New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-05
THE CODE IN KENTVCKY.

The fact that Senator Blackburn and Judge
Ruckcr. both Kentuchians. parties to very
pretty but rather rancorous quarrel as it stands,
has led a good many people to conclude that there
was likely to be duel between the two This
belief was based on two considerations: First
because both gentlemen hail from section in
which pistol practice Is not uncom-
mon; aud second. because both Black
burn and Rucker have the reputation
Of being subscribers to the code Blackburn. I'M
less falsely reported, was once on the point Of
fighting q duel and was only prevented from
going out by the intervention of unforeseen cir
cumstances. AS for RuclIer. a letter which he
lately wrote contained in plain terms the intima-
ton that he was ready TO accept an invitation to
pistols and coffee from the Senator.
In view of all that has been said and written
about the Blaclxburn-Rucker episode, " The Louis
Vile Courer-Journa feels constrained in the in
tcrest of Kentucky to print few observations
in regard to the relation of that State to the code
These observations are interesting, and are par
tcularly worthy the consideration Of all those
who havo been confident that the Senator and the
Judge would eventually stand up before each
others weapons with the hair triggers. The
Courier-Journal" wants it to DO understood that
the code mas no vogue in Kentucky; that the
history Of dueling in the State is that of " Ma
tona episodes that belong rather TO the country;
that there not half dozen men In Kentucky
" who can turn to table or library shelf and show
the code in print" that if an elementary knowl-
edge Of the rudiments OF the code were qualif-
cation for suffrage. there would be no voting in
Kentucky" that although the kentuckian viii
fight the instant and sometimes will go cunning
for an adversary, after sending him due notice,
fighting according to the code, in other words,
N dual Il nj
that duel in Kentucky is not only against the
Constitution of the State and the statute but
that the Kentucldan who goes out to fight ac-
cording 10 the code knows that he filings fortune
behind him"
THIS is specific and emphatic, and unless some
one Is prepared to contradict the statements. The
Courer-Journap must be adiudged to have vind-
Gated the fair fame of Kentucky from foul
asperSon. Blackburn may indeed fight Ruci<er
on the Instant" the Judge may 60 cunning
for the Senator, latter sending him due notice."
but il is most unlikely that there will be duel,
that is 10 say, fight according TO the code"
II the two meet by chance-the usual way-they
may shoot each other down in cold and cammy
blood But we do not understand The Courier
Journal that Kentuckian who engages in such
an encounter -" filings fortune behind him." How
ever 1t is gratifying TO learn that although Ken
tuclsianS still sometimes settle thelr dlHefehceS
with firearms on the instant" thus avoiding
the laws delay and the expense attendant upon
the employment of counsel they have renowned
the code.
r. S.-We submit 20 The Courier Journal" that
IL would do well to send a marked copy OF its
article to its ncighbor, The Louisville Post
The POST evidently is not aware that the code
has fallen into innocuous desuetude in the blue
grass country For only few days ago it re-
marked: " If this thing referring to the Black
burn-Rucker QUARREL is to be settled under the
code. RuclSer has the privilege of challenge and
Blackburn has no excuse to leave the gage lying
We seemed 10 gather from this that if Blackburn
had no excuse for leaving the gage lying, he
must recognize the code and we reasoned that
if n United States Sepator from Kentucky recog-
nlzcd it. it was likely that a good many other
Kentuckians said ditto to Blackburn.