Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-03-23


piled and crowded galleries, where hangs eager
populace, embracing the most refined Of your
metropois--men, and maids, and snatrOns-en-
joying, as they do, the conflicts Of passion
on this floor, and did the ancient Romans, in
crowded amphtheatres, gaze on the combais Of
tho gladiators--tlat as long as public sentiment
what it IL, pass what penal laws you will, They
will be dead upon The statute book. shaii never
heed them! do condemn the horrible practice
much any man; bat there are. ia the pres
cnt state Of society, but two alternatives. Y..I
must rely, for redres. OF certain personal won
upon arms or upon public opinion. J, IN nv IN
regenerated state, long AS am woriJIlng,
choose the bright steel; II is more faithful more
true safer, and better security than the opinions
OF mankind. AnJf for refusing 10 rely on the
Justice of public opinion, or on the glorious un-
certainty of the law, must consent To he bran-
ded with the mark Of Cain, be dishoDered with he
name Of murder, disgraced with the character OF
duellisf, prefer it to that disgrace wherewih |
am sure to be disgraced If refuse TO hght-dis-
graced even in The secret hearts OF those who
preach tho loudest against duels-disgraced IN
the eyes Of the f,irest portion Of our race even
in the Puritan land and, sir, | must BIO per
mitted to bequeath this legacy to my children,
10 write upon my tomb, if die in single com
bat "1e mould take the alternative to ,ohich hon
or pointed!' -
Enact, then, your ordinances which forbid the
fair fight; what will be gained to morals or TO
public order? Ono vice or another, one offspring
or another of evil passions will reign. What
evils, what legion usurps the place Of The duel!
Invariably calumny, vI;uperation, blackguardism,
and evils innnInerabe, worse than those, Iniiict-
ing wounds more fatal than flesh wounds, incur
able bv law or the goodwill of your fellow-men,
riot without restraint! Instead of the pistol or
tho cold steel, in fair and oPan feld-'ns'ead Oh
that sudden passport to death which the flash of
the duel gives TO a mlserabiy injured man, where
the soul
anfrnl't
you would have that murder aDiich inficts lining
death! ay, and real dca th, too, by assassination
by street broiis with ghasti; Bowie knitc--stab-
bling in your Hobbies, on this very floor. And IT
these are Suppressed by the Penitentidry, still.
what follows in those lands where duels or street
fights are not known? The press becomes cor
rupi That which should be the guardian, the
palladium Of private reputation, as It should be
Of public liberty, becomes the vehecle OF detrac-
ton, defamation, and abuse. Ii breathes upon
character, and is it blasted Its breath is poison,
which taints the moral atmosphere around 1t |
attacks all that virtuous and good and destroys
patriotism tself--al that is high and noble sinks
before it rs before the Simeon of the DESERT
All! but you say, the press Injuries no reputatton
its slang passes for what it Is worth, and injuries
no man. Then you have lost the real power and
efficacy of this moral nngine 10 punish the infa-
NOUS and base of theft1ermes. Scoundres and
their crimes go unpunished-ihrivc with license,
for tho press is not believed-discredited even
when it does not lie Who look to the
.ourtse Bad men combine. 1t is hard to pick
Twelve men with character enough to value char
,cter. Your antagonists. IT base. can beat you
a bribing witnesses: 60 there, and he may prove
he faIsehoods he utters, and that public opinion
,pon which you would have mo rely isgeneraiiy ,
haritablc enough to take sides with SANDER Be
;des, what damages can compensate tor such
INJURIES? And, at last how can you distinguish
n morality between public and pirate ware All
hese things are to be thought of--not to justify
10 account for duelling. Whom my nature Is
changed by the grace OF God--when learn to
urn one cheek when the other is stricken-whep
become Fl, for henven---I will no longer be tried c
" the world, and will eschew the duel. 1t Is
lbominablc in the sight of Christianity-but
anao, then trust to public opiaion. | will not,
hem even RELY on men, | will be resigned to
lffer and bear all things. Then trust alone III :,
iOd. With my nature unchanged, cannot Dear
disgrace. How far conscience IS affected as an =
offender against my Maker is known to HIM lam
10 infideI | am no hypocrite. The gentleman
rom New York seemed TO insinuate that the cpl
bets IS liar and scoundrel" belonged not to his "
section of country. They are known TO the vo- n
Of gentlemen, assure him, IN m'ne s
n the region represent such words are never a
pplied, unless he who them is prepared to II
take his blood upon their import who uses il
hem in the case before the House? J beg par o.
on. am trespassing upon the intention SCI v
ut with. In respect to gentlemanly language Of
n speech or PRINT, am ready 10 compare '"S @
Cavalier with the Roundhcad No gentleman II
ues for SANDER in my section of the country, "A Of
low follows the lie, and ! have seen ministers la
the law 'clear the ring for "a fair fight when fe
UGH offensive terms were used even by black
yards a black eve to individual was not CT
aIf as bad as false swearing to society IN cases &C
E assault and battery where the parties were d'
OF gentlemen Peace is not a mere abstain L
nee from blows and social order depends mere W
pom well regulated tongues than upon distplIn- a,
arms And the Scriptures themselves tell us
on cannot bride the toague-ships OF the sea Pc
ave helms-horses have bits, but the tongue is re
n unrulv member! The law canpot restrain 1t tic
n pistol sometimes will.
Sir. let me not be misunderstood. Irepeat that pr
abhor duelIng. My experience Is painful on SD
lis mode of settling private feuds lhave chai-
nged and been challenged; three times l have oc
zen upon the bloody ground'-seen FIVE shots as
balls take effect-three limbs re
oundcd, two permanently disabled, and one life n'
ken; and as hope to be pardoned by heaven, 81,
had rather be principal at any time than sec
3D. If a man of sensibility, he is never upon ga
9 field of honor except by the side OF a dear eN
lend and never then willingly until after he Id
IS exhausted all means to prevent the issue OF gu
ood There are two gentlemen on this floor at
is moment-the only men for whom ever was ce'
cond, (Hon w. Cost Johnson, of Maryland an
d Hon. w. J. Graves, of Ky .)-who know Sp
hat has been my conduct and manner of dis 10