The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-01-24
EIDDLEBERGER ON DUELiNG.



Senator II. IL. Riddleberger spoke in the
Virginia Senate on Tuesday on the bill to
remove disabilities incurred by sundry per-
sons including HIMSELF under the Dueling
Act. He said
Mr.. PRESIDENT: / perceive that my
name is in this bill for relief of disabilities.
/ therefore move to amend by striking out
the name OIL. II. Riddleberger, l make
bill (Which could not do if my name was
on the list, and do not desire to deprive
myself of the high privilege Of assisting
in removing the disabilities Of
the other gentlemen who are mentioned in
the bill. | have no disabilities that disturb
me. claim that this is a question purely
of conscience under construction of the
Constitution. | have known Senator to
take his seat without investigation, when it
was VIGOROUSLY known that he had been
arrested in going out of the State to engage
in duel. He aftcrward took the oath as
member of the General Assembly. We
have found recorded evidence that gem
tleman lately on the ticket as Lieutenant
Governor was well-known to have been
concerned in duel. a gentleman, ar
rested eA route to fight duel, took his seat
in December, and had his disabilities re-
moved in March. There was 10
investigation. Why? Because these
gentlemen believed that the disqualih-
cation was of the nature of Il penalty for
violation of the criminal statute, and that
the penalty could not attach at all without
conviction. If a man comes to vote and
the Judge Of election asks: Have you Il
bet on this electionY the reply would be :
"When you convict me then you may sit
on my qualification as II voter. You cannot
fix guilt without conviction" With me
1t is II matter of conscience There are gem
tlemen in this bill who hold different view,
Some of them holding office sent their resig-
nations to the Governor before they went
to the field. In Difference to their con-
scientisus convictions | wish my name
erased in order to be in a position to cast
my vote to relieve them. 1t requires two
thirds vote | wish TO give them mine. 1t
is not n party question. | would consult
only the convictions Of these gentlemen
under disability. 1t is to relieve their con
scientious scruplcs No man can he custo-
dian of my conscience. ! reflect public
sentiment on this subject of dueling, but not
the idle, silly talk that is INDUCED in by
many. | will vote for any measure that
VIII prevent resort 10 arms to settle diff
cultics, ] care not how stringent or severe
the methods, so the enactment doe,
not invade the Constitution and B,ll
of Rights. When we come to treat such
questions, let it not be with rash
sentiments that are heard from religious
pulpits, true but rarely, yet extreme aud
unjust, How much more fitting would be
the blessed sentiments from the Sermon on
the Mount than the declaration that the
Commonwealth is governed by dcma-
gogucs ! would say to these Christian
gentlemen, Teach men to use toward each
other language fitted to pass between gen
tlemen, and there would be less occasion
for men to resort for settlement of difficult
ties to u mode upon which the civilized and
Christian world alike has set its seal of con.
domination. | would like to be put in sit
uation to help in relieving these sentlemen,
whose convictions respect. | am the Gus
todian of my own conscience. will settle
with that and my God.