Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-07-22

TO frame n code of du-ling. The result OF their
lnbors was the "Thirty-six Commandments"
which Sir Jonah harrington has handed down to
po-terity. They are bloody enough. as most
lrishmen we're good shots in those days Ono
runs:
when the direct il the frat offence, the ag-
grcssor must either beg pardon in express TERMS
exchange two shots previous to an apology, or
three shots followed up by an explanations or nre
until severe hit be received by one party or
the o,her."
As to blows, tho commandments say that"as
n blow is strictly prohibited under any circum-
stances among gentlemen, no verbal apology can
hc received for nny such insult. The alterna-
lives are. therrfore--the offender handing n cane
the injured party, to be used on his own hackat
the same time hegging pardon' firing on till one
nr both IL disabled; or exchanging three shots.
nnl then asking pardon without the proffer Of the
cane"
Another rule declares TINT no dumb shooting or
firing In the mir is admissible in any case The
challenger ought not TO have challenged without
receiving offence. and the challenged ought it he
gave offence to have made apology before he
came on the ground; therefore, children's play
must be dishonorable on one aide or the other
aud is accordingly prohibited"
Some Of tho commandments" are deciously
cool.
Seconds to be Of equal rank with the princi
pals they attend inasmuch ms second may
choose. or chance, 10 becomo PtIhc'P"i, "Hu
equality is Indispensable
"cballenees are never to be- delivered at night,
unless the party TO be challenged Is to leave the
place before morning, for tis desirable to avoid
all hot headed proceedings"
ANY wound sufficient to ngitaie the nerves.
and necessarily mike the hand shake,mnsf end
tho bu sinrrs for that day
Lever. the novelist. who had made good
of The Irish propensity for hnir triggers. lays
down the rule TINT must fight his tailor u b"
calls Inn out; which Ia apparently at variance
with the Cnnmel commandments Ais dic'um
has MT been invariably acknowledged by IRISH
luei-ts. When Benjamin Di-rneli challenged
Morgan O'Connel, in consequence 1T that famous
.peeeh of his fathers. In which he declared that
Disraei must b. linea descendant an heir Mt law
of the impeniient thief on the cros-. the lrlrhman
declined tho combat, and cody sent the chni
lengo Ia the newspapers. Nor was he tue less
considered on that account.
A recent industrious ohronieler of durls, Mr.
Sabine, has divided this country into dueling
Siates and non dueling States. The distinction
il only relative. as ducls are by no means un-
known in any Northern state. There are indeed
few cities in tho Union whore young man. un-
married, and moving in society could refuse
challenge from respectable antagonist without
some suspicion of his courage. Still 1t Is unques-
tonnble that Northerners are not so fond OF the
duel as their Southern krethrea. Mr.. Sabine
accounts for the scant records Of dueIs Ia New
England by the punishment inflicted on the two
first duelisis of of that section Of e"uptry.
These were Edward De,y and Edward Leis-
ter "serving men" at Plymouta. They quar-
relied within few monihs after their arrival in
Americn, and settled tho dispute, in gentle
manly why, with sword and dagger. Both were
wounded. When the old Pilgrim Fathers heard
Of their proceedings, they took long and anxious
counsel, and finally decided to tie the combat
nnts neck aud heels together, and leave them
twenty four hours without food or drink The
punishment threw 80 much ridieule on the pfac-
i;ce Of dueng that II was extremely rare In New
England throughout its colonial history, and is
still.
In the Southern States. it is believed, duels
are by no means so frequent as they used to be.
The lamentabe cases of Mason and MCarty,
Graves and Clley, and others fresh in every
one : memory, undoubtedly operated to check
the practice IN the neighborhood OF the Federal
capital and even in Louisiana and MISSISSIPPI we
hear Of fewer dues than formerly. The old
murderous style of rencoutre, with rifle and re-
volvers or with pistols and knife in u dark room;
the free fight in pit, with pleasan accompani.
mepts of gougng and throttiing; the bowie
knife duel-. where the belligereDts literally chop
ped each other into shreds, quite out OF date.
II IL doubtful whether they ever we're as common
as has been supposed in foreign countries. and
even here at the North. II the truth were
known. many of these terrible encounters would
probably be traced to their real source--the fer
tile brain Of Mr.. Items, some wide. awake
newspaper.
Not that our dueling records lack well authen-
ticated cases Of savage blood od.thirstiness In
one we'll known case L. S. Senator resigned his
commission for the special and sole purpose Of
fighting his cousin. and offeredlto agree to any
terms, any weapons, and distance. The Cousin
proposed "a barrel of powder apiece. To this
the seconds would not agree. He then suggest
ed muskets, Mt twelve PAGES. The duel was
ON these terms. The United States Senator was
shot through the heart: his cousin lost his arm.
There is another case, also established, though
perhaps it never appeared in print. which exhIb-
Its still greater recklessness OF life. Two stu.
dents at Southern university quarreled. and
agreed to fight Not having the thirty six com
mandments before them, they resolved to fight
at once, where they were and with the weapons
they had. One was armed with pistol, the
other with bowie-knife. The latter calmly
told his adversary to fire. and stood facing him
at few feet distance. The owner of the pistol
demonstrated, begged his opponent to wait till
fire. arms could be procured for both; but he
would not listen to any proposal of the kind
Sternly and menacingy he bade his adversary
fire. The latter, seeing the keen blade OF the
bowie knife, raised his pistol and fired; the ball
struck his oppon, Mt on the head, but by q mirac-
uous accident, glanced merely tearing the scalp.
Then the bowie knife tlashed-with spring
| its owner was beside his enemy. and drove the
| fearful weapon deep into his skull. He WAS car
ried to the room Of medical professor; but he
was quite dead. The bowie-knife had sunk so
deeply into the bones of the head that the profess
| sor was forced to place his knee upon the body
and tug with his whole strength to draw it out.
| Editors are naturally the persona most exposed
to receive challenges. It falls to their lot to ant
madvert on the mischievous acts OF public men;
| and as there are few matters respecting which