Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-06-16
WHOLE No. 636'
Frpm the n. Y. Public Ledger,

III promotes Courtesy in UHHHtTs. Hp
whole history of mankind that sheds any
light upon the subject, coni adicts the
assertion, and exhibits the superiority
among those by whom duelling has been
repudialed. Beginning with the middle
ages, we find only two classes Of sen
above the level OF slayes, and therefore
with any consideration manners Of kind;
the landholders, or nobility oflhe county,
and the burghcrs, or traders and artisans
of the towns. The first, 10 whom were
confined both dueling and chivairy,
claimed exclusively the title Of gentlemen,
and arIogated superiority of breeding in
their social intercourse. They talked
about their honor, their dignity, their man.
illness, their gentleman like deporimeni,
their "mti,ia,y bearrng;" and they char
acterized the burghers as meek, humble,
iowiy, sne0ksng, cnuordfy. Yet IN their
intercourse wnh each other, they we're
infinitely more abusive, more vitupera-
tive, than these despised burghers. The
knights, the ei.ecoi:sr,, the geati;men, tho
nO6temen, accustomed 10 iraIDple upon
the rig hts Of their dependents, were, Of
course, not very scrupulous about the
rights Of each other, beyond the fear OF
punishment for invading them, Their
profession being arms, or violence, they
were irascible; aud their point of honor
beng revenge, they were vindictive.
Hence with all their pretenslons 10 coui-
tesy, they never mentioned dependents
without contcmpt, nor equals with whom
they were al variance, without vilupera-
ton. Even Don Quixotle, who was
drawn as the 6,au ideal fwhat chivalry
pretcaaed TO be, could rail very smartiy
upon proper occasions; and II lnso ence ~
ascrlbed to chivalry by Oh author whose
design was TO rIdlcuie its pIetensions, by
representing lis virtues and accomplish
ments III cXtravagance, how far must il
have hoen carried, 10 life, among an
ignorant, arrogant nristoci.py, whose
profession was quarrclIngf Coming TO n
later period, the reign Of Charles and
Louis XIV, we find among the nobility
II species OF manners that can now he
found only in the lowest haun,s OF London
or Dublin. The vices common 10 tho
nobility of the period are now too revolt
ing Tor open exhibition even among tbs
Lowest; and their language was moi much
better than their manners. Whoever
would read graphic accounts of the Eng
hsh gentienen of that period, may Gnd
them in w alter Scott 's novels. Prolani-
iy and vituperation were their common
characteristics. Claverhouse, his mode!
OF gentleman, would not now be tolera-
ted in any decent circle; and his Sir
Geotiry Pevoris never speak without an
oath, or speak of or 10 any opponent with,
on, railing. And If we examine the pubs
lie doc unicnts of the times, we find in
those oi the "Cheyqliers" u tone Of fierce
ness, violence, scolding, railing, vi,upera7
ton, abjurgation. And going from Eng
land to the continent of Europe, We shall
find graphic descriptions of French, Span
ish, and Italian nobility in the memoirs
of Cardinal de Retz and Count jolt,
DuellIng was rs common as their other
wees, and railing and scolding were qs
common ns hshIlng
But while intcmperancc Of language
and violence of manners were charactrr-
isiics OF the military classes, the indusri-
al classes, the burghers, the traders and
artisans, were as dlstng guished for cour-
tesy and mutual iorbearance. The USE
lui arts were their business, and such busi-
ness can flourish only in peace; and hence
the manners Of traders and artisans are
necessarily peaceful and iorbenrng,
Fighting with the sword naturally leads
to fighting with the tongue, while the
production and exchange Of commodities
therefore according to nature, war tends
to render men blackguards and peace to
render them gentlemen. The history Of
peaceful occupations shows this, especi-
oily in the middle ages, when the de-
structive and productive classes, tho
" courteous geniIemen" and the "sneaking
Jwghers," were exhIbNed in such broad
contrast And Gaming in the reign of
Charles ], we find among the republic
cans, the Ground Heads" precisely the
manners common 10 the modern Quakers.
THIS sect adopted no particular style "
manners or costume. Their manners
were those OF the respectable middle
classes among whom they originated,
and were sustained by the auihority ol
the New Testament, which tells human
beings 10 love each o;ber, and do as they
would be done by; and their costume
was the fashion OF tho day, aud has been
retained because they have considered
il good enough, and have regarded
change of fashion in apparel nc beneath
notice. Thus through the whole Of the
middle ages, down 10 our reyolutloR, do
We find The manners ofthe fighting clas-
ses characterized by violence and inso-
lencc, aud those of the peaceful classes
by forbesrsnce, courtesy and kindness.
Thus far, then, duelling has not promoted
good manners.
! Aud what has been the effect Of duel
/ ling since IN our own country! IL has
prevailed u, The South, md the manpers
sppropriale to It IN all ages have prevail,
ed with Il, aud il has been repudialed ~
the North, sud the courteous manpsrs Of
peaceful life have prevailed with ihe re-
pud,g,iop. John Randolph, in contrast,
ing the Sluthrons gud Yankees, said they
were good spsc,uens OF the "Chevalisr"
and ,he Ground Head" lie was partly
right He proIcssed TO be a"Cheys-
lIpf - and lac was one Pretending A.,