Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-08-18
Murders in the United States.

The Baltimore American has an article on topic
which is attracting notice by the press in various
sections of the United States, and is the subject OF
much comment abroad, the remarkable frequency
of murders in the United States. This fearful con-
dition of things is attributed by the Patriot partly
to certain pecularities in the American character
and temperament, and partly to the partial and I'M
perfect administration of our criminal code. We
cannot ASST en- the cause of so many murders,
social degradation, poverty and its attendant evils,
or an inherent brutality. On the contrary, Amer
leans are an intelligent and refined people, and ex-
IRENE poverty is of rare occurrence. In the opinion
of the Patriot, it is demonstrably true that tout
of high toned and chivalrous sense of selfrespect
has arisen this fearful criminalitv" 1t might be
we'll to consider whether Americans have much
more reason for "a high toned and chivalrous
sense of sef-respect"' than any other people, that
they should adopt the method of indicating it
which is known to no other nation on the earth
"In England" says the Patriot, eff you tell a
man he lies, or otherwise call in question his per-
sonal character, he either promptly knocks you
down with his fist or more deliberately applies for
protection to the arm of the law. If you return
the blow, and he knocks you down again, rude
native spirit restraints him from striking you so long
as you remain PROSTATE but the moment you rise
to your feet he knocks you down again it he can
and then quietly pauses until you confront him once
more. When you consider yourself battered suf-
fciently, you cry out Enough !" and the battle is
over. He coolly puts on his coat and walks off,
leaving you to bear your blushing honors in what
ever direction you may think proper.
" In Ireland the cudgel obtains decided pre-
ference over the fist, and, as general rule, the
preliminary insult is not at all necessary to provoke
it's application Heads are broken and blood flows.
In Germany, as in England, natures weapons are
the most prevalent. In the more serious duels of
the Burschen or students the rapier indeed is used
but it is guarded within an inch of the point, and
therefore seldom punctures vital organ.
" In France, an insult among the popuace is
succeeded by almost interminable squabble,
which is followed as a last resort, by huggMg
wrestling, and vigorous, indiscriminate OF the
feet, without intermisson, until the strongest gains
the victory. Other nations have their various
modes Of settling their private disputes; but their
antagonism mostly ends in torrent of words, and
only in rare instances closes with holpicide
With us Americans quarrel is dangerous
thing and an insult deadly. WeIneither resort to
fists for protection, nor to tha law for damages
The offensive word is spoken, and blow from a
knife, bullet from pistol, promptly follows it.
false sentiment of honoT and hyper sensitive
ness to what the world nay say; an imperfect ap-
probation of the value of human life, and defiant
disregard of the onsequences-mingled perhaps
with vague expectation to escape unwhipped of
justice-instigate TO take this barbarous mode of
avenging insdlt. An insult which attaches to
us only the more, if the words we have thus
boldly avenged were true and which could never
have radically Injured us if they were false"