The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1869-07-10
Dueling a Crime.

would be precluded from entering
into discussion of the subject at
all. We shall therefore, confne
ourselves to temporal law, and de-
termine from that as to whether
we have a right to adjust our diff
ficulties by the means of dueling.
In the Memphis Avalanche we
noticed an article in regard to this
subject, i'll which we observed a
quotation from Blackstone's Com
mentaries, which only adverted to
the origin of this savage and
miserable mode of adjusting per-
sonal difficulties. Here the wri-
ter stopped, instead of pursuing
further the opinion of the author
on the propriety of dueling, as
well as his views concerning its
origin. On marginal page 1919 Of
of said commentaries we find the
following language in reference to
this institution: express malice
is when one, with a sedate, DELHI
crate mind and formed design,
doth kill another; which formed
design is evidenced by external
circumstances, discovering the in
ward intention, as lying in walt,
antecedant menances, former
grudges, and concerted schemes
to do him some bodily harm. This
takes in the case of deliberate du-
cling, where both parties meet
avowedly with an intent to muir
der, thinking it their duty as gen.
tlemen, and claiming it as their
right to wanton with their own
lives and those of their fellow
creatures, without any warrant or
authority from any power either
divine or human, but in direct
contradiction to the laws both of
God and man; therefore the law
has justly fixed the crime of pun
lshment Of murder on them, and
on their seconds ALSO" The dis
tinguished author continues by
saying ''that it requires such de-
gree of passive yaIor to combat
the dread of even undeseryed con-
tempt arising from false notions
of honor, too generally received in
Europe that the strongest prohibit
tons and penalties of the law will
never be entirely effectual to eradi-
cate this unhappy custom, till q
method be found out of COMPEL
ing the aggressor to make some
other satisfaction to the affronted
party which the world shall es
TEEN equally reputable as that
which is now given at the hazard
of the life and fortune, as well as
the person insulted as of him who
hath given the INSULT The arti-
Gle above referred to strongly adj
vocates this savage practice, on
the ground that it is the only
means of vindieating the unsullied
reputation of those who are both
innocent and powerless, against
the insinuations and cowardly at
tacks of parties upon their char
aeter. The falicy of such reason
ing is very perceptible. In the
first place the law OF the land has
provided ample means for obtain
ing redress for every wrong. In
the second place when q duel is
fought to vindicate ones honor,
the very act itself defeats the OBJ
ject for which it is intended. It
publishes to the world the cause
that produced it, leaves the world
to inquire but not to decide who
is right or wrong. Again, if the
injured party is the successful an
tagonist, if he Stays his adversary,
what satisfaction does he obtain
by it, Does he thereby restore
the character Of the insulted or
injured party? Does he convince
the world that he was justifable,
and that his enemy was wrong?
Does he obtain to himself any con-
ISOLATION on having stained his
own hands with human blood? Ii
he. himself should fall a victim
does this alleviate the matter?-
Certainly not. Character, when
once established, becomes self-sus-
tanning; something stronger than
mere insinuation, calumny Oh
SANDER is required to impair its
force and beauty. Were the mere
ASPIRATIONS and insinuations oil
cowardly, vulgar and misehiev
GUS persons fatal to the character
and established high standing Of
men, few indeed would be the for
tunate ones that could boast Of
their exhalted positions and in1u
ence. Proof, irrefragable proof, il
indispensable to the tearing dowr
| the once established character fol-