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FRANCIS COGIN\ Proprietors
GEO. T. JACKSONJ
49* Address all Letters to the Constitu
tionalist office, AUGUSTA, GA.
FROM WASHINGTON.
Miscellaneous Items.
Washington, December 27. —The Exe
cutive office will be closed to general
visitors till January 3d. The War and
Navy Departments close at noon dur
ing the week.
The President has recognized Fred
erico Granados as Vice-Consul of Spain
at Savannah.
Demoud Hubbard, of San Francisco,
assigned in 1870 his claim for goods by
the Alabama to Osgood & Stetson to
secure a loan of five hundred dollars.
Hubbard claims the assignment
was collateral to secure the loan.
Osgood & Stetson claim it was
a bona fide purchase which view the
Alabama claims commission sustain
and ignoring Hubbard award Osgood
& btetson §9,000. Hubbard's at
torney’s have filed a bill for an injunc
tion to prevent the payment of this
award to Osgood & Stetson.
The Comptroller of the Currency
calls for the condition of the National
Banks ou the dose of business Friday,
December 17th.
There is no foundation for the rumor
in St. Louis, Mo., that Mr. Mariscal the
Mexican Minister, has made a contract
witli Gens. Shelby and Bacon Mont
gomery for emigration to Mexico. Mr.
Mariscal says he has no instructions to
enter into such agreements and there
is no official agency for emigration to
Mexico established in this*country.
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES.
Earthquake—Tornado—Assassination
Embezzlement—Holiday Crimes
and Accidents—Killed —Drowned—
Murdered.
Sax Fkaxcisco, December 25.—Anoth
er earthquake was felt in Grass valley
last evening.
Hamilton, Bermuda, December 22.
A fearful tornado passed overTuckers
town and St. David’s Island on the
evening of the 17th inst.
Wheeling, December 25.—A dispatch
from Weston, VV. Va., says that on the
night of the 23d John West and his
son were assassinated while returning
from church.
Cincinnati, December 25.—A. C.
Johuson, President of the Fayette
County National bank, has been arres
ted on the charge of embezzling ten
thousand dollars from the bank. The
punishment uuder the National bank
act is not leas than five, nor more than
ten year’s impiisonment.
Memphis, December 26.—A nephew
of Colonel Galloway, of the Appeal ,
lost his right eye, had his nose brokeu
and received other probably fatal
wounds, and two others were hurt by
the explosion of a toy cannon.
Nashville, December 26.—At a so
cial party, near Gallatin, Joel Barnes
shot and killed Jack Sudlette, in a
quarrel over the possession of a chair.
NewYokk, December 26.—JohnMan
nery beat his wife about the head with
a poker, inflicting doubtless fatal
wounds, and then poured kerosene oil
on her and burned her terribly. Man
nery was arrested and his wife taken
to the hospital.
New Orleans, December 26.—A diffi
culty occurred iu Freetown, opposite
this city, yesterday afternoon, between
a few whites aud blacks, which resulted
in one or two of tlielatter being rough
ly handled. After that quiet reigued,
until about seven o’clock, when Barney
McCabe, John ltoussetti and Jeautis
Roussetti, whites, who were standing
by the bar in Bowers’ coffee house,were
fired upon by the negroes. The first
two named were instantly killed, and
the latter is probably mortally wound
ed. The police from this side crossed
the river and made some arrests.
Jacksonville, December 27.—The
stock-yards and sale stables of Howard
& Thompson, with a large quantity of
hay, corn, oats, and Mrs. Fay’s dwel
ling were burned Saturday night. Total
loss, §20,000. The latter was insured
for £1,500 in the Franklin of Philadel
phia. The fire was undoubtedly incen
diary.
Berne, Switzerland, December 27. —
During the celebration of Christmas in
the school house at Killikan, Canton of
Aargao, the floor fell and eighty were
killed, with fifty more or less hurt.
