Daily national Democrat., 1861-08-30
The Secession Peacemakers.

The practice of dueling is set down as II
ci iminal one in the Constitution of this State
but so large number of the people have
been educated to believd it proper remedy
for wounded honor, that no penalty has ever
been visited upon an offender against the
and-dHeling law. Broderick and Smith,
Broderick and Terry, Denver and Gilbert,
Gwin and McCorkle, Ferguson and johnson,
and many others fought dues in our State,
but the general sentiment of the State seem -
ed opposed to holding them to an account. 1t
was urged in justification Of the breaking Of
the law. that the honor Of the parties com
PEELED resort to arms How many of the
present Peace-S -Secessionsts among us ever
felt conjunction at justifying the killing OF
| Gilbert, Ferguson or Broderick Honor
was their theme, and when that was touched
they hunted up no anti-duelng provision in
the Constitution, or anti-dueling law i'll the
Statute Book. But how their feelings have
changed since that time, if we could believe
their professions. The defenders of the duello
are suddenly become horriied at the idea Of
seeing anything like the spillng of blood, to
preserve the honor and existence of the Ma
ton Lawless men have invaded seized and
now hold the public property of the Govern
meut, have stolen National vessels, have
tyrannized over Union loving communities.
have sent pratical feet out upon the seas,
| al, Ea1. IA yif ifnl. al nd
every movement made in The way of resist
ance by the Government is denounced as un-
constitutional The most warike of all our
politicians in times past, are now engaged in
| preaching doleiul sermons on the blessings of
peace, and the evils of war. They address
all their lamb-like remonstrances, strange to
say, to the friends of the Nation, begging
that we adopt the Tappan and Exeter Hall
policy of returning "a kiss for blow
They assure Us that the rebels will STOP
fighting US when they get all they want, un-
less we meanwhile offend them. What charm
ing felow-citizens They do SO respect the
honor of their country If a clustering bar
room politician feels offended at being called
hard name, they bid him fly to the protec-
ton o: his honor, by a resort to the due.
Blood can alone wipe out the stain. Never
mind the Constitution, never mind the stat
ute. But when the Nation is threatened with
total destruction and suhjugaion, and those
in pow Ell call for troops to defend the Ma
tional honor-honor, mark, you-and also
the National existence and the liberties of our
! loyal people, the pistol loading, knife
whetting. word-sharpening hackers of
the uuconstitutionality of self-preservation.
I They admit that the rebellion is wrong, but
they say that the Constitution must be obey
ed, which requires the nation to remain quiet
while the assassin's knife is piercing its heart
A pure regard for tie Constitution and the
Union impels these faithful fellows to espouse
the cause of deadly and armed foes and to
curse when one alludes TO a Federal success
while they exhibit signs of joy when the
death of the gallant Lyon is mentioned. We
wish the Secessonsts of this State would be
decent and bold enough to speak the truth,
when they attempt to define their position
We could respect them more if they would
show more nerve. We might denounce them
as traitors, but We could not say they were
afraid to own it Let Tia pee who are so be-
sotted with ignorance, or saturated vith pre-
judice that they have no control over thei
own actions, follow the lead of the peac
advocates who got drunk with joy whel
Terry killed Broderick, and when johnson
killed Ferguson, ard who choked with de-
light when the news from Bull Run reached
them; but let every man who respects the
National honor and who respects himself
vote against every State and county nominec
of the party which defends jeff Davis in his
attempts to destroy, but declares unconstitu-
tonal all attempts to preserve the Legacy
bequeathed to Americans 10y the Founders oil
the Republc.