The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-07-21
Rev. J. 3. Campbell on DueIing.

Sunday morning Rey. J. B. Camp
bell, of the Methodist Church, announ-
ced that be would preach 1T night on
the subject of dueling. A large cor
gregation assembled to hear him. He
took his text from the 18th chapter and
Goth verse of Exodus-"Thou shalt not
kill" He said, in substance: Duellng
is becoming a common practice in this
State; FIVE or six have occurred this
year in which citizens Of this State were
concerned. This fact is On evidence OF
q morbid state of public feeling. It is
lamentable fact that it is considered a
manly way of settling difficulties to in
vite a man out upon the field and give
him an equal chance. The particular
point in the case is the moral quality
of dueling. l. 1t is murder, without
qualification or discount-murder in the
first degree. It is the killing ola human
being-if not in fact still in principle.
He that desires to slay bis fellow man
is u murderer at heart. It is murder
in both. 2. 1t is premeditated; not
the result Of passion or impulse. The
duelist enters into the matter coolly
and deliberately; practices for it; thinks
and converses about it, and without re-
gard for the laws of God or man, pre-
0ares to take the life Of his fellow man.
1t doesn't matter what the Code" says,
OF vitiated public opinion says, or the
laxity of the Courts says--it is murder.
3. There is probably not one case in a
hundred where the offence would JUS
tify killing even in sudden heat and
passion. 4. Probably no case that could
not be settled otherwise. If offence be
given and the offender refuses TO make
amends friends may intercede; if he
still refuses be is beneath your notice.
5. 1t is a risk of ones own life-a de-
termination to kill OF be killed. 1t Is
sad enough to see one killed in excite
ment, but to see him deliberately 60
out to be shot at shows the turpitude Of
the affair; it heightens the offence. 1t
is no evidence Of chivalry or courage
thus to expose ones own life. 6. Ha-
tired enters into the duel, and is at the
bottom of it; and 'he that hateth his
brother is murderer" Z. Revenge en-
ters into it. The Lord has said ven
oeance is mine" A man becomes his
own arbitrator, and it is so easy for him
to 60 beyond what is proper. s. 1t IS
murder under the laws of the Country.
A few reasons why all should be oppo-
sed to duelling. 1st. It tends to lower
the type of our civilization: to lnculcate
into the minds Of the rising generation
that to be true and brave men they
must be skillful with the pistol. IND.
A duel meyer settles a difficulty. How
can dead man give or receive salts
faction for wrong done or a wrong
suffered God forbid that any man
should be satisfied with such result.
5rd. It plunges families into the bitter
est grief: IF you succeed. you have
made a widow and orphans, or done an
irreparable injury to those who are IN,
innocent and who shaYe never harmed
you. It is no small matter to drape a
whole household in mourning aRd to
remove from a family its head and sup
port. 4th. It sends y soul unprepared
into the other world. Can a man who
dies in a duel go to Heaven2 l can't
| settle that question. But how can a
man be prepared for Heaven who dies
| with revenge, hatred and a desire to
kill in bis heart? 9th. 1t is Importing
your own lips:
! With the lights before him man
| cannot send or accept a challenge with
out violating the dictates Of his own
| conscience and reason.