Providence, December 27.—Phillip
Galiaher, whiie drunk, in attempting to
kick his wife, killed his year old child
in her arms.
Lawrence, Mass., December 27.
Nettie Smith and Ann Conlin. aged
nine and eleven years, were drowned
by the ice breaking.
Boston, December 27.—The schooner
N. H. Gould, which left Hyannis for
Boston on the 28th, is believed to have
foundered in a gale that night and all
hands lost.
Newbuey, N. X., December 27. A
murder occurred at a cock fight last
night.
New York, December 27.—The bodies
of two men, twenty-five and forty-five
years of age, were found near New’ark,
N. J. They are supposed to be suicides.
Cincinnati, December 27.—A special
from Charleston, West Virginia, says a
coal miner named Lee was set upon by
two miners named Dawson and East
ept, four miles from that city, last
{Saturday evening, and stabbed thirty
three times. The murderers are in
jai!.
Providence, Debember 27. —A Coro
ner’s Jury in the case where a drunken
father, in attempting to kick his wife,
killed his child in her arms, returned a
verdict that the person who sold the
liquor to the father, was guilty of the
murder of, the baby.
KENTUCKY.
A Row at Lebanon.
Louisville, December 27. —A special
from Lebanon, says that Thomas H.
Chandler, the Town Marshal of that
place, has summoned a number of men
to assist in arresting Geo. F. North
craft, whose conduct at the time was
very disorderly. When approached by
Chandler and the citizens he resisted
arrest and called on some roughs to
assist him. A general row ensued, a
number of shots being fired by both
parties. Chandler, the Marshal, killed
Northcraft, and some of Northcraft’s
friends immediately killed Chandler.
General excitement followed the killing,
but no other rows occurred.
MASSACHUSETTS.
Trial Commenced. —An Effort to Ex
plain.
Boston, December 27.—The trial of
Abraham Jackson, the well known stock
broker, for forgery has commenced.
At the Methodist preachers meeting
to-day an effort was made to have
placed before the public a paper setting
forth the views of the meeting with re
ference to the “Third Term” speech
pf Bishop Haven but failed.
Established 1799.
FOREIGN DISPATCHES.
Latest News from Various Quarters—
A Speech Approved by MacMalion.
Paris, December 26. —President Mac-
Mahon has written a letter to Minister
Buffet, thanking him for, and expres
sing approval of, his speech in the As
sembly last Friday on the Press bill.
Ex-President Thiers a Candidate.
Ex-President Thiers has accepted
the invitation of the town of Belfort to
stand for the Senate. He has received
and declined similar invitations from
eleven departments. The Republican
leaders are confident that in the gene
ral elections the partisans of a mode
rate Republic will secure a majority of
both Houses for the new Assembly.
An Army Correspondent iu Trouble.
London, December 27.—Herr Kenner,
a correspondent of the Schlesischi
Zeitung, in Bosnia, has been arrested,
imprisoned and maltreated by the
Turkish troops. The Berlin Foreign
Office is asked to interfere.
The Proposed Tunnel Between Eng
land and France.
New York, December 27.—M. Laval
ley, President of the French Society of
Civil Engineers and inventor of the
powerful apparatus which contributed
to the rapid construction of the Suez
canal, announces that fifteen experi
mental soundings have been made in
the straits of Dover. In none of them
were the results unfavorable to the
possibility of boring a tunuel to join
Fiance and England. M. La valley
adds that all the engineers are agreed
that the completion of the project is
only a question of time and money.
The Carlists.
San Sebastian, December 27.—Owing
to the vigorous bombardment of Her
naua by the Carlists the situation there
has become critical. It is thought
probable the garrison there will be
compelled to evacuate unless promptly
•reinforced.
From Paris.
Paris, December 27.—The statue of
Napoleon was replaced on the newly
finished Vendome column to-day. A
large crowd assembled iu the Place
Vendome and Hue de la Paix and other
streets adjacent to witness the proceed
ing. There was no ceremony.
