The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-05-16
ON THE SIN OF DUELING AMI
THE FORCE OF CONSCIENCE.

lHE FOhCE VT CO1<oOAHA>N
An eminent and highly respectable
Minister of the Gospel, now living, was,
some years since, travelling between "a
inburgh and London, on board a LeIth
Smack. A young officer, of proposes
sing appearance, was a fellow traveller:
He had been to Scotland upon leave OF
absence, to visit his friends; he was now
returning to England in order to JOIN his
regiment, which was in Sicily. There
was something in his countenance, e; re-
cially of morning, which, in spite OF
his youth and assumed hilarity, seemed to
bespeak inward detection and sorrow.-
He looked haggard, stunned company,
and gave hurried and abrupt reply to all
questions which his fellow passengers oc-
casionally put to him.
On Sunday morning, the Christian
Minister mentioned above, proposed to
the passengers and captain to have wor-
ship in the cabin, and offered to preach to
them, if they would favor him with their
attention. The officer in question made
no objection, but shortly after the propo-
salhad been made and accepted by the
passengers, he secretly retired into his
birth, and drew the sliding PANEL which
hid him from the company. There ne
remained unnoticed during the whole OF
the service. For three nights successively
after this sermon, the officer alarmed the
rest of the passengers by vociferating i'll
his sleep, "Kill the captain kill the cap
tain! his blood is upon me his blood is
upon me-" On being spoken to, respec-
ting the alarm he had occasioned, he sta
ted with great agitation and distress of
mind, though with evident reluctance,
that he had once fought duel with a
brother officer, that he had killed his an
tagonist, and had ever since been a most
merserable and unhappy man. So in.
tense was his alarm, that he actually tied
one of his legs with a cord to the cabin
table, and in that situation passed the re-
naming nights of the voyage, under the
apprehension that he might, in the terror
of his dreams, rush from his bed and leap
overheard. It was observed that he,ne-
yer grew cheerful except when under the
influence of liquor. At all other times
his painful reflections seemed to embitter
all social intercourse, and to deprive him
of all pleasure in the objects around him.
He did not hesitate to declare frankly to
those who drew him into conversation,
that he fully expected sooner or later, if
on land, to Jump out.of the window-or,.
at sea, to leap overload. 1t was evident
that his uneasiness and terror arose from
the rash act into which he had been be-
trayed, in a moment of irritation. Could
he have foreseen the injury he was about
to inflict upon another, and the misery to
which he would exposehimself, he would
have shrunk with horror from the awful
crime of fighting a duel.
His case suggests highly valuable les.
son to young men of high honor and of
great spirit. Let them learn. to rever-
ence above all things-above their own
supposed honor-the sacred precepts of
religion and morality. Many Of this de-
scription expose themselves to temptations
and dangers, from which they can hardly
escape, by cherishing passion, often
thoughtless or reckless passinn, for naval
or military life. They can hardly expect
topass through the scenes incident to such
a course, without at sometime or other
being goaded into duelling. The law of
honor, they will hear it said, and said by
authority which they can scarcely resist,
imperatively demands it. Here then, is
a peculiar predicament into which they
may be thrown, and from which they
will rarely escape with a clear and peace
full conscience: They will be pressed by
the alternative either of losing their soul
or of losing their honor. Wine and mirth
will engender a quarrel, murder or dis
grace must end it. Whether thew kill or
die, they have committed murder. If
they kill, they have murdered another
if they die, they have murder themselves.
Suppose one survive, there is the torment
of conscience, and infinite evil inflicted
upon another for trivial offence. fboth
escape, yet both mean to kill, and the
guilt of the intention remains. Who then
is the man of courage? He that draws
the sword or points the pistol against tha
breast of a trivial offender, and in tn
face Of bis Makers commands-he who