Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-06-07
hands with wicked and bloody men. If such be
your choice, we hope honest abolitionists will find
a better way, and not turn aside from it. NG-
DIR, BEECHER'S SERMON.
THE REMEDY for DUELLING
Ertracts from Sermon by The Req. Lyman Beech
err, d. D.-TExT-IsAIAH Xix: H.
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION

every man whose hands are stained with blood
or has been directly or indirectly concerned in
duel; and by intrusting to men of fair moral char
acter and moral principle, the making and execu-
ton of your laws.
REQUIREMENTS OF CHRISTIANITY.
The elevation of duests to power is practice
in direct opposition to the precepts of the Christ
ian religion. The character of rulers, God has
himself prescribed. They must be Just men
such as fear Coda terror to evil doors and a
praise to them that do we'll Do duelists answer
this description? Are they just men? Do they
fear God? Look at their law of honor. Its pre-
cepts, like those of Draco, are witten in blood.
THE DUELIsT is MURDERER.
Shall we snatch from the dugeon and the gal
lows the victim of justice, to invest them with
power, and adorn them with dignity and honor?
do not hesitate TO sag that every duelist is ntr-
derer, for he has said SO himself. He has avowed
as his own, principles of murder; he tells you that
if occasion calls, and his skill be sufficient he will
murder And, when he has stood forth in the field
ofcombat, and aimed the deadly weapon, and thro'
fear and trembling has failed to PROSTATE his VIC
tim, is he therefore not a murderer? Is the pro-
fessed robber who fails in his attempt, therefore
not robber? Is the assassin, because his thrust
was not deadly, therefore not an assassin?
PARTY POLITICS NoTHING-MoRAL PRINCIPLE EVE
RY THING
know it is said that mans principles and his
private character nothing to us. If his ability
be adequate and his politics correct, and his pub
lie conduct, as yet, irreproachable this is suffi-
cient. But are you prepared to be the dupes of
such wild absurdy?
According to this sentiment, man may set his
mouth against the heavens-he may be drunkard
in the intervals Of his official duty, prodgal, a
tyrant, and still be trumpeted By Unprotected poll
ticians and electioneering haddbiNs, as the great
champion Of liberty the very .atlaS on qUhose
f shoulders rests the destiny of his countrv.-But
what is a mans political creed, what is his past
conformity to your wishes, when his profigae
private life demonstrates, that he is prepared to
betray you the first moment he shall find it for his
interest? Dispense with moral principle and pri-
vate vrture, and all is gone. You can find no sub
sttute; honor is CobWeb, and patriotism an emp
~ name in the hour of trial. Admit that there are
instances, in which men destitute Of principle have
acted with integrity in public statons can YOU tell
me hoaO many thousands haze betrayed their trusts
for The Want ofaR These are exempt cases-the
persons did not happen to be tempted. But do
f. you desire no better pledge of rectitude than the
mere absence of temptation?
Will you contide in thieves and swinders to leg
lsate, because two in a thousand, though utterly
unprincipled may have found il for their interest
not to cheat you! 1t is in trying emergencies
when the price of perfdy is high, and temptation
lmperIous, that unprnclpled men are weighed in
the balance and found wanting. And will you ap-
s point towards and traitors to command your ar
mics, because they might answer in the time OF
peace !-Why does this lingering cofdence in the
duest still survive the extinction of moral prnci-
pie: One crime OF equal magnitude in any other
case would decide his fate forever
The thief soicits in vain the public suffrage; the
highway robber can find none to palate his crime
and the common murderer, might he live, would
! be doomed to linger life of disgusting infamy
But the duelist who, in cold blood, or with bit
ter malice and burning rage murders his neighbor
can find enough to exercise charity and palliatt
2 crime
l Peculiar Education no Encuse.
, But alas the duest, frail man. is overcome by
temptation. He has peculiar sensibilittes, habt
of education, and modes of thinking, which, in THU
one case, led him astray, without inferrng at all
general deficiency of principle, religious moral
n In plain language, because the duest is educated
a duellst the crime of 10ilfM murder in him il
very small, and is consistent with religious ant
y moral principle lfmen, then, are only educated
to thelVng, assassination and robbery-if, by hab
1t and false reasoning, they are so famliarizet
to crime as to rob and steal, and destroy life, with
out much consciousness of guilt, them indeed, the
are 0ery honest men, and are fit to superintend til
affairs of the nation!
: PerntclouS E~ample of Dweling Legislators.
S TO pass over the the crimes of the deepest dive
n may even say, this rewarding them with the prot
stS and honOrS of the State, confounds in the pub
lie mind the distinctions between virtue and vice
{ aud weakens that adherence of crime, which i
i the guadian of public morality. Elevate swindIer
j. to office, and who shall guarantee the integrity O
the common people? Elevate adulterers, and VIII
shall punish incontnence? Elevate mmderers, am
e Who octU be The avengers Of blood?
e But, waving all moral considerations. what Sc
d curity have we that the duest will not desert u
g in the hour of danger!-What security can w
have, when it is in the power of some facetous ri
); val who can shoot straight to compel him to tn
it fed and by destroying his life, to derange, per
haps annihilate, the government?
=. The system of dueIing is system of despotisnl
- tending directly and powerfully to the destruction
/ of liberty. The feelings of the duest ungod
&C ly feelmgs-the haughtness of pride and RELENTLESS
IS revenge, and which, instead of dispensation 70
- indulgence, deserve the chastiSement of scorpions
= To reduce such unruly spirits, the law shout
" brandish all its thunders
IF 10 elevate dueliss to office, the deliberate con
temners of law, is to place their example in tn
), most conspicuous point Of view, and to cothe
* with most woful efficacy to destroy public virtue
N Select for your rulers men of profigate exam
rs pies, who contemn the religion and despise tn
laws of their country, and they need not conspir
to introduce despotism; you will yourselves intro
m duce it.
y The Tendency Of Dueing to Restrain the Libert