In the Assembly to-day urgency was
voted ou the press bill. In the debate
upon the clauses an amendment was
carried providing penalties for attacks
against the Republic. M. Jules Dufaure
member for Cbareati luferiure made an
important statement that MacUahun
pledges his respect for the newly elect
ed Senators and asserting that they oc
cupy a position iu the Government,
second only to that of the Marshal.
The second clause of the press bill,
which is aimed at the Bonapartist pro
paganda was passed after violent re
criminations between M. Jules Favre
and the Bonapartists relative to Alsace
and Lorraine.
European Grain Markets.
London, December 27. The Mark
Lane Express' 1 regular weekly review
of the corn market says: “ The large
imports since the Ist of September
kept piicos down, but we cannot ex
pect imports to continue while rates
are so low. The business in Europe is
seasonably dull, aud prices are barely
maintained at Palis and at several
provincial markets. Ours has again
dropped a franc, and wheat one shil
ling aud six pence. Belgium and Hol
land .are about one shilling lower. Vi
enna is drooping and Odessa is dull —
holders maintaining high prices.”
a
GEORGIA GENERAL NEWS.
Griffin shows no mercy to the cotton
thieves.
The Rome Cherokee Baptist Femalo
College has vacation until the tenth of
January.
William Armor a negro, has been ar
rested iu Atlanta for murdering his
wife.
Henry Grady Esq., editor of the At
lanta Herald, is dangerously’ ill with an
attack of pneumonia.
Prof. William M. Slaton, formerly of
Griffin, has been elected Principal of
the Sparta High School, at Sparta.
Maj. M. P. Caldwell has sold out his
property iu Gainesville, bought a farm
in Jackson county, and moves to that
county to make it his home.
The amount of the public school fund
apportioned to Pulaski county by State
School Commissioner Gustavas J.
Orr, is fifteen hundred and fifty-three
dollais.
Rome claims the champion turnip,
weighing 12 lbs, and measuring 28 in
ches around. It was raised without
any manure.
James E. Laidler an alderman* of
Hawkinsville, shot a young man, named
William Christmas a few nights ago.
Whiskey.
Col. Lawton, of Macon. President of
the Planters’ Bank, and Treasurer of
the State Agricultural Society, report
ed absconded, has returned from Flori
da, and sends dispatches to Atlanta
that he is ready to meet friends or foes.
John Jay, the Postmaster of tho
New Bridge Post. Office, near Dahlo
nega, has been arrested for rifling let
ters. The prisoner is a man 59 years
of age.
For failing to pay his city taxes, Mr.
Staley, of Savannah, who has been
keeping a hotel in Griffin bearing his
name, was, with his household goods,
turned into the street. The proceed
ings were ordered by the acting Mayor
of Griffin.
Jim Hillyard a negro Stevedore was
shot in the head and instantly killed in
Savannah on Friday. Twelve negroes
were arrested by the police in connec
tion with the murder.
Judge W. A. Hall, Harris Harvill and
other farmers in Wilkinson county
have made their colored croppers joint
co-partners in their swine. To each
cropper they have given a certain num
ber of stock hogs to look after, and
one-half of the hogs raised and fatten
ed will be given to them.
Atlanta Constitution: Scofield’s rol
ling mill has turned out the longest
rails in the South, for the turn-table at
the State Road shops. The rails are
fifty feet long each, aud are beautiful
specimens of workmanship. These rails
can be rolled, but not counterfeited or
forged.
Rev. J. Sabine Knight, the New
Foundland evangelist, popularly known
as the “ Black Man’s Friend,” and who
was one of the most prominent co-la
borateurs of Moody and Sankey in
London, passed through the city yes
terday en route to Augusta, where he
will sojourn for some time.
The old National Hotel, of Atlanta,
has been thoroughly overhauled, and
will be opened the Ist of January by
Messrs. Lee & Hewitt. Thos. H. Scott,
formerly of the Rome Hotel, will be
chief clerk.
