The Hillsborough Recorder

DUELLING.

This practice, it must be acknowledged, prevails among our citizens to an extent disgraceful to them, as a moral, religious, humane, or even civilized people. It is an evil which by its frequency, has been made so familiar, that many have even forgot that it is an evil; or at least have convinced themselves, that it is so thoroughly interwoven with the very texture of society, as to be hardly eradicated without greater mischief.—A case indeed of peculiar atrocity, like a recent one in Washington, excites some transient interest: duelling for a day or two is viewed in its real character—as a genteel mode of committing murder; but these feelings soon subside, and are succeeded by others, which habit has rendered more natural. Taking into one view the feelings which exist in the various parts of our country upon this subject, no one can deny, that the practice of sacrificing human life at the shrine of false honor, is a prevailing evil—an evil which can never be acquiesced in, and the removal of which demands the unyielding efforts of the virtuous and patriotic.

If we enquire for the foundation of the obligation to demand or grant the satisfaction of personal combat, which to a certain extent is connected with the character of a gentleman, we shall find it to be founded upon the maxim, that courage is, of all qualities, to a gentleman indispensable; and that life is of no value, when set in competition with the reputation for that quality. Whether this maxim be correct, it is hardly of importance to enquire, since we consider the character for courage won by the duellist, to be of very doubtful value. Cowardice drives more men into duels than courage. He, who from fear of disgrace, reluctantly stands a shot, is not proved courageous; nor is he, who from a sense of duty, from a sense of responsibility to himself, to his fellow beings—and to his God, refuses to place his life in jeopardy, proved a coward. Trials of fortitude, enterprises of daring valor, from which the first would shrink, the second might pass through with success and glory.

It is undoubtedly true that few duels are now a-days fought, which the parties would not avoid, were it permitted by the voice of public opinion. The dread of the decisions of this tribunal drives many to the field of murder, with the same feelings that the criminal is carried to execution. Challenges are now given and accepted not to gratify private resentment, but to avoid the imputation of cowardice. It is the dread of the scoffs and jeers of an unfeeling world, not the reparation of injured honor, which levels the deadly weapon of the duellist.

If then public opinion has so powerful an influence in continuing this barbarous practice, is it to the same public opinion, that we must look for its prevention. The mode is obvious. The fear of being stigmatized with cowardice drives the duellist to seek the life of his fellow creature Let public opinion here interpose, and treat such an attempt as it deserves, as an effort to destroy the life of a human being, as an attempt at murder; and let it brand duelling, and all who are even remotely concerned in its practice, with a mark of infamy. It is to public opinion aided by proper laws, vigilantly and faithfully executed, that we are to look for the prevention of a practice, which as it becomes more common, introduces barbarism even in the chosen residence of civilization.

The heroic Gustavus Adolphus well knew the influence of public opinion in either promoting or preventing duelling, when, in order to abolish this practice among his own officers, he ordered that the combatants should fight till one fell, and that the survivor should be hung upon the spot.

(Boston Patriot.)