The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-06-12
given below.

fatory address "to the public" in the
edition of 1858, defends the "Code OF
Honor" and claims that ''it will be
persisted in as long as manly indie
pendence and a lofty personal pride in
all that di9nitiies and ennoblcs tho hui
man character shall continue to exist.
He claimed that his purpose in pub
fishing the Code WAS to save rather
than to imperil human life, and con.
cludes his PREDATORY note as follows:
''The severest penal enactments can.
not restrain the practice of duellini,
aud their extiome severity in this
State the more effectually shields the
offender. The teaching and preaching
of our eloquent clergy may do some
service, but is wholly inadequate to
suppress it. Under these circnmstan-
ces the following rules are given to the
public, and if l can save the life of one
useful member of society 1 will be
compensated. I have restored to the
bosoms of many their sons by my
timely Interference, who are ignorant
of the misery 1 have averted from
them. 1 believe that nine duels out
OF ten, if not ninety nine out Of hun
dred, originate in tho want OF expert
ence in the seconds. A book of author
ity to which they can refer in matters
where they are misinformed will there
fore be n deoideratum. How far this
Code will be that book the public will
decide"
AS an appendix to his Code Govern
or Wilson republishes the Irish Code
of Honor of 1777, signed by Grow
Ryan, president, and James Keog and
Amby Bodkin, secretaries of the "gen
tlemcn delegates of Tipperary," etc.
Governor Wilson's Code remained the
highest authority in South Car olina
and probably in the South until the
end of tho dueling era, but in 1878 a
new edition of the Code was published
anonymously in Charleston, with an
able and interesting historical sketch
and defence of individual contests for
the settlement of difficulties among
gentlemen.
A PosT-DELLUM CODE.
1t was pamphlet of forty-four
pages entitled 1.-The Code Of Honor;
it's Rationale and Uses, by the Tests of
Common Sense and Good Morals, with
the Effects of its Preventive Rene
dies, and it's authorship was generally
attributed to Col. r. Barnwell Rhett,
formerly editor of the Charleston Mer-
curry and New Orleans Picayune.
In his Introductory essay the author
states the interesting fact that Col.
John s. Ashe. of Charleston, "one of
those consulted in the preparation of
the Code or Digest of Usages, employ
ed in this country, fought as principal
one duel, terminating in a flesh wound
of his adversary, and as second or ref
cree he settled. without duels, fifty
one difficulties between gentlemen un-
der the laws of honor"
TEXT OF GOVERNOR WILSON'S CODE.
Following is the Code compiled by
John Lyde Wilson and published in
1888 and 1868. The parcnthetical ex-
planatory clauses are from the pen Of
the anonymous editor of 1873:
Chapter I.
RULES FOR PRINCIPALS AND SECONDS IN
DWELLING.
The person insulted, before chnl-
lenge sent.
l. Whenever you believe You are
insulted, if the insult be in public and
by words or behavior, never resent it
there, if you have self-command
enough to a"oid noticlngit- If resented
there, yol; offer an indignity to the
company, which you should not.
.. Ii thr insult be by blows or any
personal indignity, it may be resented
at the moment, for the insult to the
company did not originate with you.
But, although resented ut the moment.
you are bound still to have satisfaction
and must, therefore, make the demand.
(See note on Chapter viii, Rule ;.
3. When you believe yourself ag-
gricvcd be silent on the subject; speak
to no one about the matter ard see
your friend who is to act FOR you as
soon as possible.
4. Never send challenge in tho
first instance, for that precludes all ne
Sotlatlon. Let your note be in the
language of gentleman, and let tho
subject matter of complaint he truly
and fairly set forth, cautiously avoid
lug attributing to the adverse party
any improper motive.
.. When your second is in full pos
session of the facts, leave the whole
matter to his judgment, and avoid any
consultation with him unless he seeks
it. He has the custody of your honor,
and by obeying him you cannot be
compromised.
&. Let the time of demand upon
your adversary after the insult be rs
short rs possible, for he has the right
to double that time in replying to you,
unless you give some good reason for
your delay. Each party is entitled
10 reasonable time to make the neces :
sary domestic arrangements, by will or
Othprwisp before II iobtin0