Delightful Sunday School Service.
St. John’s Methodist Church Sunday
School gave, on last Sunday night,
another of the entertaining services
inaugurated by the school, and held at
various times during the past year. The
crowded congregation were greatly in
terested from the beginning to the
close of the service. The nativity of
our Lord was set forth in apt quota
tions from Scripture, and in beautiful
recitations, as well as in the sweetest
songs. Evidently, Christmas was the
general theme. “Christmas Carol,”
aud “ Little Annie and Willie,” were
beautifully recited. The songs were
well selected and sung with great
spirit, and the choir of little girls and
boys distinguished themselves in their
part of the programme. All was appro
priately concluded, with a pretty and
affecting representation of the Cross
built up by the’children, out of several
prominent Christian graces.
We congratulate the children on
their decided success, and assure them
that the congregation went away most
highly pleased.
(Communicated.]
At St. Luke’s Mission Church, in
Harrisburg, Rev. C. AY. Key, Pastor,
the ladies of the church and congrega
tion gave the children of that Sabbath
School a Christmas tree on Christmas
day, at ten o’clock a. m. The children,
and a large compauy of visitors, as
sembled at the church at the time ap
pointed, and the exercises were opened
by a short address by the pastor, and
singiug by the school and prayer. The
address had reference to the “ tree of
life ” spoken of in the Book of Revela
tions, “ which bare twelve manner of
fruits,” etc. After which, the school
sang again, and Mr. Miller Willis made
a few pertinent remarks, referring to
the little school that had existed in a pri
vate family for some years past in that
community, and how it had increased
to its present proportions. The order
was then stated, which would bo ob
served, and the various articles on the
tree were handed out by the pastor,
who superintends his own school.
The tree was most tastefully ar
ranged and contained some ninety
packages. I doubt whether there was
a more beautiful Christmas tree found
in any church iu the city, or one more
tastefully arranged. The ladies of St,
Luke’s Church and. congregation de
serve ali honor and praise for their
zeal and energy in preparing these
beautiful presents for the encourage
ment of the little people.
A Christmas Celebration.
Hephzidah, Ga., Dec. 25, 1875.
Mr. Editor: Your correspondent has
just returned from a most agreeable
and happy affair. Providence put it in
the heads of some of the members of
the Ladies Mission Society to have a
“Christmas Tree” at the Public School
House, located about three miles in a
southwesterly direction from our vil
lage for the benefit of a Sabbath school,
under the management of Professor
Jas. A. Carswell. The visitors promptly
repaired to the place at an early hour,
and on entering upon a general invita
tion of the superintendent we found
the children seated around the “Tree,”
which was “literally crowded” with
“good things,” consisting of fruits, can
dies, cakes, fire-works and dolls for the
little ones. At the request of Pro
fessor Carswell, Miss Maggie M. Rhodes
and Miss Emma Carswell cut the
“fruit” from the tree and delivered as
per the tags fastened to each article.
Many hearts beat responsively as'the
names were called and the articles de
livered.
I omitted to mention the exercises
were opened with appropriate religious
exercises and a short lecture from the
Superintendent, who seems to be the
right man in the right place. After the
distribution of gifts to the members of
the Sabbath school, presents from
friends of thb school were distributed
to the needy ones in the neighborhood,
who had been invited to be present.
Everything went off pleasantly and ail
seemed happy. Many and long will be
the praises heaped upon the fair ones
who vied with each other in accom
plishing so much for the poor aud
needy.
I learn the society is placed under
many obligations to Mrs. H. E. C., Mrs.
J. E. C., Mrs. C. E. M., Mrs. J. A. C.,
Mrs. W. L. K, Mrs. A. W. R., Mrs. B.
E. F., Mrs. W. H. D., and all the young
ladies of the village.
