Duelling—Code of Honour [pp. 542-560]

Duelling.
deluded devotees of a system, which has made many a spot in
our land an Aceldama and a Golgotha, a field of blood and the
place of a skull?
CAN ANY THING BE DONE TO ARREST THE EVIL? is a question
of great importance. It may with confidence be answered in
the affirmative. Public sentiment can be rectified, where it is
now wrong. A code allowing fornication, adultery, drunken ness, extreme revenge, cruelty to inferiors, a refusal to pay just
debts, and murder, cannot bear the test of serious and thorough
examination. Let all, who hate deeds of blood do their duty
and much can be done to stay the destroyer. Now is a good
time for the friends of law, order and religion to exert themselves. The laws of the states are strongly against it. The
judiciary of the country is openlpon the side of law and peace.
When the judges of the Supreme Court of the United States
were invited by a committee of the House of Representatives
to attend the funeral of Mr. - they conferred together on
the subject, and, "after mature deliberation," adopted the following resolutions:
"Resolved, That the justices of the Supreme Court entertain
a high respect for the character of the deceased, sincerely deplore his untimely death, and sympathize with his bereaved
family in the heavy affliction which has fallen upon them.
A Resolved, That with every desire to manifest their respect
for the House of Representatives, and the Committee of the
House, by whom they have been invited, and for the memory
of the lamented deceased, the justices of the Supreme Court
cannot, consistently with the duties they owe to the public, attend in their official characters the funeral of one, who has
fallen in a duel.
"Ordered, That these proceedings be entered on the minutes
of the Court, and that the Chief Justice enclose a copy to the
chairman of the committee of the House of Representatives."
Such mildness and firmness, such sympathy for the suffering
and such determination not to swerve from duty are above all
praise. The example set was worthy of its authors and their
high station. If all men in high places would equally do their
duty, thousands would bless them.
The course of our present Chief Magistrate, both before and
since he began to fill his present office, deserves high admira
t
1848.]
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