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THE
VOL. I.
MISCELLANY.
VOK TUB KEFl.KCTOK.
SPEECH 0>T DUELLING.
]fy a Student of the Milledgeville Academy.
From a moderate acquaintance with the
manners, the opinions and the actions of our
fellow-creatures, we perceive that the highest
absurdity in opiuion—and the deepest base
ness in artion, at once conspire to render
man. too often* wluit every philanthropist
must deplore, wnd every moralist strive to
remedy. From an abnse of reason—an ob
stinate attachment to old prejudices, and from
the overwhelming power of ungoverned pas
sions, follies and vices originate the most de
grading to a rational being, and pernicious
and lamentable in their consequences. Is
there to be found in the annals* of society a
more striking exemplification of the truth of
this general remark, than the practice on
w hit'll I now wish to offer a few observations,
than Duelling? a practice,—which, though
some pretend to advocate it as honorable and
just, argues an insensibility, in those who
|ierpctrate it, to lihcral and benevolent feel
ing, and a dereliction of the principles, which
render a man amiable and truly good and
honorable. To he satisfied that the duellist
is deplorably deficient in all the fine and ex,
cellcnt sensibilities of a man, we noed only
reflect that the spirit of revenge, by which he
is actuated, is indicative of the most ignomi
nious pusillanimity—or the offspring of a
narrow, hard and perverted heart. If to act
isrvarfatily lu concert wii.Ii reason and justice,
—if to pay a scrupulous regard to the laws
of our country—and yield a reverential obe
dience to the coipinands of the God of Hea
ven, constitute real goodness and truo honor,
how base—how ignominious i* the duellist!,
lie, who with vengeance seeks, and without
hesitancy—without mercy, spills the blood
of a fellow-man, must be wretchedly vile !—
He, who prcmeditatcdly deprives another ol
life, is a murderer : and what else, is the dn-
clist ? Does he not with a soul unhallowed
rank with bloody dreams of slaughter ; sacri
fice to the Molorh of his malice, a brother !
It might have been hoped that a practice
so execrable, though in some instances sanc
tioned by the conduct of men high in rank
and office, would not have obtained a very
extensive prevalence,—or if this had been tlse
case in its early stage, that a more enlight
ened generation would have exterminated it;
Lilt tlic contrary of this, evinces .the great
influence of fashion in warping the judge
ment and determining the actions of men.—
One might at least havehoped thatan a learn-
C<1 alul cLouktian UOUIltrj, none would httvo
been found—not even duellists themselves,
openly to advocate a practice so enormous in
its nature, and derogatory from the dignity
of a rational agent; but the opposite of this,
also teaches us tlmt modesty and a sense ol
shame never survive virtue—k that brazen
faced impudence is concomitant With vice.—
So far is the wretch, after lie lias stained his
soul with the blood of another, slain in a bar
barous duel, from withdrawing from society
—from shewing any symptoms of deep re
morse or penitence, that he even seems to
glory in the horrid deed—and would vindi
cate it as honorable, and necessary to pre
clude an imputation of cowardice. Dread
ful prostitution of language! Horrid per
version of the reasoning faculty J Can that
be honorable which is repugnant to every sen-
, timent of humanity and benevolence—to the
statutes of our country—to every tenet of the
best philosophy the world ever knew—to the
absolute commands of the Deity ? Oh honor!
precious—sacred name ! how thy peerless
sanctity is aspersed ! IIo\t misunderstood
thy pure essence ! How the wretches pro
fane thy excellence!
“He who will not light a duel is a cow
ard.” Egregious error—base falsehood!
MILLEDGEVILLE, G. TUESfAY, JANUARY 13,
- ITI'.I 1 in I -iairii- ijn., ii -n;ter7T= or—
. tic IBM
1818*
NO. 10.
T
k True fortitude is seen in great exploits,
loom guides.”
Tbkt justice warrants, and that wisi
Courage consists in executing with prompt
ness and determination, and in defiance of
danger, whatever laudable design we may
undertake—in acting with uniform mildness
and firmness in every difficulty to which we
may be reduced—and in preserving this state
of mind and mode of conduct in the most crit
ical and dangerous situations. It is consistent
with—nay, it is rather the immediateresultof
a pure heart and noble soul, and is opposed to
rage, & every thing cruel ^inhuman. Can the
duellist, then, have the temerity to claim the
character of a man of courage, and to stiinatizc
those who will not act as lie does with the epi
thet coward ? If, indeed, to refuse to violate the
mandates of reason k religion, by the murder
of a fellow-being—by imbruing liis hands in
the blood of—perhaps a near, a bosom friend—
by the'commission of an act at which all good
men must frown indignant, and angels hide
their faces in shame, constitute cowardice.
