The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1858-03-10
From tie Ledger.
DUELLlNG.

these affairs. Members of Congress take
the lead, and, both in the House and out of
it, display their prowess in every way, seiz-
ing each other by the collar, knocking one
another down, giving and receiving chal-
lenges.
Now it is MIR. Grow and Mr.. Keitt who
are reported 10 be in fair way for mortal
combat, and now the son of the foremost
statesman of the West who is clcnched with
former clerk of the House. Two officers
of the army have long had differences and
eight it out, first with their fists, and then by
duel. Honor is fortunately satisfied with
n shot through the hat instead of the brain.
Officers of the army and navy, in the course
of their official duty, make a complaint of
their subordinates, and, 10! challenges fol-
low. In nine cases out of ten, the parties
in the wrong are most bent upon fighting,
as if it was supposed that bravery alone
could atone for the lack of every other vir-
tue.
Is there no way to keep the passions of
men from thus boiling over? We have laws
to meet it in every form and shape, but the
difficulty is in getting them executed. 1t has
been thus in all ages. Duelling has changed
its forms, but seems to have defed every
thing. Law and religion alike have set
themselves against it. 1t is reduced but
still lives, fingers and rises up in the highest
and most influential circles again and again,
and viii not be put down.
In Europe, dueIling used 10 be fashion.
Men fought for the fame of the thing-not
from hostility, but to win the favor of their
lady love. Here no such mean ard cold
blooded calculations of mere regulations
lie at the bottom of such affairs. They are
at least the outbreaks of hot blood and hon
est passion, and it is as the least inconven-
lent vent TO certain ebutlitions of those
passions, which under proper guidance in.
huence the noblest characters of the most
useful deeds, that duelling is defended. And
the real difficulty in uprooling duelling is to
do il away without doing away with the re-
quirement of courage from social life, and
thus iucurring worse evils to society.
This custom always promotes refine.
ment of manners, it is said, making men
liable TO be called TO account for the insults
they offer, 1t checks gossip and scandal,
and many other offences that nothing else
can touch. But these two apologies contra
dict each other. OF course, if the great
bulk of the civilities and amenities of soci-
etiey are only the result of certain fear of
consequences, that is, because the very
class in which the duel prevails are towards
with brutal instinct, only thus TO be kept i'll
order. We do not believe this. But further,
duelling must be very favorable TO the bra
vado tribe, who can thus commit any insult
with comparative impunity. The man who
has quick eye, and can split bullet at
twelve. PAGES, and is fond of fighting, will
generally be found not the most refined in
his manners, or considerate of the feelings
of others. He loves 10 show his importance
and to bully.
Where dueIling most prevails in any part
of the world more insults are given, and, !,
we may add, taken quietly than where the
custom is superseded There are often
quieter and more efiectual ways Of remov-
ing those who are ill bred and insulting,
than by the uncertain method of the duel.
And SO, too, there are other ways of evin-
cling courage than by shooting your friend.
Life is full of difficulties and perils, TO meet
which Alright will daily exercise courage,
and place mans character in this respect
above suspicion, while it never can be fully
and fairly tested, except by the vilest when
operating against instead Of with the con.
viction of acting rightly Conscience makes
towards of us all. Not till man has lost
all the conrolliag power of goodness over
him, can he act with his full, natural cour-
age in fighting duel. Let him hunt bears
in California. or face the Indians OH his way
there, let him enlist in some just cause of
war, if he can find one, and he can be as
calm and as active in the midst of perlls as
was Haveock in India. But the cool
thought OF purposed murder ought 10 make
Il man tremble.
1t is the union of courage with self
restraint and perfect fairness and generous
concession to the adversary of equal advan-
tages, that is the great charm of the duel.
And, indeed, in this respect, it is far bet
ter test of courage than those cowardly rem
counters, the chief success of which arises
from taking your enemy off his guard, and
so exposing him to the greatest danger, and
yourself to the least. This supposed fair
ness it is that has caused the duel to be ap
plauded and retained in circles TOO cultiva-
ted TO tolerate the low and rufIiantly attack.
Yet what more unfair than the duel often is ?
The man TO challenge is, generally, either
young hot blood, or an old worthless brava.
do. Yet he may pick quarrel with man
of mature wisdom and ripe powcts and a
head and heart that, once laid low, can nev-
er be compensated for TO his family, his
country, or the world. 1t is chiefly those
whose lives are of very little worth, who
are the most ready thus to get rid OF them
Let the fools and bullies alone fight. Wise
men are not, and cannot be on fair and
equal terms with such. Dueling too often
leads men to give decided insult that they
may be the challenged and not the challeng-
ing party, and thus have the choice of
weapons, which is vaat advantage.
The haof o,oIa0,, for t1,,a z,,.o... e, Al Il