The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-08-11
DUELLING NEITHER TRULY HON
oRARLE NOR BRAVE.
From The FauetteuiHe Argus.

lay man. SnFO the CoiumuS VI yooi uSeA~A
and respected journal. to express my ap-
probation of that which I conceive to be
praiseworthy respecting true honor to the
parties, and a worthy example for the pub
lie good. and my disc pprobation and con-
demnation of that which, conceive to be,
lamentable and very pernicious vice.
There is system in the world cherished,
advocated, practised, and held sacred to
honor by gentlemen of notoriety and dis
tinction, called duelling, which with many
worthy gentlemen, utterly abhor; and
which shall take the liberty in this article,
to pronounce a false conception Of that sohich
constitutes true honor, or Bravery.
submit then, the proposition, that the
system of duelling is false conception of
what constitutes true honor and bravery.
When we call to mind the fatal results that
have transpired from this system, if the
proposition is susceptible of proof, and is
correct, though mooted by one setting no
claims to the talent of 1ogieian, neyerthe-
less, it is worthy the consideration and
talent of the logician.
To determine then, the proposition sub
mitted, first shall attempt to define or ex-
plain what true honor is; or in other words,
what constitutes true honor. Honor is the
reward conferred by the hand of Kindness
upon an individual as an approval of some
noble, moral, mental, orphysical excellency
which he possesses, and has manifested to
the world or in fewer words it is the re-
ward due and awarded to honorable deeds
and virtues, the manifest approval of that
which is good and right IN itself: This is
what conceive honor to be, defined in the
most concise way, of which am capable of
defining it. Now the question arises, is
duelling productive of any moral, mental,
or physical excellency? Is it tree, so to
speak, from which naturally grows fruit, or
deeds of virtue? Is it good and right in
itself? Is it in harmony with the word of
God? Isit approved by reason, that noble
faculty with which God has endowed man
To decide these questions by the best and
incontrovertable authority, shall first
bring it to the touch stone of Gods Holy
Law, delivered to man amidst the convul-
sions and thunderings of Sinia's smoking
summit, and try it by the test, and prove
murderous system or practice is not good
and right in itself; and then try it at the
bar of human courts of Justice and prove
it murderous. LIST then. What says the
law, from which there is no appeal: Thou
shalt not kill or commit murder Here
then is the judgment made up, and verdict
rendered concerning murder. 2. What
says human Courts of Judgment and justice
constitutes murder. Appeal to statute
books, hear what they say. That indi-
vidual moved and seduced by the devil with
| malice and forethought who takes the life
of another, is held amenable to that bar or
tribunal as a murderer. Well now, there
remains but two questions to be made out
and answered, then l conceive the case full
ly made out, and defy the world of duellists
or advocates of duelling to reasonably
gainsay or controvert it. 1st then, Is the
individual moved and seduced in the prac-
tice of duelling by God AS l presume
no man possesses heart SO black as to
charge such upon the Deity, shall simply
answer No. Again: Is the individual
moved, and seduced alone, in, and of him
self! I answer No. Man, in the right ex-
ercise of that noble faculty reason, which
God has given him, and for the right exer
else of which, holds him accountable, would
never, in and of himself, go forward to such
diabolical work, as proving calm, consid
crate, and cool blooded suicide, or the MUIR
der of another. For proof Of this, we have
but to refer to inspired truth, where we
learn, "all that a man hath, ,ciU he giUe for
his life" Again: Is the individual moved
and seduced by the Devil in the practice of
duelling? I answer, he is. For proof,
hear the testimony, Eye are the children of
your father the Devil, and his works we do"
Now, if this work is not Gods work-if it
is not mans work, under the guidance of
unexcited reason, whose work is it but the
Devils, of whom unerring truth. firmer fixed
than heaven and earth, declares, was muir
derer from the beginning.
Now reader, submit, if the work Of
QuelllDg Is not UOu 5 WOfu--lI IL Is not
mans work under the right exercise of
reason, which God has given him-accord
ing to the testimony of unerring TRUTHS
it not beyond all controversy the work of
| the Devil! The first constituents or ele-
ments of the bill of Indictment, constituting
murder at the bar of human courts, of judg-
ment and justice, being made out in the
system of duelling, proceed in the I'd place
to raise, and answer the next, which makes
the case in full, and to which. challenge
denial. To wit Is the act of duelling gone
into, or pursued with malice and fore
thought? l answer, it is. Who will, or
can deny it Is it worth my while to con-
sumo time, and waste paper and ink, in the
discussion of a proposition SO plain I
deem it only necessary, to ask the questions,
an answer to which, leaves nothing farther
upon this point to discuss. lst What is