%hat rational being would not wish to be such
■ coward? But the fact is, such a refusal
argues not the least want of courage, and is
the most reasonable and wise,
If any argument, drawn from the particu
lar urgency of the case, or from other consi
derations, could bo advanced to justify the
act, or even palliate its enormity ,—lam would
I catch at it, and strive to present it in the
most advantageous and perapi'UOiis light;
because as it is always painful to think ill of
the hearts of our fellow-creatures and of their
motives of artion,—so to think favorably of
their diiqiositious and principles, gives
pleasure felt and cherished by every per m
of benevolence. Hut here this is not in em
power ; for, in the pursuit of truth, moral,
piditical or scientific, the mind Bhould as far
as possible be cleared of the dazzling gleams
of partiality, and the obscuring mazes of pre
judice : this done,—it cannot be urged in
justification of this act,that aggravated insult
renders the step, however painful, necessary.
There is no offence offered to private feeling
so flagrant, that might not be redressed in a
much moro honorable, as well as a much
more satisfactory manner than by duelling.
There is no public calumny, however scan
dalous, however detrimental, for which the
injured could not receive far more rational
and lasting retribution’in a court of judica
ture, than at the muzzle of a pistol or the
point of a sword. To desire due retaliation
for injuries and insults is certainly rational
and just; but where this cannot be bad, it
evidently is better to suffer than to revenge ;
fir if a man is justly aspersed, the better way
to obliterate the stain is to reform his charac
ter : hut if a good and virtuous man, as alas !
too often happens, be maliciously censured.
truth will triumph over falsehood, and the ca
lumniator wJH-*iUjjnatelyJie corroded by tb«*i
malignity—will t»e destroyed by that venom
with which he strove to blast the happiness
and reputation of tlio good and upright. To
revenge is mean and savage, but to forgive
an injury is hon.rable—is noble—is godlike.
From no quarter, then,'are wc able to get
•nve argument—from no circumstance is the
shadow of one reflected, to justify an act,
which, indeed, is a shameful satire on the
Christian world.
Filled with imaginary notions of self impor
tance—elated with pride—and poisoned with
ideas of false honor, with perverted, incon
sistent opinions of genuine. honor, the duel-
list is ready on all occasions to resent every
offence, whether real or imaginary; and seeks
reparation for the injury in an honorable w ay
—even at the sword’s point or the pistol’s
mouth. No reflections on the awful appear
ance which ho or his antagonist will make on
rushing so precipitately into an eternal world
—no moral considerations—no respect for
the interests—no worthy zeal for the im
provement of society—no foar of being thought
of, only to be hated—of being remeinbcre '.
rOlly TOI „„ object. oC j list c ACC I'it t ion— in, vhcil.i
of appearing overwhelmed with a conscious
ness of his guilt and inevitable punishment,
before the tribunal of Heaven, can restrain
him from this irrational and nefarious deed.
There is something elso which almost uni
versally operates with resistless energy—
which can soothe the pangs of misery, or un
nerve tins arm and soften the cruelty of a sa
vage ; because being calculated to touch eve
ry fibre of the heart that is connected with
the strongest affections and sensibilities, it is
s ldom brought into action without allaying
the former, by giving rise to the latter. But
bear if,—I mean the native—strong—licart-
meiting—soul-subduing eloquence of woman,
is exerted in vain. The duellist proves cal-
lous to that power which awes not only the
ferocious son of nature, hut even the blood
thirsty lion into mildness. In vain does the
tender partner of his fortunes beseech him—
in vain does she give vent to the agonies of
her heart in groans most afflicting—in
vain does she present the tender pledges
of their affection, and pray that for their re
putation—their interests—their salvation he
may desist!
Such is the practice on which I have at
tempted to address you :—a practice absurd
and inhuman; for reason and humanity in
ail instances denounce it, injurious to the
duellist and society—.for the one, it renders
odious and contemptible m the eyes of all the
good and wise,—the other it corrupts by bad
example,—irreligious, for it is directly con
trary to the commands of God ; a practice,
in short, whose essence is vice—whose aim
is vengeance—and whose end is murder.
Let us, then, my young associates, exert
our might, however inconsiderable, in every
stage of our existence, to benefit human so
ciety, by opposing ami striving to extermin
ate among others, this very enormous vice
let our professions too, bo always strengthen
ed by our actions; and when the tongue of
malevolence or ridicule shall assail us, may
we be supported in whatisjust, by a consci
ousness that, in the words of Dr. Blair, “ In
a public or a private cause to stand firm by
what is fair and just, amidst discourage
ments and opposition ; despising groundless
censures and reproach ; disdaining all com
pliance with public manners, when they arc
vicious and unlawful; and never abhamed of
the punctual discharge of every duty towards
God, and man ; is what shews true greatness
of spirit, and will force approbation even
from the degenerate multitude themselves.”
