Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-03-07
The affair of Honor at WashingtOn--Re'
voIutfen of Opinion.


have had four auarres and like have fought ons"
Touchstone.
great deal of very remarkable opposition is max
ing by the blood-opologizing portion OF the press
better known as the Robespierre clique to the great
meeting which has been called in the Fark-yet to
be held-to condemn the practice Of dueng, and to
demand the expulsion of all duellsts from Congress,
with the enactment of law to punish such crimes
in future
We had taken, from the Jump, different view of
the affair, but are sure but we have made an
egregoss blunder and entirely misconccved the mo-
raj sense and new civilization of the age. Such be-
ing the case, perfectly willing TO recover our
lost ground-to change our weak opinions against
duelling-and to look upon blood and carnage, like
certain other great men of the day, not only with
composure, but with qualification the return Of the
age OF chivaly and romance.
We humby, therefore, ask forgiveness of
acknowledgements Of the vrtuous editors of Wall
street-forgveness of Colonies Webb and King with
all their chivalric fends-forgiveness of lovely and
charming wOnan-aRd forgiveness of Almighty God
the two last it Will be hard to get-for considering
the death of Mr.. Cilley in any shape a murder,
for blaming in any degree, the original and magnf-
cent programme for bursting into mans apart
mentor shattering his right arm," or for shoot
ing him on the field as one would do dog-a very
dog
The highly ingenious neral, philosophical, and
Chrstianlke defence of the affair of honor put forth
by Colonel Charles King Of the American, is per-
fectly conclusive to any in Wall street, capable
Of understanding the morality of cornering in stocks
or of specializing in salpetre. Only consider the
difficulty Graves and his chvalric friends in finding
materials TO pick quarrel with Ciley. They have
absolutely surpassed the conceptions of Shakespeare
and leave the great Touchstonc far behind. First |
read the following scene from AS You Like it."
TOueA-Salutaton and greeting you all,
minced gentlemen that have often net in the forest he
Touch III any man doubt that, put my nurga
ton have uod measure; have fs,ierea lady have
ssdone three aos have had four quarres and like TO have
Jas-And how was tina, ,a'en up,
Toach-Fah, met and found tse quarrel upon the
Jaq-How Good my lord like this fellow
& smi lk. him very we'll how did Won end N. on,r
TsuoA-Upon lie times removed Bear ysur body
certain sourters beard he word IL said his beard
siot IfIseni hin word sgsl. i not well cut
ne would send me word be cut please se ell, IL sl
seo ny judgment This called Reply ehnrish again
ea I'd ss' R1 coz y we'll cut he
would say lie This called the Cs,~,ercA.ct guHrr''"e
how Of did you say =. beard e., va. 10, well es
nor be- durst not give me the lie Direct and 50 we measured
yaq-Can you nominate in order the degrees of the lie
Toash-esr quarrel in print by the book you have
Book; for gsOd S yqS ss The
third the Reply churh the fourth the Reproof valiant the
circumstance tue events The Lie direct All you may
avoid but the lie drect and you .y avoid that TOO with an
su, parties s% hcs sn
ss g. z ssss
aa"E net his fellow my lord he's good
thing, and yet fool.
Now compare the philosophy and chivary OF
Teuchstone with that of Graves, Wise, Webb King
Il Co. and how infinitely superior, tragic, and msgnl-
fcent are the conceptions and deeds OF the latter over
the former According to Touchstone's code of no
nor no measuring Of swords or exchanging Of shots
could take place bat upon the 'e direct and even you
NAV avoid that too with an IT," But by the ratisu-
ale Of Cssnel Charles King-they are all Colonies
il is shewn conclusivelyn his apology for the muroer
Of Ciey, the 'e indirect is quite sufficient TO auiho-
rice the taking away Of human life. In modern prac-
tice the "If'-ihe peaceable "If'-the vrtueus "If'
is entirely discarded as a mere loafer from the new
tactiqlIe of honor and chivalry. Indeed, IN every
point of view the modern men Of honor far surpass
the ancient Touchstone had only four quarres, and
had like to have fought only ene-but Col Webb has
had seven good quarres and had like to have fought
all-besides half dozen private brawls with a very
pretty campaign to Badensburgh, accom- panied by
two chvaluc friends TO find sui who not there.
In short, Col. Charles King in his philosophy and
rose on the point Of honor, well as Col Webb on
the practice have far ous,ripped Shakespeare and
Touchsion as il is possible TO imagine.
We are not sure, therefore but the whole theory of
morals that cannot look upon the late murder with
out condeming il, is wrong. II was probably mere
private party Of blood and carnage which one has
right to interfere with. The amusement Of shooting
mcp for giving the lie Indirect" or "shatterIng
mans right arm" in his own apartment to prevent
him meeting friend "or shooting him dead on the
spot" in a certain contingency, ought to be preserved
by grave laws and other judicous enactments, both
by Congress and the Legislature. The rights Of gen
tlemen and men Of honor are invaded by the presen
absurd laws which doom men to death for acting
according TO new code of chvalry-a code improved
on that Of Touchstsne.
We are disposed, therefore, to think that we have
been all wrong in calling public meeting, or con
demning the death Of Cilley, or blaming the pro
grsnme Of Messrs Jackson and Morrell, or finding
fault with the apology Of Charles King. If so-ant
there's :" much virtue in an five humbly beg par