The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-07-22
A Farce-I,s:FoIIy and ats Gravity.

A Farce-Its:FoIly and its Gravity.
Some of our California exchanges and
good many of our home papers, are splced up
with ridicule of the late duel between Sena-
tor Gwin and the Hon. Jos. McCorkie. u
was certainly a very proper subject for ridi-
Guile, and it is being well handled. Two pro-
minent men, one a Senator in Congress, ana
the other a Representation the same
State, drink too much at horse race, call
each other abominable names, and separate
with blood-thirsty looks. A challenge
passes from the Senator which the Repre-
sentative accepts, choosing rifles as the wea-
pons, and thirty PAGES as the distance
With the deadly rifles and the short distance
any country Hoosier boy would peck out
the eye of squirrel nearly every shot-and
it is to be presumed, with the same weapons
and distance, two men firing at each other
could not miss unless they were badly scared
or very drunk. Yet these worthy and hu-
name gentlemen fired at each other three
times, and did not so much as damage each
others coat tails. Their "friends" then elm
terfered." Whether it was they feared get
ting shot themselves if such sport were con-
tinued, or they got tired of seeing two dis
tinguished men firing guns in the air, is not
ascertainable, but they did interfere, and to
make the whole affair pass off with the pro-
per clap-trap, published card, signifying
that the battle had been conducted on the nj
cest principles of modern honor-and that
after firing three shots at each other, it was
discovered "their principals were fighting I'M
der misapprehension of facts!!!" The
principals apologixed to each other, went and
drank, and will no doubt hereafter each swear
to the unhinching bravery of the other in
this bloodless field of battle.
In their misapprehension of facts, they
were like the two boys who met in dark al
ley, and forthwith pitched into each like
two tom cats. After tearing and mauling
and biting and scratching for quarter Of an
hour, they finally rolled out into the light.
"Let 60 my hair" hollers Bill, "drat my
skin if didn't think it was Joe Swipes all
the time"
"Blamenation! and / thought you was
Jake Flummix, and have been trying to
catch him six weeks"
Sure enough, it wasn't either of them. and
they had been fighting under a misappre-
henson of facts"
But seriously, with all the ridicule attached
to the affair, the Intentions of the principles
were such as to call for sober rebuke. They
intended beyond doubt TO kill each other if
possible. The arrangements were such as
insured very fair probability of one or both
being ushered speedily into the presence of
his maker, probably murderer, and at least
a murderer in his hearts desires. But take
a worldly consideration of the. affair. SEN
ator Gwin is man of family. He has no
right, however little he may care for his own
personal safety, to wilfully and uselessly en-
danger life upon which others have claim
to the utmost reach of their happiness. We
learn that before the result of the duel
was known, his wife was almost distracted
frantic with fear for his safety. Now we
boldly say, the man who would deliberately
stand up to be shot at under any such circum-
stances, and in Difference to what he must
know is ridiculous and false code of honor,
is moral copard. He is selfish monster,
who would sacrifice the happiness OF vir-
tuous woman, the beatings of whose
faithful heart are for him alone, to crafty
passions of his orn, separate from her. No
man who has devoted wife, has any right to
place himself in such position wherein her
happiness is as much endangered as his 9TH
erwise unimportant carcase. Occupying his
opponents stand, we had far rather as a man
having the feelings of man, the bnllet had
reached our heart, than through his, the
heart of that woman.
AS for Mr. DIcCorkle, he is young man.
We knew him intimately years ago. Death
should look horrible indeed to him. The
world is before him brighter and more beauti-
full than ordinary human nature finds i. at
his age. Rapidly he has risen to prominence,
and high honors are yet in his path. Young.
healthy, talented and sanguine, surrounded
by friends whom his own generous nature has
bound closely to him-one young heart as we
know, beating warmly as the blood in her
own veins, for him alone-ambitous, sue
cessful and admired-what right has he to de-
| fly the God who has been to him SO generous
in undeserved bounties! We thought il
were left for those miserable wretches, who