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,
