Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-07-03
ne. 42.

GEN. HARRISON's OPINIONS
ON zDUELLING.-The New Jersey
State Gazette contains the following let
ser from Gen. HARRISON in reply to
letter from A. B. Howell, Esq, Of Not
tingham in that State, asking hts Hopinion
of the code Of honor which decides contro-
versieS by a resort to the duel. II a.
bounds in matters Of interest IN many res
poets, and therefore deserves general pc
rusal.
NORTH BEND, eth April, 1888.
DEAR SIR-You ask my opinion "of
the code of honor which decides contro-
versies by resort to the duel. l com
ply with your request, and would do SO
more readily, i'll could suppose that any
thing that could say would have any In
fuence in putting an end to a practice
which is the cause of so much Individual
distress, and violates 50 many obligations
of the most sacred character.
The arguments which may BE used
against duehiDg are so obvious, and have
been so often urged by persons much
more able to do them justice than I am,
that | shall content myself with giving you
what may be termed my experience IN
matters of this kind. And as this does
not exhibit the practice in a very 1ascina-
ting hghtit may perhaps have a better
effect than any other mode Of treating the
subject that | could adopt.
l believe there were more duels in the
northwestern army between the years II
OIL and 1895, inclusive, than ever took
place in the same length of time, and a.
lnongst so small body of men as COM
posed the commissioned officers of the
army, either in. America, or any other
country, at least in modern times. / be-
came an officer in the first mentioned year,
at so early an age, that it is not wonder
ftil that / implicitly adopted the opinions
of the old officers, most of whom were
veterans of the Revolution, upon this as
well as upon other objects connected with
my conduct and duty in the profession
had chosen | believed, therefore, in
common with large portion Of the Off
GERS, that no brave man would decline
challenge, nor refrain from giving one,
whenever he considered that his rights or
feelings had been trespassed upon.
must confess, too, that / was not altogether
free from the opinion that even honor
might be acquired by well fought duel.
| Fortunately, however, before was enga-
ged IN a duel, either as principal or sec
Dad, which terminated fatally to any one,
became convinced that all my opinions
on the subject were founded in error, and
none ofthem more so than that which de-
Picted the situation of the successful duel
list as either honorable or desirable. Ii
could not be honorable, because the great
er portion ofthat class of mankind whose
good opinion Of an individual coufers hon
or upon him, were opposed to If. And
| had the best evidence to believe that, IN
the grave Of the fallen duellist, was fire.
lquently buried the peace and happiness of
the survivor; the act which deprived the
one of existence, planting thorn in the
bosom of the other, which would continue
to rankle and tester there to the end of his
days. The conviction that such was the
case, with men Of good feelings and prin-
ciPlc, was produced by my witnessing the
mental sufferlngs of an intimate and AL
ued friend, by whose hand a worthy man
had fallen. Several years had elapsed
from the date of this affair, before became
acquainted with him.
We were soon after associated in the
general staff Of the army, and for the
greater part of two years, we shared the
same tent or bqrrack room, and often the
same pallet. had an opportunitq ofsee.
ing the agony he often felt, when lis mind
REQUIRED to the event which had deprived
society of worthy member and himself
OF an esteemed and cherished acauair.
tance.-Like the unhappy hermit ii he
tragedy of Douglas, he appea ed, IN his
!, sleep, TO "hold dialogues with the phost
of the victim ofhis superior skin n the
use OF arms, or more perfect selfpossesss
ION; and a witness to them might hive
adopted the opinion ofthe youthful Nor.
val, Tat the happier lot was his Who had
iaIlen. Taking the rules which govern
such matters, as the criterion, nv friend
had nothing WhereWith to accuse himself.
The quarrel was indeed elaStenedo on him.
Generous. as brave, he had done every
thing in his power to induce d withdrawal
of the challenge, and when, by airst fire,
his adversary was wounded, he anxiously
desired that the affair might there termina
ale. His proposition rejected. his second
shot was fatal. What an Instructive les.
son does this story present to him Who
would resort to this mode Of settling
personal difficulty, who possesses common
sensibility and the principles ofhumanitv
and honor. The sad alternatives, Ms own
death, or a subsequent life Of bitter regret
and sorrow. A short experience in The
ARMY convinced me, also, that fiaHtino 4
T duel was not an undoubted test 81 tSno
courage { had known instance az 4,
els, and desperate duels, beiap fo,cb. Il,
men who would not have been selecsied e,
officers who knew item. 10 lead s lorloSo
hope. Onthe contrary, possessed tie :,
) NEST positive testimony g prove tha,
some Of The brayest Of men. would not s.
:. ngdged imam affair ofthat kind under ap,v
circumstances.
goniormably 70 my plan, as stated II the
8 commencement Of my letter, Is rive Sotl
J, facts rather than arguments, / pfeseas vol
: with another Ienlniscence Of nv early mill
tary life. ] Introduce It not onlv Is s6s-
tam my position. hlii fror, 80 80 I