Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-05-26
THE CODE OF HONOR IN CALIFORNIA.

The New York National Democrat narrateS
the following curious circumstances attending
the duel between Mr.. Broderick and Judge
Smith:
The circumstances connected with the duel
fought between David c. Broderick, Esq, and
Judge Smith, renders it almost as marvellous AZ
some of the ancient legendary tales; and in
some of its preliminary features, is singularly
illustrative of California society.
It appears that Judge Smith had publicly sta
ted in card, that Mr.. Broderick was a scoun-
drel, blackguard, villain, liar, and used sew
eral other opprobious epithets respecting him,
which were so grossly ungentlemanly that ac-
cording to the code duello, Mr.. Broderick could
not challenge Smith. The only alternative left
to Mr.. Broderick, which comported with his
sense of dignity, was to shoot Smith wherever
he met him and to notify him that such was his
intention, so that he might be armed and fully
prepared for terrible street encounter. Smith
was accordingly informed by Broderick of his
intention, and requested him to arm himself
Both parties were accordingly awaiting the first
opportunity to become the murderers of each
other. This condition of things became known
to the friends Of each of the combatants, and
the result was that they also armed to protect
the respective champions. The consequence
was that groups of armed men were patroling
the streets for days, and occasionally street
fight would come off. The authorities became
alarmed the famous Vigilance Committee were
summoned for consultation and action if neces-
sary. The whole public were highly excited,
and an investigation into the merits of the diff
Guilty was had by the friends on both sides in
which the public generally participated to very
great extent
The result of the verdict arrived at from this
mode of investigation was, that no justifable
cause seemed to exist for the ungentlemanly
and villanous card published by Smith, and he
was urged to withdraw the opprobrous epithets
30 far as to place Mr.. Broderick in position to
challenge him, leaving the merits Of their quar-
rels untouched; and thus give them an OPP
portunity to settle their own difficulties at II
PAGES and disturb the public peace no longer
Smith yielded, withdrew the most Objectionable
epithets, brought the case within the rules of
the code of honor and soon received challenge.
The weapons were six barrel revolvers-dis-
lance II paces-one or two hundred persons
were on the ground. Broderick discovering
that his watch was about his person and suppo-
sing that he could not wear it honorably, pulled
it from his pocket and handed it to his second,
who remarked that gentlemen fighting a duel
watches. He accordingly returned it to his
pocket. Several shots were fired, and finally
Smiths ball struck Broderick's watch case,
shattered some valuable trinkets presented to
him by the Hon. Daniel E. Sickles of this city,
and left his person uninjured. Such is brief
version Of what occurred in this affair related to
us by one familiar with the transaction. A
great deal Of the i'll feeling existing between the
,hato nut IF al
southern hostility. Judge Smith is chival-
rous New Yorker The laws of California are
very severe against duellers. A violation of
them DISTINGUISHES a man. He cannot hold Of |
flee or vote if he has fought duel, or given a
challenge. But there is a higher law there,
which would be put in operation, were men,
Der of the legislature to object to another TAX
ing his seat for having violated the law on duel
ling, or were one party to challenge another on
the same ground. In either case the Directing
party would be likely to get ball through him.
CALAMITIEs OF GENIUs-Homer was beg
gar; Pautus turned a mill Terence was a |
slave; Bosthius died in Jail Paul Borghese
had fourteen trades and starved with them all /;
Tasso was often refused admittance into hos
pital he had himself erected Cervantes died of |
hunger; Damones, the celebrated writer of the |
Lusiad, died in the almhouse and Vangelis left |
his body to the surgeons to pay his debts up
as far as it would go. In England, Bacon lived
! year of meanness and distress Sir Walter
Raleigh died on the scaffold; Spencer-the
charming Spencer, died forsaken and in want
md the death Of Collins came through neglect,
irst causing mental arrangement; Milton sold
lis copy right of Paradise Lost for ELS at three
,ayments and finished his life in obscurty
Dryden lived in poverty and distress; Otwav
lied prematurely, and through hunger Lee died
n the streets Steele lived in perfect warfare
With the balff; Goldsmith's Vicar of Wake
eld was sold for triAe to save him from the
ripe of the law Fielding lies in the burial
round of the English factory at Lisbon, with
ut stone TO mark the spot Savage died in
'rison at Bristol, where he was confined for
ebt of fS; Butler lived in penury and died
oor; Chatterton, the child of genius and mis-
ortune, destroyed himself
|
NEws-BoY VITA gentleman crossing one
f the New York ferries WIS accosted by one
f those peripatetic vendors of cheap literature
nd weekly newspapers, who are to be found ,
shoals about all our public places, with buv
ulwer's last work, sir! Only two shilin."E
he gentleman, willing to have laugh with the ;
rchins, said why, am Buwer myself {
IF went the lad, ard whispered to another, at I
little distance, exciting his wonderment at the !