The Arkansas advocate., 1832-05-09

company 5 died by sickness, one by breaking wild horse, one by the fall of tree, and l5 killed by the Indians, total 22.
 DaeAmg g,-"My Lion, whose jaws are at all hours open to intelligence, informs me that there are a few enorinons eapons still in being. "-l Steele.
 If ever a custom, continued from remote age, bore the impress of barba- rism; if ever a.practiee sinned against the precepts of morality, or the best interests of society, that custom and that practice is duelling. both in its prin- ciples and in it's exercise. The chiyal- Tie spirit that arose out of the crusades, although il may beeonsidereda as the pa rent of duelling, did not confer upon its offspring the characters it has since assumed, the rigid panctillio, the fan ] eied wrong, the spirit of party, led to no mortal combats; the oppressor of the poor, of the widow, Of the orphan, were the challenged, at period when the laws were incompetent 10 controul individual power and honor, seem ing necessity, prescribed a practice that warred with the dictates of the gospel, and the lessons of humanity. As man became more civilized, and more refn- ed, regulations were imposed which en- sured an equas degree of protection 10 every member of society; public and private rights were placed under the guardianship of constituted authority, which was invested with a power to avchge and repair public and private wrongs; it would then appear that indi vidual judgment was silenccd, ard that individual force was rendered unneces- sary in correction; or, that the laws framed for the good of the many, could be set at naught by the passions of a few. The latter Is in fact the case, and in nearly every country 10 which legis- lation has extended. A nan will as- sist in the enactment of d wise law, conferfiEg in essential privilege upon himseli as well as upon others; he will contribute to tho elevation of virtu- ous citizen to the judgment seat, in or der that each subject of dispute may meet with an impartial investigation; and yet will he virtually deny his acts, by assuming the office of an arbitrator in his own cause, and perhaps of an executioner in lis own quarrel-nay more! he exercises an inquisitorial func- ton, over the deeds and expressions of those around him. and prelends to de- eide upon the equity of the case, in for turing word or look to his own inter- pretation; with ingenious casuistry, he determines according 10 his owl. wishes, and maintains a system of personal right which absolves him from the con. trol to which he would limit his fellow men. How often have VIC witnessed q statesman, after intoxicating obedience 10 the laws, trample upon their most sacred clause, which provides for the protection of life; the senate chamber has echoed to his elequence, as lie has eulogsed the perfection of tie code of his country, and in few short hours we have behcld him as-the angry dis PuttIt$ oiiQ tt%C ftiutdClQuS QdGiliols tilC pretcndcd supporter of proud institu- tons, is in reality the pitiful slave of tyrannical custom, which he has not the moral courage to spurn. The sol der whose valor has often been tested in the field, whose character for brave " stands above remark, is too offtef fl i1 the same condition; rigorous in the ob- servances of discipline, in yielding su-. bordination to those above and exact ing it from those beneath him. he will defy the regulations of social life, and spill his country's blood in a private quarrel. The citizen, too, who Is in the daily experience of the benefits that have accrued from social government, who is indebted for all that he enjoys 10 its fostering care, will yet lift his hand against it's provisions; wretched sophistry governs all in the commission