The daily gazette., 1878-04-03
FROM the Baltimore Gazette.
More BlOOdy than ssThe Code. >,

Il
| In the southern states the duel is
| prohibited by statute, but the stat
| ntes are In advance of public opin-
ION. The law has just sufficient force
70 prevent or rather TO discourage
the strict formalities of "the code" with
out being strong enough to prevent In
FORMAL understanding" for hostile en-
counters. The duel has wisely been
abolished, and now finds very fey defen-
ders. 1t is as foolish as to decide ques-
tlons OF contract us in the olden times by
wager of battle" 1t decides nothing,
and often SO far from "settling" a adispute
has only bequeathed bloody vendetta
to the families of the respective parties.
Yet bad as the duelis stillit is better than
assassination. In some of the northern
anu western states, man who IL suffi-
gently aggrieved sometimes feels that he
~ Justified in shooting down his enemy
"lke dog" In almost any tragedy
where there is a woman in the case"
sassination is the popular method, and
the luries usually acquit. Public opinion
IN England has attained to the point
wnere disputes are settled by law; and
where duels, bloody affrays and assassi-
nations are not countenanced; that point
has not been reached in any state OF this
republic. 1t is still q recognized thing
that under certain circumstances q man
may be his own avenger; and strangely
enough in those localities where the duel
Is most condemned the juries are most
ready to acquit red-handed assassins.-
The recent bloody encounter between
Mr.. Sidney Pitts and Mr.. A. T.. Thorn in
Eastville Virginia, is another illustration
OF the state of public opinion in the
southern states which does not Justify the
duel, but does not permit the parties to
Ignore "insults" nor to settle certain sorts
OF disputes in the courts of Justice Those
unhappy young men fought, because a
diseased public opinion expected them
10 hight, sentiment which forbade them
10 make any concessions to each other or
to even avoid meeting. Each armed
himself knowing that a mortal com bat
was the expectation of his friends. In
this respect the understanding" is a
more deplorable thing than formal
challenge and acceptance. After chal-
lenge has been sent, the affair passes out
OF the hands of the principals. The
seconds who often are cool headed gen
tlemen who feel the weight of their re-
sponsibility, are called upon to settle the
terms of the meeting. Their first duty
Is to see If the meeting cannot honorably
be avoided. They can make concessions
that the excited and over-sensltivc prin-
cipals would not make, and thus the duel
stored to cordial and friendly relations.
The "code of honor" is foolish and the
duel is murderous and wlcked but still it
Is simple justice to "the code" to saw
that the formal challenge has led to more
reconciliatlons than TO fatal encounters
But the law which forbids it though a
wise law, is as we have said in advance
of public opinion. We have yet to hear
of victor in IL duel being found guilty
of murder. Yet the legal penalties for
sending or accepting challenge are so
heavy that man hesitates to call in a
friend to act as second; and thus their
friendly offices are lost. The principals
settle everything themselves, and decide
through passion, prejudice and a morbid
fear of showing timidity or weakness !;
and thus quarrels that might have been
settled by the intervention of friends
progress to bloody Termination. There
was certain chivalry however in the
fight at Eastville. After one of the par
ties had been wounded in the wrist 50 as
to prevent his cooking his pistol, he
went to corner of the house to put
back the hammer for second fire his
opponent instead of shooting him then,
waited until he was ready to fire and
had turned to face him. Upon this sec
ond fire both got their mortal hurts 1t
is deeply tragic that two such brave and
honorable young men should thus have
fallen victims to morbid public opinion
which demands that blood shall wash
out an insult. This is the fault that lies
at the bottom of it. A false sense of
''honor," and a foolish and unchristian
pubhc opinion are the true offenders
The combatantS are only the victims.