Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-07-05


in all civilized countries, cause il to be
rechristened, in derision, the land of
blood
Such was the official confession Of a
slave-master Governor of Kentucky.
And here is the official confession
made the same year by the slave-mas-
ter Governor of Alabama:
I'VE hear of homicides in different
parts of the State continually. and yet
have few convictions and still fewer
executions. Why do we hear Of stab
bings and shootings almost daily in
some part or other of our State?'
4 land of bloodl Stabbings and
shootings almost daily Such is the
official language. 1t was natural that
cotemporary newspapers should repeat
what thus found utterance in high
places: Here is confession by a
newspaper in Mississippi:
The moral atmosphere OF our State
appears to be in deleterious and
sanguinary condition. Almost every
exchange paper which reaches US con-
tains some inhuman or revolving case
of murder or death by violence. :
[Grand Gulf Advertiser, June 81,
1887.
Here is another confession by pa
per in New Orleans:
In view of the crimes which are
daily committed, we are led to inquire
whether it is owing to the inefliciency
of our laws. or the manner in which
these laws are administered, that this
frightful deluge of human blood flows
through our streets and our places OF
public resort. : NewOr Bee,
22l May, 1888.
And here is testimony of different
character:
No ono who has not been an inte-
grail part of a slaveholding community
can have any idea of its denominations.
1t is a whited sepulcher full of dead
mems bones and all uncleanness.'
These are the words of a Southern
lady the daughter of the accomplished
Judge Grimke. of South Carolina. y
catalogue of affrays between politi-
clans, commonly known as street
hghts'-I use the phrase which comes
from the land of slavery-would show
that these authorities were not mi-ta-
ken. That famous Dutch picture,
known particularly by successful
engraving, and called the Knife Fight,
presents a scene less revolving than
one of these. Two or more men,
armed to the teeth, meet in the streets
at a court house or a tavern. shoot al
each other with revolvers, then gast
each other with knives, close and rol
upon. the ground. covered with dir
and blood, struggling and stabbins
till death, prostration. or surrende
puts an end to the conflict. Each in
stance tells shameful story, and crie
out against The social system whicl
can tolerate such barbarism. y cata
logue OF duels in our country woul,
testify again to the reckless disregard
of life where slavery exists, and woulc
exhibit violence Haunting in the garl
of honor, and prating of barbarou'
code disowned equally by reason anC
/, religion. But you have already suppet
!, too full of horrors, and | hasten on.
Pardon me il l stop for one moment
to exhibit and denounce the duel.
: do it only because it belongs to the
: brood of slavery. An enlightend
civilization has long ago rejected this
relic of barbarism, and never has ono
part of the argument against it beer
t put more sententiously than by Frank
| lin: "a duel decides nothing" saic
} this patriot philosopher, "and the
person appealing to it makes himsel
} Judge in his own cause. condemns the
: offender without jury, and under
, takes himself to be the executioncr
, To these emphatic words | would add
, two brief propositions, which, !
practically adopted, make the due
impossible-frs that the acknowl
edgement of wrong with apology o.
, explanation can never be otherwiS,
than honorable; and secondly. that
, in the absence of all such acknowl
edgement, no wrong can never be re
paired by a glaGiatorial contest. wher'
brute force, or skill, or chance mus
decide the day Iron and adaman
: are not stronger than these arguments
: nor can any one attempt an answe
r without exposing his feebleness. An'
t yet slave-masters, disregarding II
t irrational character, inscnsible to 1t
{ folly, Needless of its impiety and un
t conscious of its barbarisan, openl,
r adopt the duel as regulator Of man
D ners and conduct. Two voices iron
: South Carolina have been raises
| against it, and / mention them witt
: gladness as testimony even in tha
e land of slavery. The first was Charlie
y Cotesworth Pinckney. who. in til
+, early days of the republic. openly dc
cIared his "abnorrence of the prac
tice." and invoked the clergy of hi
4 state "as a particular favor, at som
: convenient early day, to preach a ser
G mon on the sin and folly of dueling.
: The other was Mr. Rhett, who, o.
this floor. openly declared as his rea
son for declining the duel, that
feared God more than man." Gen
o erous words, for which many error
can be pardoned. Bat these voice
!. condemn the social sytem of whic
il the duel is natural product.
4 Looking now at the broad surfac
k of society where slavery exists. W
e shall find its spirit actively m anifes
,, in the suppression Of all freedom {
e speech or Of the press, especially wit
Ie regard to this wrong. Nobody in tn
|. slave States can speak or pin
- o~a;,of elayery excent nj the -,ariI .