It is the wish of the writer that the
Society may have many such pleasant
occasions, and may Heaven’s blessings
rest upon the head of its noble Presi
dent, Mrs. J. A. Carswell.
Visitor.
LIBERIA.
The Color Line Sharply Drawn.
Washington, December 27. —Inform-
ation has been received that several
native tribes, encouraged by the suc
cess of the Grelra tribe, near Cape
Palmos, made an attack, recently, on
the settlers in another part of Liberia,
but were vigorously repulsed.
A private letter says that the peace
of the Republic is somewhat disturbed
by the question of color. President
Roberts is much embarrassed on this
account, the fact of his not being of
pure African blood being objectionable
to many who are. An intelligent negro
from the West Indies is the principal
agitating spirit, who seeks to establish
a political color test, taking the side of
the blacks against those of light com
plexion. The more orderly of the Li
berians would rejoice if they could be
relieved of the leader in this course of
mischief.
A Premeditated Murder.
Harrisburg, Pa., December 27. —
Hampton Miller, aged nineteen, shot
his stepfather, Thomas Morgan. Mor
gan had been to a lodge meeting. He
was shot in the back while packing
books. The murder was premeditated.
Four weeks ago he received a letter
warning him to bo careful, as a mem
ber of a certain society had been de
puted to kill him if he came in his way.
The writer expressed his willingness to
do it, and said, “ For God’s sake keep
out of my way, for I must do it if there
is any show.” It is believed his wife
was cognizant of the plot to kill her
husband.
Minor Telegrama.
St. Louis, December 26.—The police
have been ordered to arrest everybody
engaged in selling Missouri State or
other lottery tickets.
Philadelphia, December 26. Dr.
Helmbold is again sent to the Lunatic
Asylum.
Madrid, December 27. —The report
of the death of Dirodas is denied.
Quincy, Ills., December 27.—Hon. W.
A. Richardson died of paralysis.
AUGUSTA.. GA., TUESDAY. DECEMBER 28, 1875.
THE DUELLO.
Sermon by Rev. Rolxfrt Irvine, D. D.
On Sunday, a very large congrega
tion assembled at the First Presbyterian
Church, to listen to a discourse against
duelling, by the pastpr, Rev. Robert
Irvine, D. D. The reverend gentleman
took for his text, “Th< u shalt not kill.”
Exodus, xx, 13. He stgid :
God is the author of hitman life, and as
He alone can give it, He jdone has a right
to take it. There are dnly two ways,by
which the Almighty has iseen fit to remove
move His rational creatures. The one
Is by natural death, caused by disease, or
what men call accident. :The other by the
sanctions of public law. AVhen murder has
been committed, and the laws of God and
man wantonly set at defiance, then Divine
Authority, assorting its prerogative, says
“Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man
shall his blood bo shed.”
“Whoso kilieth any pauon the murderer
shall be put to death by |he mouth of wit
nesses ; moreover, ye shall take no satis
faction for the life of t murderer who is
guilty or death, but he shall be surely put
to death.”
“So ye shall not pollute- the land wherein
ye are; for blood, it defile th the land; and
the land cannot be cleansed of the blood
that is shed therein, but by the blood of
him that shed it.”
buch, then, are the only two ways by
which God lias authorized the taking of
human life.
The man who claims Hie right of taking
the life of his fellow miui, under any pre
text save by the righteous sen
tence of a broken law, is, according to the
definitions I have quoted, a murderer. He
has violated the sixth precept of the Deca
logue, and the penalty -attached to sucli
violation is iixed by God Almighty : “The
laud cannot be cleansed eg the blood that Is
shed therein but by the U ood of him that
shed it.” ‘
The laws of all Christian countries are as
clear and explicit in their’condemnation of
murder as the revealed laws of God touch
ing that crime. In all Wide-reading lands
the inspired Code is adopted as the safe
guard of human life, and the death penalty
is affixed to the crime of mujjder when
committed with “malice aforethought.”
