The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1840-08-13


Hs,nsan an Dusiling. bseslhes . en-
en- bay spirit. Every line Of Il show
Lin to be 3 moral and brave man.
We would only anticipate public OPT
nioa. srre ws 70 express our own. o.
he sahjoissd letter. We shall. hove
tsr, venture 10 say, Ihat ils morality i,
q. sublime IS lis dieiion is ehasis and ele
g.nl. Sar0Raah RspuLlieaa.
aorlh Bead. April =. Is3s.
DraR SrR: 700 ask my opinion .. Of
the code Of honor which decides conrro.
rsr.ies By . resort 10 The duel."s com.
nv with your rtqnes,. and would do "a
are readily. IL ] could suppose thai any
mag that Could say would have sny
iaiasnss in putting an end IN praciiee
uh,eh IS the eanse VI s0 much individual
Glsrsss and violates 50 many obligations
d he most sacred character.
The Arguments which may be used
sgsasI duelllng are 80 obvious. and have
been 50 often urged by persons much
aare able TO da them justice Than am,
thai shall content myself with giving
yna ~ha' may be termed my experience
II matters Of this kind. Aud a. This Ger.
nlnly does not exhibit Ihe practice in .
very lascinsIiae light. il may perhaps
have bener effect than any mode OF
treating The suhjecI iha, could adopt.
believe Thai there we're more dupls in
tie Northwestern army beiween the
years 1891 aud 1905. inclusive, Ihan
ever lOnk place in the same length Of
tine, and among so small body of men
a. composed the commissioned officers
4 the army, either in America. or any
oihsr country al least in modern times.
became al officer in The first mentioned
year, al so early an age. that IL is MOI
wonderful that implicitly adopted The
opinions Of the elder officers, most OF
WIEN we're 'etersns in The Revolulion,
upon this as upon many other subjects
connected siIh my conduct and duty Ia
the proisssibn had chosen. believed,
therefore, in common with the larger por-
Ton Of The officers, that no brave man
would decline a challenge. nor refrain
IRON giving one, whenever he consider.
ed that his rights or feelings had been
irespassed upon. I must confess too,
Thar ! was mol sl,oge,her free from the
opinion that even honor might be acquir-
ed BY a we'll fought duel. Fortunately,
hoWeser. before ! was engaged ia do.
81. either as principal or second, which
lerminsicd fatally 10 any one. I became
convinced tina, all my opinions on the
subject were founded in error, anil none
Of them more so than that which depict
Ell the situation Of the successful duellisi
as ei'her honorable or desirable. II could
not be honorable. because the greater
portion Of that class Of mankind whuse
good opinion Of an individual confers ho-
nnr upon him, we're opposed 10 il. And
! bad The best evidence to believe that.
IN the grave Of the fallen duellisi. was
frequently buried the peace and happiness
"i The survivor; the act which deprived
the one OF existence planting a thorn in
the bosom Of the other. which would con
unue u rankle and tester there 10 the end
Of his days. The conviction that such
vas The case with men Of good feelings
and principles. was produced BY my wi.
Messing the mental suferings OF an inii-
mate and valued friend, by whose hand
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 bsuack room, and often the
same pallet. had therefore an oppor.
unity OF seeing the agony he iel', when
his mind required To The event which had
deprived sncieiy Of anrlhy member and
himself of an esteemed and cherished &C.
qnain,ance. Like the unhappy hermit in
The tragedy Of Douglass, he appeared IN
his sleep TO "hold dialogues" with the
ghos, Of The victim Of his superior skill
W The use OF arms. or more perfect self
aossession; aud witness to them nigh,
have adopted the opinion Of the youthful
NurVsI, tina, the happier lot was his who
had fallen. Taking the rules which GO
yern such matters, as the criterion, my
Trend had nothing wherewiih TO accuse
himself. The quarrel was indeed "fas-
tened on him" Generous as brave. he
had done every thing in his power. to IN.
tnce withdrawal Of The challenge, and
when. by first fire his adversary was
wounded. he anxiously desired tia. the
afT'ir might there terminate. His pro-
position was rejected, his second shot
was fatal. What an instructive lesson
DIES this story present to him whc wouil
resort to this mode OF settling a personal
difficulty; and who possesses common
sensIbiirty, and the principles Of human
,y and honor. The sad alternatives. his
o"u death or a subsequent, life Of b'tlei
regret and sorrow. A short experience
i" The army convinced me, also. thai
fighting duel was not an nndonbled tes