Georgetown weekly news., 1855-04-12
The LegisIature--Dueling EilI.


ent Legislative body, we will admit with
qualification that in many instances thew
have acted the part Of men-of men as Reo-
resentatiUes, acting, we hope not only from
a sense of right, for the sake of right; bnt
because the people willed it. 1t is but fair
and proper that we acknowledge the good
that is in that body, regardless of the fact
that they are nou0 IN office, and as "ten
righteous men" were at one time considered
sufficient to save great city, so with equal
| liberality, should we look npon the Legisa.
tive body now convened at Sacramento.
In dark and stormy night, star looks
none the less beautiful because it sparklss
forth from between the narrow openings Of
gloomy and foreboding clouds; several Of
these stars of hope have made their appear.
ance during the present session Of the Leg
islature, some of which are now brightly
shining DER it; and though there are many
actions somewhat disreputable attached to
it, if they will only enact the Assembly
Anti-Dueling Bill, Prohibitory Liquor
Law together with few other Legislative
bills now before that Honorable body. and
then adjourn, we shall be willing to forget
the evil they have done, and ch erish in
our memories, nothing but the good
On Thursday the 9th inst, the Assembly
passed the Anti-Dueling Bill with but lit,
tie opposition, previous to which Mr.. JOHN
SON, of San Francisco, made the following
able speech in its support. We publish to
his credit
"He said the real intention Of the bill was
dueIing, which now SO frequently disgraced
our community. Men under the influence
of false education had looked upon due,
ing as a necessary evil; and so had some
great writers, and not among the least was
the eminent DR.. Johnson. The practice had
been countenanced by the closest observers
of human nature Even Mr. Hume. al
though admitting that it was a barbarous
and insensate practice, and against good
manners thought the practice had been at
tended with some good effects in the forma-
tion Of society. Under such conditions life
ceased to be blessing. 1t was an argu-
ment which had been used in favor Of hon,
orable murder, that man must right himself
for personal injuries by his own individual
effort. But it was forgotten that under the
Christian dispensation this system Of len
t0liOnaS was not allowable, and was in
defiance Of the laws OF God and Of society.
In less civilized times than the present, per
sOnal cOmbats were followed as a ruling
principle Of persons Of high position, and in
reference to matters OF high Importance
Causes at law were formerly decided by the
combat known as the wager OF battle and
the infamous cry Of "craven;" but in subse-
Quent ages men became sensible to the de-
fects Of such system, and it had relapsed
into absurdity. Chivalry and knight er-
rantry then arose, the evils of which were
now felt in the practice of modern dueug.
The tournaments, with all their gorgeous
paraphernalia, and their "Queen of Love
and Beauty" were comparatively Harmless
customs when compared with the greateyib
Of the present days-dueling. It had been
the custom in Frauce to ask, "what news
to-day? who fought yesterday" The very
principles of dueiing were subservient of ali
good order by allowing man to be Judge
Of his own wrongs. Men talked Of presery-
ing and defending their "honor" by dueling.
but it was much more frequently made tie
cloak and cover of moral cowardice of being
thought "afraid to 90 out" Let them tear
off the tinselled trappings and robes from
this honorable practice" and it would then
appear in all its hdeous and horrid delorm-
ity-in all its base and unmitigated depray-
ity. Such a practice might be consonant
with the customs Of the dark ages, but it
was wholly inapplicable to and beneath the
civilized ages and country in which we live.
How sensible and meritorious was the idea
OF the practice Of settling personal dispute
by the propulsion Of an ounce of lead, Or
the insidious thrust of the bowie knife
Would not the Legislature operate upon
the men who stepped themselves in such
sanguinary crime? In the red calender Of
this crime could be found men high-mindel
and pure, keenly allied to a sense of honor
and surrounded by the highest and holiSt
affections, who had been called to the duel
ing field where the little preliminarias were
soon arranged. A short minute was occu-
pied in marking the ground, the toss of d
dollar decided the choice of the deadf
weapon, aud in an instant an honest anu
useful member Of society-a man made in
the image Of his Maker-was corpse, or,
perhaps, dragging a crippled carcass thro
the world for the remainder of his life. Ii
this practice were not eradicated, the scape-
grace, the libertine, the bar-room ruffian,
would be the antagonist of an honest man
and most valued citizen for having, perhaps.
disturbed the "sensibilities' and ''honorabIe'
punctilliousness Of a degraded and lawles5
mind Public opinion was imperatiyey
called upon to put down the practice, and
he would venture to say that however strong