The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-03-11

tCJsThe following has no great claim to poe'ical
merit, but us strong expression OF rep obalion to
the odous and wicked practice Of duelling, ID most
certainly entitled TO II hearing
LINES ON THE pUELor cILLEY AND
GRAVES, AT WASHINGTON.
80 tell it not in Gath" man from Maine
Has fought Duel-by his foe been slain,
Has fallen u prey TO vain ambitions shrine
To gain applause or honor his design
Mistaken man! Ciey dld'sl though no, know
That twas not honor thus TO face loe-
With nrllls prepared TO execute plan
That was agans, The laws Of God and mani
1t was not honor duels thus to fight,
|, was ugains, all laws of moral right.
II was foul murder in the keenest sense,
And those who Practice, meet their recompencc.
Thou vert from Name, sent by the peoples choice
To do them justice, by thy public voice,
How dar'sl thou then engage in scenes ol blood,
And prove destructive to the peoples good'
Why dist thou not the deathly challenge spurn,
And from the bloody invitation tuln;
Reproved Thy foe and quench, his raging strife
Wh words of love! That would have saved thy life
But can it be that on New Englund's ground,
W here men love peace, duelllst was found
" no would, regaIdles OF his tender wife,
TO folly's shrine, thus sacrifice his lie'
All i, was so!-'lhe fatal deed was done
And Ciley is no more! his race Is run!
Has gone from whence he will no more return
And left wife ard friends his loss to mourn.
Oh cruel Graves, mehnks that thou must feel
Sore pangs Of guilt, unless thy heart Is steel;
For with a rifle thou inlenlly shot
And slew brother one who harmed thee not!
o SIR does not thy conscience and thy God
Rep. owe the Oft, for spng Ci'ley's blood!
Does not his form appear before thine eyes,
While his ownblood 10 Heaven for vengeance cries'
Canst thou lie down in peace upon Thy bed,
With thoughts of Cilley running IN thy head
All no, melhinks thou liv's, in guilt and fear,
Thy life not worth smile, thy death teal!
O be persuaded Graves, no more iOspeak
In Congress-but some dismal cottage seek;
There spend thy days repenlng of thy sin,
That when thou diest thy conscience may be clean.
o think of her by the widow made,
And those dear ones who did depend for aid
On n kind father, whom YOU rashy slew;
Oh how the thought must pierce their spirits ,hro'!
How did they feel when the sad news was brought
That by your hand their dearest friend was shot
Sure they did sore lament with hearts depressed
With anguish which could never be expressed.
o may they be consoled and duly share
The grace of Christ, who is their constant care,
May he impart to them whaee r they need,
Till they from earh-cad tenemenls are freed.
But Wise and Jones, who aided in the fight
Have stained their charactersas black as night.
No more should honest men applaud their worth,
But on their heads must fall a lasting curse.
May duellisis forever be expelled
From Congress, though they once All office held
And al, abeitors in that dlreiul crime,
Be scorned by all until the end of time.
Let them be dealt with rs foul murderers
Nor for their lives be offered up prayer.
Enforce such means and dueIs soon may cease,
And men in office live in lore and peace. J. NJ.
Carer, Ms. March 1888. 97-H