Duelling—Code of Honour [pp. 542-560]

Duelling.'
delegates to settle the practice of duelling and points of honour.
Some fight by the Irish code, some by the French, some by the
English, and some by a modification of all these. Some attempts have, we believe, been made to codify or digest the rules
for the government of duellists in this country, but American
"gentlemen," we believe, prefer, as the French and English do,
more latitude than the Irish delegates gave themselves. We are
free to say also that the rules commonly holding in this country
are not always so sanguinary as those we have just given. But
they are still sufficiently bloody to satisfy a most diabolical
malice and to fill some parts of the land with murder and
lamentation. The following principles may be stated as belonging to the code as practised in America. Some insults cannot
be compromised or settled without fighting; a man is responsible for insults given in a drunken frolic; words do not satisfy
words, nor blows blows; blows satisfy words; seconds need not
see each other load; seconds go armed to the field, first to shoot
the adversary of his principal, if the adversary has taken any
advantage, and secondly to keep the other second in order;
wounded persons are not to be permitted to fight; in slight cases
parties may be reconciled so as to shake hands and part friends,
after one ineffective shot, even without apology or explanation;
if principals will not fight, seconds are to pronounce them cowards, and abandon them on the field; seconds on both sides are
to proffer assistance to the wounded; principals must not make
mouths, nor use abusive words, nor fret one another on the field;
you are not bound to fight a minor unless you have made a
companion of him; you are bound to fight a respectable stranger; seconds have absolute control after a challenge is given
and accepted; unusual weapons, distances, times and places
may be rejected; a father, brother, or son cannot be a second,
nor even permitted to be on the field; time may always be
claimed to make a will; &c., &c., &c. Respecting this code in
all its modifications, it may safely be stated 1. That it is shockingly immoral both in its precepts and penaities, both in theory and in practice. It violates all the charities
of life, all the moral obligations, under which men live. It
tramples on the laws of God. It defies the laws of the country.
It reputes forbearance a weakness, and forgiveness a meanness.
It exalts diabolical passions to a seat among the highest virtues.
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