It is a capital felony, and punishable by
death. i
There is, however, a counter code-a code
which sets at defiance alike the laws of
God and man ; yes, which sets aside even
self-preservation, which is the lli-st law of
nature. It is called “2As Code of Honor,”
which is a misnomer.
This Code assumes that there aro certain
wrongs done in social life, which can only
be repaired by an appeal to arms; that in
juries or insults, real or imaginary, indicted
upon us or those whom we love, must be
avenged by the hazards of a duel.
Hear some of the provisions of "Ihe Code
of Honor," so-called. A synopsis of these
digests will prove their impiousness, their
wickedness, their blasphemy, and their
murderous character.
Assuming that certain insults can only
bo avenged by blood, the principals, so
called must go armed to the field, but they
are accompanied by seconds. If the princi
pals fail to light, the seconds must light.
Hence the seconds must go armed to the
Held, as well as their principals.
The second is bound to shoot the adver
sary of liis principal, if lie take any unfair
advantage of his friend. He is also bound
to shoot the other second if he infringes
upon the terms and lavv : 3 of the duel. If
the principals, or either of them, will not
fight, then the second deserts him in the
field and pronounces him.a coward. A.gain,
you are not bound to lighs a minor, unless
you have made a companion of him. You
are bound to fight a respectable stranger.
Again, seconds have absolute control after
the challenge is given and accepted. 'J ime
may bo given to make a will. (See Dr. Plu
mer on sixth commandment).
Surely the provisions of this Code are
wicked enough to satisfy the malice of the
most fiendish man that ever walked this
green earth.
1. It is foolish. Noticitbe folly of such
a Code. If the principals fail to light the
seconds must light. Here are two men
who are on terms of friendship, who never
had a quarrel, and might live and die at
peace witli each other, but are dragged by
the quarrel of two others into a hostile at
titude, and, merely to shed blood, without
reason and without cauio, they must at
least attempt to shed enjeh others blood.
The principals in the combat may have a
quarrel, the seconds have none; yet the
seconds must fight if the principals fail;
and what do the light for ? For
nothing, but because a brutal, barbarous
“Code” says so. What e*id is gained by
the smnds lighting? If they aro com
pelled to light, no point of; honor is settled,
no peace is achieved—the question at issue
between the principals remains just where
it was. If a wrong was done by the one
principal to the other, the fact that two un
offending and innocent men kill each other,
or that one of them has 1 oen killed by the
other, does not repair tho wrong. If one
of the principals calls the other a “liar,”
and a challenge is the rosu’t, but the parties
fail to fight, then the seconds step in aud
fight. This does not make, the one princi
pal a man of truth, and ’rthe other a slan
derer. The question of per sonal character
or honor remains just where it was, and all
that has been decided is tint ono innocent
man, probably two, have been wounded or
killed in cold blood, and kiUed forno cause!
2. It is cowardly. Failing to light, by this
foolish and bloody “Code; of Honoi,” the
duelist is abandoned on tli.- field and pro
nounced a “coward,” and probably pub
lished in the journals of. his country as a
“coward.” This, to some, might seem a
great ignominy, to be shqnned by men of
“honor,” to be gazetted and branded as a
coward. What courageous spirit could bear
such reproach ? 78
Col. James Gardner, one of the most
heroic and daring soldiers who ever con
fronted a foeman, when challenged, said:
"1 am not afraid to fight, huf 1 am afraid to
sin." There are two kids of courage.
There is the brutal courage of the tiger, and
the moral courage of the Christian martyr.
The question of courage or cowardice in
the “code,” may now be considered. A
man is afraid to be called a “coward.”
