Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1855-09-13

Baltimore Patriot has an article on a 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 condi-
ton Of things is attributed by the Patriot
partly to certain peculiarities in the Ame-
rican character and temperament, and
partly to the partial and imperfect admin.
istration of our criminal code. We can
not assign as the cause Of so many mur-
ders, social degradation, poverty and its
attendant evils, or an Inherent brutality.
On the contrary, Americans are an intel
ligent and refined people, and extreme
poverty of rare occurrence. In the opin-
ion of the Patriot. it is demonstrabiy true.
that tout of a high-toned aud chivalrous
sense of self.respect, has arisen this fear
full criminality.' 1t might be well to con-
slider whether Americans have much more
reason for '.high-toned and chivalrous
sense of self selt.respect' than any other
people, that they should adopt the method
of vindicating it which is known to no
other nation on the earth.
s.ln England" says the Patriot, "if
YOU tell man he lies, or otherwise call
in question. his personal 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, if he
can-and then quietly pauses until you
confront him once more. When you con-
slider yourself battered sufficiently, you
Icry out s'Enough!'' and battle is over.
He coo!ly puts on his coat and walks of,
leaving you to bear your blushing honors
in whatever direction you may think pro-
per. e.1i - fs .e7s- s..
''In Ireland, the cudgel obtains deci-
ded preference over the INST, and, as gene
raj rule, the preliminary insult is not all
necessary to provoke its application
Heads are broken and blood flows. In
Germany, as in England, natures weap.
ons 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 popu-
lace is succeeded by an almost intermina-
BILE squabble, which is followed, as last
resort, by hugging, wrestling, and vigor.
Gus. indiscriminate use af the feet without
intermission, until the strongest gains the
victory. Other nations have their vari-
Gus modes Of settling their. private dis.'
putes; but their anita gonism mostly ends in
a torrent Of words, and only in rare in-
stances closes with homicide.
With us Americans, quarrel is dan
gerous thing and an insult deadly. We
neither resort to our fists for protection,
nor to the law for damages. The often.
sive word is spoken, and blow from al
knife, or bullet from d pistol promptly
fellows it. A false sentiment of honor;
and . hyper sensitveness to what the
world may say; an imperfect appreciation
of the value of human life, and defiant
disregard Of the consequences-mingIed,
perhaps, with vague expectation to es.
cape unwhipped Of justice-instigate them
to take this barbarous mode of avengingl
an insult. An insult which attaches tol
US only the more, if the words we have
thus boldly avenged were true; and which
could never have radically injured US i'll
they were false if3 1.s 90 /
A true friend does sometimes venture
to be offensive.
A mans best fortune or his worst is
wife. .74'ds5s a4'@ aa9.z
A friend that you buy with presents will
be bought from you.
An enemy to beauty is foe to Nature.
Delays increase desires, aud sometimes
e1tinguish them. H 8. .a
Friends got without desert, will be lost
without cause
Friends tie their purse with cob-wcb
thread. isE $40
Death is the ultimate boundary Of hu-
man matters. ny ss4
The supercilious. however refined, are
rude. 20 =
A wager is fools argument.
Burn not your house to fright away the
mice.