DOCUMENTS.
JWL Ch
ew to .Mr. Cranford—Collector's office,
JVtw-Orltons,
'raufi
s, August 30, 1817.
iir,—In the communication which I had
the honor to make to you, under date of the
first iuSthnt, I gave such information re
sleeting the establishment at Galvezton as I
Ml T
ued; ‘since then the deposition of
Messrs. J. Ducoing and V. Garros (ex-judg
es of admiralty at that place, and now here)
have born taken, and l herewith transmit
you copies, which go to substantiate tlie_ ma
terial fact stated by ine, and I make no doubt
but you will be satisfied of the correctness of
tlio assertion, that the establishment at
Galvezton is nothing more or less than one
of privateersmen, without even the shadow
of a connexion with a Mexican republic, if
such a republic exists, and as such will not I
presume, be countenanced by the government
of the United States. It has been reported
to me, and from a source deserving credit,
that the priikipal part of the force from Ma
tagorda and Soto, de la Marina, had rctum-
<1 to Galvezton, and that two prizes have
ecently arrived, one a schooner with a full
cargo, said to be 300 (probably exaggerated)
that a contagious fever having made its ap
pearance among the slaves, the privateers
men apprehensive of its communicating to
the other prize; cut the cables, and set the
schooner adrift with the unfortunate beings
on board. The other prize, a ship with 400
slaves, wad lying there, and they have alto
gether about six Immlrv't anu unj .uaieS Oil
iiittvi. nil of whom we intended to be introduc
ed in this state.
The United States’ brig Boxer, has sent
in two small schooners with 30 slaves on
hoard, raptured in our waters, and the de
puty collector of the district of Teche writes
me lie las seized 15, and was in pursuit of a
large liuhber. At this moment I have sent
two confidential inspectors to examine three
plantations on this river near Baton Rouge,
information having been given me, that 100
had boeiv purchased for the three at Galvcz-
tou. This activity has occasioned some a-
lann, ind I am informed (and place complete
confidence in it) that the privateersmen and
others interested have resolved to remove the
slaves to the neighborhood of Sabine, build
barmcksf and keep them there during the
winter, till toe purchasers appear, and leave
the risk of introducing slaves to the planters,
whose eagearness to procure them will induce
them to run every hazard. They imagine,
that fixing themselves to the west of the Sa
bine, they will be without the jurisdiction of
i!» j Uiijmt! States : but I trust they will find
their mistake only when the whole party will
be seized.
In addition to the foregoing, I beg leave to
refer you to the documents lately forwarded
by commodore Patterson, to the honorable
secretary of tlie navy, with the memorial of
some of the most respectable merchants of
this place, praying him to furnish convoy to
protect their vessels trading with the Span
ish ports, from the piratical cruizers who re
spect no flag when specie is in question.
I have lately sent an inspector of confi
dence, to exanine La Fourche from the Mis
sissippi to the sea, and lie reports it as thick
ly settled for 80 miles from the river, has 8
or 10 feet water, and 6 feet on the bar, at the
mouth of or entrance in the sea : .there is no
obstacle whatever to craft entering in from
the sea, and ascending to the Mississippi, and
trading freely as high up as they please, f
mentioned in my last the necessity ofappoint
ing an inspector for that place, if you decide
nottohavo revenue cutters on this station,
I cannot but repeat that I am firmly persuad
ed Unit the measure is more necessary for
this,than any other district in the United
States. Bartholomew Lafon of this place,
(who acted as secretary to the meeting of the
15th of April, ropy of deliberation forwarded
in my last) is mentioned as the governor of
the new establishment near the Sabine. La-
fitte is now purchasing a large quantity of
provisions, and the first cargo will soon sail,
a copy of the manifest will accompany this
or soon follow. These persons and a long
list of others I could add, if necessary, have
no other profession, occupation or mode of
livelihood, than privateering and violatin
our laws, and openly threaten revenge a
gainst any officer of the revnue that may mo
lest or impede their pursuits'. They arc now
preparing a memorial to the department with
the double view to misrepresent the conduct
of the ofticers of the port, and to obtain per
mission to introduce their illegally captured
property, under the false pretext that they
(the meinorialists)Iiave made heavy advances;
the truth is, the only advances they allude to,
is the equipment and fitting out privateers
contrary to our laws. The exports from this
place to Galvezton and Matagorda have con
sisted principally of provisions ; a cargo of
arras was sent sometime in the fall of last
yeitr, which have long since been given up
as lost, and no return whatever can ever he
expected from the Mexican government, from
out taking into consideration 'lie large a-
iiiount of goods introduced xlandeBtinely)
have been very large, ns yon will observe by
the enclosed abstract of duties secured at
this office on these importations.