Who calls him a coward f\ of whom is he
afraid ? Certainly no religious man, no
truly good man, no man whose good opin
ion is worth having, will condemn him for
not accepting a challenge. Therefore, he
has nothing to fear from the opinion of a
truly moral or Christian community. But
ho is afraid of the opinion -of his compan
ions or accomplices in tho* crime of duel
ling. I contend that the fear of being
called a coward is itself a proof of the very
greatest cowardice, He is a brave man who
is not afraid to do right; La is a hero who
is afraid to do wrong. Th jibravest man on
earth is the man who will oS>ey God’s law,
despite every conventiona l -code, and every
immoral custom which maf run counter to
it. The highest proof of courage we hold
to be a iixed determinatii|n to “obey God
rather than man." Why, tfiis is the very
glory of true manhood. The “Code of
Honor” says it is the glory of a man to
fight. The lode of Heaven, speaking by
the wisest of inspired Authors, says: “It
is the glory of a man to pass over a trans
gression.” Proverbs, xix, ii.
The Code of Honor says there are certain
offenses which can only be avenged by the
duel. The Code of the Almighty says
“Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the
Lord.”
The “Code of Honor” says you are a
coward if you don’t fight and shed the
blood of the man who has done you a real
or imaginary wrong. The Code of Jehovah
says :
“If thine enemy hunger, feed him—if he
thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou
shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”
The “Code of Honor” says you must
fight, flee or be branded as a coward, and
you are too cowardly to encounter such a
penalty. Is it not far more cowardly to
tremble before the opinion of men whose
system of ethics is found in the Code of
Honor than to quail under the lash of a
murderer’s conscience, and encounter the
dread penalty of the violated law of God
and man. The gnawing of the worm that
never dies. The consuming lire that can
never be quenched!
He is the greatest coward on earth who
cannot brave the depraved sentiment
however popular it may be, which approves
what God condemns. The infidel—the
atheist-—the man of the world—the man of
honor, falsely so-called, may laud you or
laugh at your brutal courage—but
“The atheist’s laugh’s a poor reward
For Deity offended.”
But where, after all, is the courage of the
duelist? Is it not customary for the par
ties engaged in duelling to meet and man
age all the arrangements in tho darkness
of the night. Is this courageous ? Is it
not usual for the combatants to meet early
in the morning, and in some retired place ;
not in the open streets or parks of our
cities, but stealthily—usually at grey
dawn and outside of the range of public
observation. Is this not cowardly ? Where
is the honor in such skulking ? Then is it
not cowardly of the victor in a duel to flee
his own country. He is afraid of public
opinion. We contend, then, that in almost
every duel there is more cowardice than
courage. The coward in such a case Is the
man who is afraid to face the laws of his
country and his God, and is airaid to fight
too; but, according to his own confession,
his only courage is that false and artificial
heroism, which is inspired by a depraved
sentiment, and directed by a brutal Code
fed by stimulants.
I have heard of many a man fleeing his
country after murdering- his antagonist in
a duel, but I only know of one who fled
from Canada to this Republic, after killing
his challenger. Who ropented and returned
to Canada, and gave himself up to the
laws of his country, which he had violated,
and was condemned to death, but the sen
tence was commuted, and he rose after
wards in his profession, and became a lead
ing jurist in the country. His is the only
instance of true Christian courage I have
ever known in the history of what is call
ed, though falsely called, “The Code of
Honor.”
3. This .“Code of Honor” is ungcntle
manly.
It is ungentlemanly because it provides
that a “man may fight with a minor if he
has made a companion of him.” Now, a
minor, being under age, is under the guid
ance of his pai’ents or guardians, and if he
commit an offense against you. the parent
or guardian, and not the minor, is the
proper party against whom to lodgo the
complaint.
If a minor contract a debt, the creditor
look not to him, but to the parent or guar
dian, for that debt. If a minor embezzles
his employer’s property, the employer ap
peals to his parents or guardians for repar
ation. This is honest—lt is gentlemanly -
but if he offends a man, or offers him a
real or imaginary insult, by this “Code,”
he must run the risk of a duel, and kill or
be killed, as tho,' case may bo. Yet this is
called honorable, because a thing called
“The Code of Honor” says so. Common
law and common sense say it i3 wrong,
sinful and dishonorable, and, therefore,
ungentlemanly.
