The Yazoo Democrat., 1858-10-09
DUELLING.

The superiority of duelling over all OtheY
methods of terminating difficulties, is fully es
tablished by public OpiniOn--a criterion very
generally correct. The code of honpr was erect.
ed upon the basis Of reason and the instincts Of
humanity, which revolt at the idea of settling
qaarrels to the probable detriment of others
beside the parties imme ediately interested. Those
acquainted with the capriciousness Of the human
passions, the excitahlity of the human race and
the proneness Of great majority Of men to dom
ineer, when allowed, will at once see the folly of
attempting to do away with fighting, and to
realize the visions of universal peace and brother
ly love, which philanthropists delight so much to
indulge. Anger will be aroused so long as men
are differently constituted, and the desire to
opprsss, and the principle of resistance, continue
to exist. Fighting, then, can never be prevented
Admitting this truth, is it not wrong for legisa-
tors to fix more stringent penalties on quiet,
gentlemanly manner of adjusting feuds by fair
combat, than upon that other method adopted in
hot blood, when the unworthy passion of anger
controls the reason and endangers the lives of
peaceful citizens, who are strangers to the fight
The first is chivalrous, honorable, fair the last
flows from animal excitement and transforms
men into game-cocks-and they struggle, uncon
Seious of being actuated by any high principle,
aud brute strength will always be victorious.
Revenge and beastly ferocity are the ruling pas
sions in street fight. But men are stimulated
to the duello to defend principles their judgement
Ao1l IL i
their conduct Moreover, an individual will
rarely face strong probability of death without
he, at least is satisfied OF the justice of his cause
and the GOODNESS and solemnty of the affair will
always make him disposed to listen to any honor
able proposition for amicabe arrangement. and
thus are quarrels more frequently settled without
o hostile demonstration, under the code of honor.
But it is a question which will admit of argu-
ment, whether the right of voluntary strife, prv.
vi led the safety of others is not thereby placed
in jeopardy, is one of those rights which may be
considered as given up by men in state of
nature in exchange for the benefits of society.
Government may assert that men have no rights
the exercise of which may operate to the disad-
vantage of society. This assertion is true, and
solves the whole problem of legislation, which
was instituted to prevent the individual from
injuring the community, and yice versa, But
dueling cannot Immediately affect society, from
the fact that the safety of none is endangered,
except those who, without compulsion, choose to
risk themselves, and to withdraw temporarily
from Government the duty of protection. The
opposite doctrine is in direct antagonist with the
principle of secession, which has so many advo-
Gates in this enlightened country But it is said
that duelling is a'vioation of one of Gods laws
Thou shalt do no murder '-and that it is per-
nicous to the community through the force of
example If one man attempt the life of another
without his knowledge or consent, the law is
bound to interfere and fulfill its original contract
of protection, and punish the trespasser. IT.
however, each party is acquainted with and
willing to abide by the intentions of the other,
and place be chosen where no possible damage
could occur to any save those voluntarily engaged,
then although they disoSey the mandates of
their Maker, still it appears that Government
has no right to interfere and nfct penalty.
The sin is against God, and will be punished by
Him, but society not being injured, Government
its preserver, is not insulted, and punishment
by it inflicted would therefore be wrong.
AS regards the secondary influence of duelling
upon the community at large. this idea is built
upon the supposition that men are prone to im-
tate crime; and to act upon it consistently would
involve the necessity of Furnishing every deviation
from virtue. The world has seen the demorali-
zing and enslaving effects which have always
appeared when Governments have acted upon the
policy that virtue was not self-sustaining prin-
ciple, and that it devolved upon power to egis-
late against vice in the abstract, even though it
had no immediate and instantaneous influence
deleterious to society.
The duellist is amenable to his God, who will
inevitably punish his dsobedence. But legisla-
ton serves only to increase an evil which must
always exist