The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-04-17
ANTI-DUELLING BILL.

The BILL it passed the Senate, is in the following
words: ~
A BILL to prohibit the giving accepting, within the
District of Columbia, of challenge TO fight duel,
| and for the punishment thereof ...,. .~.@
| Be it enacted by Senate and House Of Representa-
tives Of the United States Of America in Congress
sembied That if any person SHALL in the District Of
Columbia, challenge another to fight duel or shall
send deliver any written verbal message purporng
intending to be such challenge, or shall accept any
such challenge message, shall knowingly, carry
deliver any such challenge message, or shall, know
ngly carry or deliver acceptance of such challenge
message fight duel in out OF said District and
such duel shall be fought in out Of said District and
il either Of the parties thereto shall be slam, MORALLY
wounded such duel the surviving party to such duel
and every person carrying delivering such challenge
message acceptance of such challenge message
aforesaid and all others aiding or abetng therein,
shall he deemed guilty Of felony, and upon conviction
thereof, any court competent to the trial thereof III
the said District, shall be punished by Imprisonment
and confinement to hard labor in the pcnenllay, for
exceeding years, less than five years,
the discretion Of the court
| SEC 2. And be it further enacted, That if any per-
shall give send, cause to be given sent to
any person in the District of Columbia any challenge
to fight duel, to engage sing lie combat with any
deadly dangerous instrument or weapon whatever or
If any person said District shall accept challenge
to fight duel, to engage in single combat with any
deadly dangerous instrument or weapon whatever or
giving sending causing TO be given sent,
accepting such challenge, being the bearer thereof
and every person aiding abettng IN the giving, send
ing, or accepting such challenge shall be deemed guilty
of high crime and misdemesnor and conviction
thereof any court competent to try the in the
said District shall be punished by imprisonment and
confinement, TO hard labor in the penitentay, for
exceeding years. less than five years. the
discretion of the ".- H...
SEC 8 And be it further enacted That if any per-
son shall assault, strike beat, wound, to
be assaulted stricken, beaten, wounded, any person
in the Disrc, Of Columbia, for declining refusing
accept any challenge fight duel, engage
gle combat with any deadly or dangerous instrument
weapon whatever shall post or publish, cause to
be posted or published any writing charging any such
person. declining refusing to accept any such chal
Ienge, to be coward using any other opprobrous
or injurious language therein, tending to deride and
disgrace such person for offending, conviction
thereof IN any court competent to trial thereof in said
District shall be punished by confinement to hard labor
in the penltentary, for term not exceeding
years, nor less than three years. the discretion Of the
| court.
| SEC A. And be it further enacted That in addition
to the oath be prescribed by law to he admins
tered to the grand Jury the District Of Columbia they
shall be sworn faithfully and mpartialy TO inquire into
and true Pesenmen make Of, all offences agaius, this
|