Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1838-11-01
DISCOURSE on DUELLlNG.

discourse on Dueliing we have thought
proper to lay before our readers, and we
regret our limits will not permit us to copy
the whole discourse, which is very able
production and worthy of general atten-
tim.
AT WASHINGTON. BY REV HENRY sLIcER,
CHAPLAIN TO THE SENATE.
"Ih0u shalt nat kiH.-Exodus. Xxx chan.
18th verse.
"Whoso sheddcth mans blooa, 5y man
shall has Jlood be she'd; for IN the iic.1ge Of
God made he man. Genesis, 9th chap.
9th verse.
But further: duelling is manifestly and
fagrantly unjust. 1t is the part of justice
to proportion the punishment to the guilt !;
--how does the case stand here? Why,
the challenged has given some offence, (by
words or gestures real or in Imagination,
to the challenger and he is therefore re-
CURED to stake his life against the life of
his antagonist. He is moi at liberty either
to risk his own, or take the life of the 9TH
er, in any such way, or on any such ac-
count. And by low much, life is more
valuable than any sacrifice of feeling to
either party, by so much the practice is un-
Just. All the claims which wife, chill
dren, parents, and country have upon
the challenger and the challenged, forbid
such injustice. And the aggrieved party,
instead Of obtaining reparation for the orig
inal affront, subjects himself to the liability
of receiving additional and rretrievable in
jury in the loss life.
Again the pratice is, absurd, for it pro-
ceeds upon the supposition that the chal-
lenger thereby indicates his charater as a
man of honor and gentlemen, as well as
ehastises the aggressor. But does he
thereby prove any thing other than that he
was willing TO rush into the presence Of his
Judge with an nnforgiving temper, and reek-
ing with self-slaughter but he proves
nothing relative TO his honor or his cour-
age, as many towards have fought duels,
and many honorable and brave men have
refused to wanton with their own lives and
the lives of others. If one man gives an
: other "the lie direct, and he is challenged
therefor, and accepts and fights, does the
duel, whatever be its termination, prove
the accusation false, or true' 1t proves
neither A man may be sufficiently rash
and fool-hardy to fight duel, and not have,
at the same time either the invinciblo cour-
age of the knight, which no despair of VIC
tory could depress, fatigue weaken. nor
agony extinguish,nor the dauntess courage
ofthe soldier, which animates the owner to
rush fearlessly amidst the bayonets and
swords of the enemy nor yet the divine
courage of the martyr, which balfled every
art of torture that malice could invent or
balbaritv inflict, and enobIed the heroic
sufferer to smile at the terrific apparrelling
of death. No, he has none of these; an
absence of all feeling and reflection are
alone necessary to those who engage in
the modern duel. But suppose such have
courage-their course will appear absurd,
from the fact proof Of courage is supposed
by such to be demonstration of honor.
In the language Of Miss Porter, ga man is
taxed with improbity; and in vindication of
his character, he appeals TO the pistol; he is
accused of being knave, and he repels
the charge by showing that he is not cow
ard. By this it should seem that courage
and want of integrity are Incompatible but
does experience warrant such an opinion?
Are all highwaymen and house breakers
towards? or, are the fearless pirates of
Barbary honest menu" Certainly not. :
81 have known a man." says the same wri-
ter, "boast Of the wounds he had received
in different duels, who afterwards, in case
of alleged treason, Though his principles
remained the same) betrayed many of his
kindred and friends, to obtain his own par
don. When inevitable death did stare him
in the face, the rebel sacrificed his honor,
his cause, and the blood of hundreds to
save his own lifc" The immortal Junius
says, "An honest man appeals to the I'M
Outstanding, or modestly con6des in the in
ternal evidence of his conscience. The
imposter employs force instead Of areu-
ment, imposes silence where he cannot con-
vince, and propagates his character by the
sword
Again The turpitude Of lhispractice fir
therappears, from the fact that killing in a
duel is done more coolly and deliberately
than in most other cases. When such re-
ceve a provocation which they deem o
sufficient importance to justify their putting
life at hazard in consequence thereof
they have ample time for reflection upor
the nature and consequences of duels, ane
do certainly, in matter of such conse-
quence TO themselves and others, employ
due consideration.
If the challenge is hastily sent, it is the
fault of, the challenger, with whom it was