New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-10
TIE lay OF HONOR AND TIE Law OF
kEH-Y YORK.

The laws OF new 1oih Hoo why P'o"''''
duelng within the State, but are equally
stringent against leaving the State with the
intent of engaging in a duel. Both gentlemen
who lately violated the latter statutory pro-
vision, and whose proceedings have so engaged
the public attention, are undoubtedly liable to
arrest. indictment, conviction, and imprlson-
ment. They are none the less so because their
meeting seems to have been of such kind as
to make them food for the laughter of the
town. The grOtesque features OF their per-
Torrance, while clearly emitting them to uni
yersal Idicule, do not in the least diminish
the crmnalty of their act They may, how
ever. helm to shield them from punishment.
A man who had gone out deliberately to shoot
dnUIncI anu ndu onVU MN "V"ru uo much
more likely to suffer the penalties Of the law
than a man who had gone out with the same
purpose and merely succeeded in making
fool of himself But this possibility does not
alter the facts of the Their i'm
munity, if they should find immunity, may
prove mschicvOus in the future; and it is a
mere matter of duty to call the public atten-
ton to this prepense violation of the law.
Toward neither of the parties to tins meeting
do we entertain the least feeling of hostility,
and we are sincerely glad that the
consequences of the encounter have been no
worse But there are hOt-headed young men
in plenty in this city and elsewhere very likely
to quarrel and to follow this latest bad ex-
ample. We are uttering hardly more than
platitude when we say that every right
minded citizen will respect the laws. however
chance may cause them to run counter to his
incnatiOns. Dueling is prohibited because
our lawmakers, upon the largest consideration,
have determined that it is an immoral and in
itself criminal practice contrary to the peace
of the State and legally an assault with intent
to kill. Those who think otherwise are at
full liberty to petition the Legislature for
repeal of existing statutes. What would be
thought if such memorial should be pre-
pared and left for signatures at the principal
clubs7 Yet this would be the only proper
course for young " men OF honor" to pursue. III
dueng be necessary and meritOrious and
useful custom, the sooner our law against it is
repealed the better. We only repeat what we
said so often last Summer about Sunday liquor
selling. We did not think it necessary then to
discuss the policy of the Excise law; we took
it as we found it and when the police, with a
great flourish, announced their intention of
praised their purpose and waited to see what
would come of this newborn zeal. If the law
is bad one, We said, repeal it. We say the
same respecting the laws against single com
bat. If they are hard and oppressive and
work substantial injustice, and deprive gen
tlcmcn of rights to which they are clearly
entitled by the other laws of nature and of
society, let us have them removed from the
tatute-bOOk Immediately.
That this will not be done; that the Assem-
bly will not be asked to do this; that an
attempt to do it would be stigmatized as a
savage anachronism, only proves that the duel
is lust as much under the stigma of the best
public opinion as ever it was and we must
say that men living in civilized society and
sharing, every day of their lives, in its ben
Gifts. ought to defer little to its best judg
ment For it is the law which protects their
property, guards their homes, saves the sane
tty of their persons from violation, or stands
ready at least to redress their personal in
juries. If they do that the logical tendency
of which is to reduce us to a State OF nature,
with none of the advantages which civilization
has brought in its tram, what occasion have
they to complain, for instance, of the Red
Republican or Socialist, or by whatever name
he is called, who loudly demands the enact
ment of Agrarian Laws, and asserts that prop
erty Is theft Why should they have all the
benefits and submit TO none OF the restraints
Why should they call themselves citizens, if
they thus openly defy the authority of the
Statei
We are well enough aware that there is
nothing novel in these suggestions, but per-
haps the event of which certain part of the
town is talking may lend them little point
We see no occasion for an exhortation to the
law officers of the State TO do their duty, for
if they need " DO reminded of it they will