The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-06-11
The Late Duel.
THE ORIGIN OF THE CLUB sYsrEM-wHAr Is I'll
CHARACTER OF OUR CLUBS?

THE ORIGIN OF THE CLUB SYsrEM-wHAr Is THE
CHARACTER OF OUR CLUBS?
Mr. Leavenworsh according to the last accounts was
lying at the Clifton House, Niagara Falls, in very cri
teal condition The duel, it appears took place on
Wednesday morning. the Canadian side of the Falls
in secluded spot which had been selected by the Sc
conds Mesrs Middleton, of South Carolina, and J. M.
Peneeton, Of this city. These gentlemen had after
confederation Of the circumstances which led to the
quarrel, to the conclusion that 1t was matter
which could only be decided by resort to arms, and
they also agreed that ten PAGES the greatest distance
at which they could be set apart The parties fired,
are told three times ana it the third discharge
that they both wounded. Leayenworth fell wound
ed in both kge, the ball having passed through and
lodged in the groin of the other, the bone making
serious, and it is feared fatal wound Breckenridge
shot through the ance but his INJURIES though &c.
we're, are not considered serious The latter after
tanning the condition Of his antagonist, started imme
diaely for this city, where he remained for few hours
and then proceeded South,
Dr. Crimes, the surgeon who accompanied the parties
sent Geographic despatch to the father of Mr. ayen
worth, informing him of the condition of his son. The
father and mother Immediately set out recspt Of
this, for Niagara, and upon their arrival found him in
state Of great suffering from his wound. They called in
the services of additional physician and under pro-
per care It Is hoped that he viii recover.
The Shakspere Cub-of which both the duellists as
We have already stated, members-are, it seems
exceedingly indignant at the which we have
made respecting the general character Of Clubs What
We have said however, regarding the perncious effects
OF these institutions the social system, IL borne
out by the results of the system in Eng
and, as exhibited in the infsriorty of her
officers in the Crimes, as well as in the mo.
raj degradation of her arstocracy and Weather
classes The Clubs of LONDON had their origin in the
law Of prmogenture, by which the eldest son OF the
noble was entitled TO the estate ut the decease OF the
father, the remaining being left dependent upon
him or the bounty of the government which generally
appointed them to some of the many oices in its gift
As was generally the case the salaries Of these oces
were inadequate to the support of a family in style
commensurate with arisocratc pretenscns and the In
cumbent was obliged to adopt some other means Of
maintaining his position in society. II married, It
would be impossible for him to associate on terms Of
equality with those whose wealth gave them so many
advantages over him. The Club system was therefore
proposed the best that could be devised for the
purpose, and found to answer so well that It ex-
tended rapidly and received the countenance and sup
port Of the privileged classes 1t afforded every facility
for the younger sons of the arocracy extend the
limited circle Of their acquaintance and for their intro
ducon into that society to which the fortune and rank
Of their elder brothers gained them easy admis.
sion. This was the object of the Club system,
when rst established in England and 1t retains all its
peculiar features to the present day 1t has fostered
the spirit OF exclusveness in Its worst FORMS by keeping
up that class system by which England is cursed and
which has proved the prolific source of many social
evils Associations of this character are it is hardly
necessary to state antagontic the liberal spirit Of
our institutions which hostile TO everything ex.
elusive One of the first organized in this CITY was the
Union Club which was formed by a number Of gem
tlemen who, becoming infatuated with the system
during visit to England, en6eayored to engraft it
upon our republican society Many OF them were
doubtless respectable and well meaning men: but
exclusiveness and too little love for republican
ism. These and number Of snobs who endsavored to
initiate the sh arstocracy BY aping the worst fes
lures in their character the founders of our Cuba
and every who has the welfare our country at
heart must regret with their rapid increase this
city. At present We have the Union Club, the Shake
pere Club, the Eclectic Club, and the Cosmopolitan
Club, the last OF which was organized In April 1885,
Then there Is the New York Yacht Club which, though
established for noble purpose has become odious to
the people from the snobbishness of it's members and
the contsmpt with which they affect to look down upon
all outside of their own particular clique It is such
as these that take to themselves the credit that
belongs to others, and who would establish .
character for themselves the borrowed capital OF
modest and unassuuipg genius. We're the New York
Yacht Club what IL should be-truy repu ohcan in its
characerit would be deserving OF the public favor
but while IL continues what it is-an association Of
snobs--it viii always be unpopular.
The whole Club system cannot be too strongly CON
denned and should be discountepanced by every true
republican. We need such inst lions here where
the only criterion by which are Judged IL their
character and the services they have rendered to So
ciety. Here all men are equal and require none Of
those Fictitious to give them reputation Be-
sides, the proper Clab for man Is his own househod
and American citizens require other much less those
which are hostile to our republican institutions.