The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-04-13

just and righteous judges who have just demean-
ed yourselves in your high seats of justice, to try
me for what many of you have condemned me al
ready. The gentleman has himself named the
horrld word-murder ! Murder ! Sir, there are
two sorts Of murder. There is one description of
that offence which deserves the hangman's knot.
There IS another form of murder-muraer by the
laW-WhIch pubIlc sentiment, higher than the law
breaker-defines to be honoraJze
BY the latter, life is taken by mutual consent
with notice-openly, fairly--by an equal mode
prescribed, it happens in this case by the party
who fe-always described, in duel proper, by
gentlemen. Now, sir, by the latter mode was
Cilley murdered-fairly, honorably. Who here
can gainsay it ?? None-no--not one of his own
friends, who were the guardians of his life, will
say he fell loully. He died on the fe1d ofhonor &
here say in the face Of Heaven, before the throne
Of the Almighty--in his dread presence who sits
thereon-that can go, with the falsest or most
faithful friends he left on earth, and touch the
bleeding wounds of Cey with as clear con-
science as any of them, the basest or the best |
did my duty to my friend, (Mr. Graves and
thank gracious Providence he lives, and my con-
science is at ease. And now defy any member
of that committee here present to rise up and say
there was dishonest act by either principal or
second. Sinful, unlawful, it was and | am rea-
dy to submit to the laws, their trial and their pun
ishment but let no man accuse me of murder in
that case, in any odous sense. If he does he
shall have the opportunity to commit such muir
der himself.
Dueling is abhorrent to every feeling of human
ity detest the practice. But, sir, your laws
will never prevent, or punish, or reform the Gus
tom. Sir, tell this House--ay, and these piled
and crowded galleries, where hangs an eager pop
ulace, embracing the most refined your merop-
olis-a7en and maids, and misunderstanding, as
they do, the conflicts Of passion on this floor,
as did the ancient Romans, in crowded ampithea-
tres, gaze on the combatS of the gadators-that
as long as public sentiment is what it is, pass what
penal laws you WILL they will be dead upon the
statute book. ] shall never heed them | do
abhor the practice as much as any man but
there are, in the present state of society," but two
alternatives. You must re " for redress of cer-
tain and personal wrongs, upon arms or upon pub
lie opinion. |, IN may aaregenerated state, as long
as I am aoorldling, choose the bright STEEL it is
more faithful, more true, safer, and better secu-
rty than the opinion of mankind. And if, for re-
lusing to rely on the justice Of public opinion, or
on the glorious uncertainty of the law, l must
consent to be branded with the mark of Cain, be
dishonored with the character of duelist, prefer
it to that disgrace wherewih am sure 10 be dis
graced if refuse to fght-disgraced even in the
secret hearts of those who preach loudest against
duels-diSgraced IN the eyes Of The faireSt portion
Of our race eccn IN the Puritan land and, sir,
must be permitted to bequeath this legacy to my
children, to write upon my tomb, if die in single
combat He vould take the alternative to achich
honor pointed p
Who can look to the courts Bad men com
bine. IL as hard to pick tcelOe men 1oihh charac
ter enough TO ralue character. Your antagonist,
if base, can beat you in bringing witnesses go
there, and he may prore the lalsehood he utters,
and that public opinion upon which you would
have me rely is generally charitable enough to
take sides with SANDER. Besides, what damages
can compensate for some injuries And at least,
how can you distinguish in morals between pub
Tic and pirate war All these things are to be
thought of-not to justi(y-to account for duelling
Wien ing nature is changed By the grace Of God
-acben learato turn one cheek aoben the other
as Stricken-achea become fit for Heouen--l will
no longer be tried by the world, and will eschew
the duel. It's abominabe in the sight of Chris
cannot then trust to public opinion,
| will not, then even, rely on men. will be re-
signed to suffer and bear all things. wW then
truSt alone in God. With my nature unchanged, |
cannot bear disgrace. How far my conscience
is affected as an offender against my Maker, is
known to Him. am no infdel am no hypo-
critic.
Peace is not mere abstinence from blows, and
social order depends more upon well regulated
ongues than upon disciplined arms. And the
Scriptures themselves tell US you cannot bride
he tongme-ships of the sea have helms-horses
nave bits, but the tongue is an unruly member!
The law cannot restrain it--a pistol sometimes
will.
Sir, let me not be misunderstood. | repeat that
abhor duelling. My experience is painful on
his mode of settling private leuds. Ihave chal-
enged and been challenged three times have l
'een upon the Bloody ground -seen five shots ex-
hanged-four balls take eGect-three limbs
two permanently disabled, and one life
aiken; and, as hope to be pardoned by Heaven,
had rather be principal at any time than the
econd. do not despise the truly religious and
moral sense of the community, | have been
aught to revere both religion and sound morality.
But what is q man Of the acorld to do? 1t is use
ess to tell him to seek religion. The terrors of c
ne Divine law cannot restrain many good men to t
y even eternal wrath. How can human statutes,
len, bind the sense of honor? What is the man
f honor to do? If he fights and survives, he
'alks with the slow-moving finger pointed at him
he is killed. we are told he dies as the fool d.
-h,' and he goes down 'unwept, unhonored > if )