Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-12-26

DueHiaS.--Alr. Thomas Marshall in speech recent
B delivered III Kentucky, AFTER. allu,lma To the
causes that induced him challenge Col W,bh. says
I'll under all these circumstances Of wsnan aggression
on the part Of Cob Webb had not called him out, there
Is not Presbyterian lady in IN, district who would mol
have whipped me with her carriers in contempt. from
her presence Oh COURSE Mr. Marshall was not lii
tie extravagan IN this declaration; yet there is good
deal Of truth IN ii; and ia that truth lies tho great dill
caty OF SURPRISING The horrible practice. Not man
in thousand, who fights duel has the appreciation Of
his own conscience Judgment. Ga the contrary. he
acts IN utter disregard OF the admonitions OF both Bu,
pes men had ntber endure saltrepraach. superadded
10 the pers ri personal conflict than the curl
ed hp and the avcrted ok of his old associates female
well male. which he knows awaits him who. having
no CONSCIENTIOUS scfaplcs bcuks repeated insults with
Out calling his an'a4ans 10 ,he icld honnr," or hn
ing called there himself decline, the invitation The
very men, who. Jurors. would coademn the murderer
would. as cl~rns. perhaps, treat with concmptunus
seon him who might refuse on he demand Of same brag
CART belly, either TO murder or 10 be murdered, The
fault, then, Is in public opinion And, Tor one, we
blame who prefers the muzh'e of the pistol 10 lis
blasting verdict.
Wearc glad however, To see that there are some sym
toms OF reform in this part,cularand that, too, IN The
right quarter. At the District Court of Lafayette par
ish, U.ouisiana,) recently, for example perceive
that individual. named Monthly. indicted for
Sighting duel with another by the name Of Schmidt
The jury found the prisoner guilty sand he was senton,
ced To fine Of TO aud 10 Imprisonment Of fifteen
days. No could have supposed that IN Louisiana,
where yelling is common, the courts would have ia
ken cusnizance Of ii at all sill less that jury would
have condemned, to slight pun.hmcn, one ol
tie guilty pacs; vet so II is; and us another favorable
symptom ihe rocuIcaton opnblc opinion in that Sec
ton, we may renark, that the .Ntr Orleans BE "ha
this verdict as the commencement ola wholesome reform
in public morals Let conscientious ures." (says the
editor whs has himself fought two three duels ''de
eide unfpcin9y according toihe plan provisions Of the
statute, and HIS odious relic Of barbarsm will soon be
come olsolee.n
But, until public opinion shall denouace the duellist
not in words ouy but in fact, and shall sustain by lis
countenanee aud applause. him who has the moral
age to refuse either to challenge. to accept cha
enge, To mortal combat, laws will be comparatively
dead letter on the statute bo5k-or, oven if Judges
and jurors, under the binding obligations Of an OATH
denim the parties, the Executive viii pardon lhcm-as
he ought to do Laws which are in conflict with pub
lic opinion are hypocrtcal-h homage which veo pays
to vlrlne;-and though We may respect the feeling
which prompts Their enactment, even by men who have
regard for their pemllie. cannot condemn that jus
ter feeling which fails niilct ther penalties upon
those, who. feeling the law sefls founded in moral
fraud. it defiance, rather than encounter that pub
liz opinion. Of which it is not, though it ought to be-,
the reflection. and which. nasmuch il is not the rcfec
ton of public opuion ought to be visited upon those
who violate it.