The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1858-09-23
DUEI.LlNG.

We have noticed of late several arll
cleS in the newspapers against the bar
b rons pr r,clice OF duellih- Ihe Mrs
C.arl,.s Of The press, who prefer stll'in-
t.e,r ,iitfcultl.s Is vita hooln sticks, or Dl
scuI,line and tongue l,shlns their adver-
sary, swoon away with horror at the idea
of re>orlin. to tie duello, whose shrine
ma, SO often been ,lillsonrd with blood.
We do not pretend to justify the morallt!
of duclins, put We recognise the practice
AS II c,h necessary To prevent Othtf ana
.r,at,r evils. History, the w"rld over,
illustrates that there are fewer insults aud
aua,rclS am,ng mrn who are dueill>lS
tnun amen. these who abhur and ahjurc
the rracti,c. Brave men are slow to give
oil nst to one whose courage Is uhlueS
,lnrd, becaus,' desperation and blood
and death cu>u, an if The people would
universally reco, Mise durling, and he
,,un,tillous in it's observance, there would
he but few insults. H nee il is we are
apposed l., any legislative enacimen''
against du ulin,.. Tne statute books "'
nearly all the States are stained WITH inc
sev rest penalties az inst duelllng. ID
deed, there is a clause in some OF tii'
,onsii,uli, MS of The States requiring a
msn to swear before accepting office, thai
ne has moi fas LIT duel with deadly
weap, Ms within the State. NOR out y a.
nor s,nt, or accepted challenge to eht'
nor acted AN a second in carrying a chaI
lnyc, or al led, advised or assisted III
thus offending. All such stuff is 'lS
arac. to the constitution of any State
: that adopts it. We are in favor Ut the
old Jtirrs.nidn test FIR Office" Is ut
! h, nes, /! is he capable Z" A man 5 hay
, in. fought, aided .r abetted in duel u
tue S,n.wich Islands should not dlSqual
! ifv him for holding office in any Ut l'i'
States in this Union. II citizens rrsl'''
in .ny State with such c,n>i'nllon' n'
. matter to what part of the globe he ma.
stray--no matter what may he the Gus
tom Of the conniry in Wi ich ne may o'
iourncying NJ matter il the laws of ina
country allow dueling no matter II "n'
who refuses to accept a challenge to hgl'
a duel, may be h.ld up tn the sc"rn .
the people as or wen hearted coward
yrt The constitution Of some of the State
requires the citizen so situated, to bra
the slis ma Of a p.ltmon, or di-trane' Is
, himself, bv accepting u challenge IN ac
, ,s,r,Iancc with tile custom Ot the country
Suppose such citizen should piead, q
: reason for refusing to accept the rhal
lenge, his nnwiIinpncss to disqualli
himself from holding office in the Stal
: If wi icl he il citizen; and even SUI
,tse that he has bccn so thougltitli as I
! have pruyidcd himself with State col
/ stitution. Which he utfers in evidence
1 tn. truth Of what he may state 10 oe '
/ law: will that have the effect to plat
5 him in the same position he would Gas
!. occupied had he accepted the challenge
Even III Tenncssee-prolid AMI chlva
q rous Telnessee--wr notice tha' oaf s'a
ute hooks are disgraced with the sever.
/ Den .sties against duell.ng. The daeli
| wpu. in An honorable contest sheets dow
b some vile slanderer Of himself his wi
IS or his daughter, is held up as a cnlPtl
anil placed in the penitcnti ,ry besl' y y
e murderer, the perjurer and the thlef'
y this nlstiee? M law cal, reach the "
10 lain whn RIBS you of an hcnest name
4 There il no punishment for the liber'l'
fl who pollutes your household, and brlnl y
IS your family to degradation and rum J
sAufss shs ssrs S