Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-05-21
Surely hard must be that heart, that would

Surely hard must be that heart, that would
compel a man to survive his honor; or forbid
him even to commit suicide, if he cannot die
a natural death For who could compel him
TO continue life, that would be Of no happ-
ness to himself, or benefit to others: Who
J would hold him here in contempt and dcrIs;on,
! to "grunt and sweat and farde!s bear, when
| with bare bodkin. he himself, can his que-
tus make" His honor is dead-sabbed to
the quick--twice dciunct; and why keep him
lingering here in disgrace; and compel him 10
support a life, that is burden to himself. and
! ofno possible advantage o the community; And
| if he cannot "scrow his courage TO the sticking
place." and be his own eXecutioner, then let
us in common charity allow him, if he will do
it according to the laws OF honor, TO call forth
the person who has dc.poilcd him of his fair
| name, now TO finish the work. Meanwhile,
agrcoably 10 :he laws Of hsnor, which govern
in those cases, his destroyer must stand =
blowing himself; so we have chance of get
| ting rid Of two cowards az single ti!t-par-
| don us--not two cotcarJs, for they dare not
| kill each other Of two focls-cxcuse US rot
two fools-for they have wisdom 20 discover
! that the world can get alonS quite os well
| without them: we shall get rid Of two men Of
hon0r--or rather they will gel rid of them
selves--we shall lose ,hem-cGd loss. de-
| plorable loss!-Let nature make a pause an
awful pausc-prophetc CT her end!
! They are not OF that consequence in the
world, which they he'd supposed They TO
doubt expected by this aha r of honor, 10 fx
| upon themselves the attention and sympa,hics
ofthe whole nation. But so far from this, it
| has not been honored with even n dgniel a.,-
imadversion; here and there a sneer ny haze
| been cast upon it; bat men at large, have been
pursuing their usual occupations, with minds &C
| totally engrossed, as though nothing had oc-
| cured ofgreater consequence, than scdllo
| in the street, or a cock fight in the barn yard.
To be sure, here and there newspaper eii-
| tor, to furnish occasion for a ludicrous remark
Of his own, or for the sako Of exciting lit lie
wonder in the nursery, has told the farcical
| tale in his columns. But while he lid it, he
| laughed in his sleeves, as he thought Of the
omnous look and solemn tone, with which
| the beldam would rehearse it to her astonished
brood.
The dueHjst is tranting in generous mag
unanimous sentiments.
The injury which he has received, and which
he is determined to punish with death, is in
most cases Of character that may be forgiy-
en-, or passed over in silence, without eiiecting
his reputation in the mind Of the public
There are no possible constructions of n public
OF expcdient. Whatever the result Of such d
meeting may be. it cannot excuIpate him of
The charge IN question. ! will not in the least
effect his innocency or guilt in public opinion
| The verdict Of this nation will never be sus-
| pended upon the fact, or effects Of the recoun-
ter. Tho influence Of this meeting, therefore.
in establishing the justice or injustice Of the
! charge alleged, can furnish no motive for such
extreme conduct The fatal process is dcta-
!
that his honour has been invaded and he de-
! termines TO punish the aggression in the hcav-
est manner possible; his pride is wounded and
he determines 10 take ample a,isfa ciion. His
feelings are deeply irr.totcd,and ne determines
TO rcck his unqualified revenge upon tie hap
less offender.
Fo, a show Of libcralitv, he demands an OK
p'anaton, but the insoIcnt tone in which he
does it, Intentionally defeats the object. In
stead Of coming to open manly conference
on the subject, he 'cts himself to vr ting yitu-
peratve lctters,-ltle angry bil!ots, in which |
he praises himself, and insults his adversary !
He scorns Il frank explanations; a conciiiatory !
dignifed defence; but Scoops 10 low nvective |
sphcful vupcrailon, and slandcrous personali- I
ties. BY this conduct he widens the breach, |
magnlfcs the offence, cXasperatcs the offender, /,
and gives an air Of importance and necessity !
to the disastrous issue. We speak not of those |
who sputtcr q challenge, because they are Jos |
tied in the crowd, neglected in The drawing !
room, or nodded at the theatre. We have /
nothing to say rsuch creatures; Ihoir punish |
mcnt is to be what they are; ard their rcfor- !
nation is as unmporiant, as i, is hopeless. We |
spcakc o. those VINO ct not without some pre- |
meditation, and the plea Of some sensible !.
grievance. And we hesitate not in saving, !
that in a vast alorily Of instances, these per !
sonal hostilitcs result from misa pprchcnsion ; !
and their fatal termination might be prevented !
by dignlfcd conciHtory procedure. Bet |
where there is a disposition 10 pervert what is |
right, and cXaGqcrate what is wrong, 10 cxcul- |
pate ourselves By eliminating oar adversary, |
there is but little prospect Of reconciliation. I
The correspondence which ordinarily prccoGcs !
a duel, furnishes melancholy illustration Of |
this truth 1t is piilable exhibition of vanity !
and malgnity; pride and hatred; soll-adula- !
ton, falschood and revenge. " ia the first |
breathIngs Of that spirit tea, has already begun /
10 pant for its victim.
TIE DueHisi is guilty Of mwder.
Those who practise this fashionable vice. !
may confer upon it less opprobrous opithe, /
but in the language Of unCrrng truth, il is /
MURDER The only cases in which life NAV be /
lustiably taken, are in sclf.dcience, in right /
tul war, and when a public magistrate is called ,
10 this painful duty in thC lisrbnrCc ,f his or !