Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-07-06
The Bloody Code.

The "cOde of honor" has had new and
peculiar illustration down in Virginia.
woman Of the cOloIed persuasion, Eliza Ann
Gill, lost her husband through the ebony
| attractions Of another African female, OF
whom We are only told that her euphonious
appellaliOn was Ella. Unable TO endure the
wrong, Elza Ann challenged Ella to duel.
Ella accepted. They fought with clubs until
both were well hammered and exhausted
then resOrled to natures weapons. Eliza
Ann managed 10 throw her rival, the con-
cubine, aud grasping her about the threat
held on with fatal aud remorseless rrip, until
life was extinct, ana Sambo Gill had lost his
mistress.
We would not lose sight of the prineiple
involved in this event because the parties
were humble and obsure. great truth is
ever the same constant and immutable, no
matter 10 whom applied. II Mrs. Perkins.
oi Portland, could shoot Mrs. Baboock for
stealing away her lord, why might not the
dusky Eliza Ann sufocale the wild Ella,
who had invaded the peaceful portals OF her
home, and taken on her amorous Sumbo?-
mo doubt she loved him." 1t is said thai
"concealment, like worm in the mud,
| gnawed on her damaged cheek.h that for
days together she could not eat her bacon,
and even relucted at the sight oil hominy;
that she was heard TO sigh somewhat after
the manner OF a blast furnace, and observed
TO roll her eyes heavenward in the agony OF
her desperation, as ii she expected some
pretty little angel to drop down from The
sky and help her out OF her troubles. Are
moi here signs of 'mural insanity" abun-
dainty sufficient 10 convince any modern
Jury, called To try respectable white fol
killing under suCn circumslancesy Besides,
the offence against Eliza Ann was committed
under the most aggIavaiing circumstances
Ella lived within sight Ut her own home,
and daily, from her deserted CABIN door,
might she behold the mithless Sanbn, law
lshing upon his dusky charmer the caresses
which BY law and right belonged In her.
Could ilesh and blood endure thiAY even
though it were only "niggern flesh and
blood, accustomed to endure much and tc
expect little. IL must be confessed, too, thai
when Eliza Ahn determined upon ven
geance, she displayed unusual generosity. in
giving her rival an equal chance. She did
not sneak up and shoot her from behind. II,
Cole shot lliscock; nor make her a target
: from the sale refuge OF u convenient tree
as IN the slaughter of Mrs. Babcock by Mrs
Perkins. We despair OF ever witnessing tht
incorporation OF similar courage and magma
nimilY upon the code oil honor as practieet
ny whites. II is true the weapons choser
were exceedingly rude and barbarous, re
mnding one OF the days when the Wanda
hosts sat down amid the RUNS of EurOpe'I
lalrest Kingdoms, and when cracked skull,
and aching bones were the order of the ne
ROD. But we must not expect TOO much o
rude and ignorant people, who emulate
from their low standpoint the manpers o
their social and intellectual superiors. 1t IL
enough that they acl up TO the best lights
they possess And, barring the clubs and
the choking, this case presents every ele-
meut OF romance aud sgntImpnt In lie H.
stract. 1t would require only a change o
scene and parlies-a lree-slone front on The
avenue in place OF the cabin, Il languishinp
woman oil society Instead oi Goa. black ne,
gress, and wcl-lO-dO merchant as a sub
eulnle Tor SumbO, 10 ill whole pages ul
newspapers with the details of the lIansac.
ito. and speculatlons thereon But let us
be lair; let us be democratic. II we ure ia
ENJOY u code OF social honor and individual
redress, such rs has been freely enforced OF
late, let il never be suid that in this free ana
equal Republic, amy class is excluded from
! enjoyment ol lis benefits, by the arislocratic
| pre- JUDGES ol race or color. Perish the
thought When we are inviting the negroes
To share with us the satisfaction VI political
| freedom, shall VIC deny them the measure
less felicity Of protecting their insulted
| homer, and putting to death adulterOus as.
sallants Oi their domestic happiness9 No;
let some sympathetic jury ncqul Eliza Ann;
| let her counsel, with tears in his eyes, en-
brace aud salute her in tile presence Of the
ussembled Court and spectators; let the
| generous public give her an ovation; and let
II thus be shown that the modern creed of
social ethics is broad in lis scope ana catLO.
llc IN lis pulication-Tecognizng mo dill
terence ON account oi race Or color. Al
Odny Ecenlng Journal.