Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-28
The Duel in America.


The growth Of the dueling practice in
our army and navy was clearly made the
subject Of legislative censure. In 1906 an
act was passed by Congress for the pur-
pose of suppressing the duel in the army;
and this act was followed in 1920 by an
abOrtive attempt to Obtain from the Com
mittee on Military Affairs an even more
stringent and comprehensive act. But
the abolition of the duel from our army
and navy is largely due to the firm atti-
tude which the executive branch of the
government assumed on the subject. In
1880 President jackson caused the Nance
Of four officers TO be stricken from the roll
of the navy for completely in a duel,
and the stand subsequently taken by Presi-
dent Taylor was equally as pronounced.
The duel IS now entirely unknown
in our army and navy. This result is
partly due To the penalties prescribed by
Congress; partly to the uncOmprOmising
manner In which the executive arm has
been exerted; but, above all, to the almost
undisputed jurisdiction which common
sense has obtained over the duel at the
North. Among the MINOR causes which
have conspired to produce the same re-
suit was the death of Com. Decatur in
1920. His youth, his sunny nature. his
romantic career, his patriotic services,
the circumstances out of which his duel
WIN OOAls DdEIOu ATOht, hB well as Lne
affecting words which the two com batants
are said TO have exchanged as they Law i'm
common anticipation OF death on the
bloody sward at Bladensburg, aroused II
degree OF public resentment against the
duel which was not allayed until
It bad created a lasting impression
upon the popular mind. And well might
this be the case. Even at this day II is
impossible TO revert 20 the death Of
-
| found emotion which IL at the time eX-
cited. Rarely had death claimed fairer
or more high-minded victim. One writer,
who saw Decatur and Barron when they
were cOnversing with each other, after
the lethal shot had been fred, compared
the scene 10 the grave scene between
Hamlet and Laertes. Even John Quincy
Adams took up his acrimonious and UNI
tagging pen TO record that, in addition
10 the social virtues which won him the
attachment OF almost every one who knew
him, Decatur bad "a soul all devoted to his
country, and sense OF honor too disdain-
mi of life since IL could not attain that
high summit OF magn0nimity which de-
liberately refuses the guilt and exposure
OF private war" John Randolph alluded
in Congress 10 the intal event in language
which IL said 10 have been even more
classically beautiful than that with
over the grave OF William Pinckney.
Congress did not 50 far forget the manner
In which Decatur had fallen as TO accede
70 "A resolution 10 adjourn which was Of.
fered by the orator. But when
death was taking 10 ITS eternal
arms, at Kalorama, the body OF the
here by whom Il had been so often scorned,
no element OF public grief was wanting 20
testify the deep gratitude which the
people Of the United States felt for the
gallant officer who had done ~ much 70
sweil the prestige of our national flag. A
vast procession OF nearly 10000 persons
gathered about the vault where the re-
mains Of Decatur were deposited, and
nothing was lacking 10 his funeral
pageant but the fuldllmeat Of the wish
which he bad expressed before he ex-
pred, that he had died in the service Of
his country.
Nor were duels, subsequent 10 the year
1888, confined 10 our army and navy.
They we're hardly less common In civil
life, aud were only less frequent in the
Middle than they were In the Southern
states. Especially was this the case at
me time I'm New York. In 1875 John jay
sad occasion 10 speak of an Individual
I VINO had rewarded his kindness by send
( ing him q challenge, ns an migrate with
inv money IN his pockets and my meat
atm sticking In his teeth" But, at the
beginning Of the present century, the duel
became general 10 a degree that a
Ind never before been in New
York. Burr had already fought
bloodless aud rather ludiorOus
duel when be took the lilo Of Alexander