The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-12-23
The Petition Against the Removal of
DuoIIing Disabilities.

On account OF clerical and other errors
appearing in the petition presented by Mr..
T. w. Davis to the House, rs published in
the Dispatch yesterday, il is reprinted
herewith, aS follows:
To the Senate and House Of Delegates Of
the state of Virginia:
We, the undersigned, residents OF the
city OF Richmond and citizens Of the Com
mOnwcalth OF Virginia. respectfully petit
ton yCur honorable bodies not TO pass any
bill or proposition designed to remove the
disabilities Of persons who have become
offenders against the peace and dignity Of
the State under the law against duelling
We cannot suppose the representatives Of
the people are ignorant OF the grave con-
siderations bearing OH this question, and
vet a reference TO some Of them may be
admissible. On the simple ground OF com
mon intelligence il is difficult 10 Justify a
code which permits man to denounce his
neighbor as q scOundrel and then TO accept
a challenge from him because it is a satis-
faction which one gentleman may not with
hold from another. But we rest the case
on much higher grounds. Dueling, as
every one knows, is a palpablc violation Of
the great moral law which the Most High
has ordained for the government of his in
telligent creatures, and which furnish the
basis for the civil institutions OF all
enlightened nations. 1t is plain in
fraction of Virginia statute which visits
with heavy penalties the sending or accept
ing OF a challenge or any participation what
ever i'm duel, and is condemned 10y the Con-
stitution OF the State. II any OF our citizens
have been placed at a disadvantage by this
enactment it is because they have know
inglv and deliberately set it at defiance.
The difficulties now standing in the way OF
enforcing anti-duelling laws make il all the
more important that persons contemRing
them should not be relieved from political
disabilities, which at present afford to the
State her only means of teaching the evil
diSposed to respect her authority. Duelling
is a relic OF bv-gone and semi-enlightened
age, and is repugnant to the advanced
moral sentiment OF the present day. We
verify believe the practice is held in repro
baton by q vast majority OF the Virginia
neople, but should your honorable bodies
relieve offenders from their disabilities
the act would give sembance to the re-
proach sometimes east upon Us from abroad
that duelling is not condemned by public
opinion i'm our State. 1t is TO be presumed
Iiitl Tie NkIlllf hein NiitAN i'N
for the purpose Of preventing the practice;
but it is clear that no such object can be
obtained ii those violating the law are re-
lieved from all the penalties attached to the
infraction. Without animosity towards
any, or any personal reference to the parties
whose names are embraced in the proposed
act. and with sincere desire for the good
order, virtue, and renown OF Virginia, we
lay our petition before you, praying it may
be duly weighed by your honorable bodies.
John Pollard, Jr., +. Leslie spence, j. b.
Hawthorne. Charles \. spence, Samuel
c. Clopton, Il. =. Richardson, X. II. Pitt,
j. Il. Walthall, w. 7. DcrieuX, L. j.
Bosher, c. A. G.. Thomas, X. ii. Bosher,
J.B. Winston, j. B. Watkins, ;. ;. Lam
beth. Carlton Mccarthy, John Il. Lau-
rens, j. L. NJ. Curry, Il. III. Nelson, W.
II. Gwathmey, William II. Williams,
Moses ID. Hoge, Josiah Ryland, Thomas
c. Williams, II. B. Lee, Hiram Oliver, +.
b. Spence. Robert Ould, W. w. Henry,
f. Ii. McGuire, Marshall VI. Gillian, W.
GOddin.