Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1832-01-26

ther's blood, and consign the rcmorse
less scalssto eternal punishment.
where II the Individual who can dis
passionately look on the life of duel
list and not sbudder At the coutempIa
ton We believe that no man can
be so abandoned TO oil sense of re-
morse and shame as TO be abstrsctIy
its advocate. We speak advisediy
when we affirm, that the life of that
man who has she'd the blood Of Eel.
low being. is an undying series of in
tense wretchedness and misery.
Can that iudi, iduai ever enjoy even
momentary peace Of mind, Who has
robbrd wife of her husband. q child
OF its father, and society Of its orna.
ment. Can a human heart be- so dead
, IN dcprsvity, so callous to rsmorse. .
not to shudder in inward horror al such
scene-and that caused by the h, llish
purposes OF his own hand? No. his
own bosom shall be his ni,hmcnt.
Unless he can mock at the heart.rend
ing cries OF a bcreaved wife, unless
he can laugh To scorn the agony Of the
father'ess child. unless he can riot in
has own cursed deed, they shall rend
has Utmost sopi, and the worm which
never dies shall torment his guilty soul,
tall time shall be no more.
We trust that no individual. Who
has deliberately considered the couse
quences ut az act so heinous, will per-
mt himself 90 be drawn down. by the
renistiess foroe Of his own passions.
from respected station. 60 be de-
graded 10 the abhorrent level of a muir.
derer. Do we not sbhor the guilty in
dividual who seeks IN ambu sh to de-
Hroy me lite of his fellow, and rrjsice
that the majesty of the law ~ vinti
Gated IN his punishment His act n,ay
De The desperation Of want or poverty,
but the dark transgression Of the duel
list can receive no extenua,ion; he
stand, isolated IN crime, in defiance of
the denunciations Of the law; he ,teps
boldly forward to its tran gression. and
instigated by the demoniac inf iuence of
ms own passions, trampIes on every
hailowed tie, and sacrifices ell at the
olsod-staine0 shrine of his vengeance |,
Many an individual, the fond husband
OF adevoted wife, the father of love-
y offspring, has stood forth, in an evil
hour, on the field Of mock honor, to
offer himself a willing sacrifice to the
fell Instrument Of death. Ihave known
the noble, the chivalrous spirit. the
husband and the father. the idol of ths,
society IN which he moved, tho prize
OF his friends. urged onward by the H.
fusion of honor, go forth 90 the fatal
combat l have seen his beloved form
pass away TO the dark valley and
shadow ut death, quickly a. vanishes the
sl'ttering dew drop before the bright
rays Of the morning sun. have seen
the devoted wife of his bosom. ret;r,
from the world To hide her blasted
hopr> ia the dark scenes If solitude. nd
ieei the ason'z'ng paDgs Of broken
heart. have seen, too. the ehildsen
which he loved. neglected. despi.ed,
outcasts snd vsgabonds in that very
society of which the father was the
most brilliant ornament. Thi. un.
timely death. these blasted prospects.
these multiplied miserIes, have arisen
from delusive. false and a mis-.
guided sense Of honor. I. too, have
looked upon another side of this sad
4 reality. have beheld that man who
was the voluntary cause Of such com
piieatsd. .Tretchedness add suffering.
the most miserable object of creai oD.
! hsve seen him 6y the haunts Of men
as u some prosecuting spirit followed
'his footsteps. ! have seen the burning
tear ~ remorse burst forth, when
he thought OF the scene of death,
and when he contemplated the dreary
prospects WHICH surrounded his guilty
soul. have beheld his form wan and
emaeiated from the agony Of his re
neehons; have seen him the scorn
and contempt Of men--despi.ed. re.
Jeeted, Outcast; have seen the forced
s,nile bnger on his Tsp like the Internal
eloft oi 0emOnIao rsyeBge--his whole
person bore the marks Of divine ven.
gesDce. have seen the duellist start
as " his miserable form was grssped BY
the angel 81 death. whose CRY was the
! kneil Of retribuiIon 90 his guilty soul !;
1 have seen him hy from society ss If
the piercing agony Of roken.hesrted
wife and fathefless child pursued him.
]. TOO, have seen the dueilist oh the bed
Of death, premature from internal tor
lures lit wa bed Of ere e. him-~-he
cried out IN burning aee, ~. that the
IRE Of belt tagged Within Mn--that tie
/ cries Of a murdered brother sounded
like vengeance 60 lis guilty bosoin. and
Z pierced his Utmost soul with tie con,
I pIicated torture Of ten thousand dag
gers. Ere the erctehed soul hsd esoa ped
its fragile tenement, the tortore Of hat
worm which lives forever. seems 10 have
CONNIE nced--he wriihed. be groaned,
he uttered piercing shrek Il agony--
the dUeIlist was gone! PHlLO.
Shepherdstown. Jan. 3. 1882