Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-02-16

I
tionally insulting another can refuse tt
fight. That Is one thing But did ths
code. as Sam johnson said in his ingeni
Gus argument at General Oglethrope's tn.
ble-did the code '.banish from society &
man who put up with an affront without
fighting duel = That it professed to
do 80, is true. That il did at all times
attempt to do so. is without doubt But
during the present century, whether in
this country or in England. that it has
ever succeeded in doing 50, is doubtful.
Take, for example, the ease Of General
Jackson. when Lieutenant Randolph pull
led his nose-did the former lose caste by
refusing to challenge the latter? Or Jo-
siah Quincy, for declining to accept the
challenge Of a Southern Hotspur? Was
Judge Thacher. of Maine, less respected
for his quaint answer TO his challenger.
that he would talk with Mrs. Thacher
abou. it, and be guided by her opinion p
Or Judge Breckenridge, who. when posi-
lively declining to accept q challenge,
told the challenger that he might draw
his (thc judge's) figure on board. and
fire at it as near and as often as he pleased
and that, if he hit il. upon certificate of
the fact he should have the credit of it Z?
Passing over these rather exceptional
cases however, would either Mr. PAUL or
Sir Francis Burdc:t. who fought duel
together About the Westminster election
, in 1907 have been banished from good
! society had one or the other refused to
fight? Or had Canning declined Lord
Castlcreaghs challenge. in 1909: or
OConncll Mr.. D'Esterre's. in 1915: or
Grattan the Earl of Clarc's. in 1920; or
Wellington the Earl of Winchelsea's. in
lS2H; or Roehuck Mr. Blacks. in 1885 ::
| or the Earl of Cardigan Mr.. Tuckett's. in
1S40-would the same result have follow
ed
Or. to come back to our own country.
how about Alexander Hamilton, had he
declined the challenge of Aaron Burr p
The former, was the aggressor They had
been rivals. Before they met there was
between them deadly hostility. That
Hamilton did not mean to fire at Burr,
and that Burr did mean 10 kill Hamilton.
does not alter the previous fact that Ham
ilton had put Burr into the position to be
considered coward if he forebore to chal-
lcnge his opponent. How, then. when
the alternative was shifted, when Burr.
by sending challenge. had put IIamil-
ton in the position to accept. or be com
sidrred coward In that day of politi-
cal hatrcds, would Hamilton have cscap-
cd that which he feared more than death,
had he declined 30 fight? Would his
transccndent abilities. or distinguished
civil services, or LOYALTY or military re-
nown, or social position, have saved his
good name?
The brutal murder Of Cilley. of Maine,
hy Graves. of Kentucky, is not relevant.
\ congressional committee. indeed, deci-
ded that every thing had been fairly trans
acted according to the code, but then the
motives of the principals are not apparent.
There was no quarrel Neither Cilley
nor Graves had ill-feeling the one for the
other. On the field. where rifes were
the weapons, and deadly aim the nccessi-
". they two. had neither been wounded.
might have hob-nobbcd the moment af-
terward without grulrc or even passing
irritation. They fought because Cillcy
declined to say that his refusal to receive
note from James Watson Webb was no
reflection upon Webb's character. Cillev
exrnerated Graves. But he wouki 60 no
further, ard hence the challenge from
Grrvcs II would have been the most ab-
surd Of duels but for its tragical end
There was no occasion for it. Neither of
the principals would have suffered in char
acter had he declinei the contest. even at
the last moment. Cilley would have lost
no position lad he refused to fight, nor
would Graves have violated the code had
he Withdrawn his challenge.
The same is equally true in regard to
the unfortunate duel between Barron and
Decatur. Barron was an unlucky dog
Striking the Stars and Stripes without fir
ing gun was enough for one life. /,
was in 1907. He was in command ofthc
lrigatc Chesapeake. On June 23rd b.
struck his flag to the British frigate Leo
pard without even preparing f,r action.
For this he was tried. found guilty. sus-
pended for FIVE years from duty, and de-
pvived of his pay. Daring residence
abroad, which he Immediately sought. war
was declared between England and the
United States, and. because Rarron did
not instantly retura and offer himself for
service, Decatur officially opposed his
claims when he did. For this Barron
challenged him, and. at their meeting on
the 2:,nd of March. fatally wounded him.
That there Was TO necessity for this hos
tile meeting, even according TO the code.
and that Decatur would have suffered
neither in official nor social position had
be refused TO accept Barrcn's challenge.
il evident from the decision subsequently,
given by Barron's own ccur, Of inquiry
that Ibis absence from the United States. y
ut she time complained of hy Decatur,
was contrary to his duty rs an officer"
This affair is shown even more clearly tn
have been unnecessary by what occurred
on the seld after shots had been cxehang.
ed. Both were wcuadel-fatally. il Was
supposed. For convenience they had
been moved near to each other. In fact,
they lay side by side In this position.
each suppcsing his life-blood to he ebbing
away. aud each suffering excruciating pain !.
they came TO an understanding.
81 was never your enemy. Barron. re-
marked Decatur, land in my Official op-
position 10 YOU. was influenced hy no per.
sonal ill-feeling."
Il know it," rplied Barren, suppos-
ing himself to be mortally wounded, land
forgive NV death"
4 Urus r,s,os,..1 n>~,.,,~ s.-ll:l