The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-08-11
: A. + remark LIST, if the argu

ments already advanced In the oiscussion
of +,ne honor. be correct, it follows as
necessary consequence, that dueiling is not
trpe bravery, butfodhardiness, and insani-
~. to violate the law of God, and thus De-
come his antagonist. What is true brave
rv7 7 shall define tue bravery to be- the
inst demand, and defence of the inaliena-
J BILE rights guaranteed and given to an IN
dividual by his Creato. To wit, the liberty
of conscience, the sasred protection OF his
person, character, Lib, and the peaceabie
| possession of that Which, by the blessing OF
God, he has honestly acquired. For the
| protection of all thee, the assembled wis
dow of noble minds, rec from excited pas
I sion, and unbalanced reason, has instituted
| a tribunal; duty to self, respect for the
laws of the land. and Incidence to the laws
of God, demand of him to seek redress at
this tribunal. True bravery, only in the
absence of no other tribunal or resort, Will
seek redress at the bloody shrine of violent
passion, and excited reason. True bravery
never nerved the wreclless arm to displace'
| or defeat the laws Of justice. in making
| widowed wives and faherless orphans.
Again the system Of duelling is not true
bravery, because, true bravery scorns the
taking of an undue advantage of another.
This the system of duelling does. For ex-
ample, A, gentleman of notoriety and dis
tinction, challenges B, gentleman of like
distinction and notoriety. d, from prinoi-
pie, abhors duelling; wishes not to entail
| remorse of conscience upon himself, or bitter
reflections upon his family and friends
| wishing to abide the laws of his country,
and yield obedience to the law of his
God, he declines the acceptance of the
| challenge. What now is the consequence!
| Why B has had to choose one of the two
J evils, either to do violence to his conscience
| and become in his own esteem, wreckless
| violator of the laws of his country, and
| what is far more sacred, the law of God, or
bear the infamy of cowardice set to his
name, and stamped upon his character. by
many or most of the voteries of the sys-
! tenn, many of whom, are gentlemen of dis
| tinction in whose esteem, it is natural for
| him to wish an honorable position. Here
then is an unjust advantage taken, by the
! system of duelling, which is in no sense
| true bravery.
A few objections raised against the aban-
! donment of the duellng system.
lst. It is regarded by some, that the
abandonment of the practice or system.
would have tendency to bring down, or
lower the standard of dignity of character,
bringing the distinguished and dignifed
character upon a level with the undignifed
| obscene, low and vulgar.
The fallacy of this is evident from the
fact, that the system is known and practic-
| ed, only, by those claiming notoriety and
distinction, hence, how could such an effect
| follow? Now, I grant were it customary
for the gentleman of distinction and noto-
| riety when he is insulted by the low, and
vulgar, to send him challenge, then there
| would bo=forev in the argument. as the
abandonment of the system would force
him to settle the dispute in the common
| way of the rabble, by, or in a corporal con-
| test or engagement of fisticuffs, sticks,
| knives, &c. But as the gentleman of noto-
riety and distinction never has, or never will
pursue the system of duelling with charac-
ter less than his own, such result could
never follow. AS well might it be urged,
| that the abandonment of a luxurious course
of living upon sweetmeats, and living upon a
simple, plain or coarse diet, by the man of
| distinction, would have tendency to bring
upon level the dgnifed and.distinguished
character with the low and undignifed, be-
cause that is the diet upon which many or
| most Of them live.
But, again, a more plausible argument
| against its abandonment, is, that it would
give physical or corporal strength, or pow
err an advantage over the weak, or less cor
poral strength or power. For instance NJ
is man of much corporal strength or pow
er. N is man of little corporal strength or
physical ability. NJ insults N now how is
N to get satisfaction / will answer this
byinstancing an insult, perhaps the keenest,
| and most provoking-to wit. an insult of
| fered in presence of lady, or those most
esteemed. Mr.. c. minister, or clergyman
in conversation with lady, is abruptly in
suited by Mr.. D.. Mr.. G.. does not and
cannot resent it. Why! Because he is a
minister. Well, now does Mr.. C.. lose any
in the estimation of that lady, or the public
by the insult offered by Mr.. d! 1 answer
he does not. Well, does Mr.. D gain any
thing in the estimation of that lady, or the
! public / answer he does not. And WHY?
Because he has taken an unjust advantage
of Mr.. c, knowing his position, which is
justly regarded cowardIy or undgnified
act, and never has, or ever will bring to the
actor esteem and honor, but disesteem and
! dishonor.
Well, now let the system of duelling be