1 have felt it my duty to give you this in
formation for your correct understanding the
nature of the establishment at Galvezton,
and cannot hut hope that you will plased
to instruct me explicitly how to Kt. My
conduct has been governed by a sense of du
ty, and from a conviction of its propriety;
if I have erred, I hope it will he ascribed to.
an honest zeal. I am, Ac.
BEV. CHEW.
P. S. The brig, with provisions and lum
ber for the winter quarters of the slaves, at
tempted to clear to-day; but, owing to the- ■
informality of her papers, it is postponed till
Monday. I inclose a list of private armed
Mexican and Vcnezuclian vessels in port.
Mr. Chew to Mr• Crawford.—Collector's office,
JVtw-Orleans, Octoljfr 17, 1817*.
Sir, —My communications of the first and
thirtieth of August last, relative to the esta
blishment at Galvezton, and the numerous
cruizers under the Mexican flag that iufest
our waters, will, I trust, have reached
yotir hands. I deem it my duty to trouble
you once more upon the same subject, and to
enclose copies of additional testimony of
Mr. John Ducoing, late judge of admiralty,
ami of Mr. Raymond Espagnol, late secre-
*■*“»; Btatp. u'l.lei- I trust, satisfac
torily pruvo my assurance oT'Bs*. piratical
nature of the establishment, and justuy in
your opiuion, the officers of this port, in tho
steps taken hj r them to put an end to "it ; for
such, it appears, has been tho effect of the
measures adopted here. Late advices from
that place state, that Aury and Champ] in,
with their privateers and prizes, said to be
13 sail, evacuated the place, and it is believ
ed they have steered their course for Amelia
Island. Before their departure, they dispo
sed of about 300 Africans to the agents of
some planters on this river ; the remainder
they have taken with them. The deputy col
lector writes me, a large gang of Africans
passed near the church of Attarapas on the
night of 14th ultimo, hound for the Missis
sippi. He heard of it too late to seize them.
I have sent a confidential agent to watch the
plantations of Joseph Erwin, James Still,
and Chrirtopher Adams, it being reported
that the latter had been to Galvezton, to pur
chase slaves for himself and otliers. I re
ceived, a few days ago, a letter from a person
called commodore Aury, djitcd at sea, 31st
July last, on board tlio privateer Mexican
Congress, (late Calypso of Baltimore) enclo
sing a duplicate of a letter, which it ap
pears he had thought proper to writs me on
the 28th of the same month, (the original of
which has never come to hand.) In this let
ter he gives me a kind of official information,
that it has been determined to abandon
Galvezton, and that he had taken with him
the judge of the admiralty, the collector, and
all his constituted authorities, and that, what
ever may be done at the place, after that
date, will be without his approbation or
consent, and any clearances, or other offi
cial acts, at that place illegal. I have no
doubt, however, hue that a new establish
ment will soon be made their. The Advan
tages arc too great to be voluntarily aban
doned by persons who have so long enjoyed
the profits. Early in September two vessels,
the Carmelite, belonging to B. Lafon, and
the Franklin, belonging to J. B. Laforte,
both unregistered vessels, formerly prizes,
cleared at this office for Laguna, but really
bound to Galvezton, with provisions, and
materials for erecting buildings. On their ar
rival they found the place deserted, and the
Franklin has returned to this port with her
outward cargo. By her, accounts have been
received that the Carmelite was laying there,
and that Laflitte (who had been pardoned for
the crimes committed at llarrataria) and L;i-
fon had arrived there, with alutut forty o-
tlier persons, and it is believed intended to
form an establishment, and will, no doubt,
soon replace the judge,- and other authorities,
carried off by Aury. Private armed vessels,
under the Mexican flag, and one or two un
der that of Venezuela, continue to frequent
this port, and uniformly report in distress,
one case only excepted, make protest, and
obtain a certificate from the wardens of the
port, that there is necessity to unlade their
armament and heave down. They have thus
been admitted to an entry, free of any
charge, other than the fees of the officers of
the customs, under the sixtieth section
of the collection law. This course seems
to have been adopted by my predecessor,
and has been followed by me, in com
pliance with the instructions from the
department of the third of July, 1815. These
armed vessels being adiriitted, great care lias
been taken not to permit any violation of the
acts of the 5th of June, 1791, and the 3d of
March last, by augmenting their force, or
enlisting American citizens ; bat, in defi
ance of every vigilance, on the part of the
all prcscht'appearancfts. The imports (wi’ll- officers of the customs, they violate the law,
