The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-01-22

tiou to the weakness of the law upon
the subject. A few of the leading men,
bers met in private consultation, and
decided upon stringent statute which
should cover all such cases in the fu-
ture. Hence they devised and framed
an oath of office, and incorporated it
into the Constitution, so broad IN the
terms of its Acknowledgement, and so
comprehensive in the structure of its
language, as to cover not only Illinois,
but all the world beside. It was aimed
at the murderous practice, without re-
spect to place, circumstance, or time,
save only that the offense should date
from the adoption IF the new Constltu-
tion. The measure was introduced by
r. B. Servant, of Randolph county,
and passed by "a yeas TO A nays. No
law ever SO completely fulfilled the de-
sign of its trainers, and it was adopted
entire by the Constitutional Convention
of 1870.
In this connection, it may be inter
esting to give brief history of the var
ious duels in which citizens of the State
have prominently figured. OF ten at
fairs of this nature which have taken
place since the organization of the
State, it is noteworthy that in only one
were shots exchanged; that was the
first one ever attempted, proved fatal
to one of the combatants, and the sur
vivor was afterward tried, convicted,
and hung. This was known as the
Bennett and Stewart duel, a full &C
count of which was published in the
Inter Ocean few months ago.
LINCOLN AND SHIELDS.
The most noteworthy affair of this
kind was that between the late Abraham
r G6Snl1C
of Missouri, which took place in 1842.
In that year there was great public ex-
citement caused by the refusal of the
State officers, among whom was Gen.
Shields, then State Auditor, to receive
the bills of the State Bank in payment
of taxes, said bills being worth in specie
only about fifty cents on dollar. The
measure provoked universal denuncia-
ton, and Mr.. Lincoln, then young and
comparatively unknown lawyer, wrote q
communication on the subject, which
was published in the Sdnganaoas Jour
nal, the Wing organ at Springfield, over
the signature of "Rebecca," dated
ssLost Township, Sept. 2, 1912.
The article was in the form of dia-
logue between "Aunt Rebecca" and her
Democratic neighbor, in which she
handled the officers of the State savage
ly for their order refusing the State
Bank money, and was particularly Sc
we're on Shields, calling him a liar and q
fool, s'du1l as cake of tallow." Shields
was bachelor, and very vain, and his
appearance at fair in the city was car.
featured, his demeanor criticised, and
he denounced as conceited Ounce.
The article soon became the talk o1
the town, and the excitable Irishmar
fairly foamed with rage. He proceeded
at once to the editor of the Journal
Simeon Francis, demanded the name o1
the author of the offensive communica
ton, and that of MIR. Lincoln was gwen
him. Lincoln was at the time attend
ing court at fremont, TaZewen county
but thither Shields hastened, accom-
panied by his "friend," Gen. White
sent note to Lincoln stating that his
of an insulting article signed Rebec
ca, and requiring "a full, positive anG
absolute retraction of all offensive allu
sions to him personally, and an ample
apology for the insults conveyed"
It so happened that two friends o
Mr.. Lincoln, DIR. Merriman and William
Butler, learned of Shields departure fol
fremont and the object of it, and
mounting their horses, rode all night
and communicated with Mr.. Lincoln be
fore Mr.. Shields did !; SO he was in ;
measure prepared for the hostile note
THE PRELIGINARIEs.
The same evening he replied, refusing
to offer any explanation, on the grounc
that Shields assumed the fact of hi
authorship of the article in question
and while not pointing out any particu
lar part to which he objected, demanded
q general retraction, accompanying tn
same with threats and menaces in cas-
of refusal. One or two other note
were exchanged, when Shields sent
final rejoinder, designating Gen. White
sides as the friend selected to arrange TO
the meeting at which the satisfaction b
demanded should be rendered. Mr.
Lincoln promptly responded, and namet
DIR. Merriman as his friend.
Further proceedings were, however
adjourned to Springfield but the fac
that hostile meeting between the tw'
parties was imminent soon becam
known, and in order to avoid arrest Mr.
Lincoln suddenly retired to jackson
vile, leaving with Mr.. Butler the fol
lowing instructions for his friend,
DIR. Merriman, who was conducting tn
affair in his behalf
MR. LINCoI.N's RULES FOR THE FIGHT.
In case CSus w u1tGSlQ0S (0u1O1OS
second) shall signify wish to settl
this affair without further difficulty, lie
him know that if the papers alread,
passed be withdrawn, and note pre-
sented from Gen. Shields asking If
am the author of the articles of whicl
he complains, and asking that I shal
make him gen tlemanly satisfaction, ant
| that without menace or dictation as t.
what that satisfaction shall be, you Ga,
assure him that the following answe
shall be given:
"sI did write the "Lost Township
letter which appeared in the Journal o
the I'd instant, but had no participation
in any form in any other article allud
ing to you. I had no intention of in
iuring your personal or private charac
ter or standing as man or a gentle
man !; and did not then think, and
do not now think, that the article coul,
produce, or has produced, that effec
against you; and had anticipate.
such an effect, should have forborn
to write it.
ssSuch is the tenor of the apology
am willing TO make, providing all forme
demands are withdrawn. If no arrange
ment is arrived al, the preliminaries o
the fight are to be:
ss1. Weapons- Cavalry broadsword
of the largest size, precisely equal i