Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-04-28
BAKER.
For the American.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND DUELLINa.

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND DUELLING.
"rhe difficulty has been settled on
u basis entirely honorable to both par.
ties"
Thus reads the last tclegraphic re.
port in reference to the anticipated duel
between Mcssrs. Breckenridge and
Cutting. members OF Congress. and
thus we read every few weeks during
the Session Of some similar difficulty.
Horrible indecdl And is that what
we are To understand by honorable
conduct? Ii so, Heaven save me from
any praise on that behalf Away with
such nonor IL is burlesque on the
word. and should be so considered in
reference to those to whom il is ap-
piled. Occasionally We find a case
reported. without design. suppose. a
little more truthfully, thus:-"settlcd
honorably alike TO both parties" Yes
honorably alike that is. without any
honor TO either, bu, with much dis
honor 10 both.
How strangely similar all these
dramas commence and progress and
end, aud how strange chat 80 few oil
them ever become tragedies. though
apparently so lragic-like in their be.
ginnings. We should call them mere
tarccs, but that they have unusually al
the five acts of n regular drama. We
read,
"All itagedirs are iinished by ndea,h.
NJ comedies are ended bya marriage
Truly the scenes are comic enough Il
provoke the laughter of those. who
like Democritus. can laugh At the ful'
J lies and intirmitios of human nature
/ unnatural human nature.
: Thus passcth the i've acts. som,
question Is up Tor discussion. not pa,
latablu 10 nll the numbers, ~ wha
, question isg \ member discusses IT,
: who " opposed to the measure. II,
urges objections, and Expresses BIZ
{ opinions freely. perhaps even warmly
Thus cnds NC, lat,
: Some particular friend Of the mea
: sure II offended, iIo l. indignant, be
= causc the speaker had the lndcpcn
. dcncc 10 ultcr sentiments NJ variane,
o with his own. lie therefore. searche
/. ipdusIriously, nay anslou.ly, until b,
i llnds some ambiguous sentence. o
p vague rcmark. which he can oo.lruc
|. into reflection upon himself or lhos
. whom be- represents, lie instAnil
] springs up. not full of wrath aud cnb
y bage,' as Irying's heroes, but Of wraII
h aud brandy. launches out into n Trad
II OF abuse against the member who
h pretended 10 have made 10 grass \ ~
Il hection. declares himself the wors
i. nsulted that ever man WAS lnsullcd
a AYERS that he II n man Vt spirit VIII
" cnn brook no insult To himself OF To hi
Al constituents and declares that he mus
>. have satisfaction. In all this. he seems n,
|. to perceive that he is himself olicrin
g hs constituents tho greatest insult, !
rs proclaIming TO the world. that the
m were sillv enough 10 elect, ~ their rel
a resonlatiyc. one who could make hin
Of self so ridiculous. The pretendc
Il givcr of the insult responds In lik
10 style aud spirit, and the in@rpositio
De- of friends IL necessary TO prevent
10 fight. Thus ends the 2nd ACT.
e. They absent themselves from III
,c House 10 which they belong, aud lca'
er undono the duties which they wei
m elected TO discharge. Their absence
a noted. aud the absence Of their fricnC
and duel is expected. An ercit
m ment is quickly y raised, which becom'
=. warmer, and exaggerated statemen
~ are sent abroad. Friends interpos
~ and yainly endeayor TO soothc the
nj lacerated feelings, and make tho
"A. Wounded spirits whole. They W
n. not bo comlorlcd, because they ha'
~ not yet made themselves sufficient
u. notorious. Act Ord " ended
Ile Feelings W wounded cannot
oc course, be soon healed. Nothing O.
IN retrieve their homer. aud wipo out u
er nsull, and restore them 10 the stan
ho ing OF .gentien,ea, but duel.
,Sa challenge IL scnt and accepted II
Al. limoand place arc liked upon. and q
re- condition established by which tn
I'D are To be- governed, 10 proving To 9
world which is the most skilIul muri'
lie or. Thus ends net the 4th.
ms Theexcilemcnt increases, rumofs
nv IN actual tight ofonc OF the parl'
,er shot, kc are circulated; all kinds
eh cxaggerations I'LL the newspaper, a
oh employ the telographic lines in sou
in. inu them over the land. The city