The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-09-01
HERALD OF FREEDOM 0EFIcE,
no ro-r Z

HERALD OF FREEDOM 0FFIcE,l
Aug. 90. 1855
WM. j. ScHERFF, Z. 0. S.,-SIR-
Your letter is before me and | hasten
To reply.
As to your sending 1.-TWO friends" to
re yesterday afternoon know nothing
about it, and am surprised that a gentle
man would intimate that there was any
thing wron..-nluch more cewardly-in
my not being at given place wien it
suited your caprice. | am in the habit
of attending 10 my own duties wherever
they call ME, aud do not expect person
who uses eabilistic signs and Haunting
abreyiatioHs at the termination of his
signature. to charge me with being ':eow-
ardly'' for such conduct. An imputa
ton of that kiad Indignantly hurl back
with defiance
You "ehatteage' me to tight you !!
cannot conceive Of your purpose in this
respect, or why you desire my life. Ger
tain it is, l have not given you. nor any
ether person that am aware of, cause ior
mortal hatred, unless firm and unyield-
ing advocacy of the Right is a mortal
offence. The code of the duelist is one
Ihare always despised. Ii there is any
act of eowardice to be mel with it Is the
singing out of an individual with the
view OF shooting him down in cold
blood.
In the chivalric ages it may have been
deemed an act of bravery to settle CON
tilctIng differences between individuals by
a resort to trial by battle" We may ad-
mire the prowess of the actors In these
hand-to-hand contests butmodern civil
ization has taught us to lock upon this
mode of arbitrament with disgust, and
closely allied to the barbarous gladiato-
rial sports in existence among the Ro-
mans atan early period, of compelling
prisoners taken In war to minister TO the
lnirth of the popalace. by contending
single handed with wild beasts in the
amphitileater.
| have no desire 10 take your life, and
would not ii | had the power or the
right; as look upon the shedding oil
blood, aader aay circumstances, unless
in self-defence, as an infringement of the
natural and moral, as well rs human
laws. Should be instrumental IN caus-
ing your death 1 could only look upon
myself as murderer, and should everaf-
ter feel the blood of a peltroou dripping
from my fingers.
Ii you desire the life Of any person GO
back To your own Hungary, aud show by
your bravery in defense of your down
iredden and enslaved countrymeu thai
You are not the coHard which yoar act
since residing among US would infer. 1
you are descended from chivalric ances-
tors, sell yourself as dearly as possible
in defense of their graves, and the patri'
mony they have bequeathed you; and no
in attempting to erect an altar IN Ameriea
on which shall bs sacrificed tue iasl
hopes oil. freedom If you have stood
by the side of the brave kossuth, learn
from him lesson of honor, and do nol
wantonly throw your life away in
useless attempt to show thst you are
desperate.
Your eoisardly act IN paradinS the
streets yesterday afternoon with youi
sleeves rolled up, hatless and coatless,
with, your bosom bare. and several re-
volrers, aud other deadly instruments
upon your person. and constantly threat
eniag that you would shoot me down the
first time you should meet me in the
street, shows that Won were either drunk
or crazy-if the former, your voluntary
debasement deserves my detestation; Il
the later. my commiseration.
Nevertheless my convictions IN the
premises, and my repugnanee to dueling
have concluded 10 accept your challenge,
since the choice of weapons is mine, as
You very politely inform me, without
which ! nsigat have died IN ignorance
As you arc well awarc. am wholly un-
used to impIiments ofbleai and violence.