers Of our 'sH5. lutet'pnsr
t..ir barriers. Bnl especially, let
our public aud Cb9slinn loaruais
lit up their voice promptly aud m
dcpcndenlly and loudly, to expose
the prevailing and bloody tasbien Of
tint. fines. aud To SIanID the crime