Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-05-22
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Vol. xvii No. 2l.


Personal.
The State Journal publishes the correspondence
between Mr. Syme and oursef and endeavors to
show that, previous to that correspondence, we had
recognized the so.called "code Of honor"
Our reply is, th.t Some years ago We were chal-
lenged by Col Richard I. Wynne, and that we re-
fused to meet him, stating that We did SO for "rea
sons satisfactory to ourself So far as John Spell
man is concerned, We will state that we told the
gentleman who bore US the challenge from him that
we did not regard him fit person to correspond
with Oh any subject and that we could not receive
letter from him. Not regarding his friend in this
light we frankly stated at the same time that we
did not mean nor wish to offend him by treating
Spelman in this way but the friend referred to af
terwards challenged us, as matter of form as we
understood and to comply with the rules Of sthe
code" Our reply to him was that We had no cause
of personal quarrel with him, and there the matter
was dropped: Afterwards another gentleman
quite young man-challenged US. We declined
to receive his letter. and informed his friend that We
had no reply to make to him. .-J
This is the extent therefore, to which We have
subscribed to the so-caled "code Of honor" We
leave it to an impartial public to say, upon this
statement of facts whether we are duellist or not
We have nothing to say against those who fight
duels or who send and accept challenges and AFTER
wards, upon the ground, arrive at an "amicablc
and satisfactory settlement" of all their differences
Formerly there was some knightly courtesy and
knghtly valor in this form of battle; and in old
times and even now in some countries, when chal-
lenge is sent and accepted, hostile meeting was or
is inevitable But' the code" nowadays is farce.
1t required more of moral courage in former times
to refuse to fight in this way than it did Of physical
courage to 60. upon the feld but it makes little
difference now so far any species of courage is
concerned how "the code" is regarded. We think
proper not to recognize it. We think proper to
show ourself law abiding citizen as long as we
honorably can; and the law provides that :" if any
person fight duel, in consequence of challenge
sent or received and either of the parties shall be
killed then the survivor on conviction thereof shall
suffer death; and all their aiders and abetors shall
be considered accessories before the fact" And the
law also provides that "i any person serd, accept
or bear challenge to fight duel, though no death
ensue he, and all such counsel, aid and abet him
shall be deemed guilty Of misdemeanor; and on
conviction thereof shall be punished accordingly,
and, moreover be ineligible to any office Of trust
honor or profit in the State any pardon or reprieve
notwithstanding"
Far he it from us to invoke this law against any
one We would not do that under any circum-
stances but we have right to refer to the law to
sustain Us in our view that the socalled "code of
honor" is barbarous and unchristian. It is bar
barous because it is relic Of the dark ages Of man.
kind; it is unchrstian, because the killing of an
adversary is murder, and is punishable with DEATH
And if murder in the eye of human law, what must
it be in the eye of God2 ..... --
If the person who wrote the article in the State
Journal which We are noticing, thinks we will not
fight or that we are destitute Of personal courage,
lot him try w. ..-.4
HARxoNIous-Great harmony prevails among
the old party leaders about Raleigh, just now The
Raleigh papers, especially, on account Of their free
dom from personalities are, at this particular time,
rastly .interezting. The people throughout the
great interest-as long as these personal features
are kept up.-Nepbern Progress.
Our friend of the Progress will bear witness that we
are not to blame for this condition Of things Our only
fault is, that having been elected to the Conven-
ton in February last by twelve hundred majority,
we announced ourself in May and in doing so, pos
itively refused to canvass the County, in order that
party strife might be avoided. We thought only
Of the State, and Of the best means to prevent dvi
.;,n and ,trfa boro Of tho cantro hut o,r enemies
thought only of defeating us, at all hazards though
strife should be renewed, and the best interests Of
the South should be placed in peril. This is the
truth Every fair.minded person in the County
knows and admits it to be so. .i-'.,.-- ~.
But we have triumphed again. The people have
sustained us against the Squads, and all the mon
strous falsehoods which the Squads could conceive
and circulate and we thank the people for it. We
promise to remember both the people and the
Squads-the people, because they have stood by us.
and the Squads, because they care more for party
and place than they do for their country, now in
the midst of civil war. Let US fight through the
war, and then settle accounts. If providence should
spare US, We expect to be one in the crowd when
the day of reckoning arrives.
AZ We take leave most respectfully to announce
to our cotemporaries Of the press of this City, he
Register and .1ournaD now very much oppressed,
that we have been duly elected to the State Con.
vention; and that we will endeavor to represent
them in that body much better than they deserve.
As a portion of our constituents, VIC will continne
to keep an eye upon their interests and'upon them.
We tAksisave also to say that the Standard is now
the only conservative political journal in this City
Conservative people, in subscribing to Raleigh pa.
,... al h.ar fhis sfs<k In mind - n -