Year: 1859

grave. This code bnses its decisions NOT unoi
the decisions of the wise and good but uno,


a chance shot or stab. 1t vindieates cbarac


ter not by proof, but by conflict and wine


out the stains of reproach not by argumen


but by blood And yet, while doing this, b,


strange process of reasoning it claims for il


self what must enter largely as an element o


true honor courage-but those who. by


their experience, know the most of this svs-


TEN, and who from that are the best quuiiH


ed to judge, doubt very much whether ther,


Is real courage in hi Il who either gives or re


ceives challenge 1t demands, it is tru,


that in these conflicts there shall be no duiv


e'ing of the muscles nor any twitching of tn,


nerves. nor pallor in the cheek Elch on,


must be as calm and collected ms he is in the
ordinary intercourse of his home or among
his friends. Passions the deepest and nost


impulsive in our natures must lie masked un-


der smile, and II man who believes in Coo


and has in his soul many of the best forces O


a christian education. is required to be de-


eorous and gentemanly when his life ant


all OF his earthly interests are put in the ex-
trenest peril. lie who can d. this, is, by


the code called brave and his courage proved


and praised. But over and against the tes


timony which such conduct affords, how Otter


have those who have engaged in these dead
" comhats uttered such language as this: 81


abhor this custom Myjudgment condemn:
it but am forced to engage IL it, because


if do not. public opinion will be arraign I'd


against me. ! must stake my life or lose


caste and be disgraced." But any man who
goes into duel with such sentiments as these
ruling in his mind, is forced into it, not from


courage, but from cowardiee. He siences him
convictions and makes himself miserable


slave of what he knows is vulgar pl eiu-


dice. He is dragged into field where he


knows he ought not to 90, because he is afraid


to meet few unreasonable men who have


the power to damage his reputation and


break up some of the purposes to which he


has given his life, if he refuses to 90. He


follows a debased public sentiment rather


than his conscience lie stands by what he


owns is barbarous custom of dark age in


human history. lie gives his influence and
example to make it attractive to Others. He
sets up false standard of honor among men


His code. therefore, so far as it goes, is the
code Of the mob, when heated passions and
irresponsible decisions have expression, in
stead of sentiments which the wisdom and
experience of man have embodied into lust
aud wholesome laws. 1t is not true honor.
1t is false, opposed to law and opposed to re-
ligion.


But another thing against this Code of
Honor is found in the fact that it gives IL man
an opportunity to CRAFTY his revenge under
the falsest and most hypocritical pretext.
The reasons which are assigned, in the most
of these cases of deadly conflict are not the
real ones. Something else is deeper down in
the heart than the insult which the duelist
processes TO have received Many have been
the eases where persons have been known to
watch for months and for years for nm oeea-
sion Of quarrel in which they can put an
object of their revenge out of their way.
They dare not murder in cold blood, for then
the community would rise up against them
instead of the single individual with whom
their contest lies They would. however, as
soon murder rs shoot u man down in the
duel, if there could be to their crime the
same immunity that there is in the duel.
Under the cover Of the code, such men,
therefore. are steadily seeking occasions by
which their foe may be called out-and these
occasions are sought too with satanic skill
that shall put all of the advantages on the
side of him who seeks to glut, in this unnaiu
raj conflict, his unappeasahle revenge. He
manages to get the choice of weapons with
which he is familiar, and Of the distance
which shall reduce his own exposure, and
when all things re as he wishes, he clothes,
then, his conduct in the conflict with the
pomp and circumstance and ceremony of the
code, and in such a way. often times, as TO
carry the sympathy of the community with
him as the injured party. There is not a
question, but that many n duel, since that
famous one Of Burr and Hamilton has been
gotten up with the desperate purpose of seal
ing, in death the voice of strong and con-
trolling man. 1t is an easy way to put down
a leader whom fear cannot intimidate nor
favor brihe


Few indeed, are the instances of these per-
sonal conflicts, which are attended with fatal
results, that are not the settling up of old
and cherished fueds Those difficulties which
come ont Of sudden explosions of passion
can be explained. and ordinarily they are
adjusted, hut not SO of those which have
their foundation in n settled purpose Of re-
venge and death. 1t is Immensely import
ant. then, that the held which this terrible
code has over SO many minds should be brok.
en-, 10 pnt it out of the power of any one
man or any combination of Rlen to make
away with personal or political foe under
the cover Of insult and tarnished honor.


But another thing against this code is that
the duel which it allows is nothing less than
cool and deliberate murder. The Divine
law so regards it, SO does all human law.
These quotations have been put into my
hands.as the highest authority. on ali matters
pertaining TO common law; Murder is COM
mitted when person of sound memory and
discretion kiIleth any reasonable creature in
being with malice aforethought, either ex-
pressed or implied Express malice is when
one with a sedate deliberate mind and form
ed design doth kill another. This takes place
always in the case of deliberate dueling
when both parties meet With the intent to
murder" BLACKSTONE.


And, says another, who stands perhaps
next to the great master in English law: "a
party killing another in a deliberate duel is
guilty of murder, for whenever two persons
meet in cold blood and fight on n precedent
quarrel, the other is guilty of murder 0nG
c ctnnut help himself Ivy aledgng that he was
first struck by the deceased or that he had
often declined to meet him and was prevail
ed upon to do it by his importunity-or that
it was his intent only to vindicate his reputa
tion. or that he meant not to kill. but only
to disarm his adversary. He was deliberate
ly engaged in an act highly unlawful, in de-
innre of the laws. and he must at his peril
abide the consequences. 1t is very high
offence to challenge another, either by word
or letter. to fight duel or to be the messen
ger of such a challenge, or to fight. as by
letters, for that purpose, full of re-
Elections and nsinuating desire to fight
And it will he no excuse for party SO offend
ing that he has received provocation for as,
if one person should kill another in delb-
crate duel under the provocation of charges
against his character, it will be murder in
him md In bis spcond - PllSseH