The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-04
Frederic Haskin's Letter
Bellicose Statesmen.

! son was MANNED for life from the
shot.
Jackson's other duel was w;,h
John Sewer, first governor of Ter
nessee, who was one of the Drjma
movers in the formation of Tho
proposed state of Franklin.
One of Jackson's firnest politic,,
friends was Thomas H Rentoa
who secured payment of the sv
penses of Jackson's men after tbsv
were ordered disbanded in Missis'
sippi on their way to New Orlea,.
This friendship was terminatas
though, when Jackson stood &c
second against Jesse Benton
brother of Thomas. Later Iao,.
son threatened to horsewhip Thor
as Benton. The two Bentons ana
Jackson got into a brawl in tav'
ern. in which Jackson was shot
twice and Jesse Benton badly staJI
bed. S'NoT
Perhaps the most famous dna, q,
American history is that in whist
Alexander Hamilton and Aaron
Burr took part. Hamilton had hee.,
instrumental several times N
blocking tho political ambitions -
Burr, which the latter keenly re-
scented. Finally, for some pretend-
ed or real insult, Burr CHALLENGES
Hamilton to mortal combat Ham
ilton was seriously opposed to tbs
dueling code, but felt that il he ra-
fused to meet Burr he would ha
deemed a coward. When the mon
met. 1t is believed that Hamilton
discharged his weapon in the air
Burr's shot struck Hamilton ana
Hamilton died from the wound the
day after the duel.
Many other dueIs between wall
known Americans are recorded. Da-
Witt Clinton and Swartout settled
their differences on the socaHed
field of honor. GilIey and Graves
fought duel. CadwaIlader ana
Conway and General Mcintosh ana
Cwinnett, of the time OF the Reye-
luton, took part in such affrays.
Charles Lee, once second in COM
mand to Washington, and formerly
or the British army. proved by his
tory to be a traitor to America
was wounded in duel by Colonel
John Laurers. of Washington's
staff. Lee disobeyed orders in fail
ing to hasten the retreat of his
army across New Jersey, and was
captured by the British. but his
exchange was effected because his
perfidy was not known. Eventual
ly he was relieved of his commits
sion because of an impudent letter
be wrote to congress.
The Great Pacificator Fights,
Henry Clay once forsook the
fields of oratory and craftsmanship
20 take part in a duel with John
of Virginia. 1t grew
put of the contest for the presi-
1ency in 1924, when Clay was one
If four contenders, the others be-
ng John Quincy Adams, Andrew
Jackson and William H. Crawford.
10 one of the four had a majority
# the electoral votes, and the cleo
ion was thrown into the house AS
My the three candidates ranking
highest are considered, Clay was
out of it He used
lis influence for Adams, who was
lected. Later Adams made Clay
lis secretary OF state, which caus-
d great deal of comment. The
rascible Randolph capped the cli-
max of this comment by declaring
hat the appointment meant the
combination of the Puritan with
be blackleg" When they fired the
rst shot in the inevitable duel,
9th missed. Randolph found his
ot blood SO cooled that he refus-
d to fire again. and there the mat
er ended, without bodily harm 10
ither.
Dueling has been frowned down
lmost everywhere now. Occasions
lily a duel will occur in France,
ut fatal results rarely follow. Ger
IAN officers and students have a
ueling code, but in the student
Uels, at least, all vital portions OF
ne body are so protected that moth
1g can result but a few pictur-
sque scars of which the bearers
are Unfortunately proud.
In every state in the Union duel
lg is forbidden. with various pen
tiles ranging from death to dis
for public office for
yer. In Texas to this day. the
overnor on taking oath of office,
lust swear he has never taken
art in a duel.