The Cecil Whig., 1886-05-29
Good Reasons for Declining to Fight "a
Duel


A recent difficulty between Gen. John
stone Jones and Mr.. Richmond Pearson,
both of Asheville, n. c., resulted in
challenge from the latter to the former
to meet him on the "feld of honor"
Both are members of the North Carolina
Legislature. Gen. Jones, who served
with distinction in the Confederate army,
and has since served as adjutant-general
of the State, declined to accept Mr.. Pear
sons challenge, and in doing so wrote:
''Perhaps, you hope to humiliate me.
In this you shall be disappointed. l am
prouder to decline your challenge than
you can ever be that you challenged me
under the circumstances. have family
to support; were you to kill me they
would be utterly destitute. Your family
are rich, and were l to kill you they
| have ample means on which to live.
This inequality between us you were
fully aware of when you penned your
challenge. But take no shelter here.
| put my declinations on the grounds
| that | am opposed to duelling. do not
| recognize the so called code as a legiti-
mate way in which to settle difficulties
between gentlemen. My obligations to
the laws of my State and society, besides
the obligations have personally assumed
| as a member of church and as a sworn
officer of the State of North Carolina,
sworn to support its laws, precludes me
from entering npon course such as is
suggested in your letter, and in trans
ferring to the arena of personal violence
questions which by 10 possibility find
settlement here.
"Duelling is wrong in itself, viola
tion of the commandment Thou shalt do
| no murder" 1t is a violation of the
constitution and laws of North Carolina.
In my case, to indulge in such a prac-
tise would be violation of the oath /
have taken to bear alleg lance to the con-
stitution and laws of our state. Beirg
still a member of the General Assembly,
I recognize the obligation resting upon
me as such.
"Aside from these views l cannot rec
ognize the method as solution or cure
of the grievance of which you complain.
Were you to kill me or l to kill you,
there would be no vindication of courage,
nor would it satisfy your friends or mine,
or the public generally, that the cause cf
complaint was just or unjust.
81 regard killing in duel as delib-
crate murder, SO pronounced by the
highest authority, human and divine;
and to fight duel, though death might
not result, both the sin and the violation
of the law have be en- committed. What
ever may be the estimation in which the
practise of dueling is held by the code
quello,' it is made an Infamous crime by
the code of North Carolina.
THE custom has become obsolete, and
| think now generally regarded as both
ridiculous and fariceal as well as un-
lawful, aud did now grant your request
should feel myself to be moral cow
ard worthy the severe condemnation of
the law, and the contempt and derision
of the good and law-abiding citizens.
"Occupying the position do as a rep
resentative of the people, cannot afford
to commit crime SO plainly forbidden
by both organic and statute laws, nor
set such an example of lawlessness."
In concluding his letter, however, Gen.
Jones informs Mr.. Pearson that che will
defend himself at all times and under all
| lo;r Sta