Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-05-21
ESSAY ON DUELLING.

ESSAY ON -DUELLING.
We now offer our readers, few casual ex-
tracts from an essay on Duelling, written by
Walter Cotton, Esq. and read before Captain
Partridge's Cadets, at the Military Academy,
Middle.own. Conn. We have made the ex-
tracts as they occurred to us; and, those who
will take the trouble TO read them. will find
rich treat. We recommend the essay TO the
perusal and patronage Of all who feel disposed
to suppress the dreadful and anti-chris,ian
practice of Duellng We regret, that our
limits will not suffer, us TO make extracts far
more copious, but as our space is circumscrib-
ed, we must content ourselves with what we
have made, and in the mean time offer to loan
the essay, to those gentlemen, who may be dis
posed TO read it:
"yn sending q challenge, he virtually says,
'you have done every thing in your power to
exasperatc my feelings, Up ruin my reputation,
| ts destroy my peace, and prosirate my char
acier II you have not effected your object,
the failure is TO be attributed TO your want Of
capacity, and not to any relentings in your
malignant nature. Bot thmgh you have shown
your ylainy in attempting the object and your
weakness in not being able 10 effect IT, and
are no lo3ger in my estimation, man ot hon
esty or sense, and deserve only my pity and
: contempt, yet will now generously give you
all opportunity OF taking Iay life. will meet
you, weak and unprincipled as you are, OIL the
same footing, and place my life at issue with
yours, although l consider the continuance OF
yoer existence, matter Of no consideration,
| any farther than the slight injury it may occa-
sion your species"
Such is the spirit Of challenges; and does
not the man who issues it, degrade himself
! Does he no, stoop from the dignity and char
acter of his station Does he not discover
weakness, n want Of manly independence, that
DESTROYS bis claims TO our respect And ought
he not in ia,ure to be coupled with the culpril,
whom he has consented 20 meet on an equal
footing Why should VIC refuse TO place them.
where they kave placed thclnselves' On the
same level associates in crime! equal IN dis
grace? And, if either Of them shall after
wards rise l estimation above the contemp-
be level, let BE- by course Of pcniience,
thorough reformation, and claims subsequently
established. Never again let our pride OF
morality and good sense be put to the blush,
by seeing a man return from such disgra ccful
conflict, without even the forms of an apology,
to station Of dignity and trust-a station that
no has fortified by a breach of confidence, and
disora ced by this exhibition Of weakness and
depravi,y.
But let us look for n moment, at the conduct
of him who accepts the challenge. He is not
at least in his own estimation, the unprinclpled
contemplate being that his antagonist suppos-
es He considers himself n man of strict hon
OF, and declares that he is willing 10 be gov
erncd by those laws, which secure every man
in quiet possession of his rights ana privileges
Now if nc has committed the offence charged
upon him by his anita agonist, the only repara-
ton he can make, TO meet the feelings OF the
public, and the just demands of the injured
person. is a frank acknowledgement of his Of
fence, and n strenuous effort to councract its
evil tendency. he refuses to do this, he
ought TO fall under the cognzaace Of those
laws, which arc established for the prote CT ion
of character, and the chas isemcn' of such IN
corrgbe offenders. If by management he
can escape the infection of legal Justice, there
is n regard for reputation, and sense of pro-
prietv IN the community, that will brand him
with iudelible rcproach; and like Cain, he will
carry the mark of his crime upon his front tu
the grave
By what una ccountabc considerations are
these men Of single combat induced to throw
away their lives: IN many instances Tie only
Just occasion To congratulate themselves?
their hono,!-their honor has been prckcd,
and that too in the "niccst point!' How con
they be nscnsbe TO the bleeding wound, in
nicted upon this very vitality of sensitivencss!
How can they sustain themselves unaffected,
while their reputation is bleeding to death un-
der the infections Of calumny! How can they
stand unmovcd, and see their characters fall
ing around them IN fragments! The oak blast
cd in mid summer, its beautiful foliage falling
all yellow to earth, yet still extending its
branches, where lately vcrdurc dwell, so fresh
ly, the trunk itself almost deserted BY the vital
principle, and becoming prey to ine worm,
and TO the more vorocious bird, that has come
TO hunt FOR that worm, no freshness at the
root, no dew upon The top, and nothing heard
through It's dcsoatc branches but the COM
plainings Of tho dsconsola;e owl this noble
majestic tree, thus falling, without an eye to
witness IFS dcso'ation, or a heart 10 SIGH over
us process of decay, is but faint emblem of
hun, who with his honor gonc--is now going
himself TO that sad bourne, from which, nci-
ihsr his honor, nor himself, Will ever return,