The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-03-13


prone Court Of the United States in session al
Washington declined participating in the funeral
obsequ:es Of CiIley, nj the Capitol, and continued
| trial then before them. There reason was that
he fell in duel and was a voIator of the laws
This act bears honorable testimony in favor of the
moral stability OF the highest judicial tribunal of
the land.
Senator PRENrIss from this State introduced Il
bill into the Senate for the suppression of duoling
in the District of Columbia, making it an offence
punishable with death to all engagcdin duel which
results in death; from five to ten years confinement
in the Penilenliary all concerned in giving or
receiving challenge; and from three TO seven
years for assault, defamation, or abuse for refusing
Il challenge. Mr. p accompanied the presentation
Of the bill with the following very excellent re-
marks, honorable to his head and heart.
On Introducing this bill, Mr.. PRENTISS SAID
that, entertaining the principles and sentiments
he did, 81 representing people who acknowledge
no code or system of law but such us is derived
! trcm Divine authority, or from regularly consti
tuted and established civil government, he had
| felt it to be duty, with which he could not dis
pense, to introduce this bill. In doing so, (sad
| Mr.. P0 have been moved 10y no mere transient
or fugitive feeling Of the moment by no mere eX-
element, growing out Ola very recent and very
| lamentable event ;though it is somewhat diff
!
come the event to which alludc has carried, as
we all no it has, lamentatiUn aud wo, unspeaIa
! bic, uuulterabI9 anguish and agony of heart, to
an innocent and unOt1Gndng family, and is fit
| ted to awaken, here and every where, sensations
| OF the deepest grief and sorrow notWithsan-
ding all this, have nothing to DO, nothing to
| say, concerning the transaction, in my place
here. 1t has past and gone. We cannot recall
the dead to life. We cannot repair The wrong
and injury which lave been done. But we can
provide for the future. We can do what be-
comes us to prevent so fatal so heart rending an
occurrence hereafter.
Sir, continued Mr.. P.) in bringing in this bill,
| | have acted, as / have said, from no mere I'M
pulse overweight sensibIity from no mere
temporary excited feeling I have been inluen-
ced by higher, more stable, and lasting motives !;
by principles Of action deeper settled, more per
manent and enduring principles which remain
the same in all times and under all circunstan-
ces. am influenced by principles which look
upon ducing crime las offence against
| high Heaven forbidden and condemned alike
by religion and morality, by the laws of God and
man.
Sir, l might here with no improperly, speak
OF the spirit of INSTRUMENTATION and luwless vio-
lcnce which is abroad in the land, injecting and
pcwadlng, it would seem, entire communities,
thr catening the subversion ofthe established in
stltutions OF the country, and which if not check
! cd and subducd, will, it is to be feared sooner
or latter, overthrow all law and all government,
and open the way to brutal anarchy and misrule
TO scenes OF civil strife and disorder as sanGuina-
ry, as terrific, as any which marked the terocous
and bloody annals Of revolutionary France.
| But, sir, my purpose is confined to a single, a
! particular object. 1t is 10 prohibit and suppress
n practice here, which if not stopped, must ut-
mateIy, i'll addition to other dcporable consequcn-
ces OF Il private and social nature, put an end TO
all freedom of debate and action in your Halls Of
legislation, Danish from them all just and right
/ f,,l Al.