Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-23
MISCELLANEOUS BEADING.
SELF-DEFENCE.

This phrase, so often pleaded in our courts
as the justification of sanguinary deeds, has
become, by its abuse convertible term Tor
cowardly assassination and Old-blooded mur-
der. On this base pretence numbers in this
country, have been suddenly sent to their ac-
count, by knife or bullet, at the hands Oi
treacherous and cowardly bravos, who fire.
auently provoke demonstration sufficient
to legally Justify slaughter, very often de-
liberately planned.
Where '.self-defence" comes into popular
acccptation, rs il has in this country generally
self-control Is ignored, and even the poor re-
deeming feature of the combat u Poutrdnce-
chiyalrous fair PLAYS done away with, for.
never give your adversary chance, IL the
principle that prevails in those sangunary
encounters.
A rare and noble exception has to be made
to these generalities, and we believe. the on
ly one, under similar circumstances, that
has occurred in this State, in the difficulty.
last week, between Messrs. Lee and Fairfax,
at Sacramento After some wordy alteration.
the former stabbed the latter twice with u
swordcane. Mr. Fairfax drew revolver and
presented it to Lees breast; he reiralned from
firing, however, and exclaimed, 81 spare your
life, for the sake Of your wife and children"
Here was a man with his passion reused,
stabbed 70 death for aught he knew, his OPP
poncnt glaring in front of him, yet the vision
of that mans wife and children floats be-
tween him and his vengeance-he passed
the weapon to friend, and spares the man
that had probably given him his death
wound.
Since that day on which Sir Philip Sgd
ney, on the battle field of Lutzen, passed the
gourd of water untasted from his parched
lips to the wounded soldier who lay gasping
with thirst at his side, a more heroic act has
not been done, and the exclamation of Sgd
ney.-"Take it, friend, for thy sufferings are
greater than mine, VI is riyalled by the wound
ed man, who called, II spare you. for the sake
of your wife and children"
We know nothing whatever Of Mr.. Fair
fax, not even by repute, but we believe that
man capable of such an act ought TO be
good, and certainly is brave man. What
a wretched wind-up to the career of such
man it would be, to be slain like dog in a
miserable street brawl, and in a moment Of
uncontrolled temper.
but homilies on these subjects are useless
as long az men, very many of whom
have had the education of gentlemen, and are
pursuing honorable occupations, make a
practice of carrying deadly weapons on their
persons, when engaged in their ordinary pur-
suits, among what we term, BY a popular fc-
ton, civilized communities, as if they were
going to travel in country infested by brig
ands We have known men, from the very
fact of having tooth-pick in ther pocket. use
it on their teeth before dinner, as well as at
ter it. There is no doubt that carrying wea-
pons suggests their use, and they will be often
brought into requisition on trivial occasions,
aud for reasons wherein it is most outrageous
that rational being should peril his own
life, or assail that of fellow creature -Cdlr-
ta,ntd paper.