Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-07-05

er, II. D.-TEXT-IsAIAHl Xix: Ia.
(coNcLUDED.)
regard to the public safety, as well as respect
to the authority of God, and an adherence of mur-
der, should withhold the suffrage of the commune
ty from the duelst.
When we nrust life, and liberty, and property
in the hands of men, we desire some pledge of
their fidelity. But what pledge can the duelist
give? His religious principle is nothng-his NOR
al principle is nothing. His honor is our only Sc
curity
But the honor of duellng legislator does not
restrain him in the least from innumerable crimes,
which affect the peace of society. He may con-
tenn the savior of men, and hate and oppose the
religion of his county. He may be Julian in
bittefbess, and by swearing cause tho earth to
mourn: in passion whirlwind; in cruelty to ten
ants, to servants, and to his family, tiger. He
may he gambler a prodigal, a fornicator, an
adulterer, drunkard, murderer and not violate
the laws Of honor. Nay, honor not only tolerates
crimes, but in many instances it is the direct and
only temptation to crime.
What has torn yonder wretches from the
braces of their wives and their children, and driv
en- them to the field Of BLOOD TO the confines Of hell
What nerves those arms, rising to sport with life
and heaven? 1t is honor-the pledge of patriot
iSm-the evidence of rectitude! All, it is done !!
The blood streams, and the victim welterS on the
iground. And see the victor coward running from
The field, and for few days, like cain, fugitive
and vagahond, until the first burst of Indignation
has passed, and the hand of time has soOhed the
outraged sensibility Of the community; then pub
cIy, and as if to add insult to injustice. returning
offer his serUices and to pledge his honor, that
= yOur lives and your rights shall be safe in his
hand.
But education, it is said, has inspired these mer
= with seisibiIites peculiar to themselves, for WhlcE
II the cold process of law has made no provision
II SO has the education of the savage given him pc
culiar feelings, for the qualification of which tht
n dilatory forms of law are equally inadequate
e But will you let the savage loose with tomahaWl
VI and scalping knife, because educational feeling
can find no consolation in the regular adminlstra
e ton of JUSTICE?
The feelings, for which the law makes no provls
ion are feelings for which it ought not to provide
ungodIy feelngs-the haughtiness of pride and re
entess revenge, and which, instead of dispense
.. ton for indulgence, deserve the enlistment o
vi scorpions. To reduce such unruly spirits, the lay
,r should brandsh its gliterng sword, and utter a
lie its thunders Nothing is needful to make legal re
e dress as adequate to duelsts us, but habits
II selfgovernment. And are they not under tn
j. same obligation that we to acquire these hal
its? And if they will not take the trouble to gov
I'll ern their temper-f they will not encounter lht
is sef-denial which the laws of God and~man incu
n cate-if they will be savages in u civilized ant
as let them be treated as savages. And when the
an murder, elevate them to the gallows, and not
st posts Of honor.
e. We should not endure it moment; if Coz
gress were to sanction by law the maxims of d.
cling, it would produce a revolution, And w
YOU bear encroachments upon liberty from Law
less individuals, which you would not bear III
d. ment from the Government itself? Would yC
spurn from your confidence Legislators who shou
il make such laws, and will you by your votes clot
90 with legislative power individuals who, in contem
ire of law, do thesane thing?
- Nor let any imagine that the influence of tn
by engine Of despotism is SMALL it is powerful aread
zig and is every year becoming more so, as duelng
'ty creases; and God only knows where its influen
rty will end The actual encroachments of Brltai
an when we first began to resist them, were not o.
Id half so alarming the entertainments OF duells
he To have been parallel, she must have execute
)ut wantonly without Judge or jury, as many as ha
fallen in dueIs. What sensations would such co
duct have excited? Had 1t depended on vot
merely, would England have continued to leg
. ate? And shall laWless despotS at this day pc
It's form what all the fleets and armies of Engla
OH could not!
hat The contempt with which duelists treat the OPT
Or ions and feelings of the community, is reas
NOT why we should cease to confde in them
re- The feelings of the great body of the people a
lot decidedly opposed to dueng. Shall we, the
ne: vote for men who treat with contempt our OPT
led ions and our feelings, who basely PROSTATE o
up laws, when we have nothing to bestow; and W
ION again creep through all the dirty windings of h
llty pocricy when their promotion depends on o
elr will? What are all their professions of patriC
ism, contradicted by their conduct And sh
they deceive US st' Let them plead for lihel
with the tongue of men and angels, and adore
cause with the fervor of seraphs; they are hyT
Oh crites-mere sounding brass and tnkling cymbO
49,. Withholding the public suffrage from the du
enl ist and the practice of fighting duels will speed
~. cease.
ho' We might as reasonably expect horse-jocke
10 gamblers, and thieves, if intrusted with COVE
Gus nent, to execut the laws against themselves,
''eu that duests in Office will give efficacy to the la
49, against dueling.
aus But let men who in this respect betray the c.
~ fdenco reposed in them who not only fight du
themselves, but have pleasure in those that do
'oS same he driven from their stations, and their
-lne ces supplied with men of firmness and prnciI
ears and the end is accomplished.
The Withholding our suffrage from duelists
tend to annihilate the practice, by. arraying
public opinion against it in such manner,
$50. the real, unavoidable disgrace of fighting will
'PH- greater than that of refusing to fight.
These honorable men admit the sin and the I
ocia- of their deeds They disclaim all motives OF