It is ungentlemanly because it provides
that a man fight with a “respectable stran
ger.” How is tho respectability of the
stranger to be determined ? Two parties
meet on board a Steamer, and are. stran
gers to each other. They engage in the
popular game of whist, and a quarrel
ensues. According to this “Code” they
may fight. Now the stranger in question,
or either of the strangers, may be or may
not be respectable. The question of
respectability cannot be determined by a
man’s apparel. Nor yet by his manners;
nor even by his education. Character is
the criterion of respectability, and as the
strangers aro utterly unacquainted with
each other’s character, they are not on
terms of equality, and, therefore, cannot,
even by the showing of the ’’Code,” light.
In many cases, indeed in most cases, which
this clause of the “Code” is intended to
meet, it would be utterly impossible for
them to light. The one might be a gentle
man by birth and education; the other
might be a pick-pocket; yet they are
bound by the “Code" to light.
It is ungentlemanly, because, in most
cases, the provocation is an ungeutleman
ly word or an ungentlemanly act.
A man calls another a liar, a rascal or a
scoundrel— the result is a challenge. Now,
in the first plaee, a gentleman would not
use such language. Hence, if he uses un
gentlornanly language, you are not bound
to fight him.
Again; if he believes you to be a liar, or
a scoun trel, or a rascal, why should he, as
a gontle man, fight with a man whom he
has denounced as a scoundrel, and, there
fore, not his equal. Iu either case, then,
there cannot be a duel.
4. “The Code” is barbarously immoral and
heinously wicked.
It is an express violation of God’s la\v to
fight a duel, and the duelist is at once a
suicide and a murderer. Every man who
engages in a duel goes to the field determ
ined to kill his antagonist, or be killed by
him. Hence, the duelist is guilty of tho
double crime of murder and self-murder.
It matters not whether he is killed, or
whether he kills ills opponent, he is a mur
derer at heart, and his crime is aggravat
ed by the fact that he enters the field with
a double intent—an intent to kill or an
intent to be killo i. No man has a right to
take his own life, for God gave it; no man
has a right to take another man’s life, for
God gave it. Nay, more; the text express
ly forbids the taking away of human life
under any circumstances save when for
feited by law. But this “Code” gives the
lie to God’s holy law, and pronounces that
to be right which God declares to be
wrong. It thus braves the Almighty to
his face.
It declares that to be conventionally
right which God declares to be abstractly
and eternally wrong. It actually reverses
the moral law. God says, “Thou shalt
not kill.” The duelist says, “thou shalt
kill.” You are insulted—you must give or
take blood. Thus it is that the “Code of
Honor” and the code of Sinai are as much
opposed to each other as are light and
darkness, good and evil. Heaven and Hell
are not more contrary to each other in
respect to their inmates and employments
than are the two Codes. The Code of Je
hovah, written with His own finger on
tables of stone, and the Code of the duelist,
whose provisions warrant the shedding of
blood are as opposite as the poles.
5. Hence it is, that the ablest writers on
jurisprudence have ranked the crime of
duelling among the foulest and blackest
felonies known to human law. Sir Mathew
Hale, one of England’s most celebrated
Judges, says touching the duel:
“If one kill another in fight, even upon
the provocation of him that’s killed, ’tis
murder.”
Therefore, the duelist, whether he kills
or is killed, stands in the eye of the law
guilty of murder, and the laws of God and
man brand him as a murderer. Blackstone’s
definition is very explicit : “Express
malice is when one with a sedate, deliber
ate mind and formed design doth kill an
other, which formed design is evidenced
by external circumstances discerning that
inward Intention, as laying in wait, ante
cedent menaces, former grudges and con
certed schemes to do him bodily harm.
This takes in the case of duelling where
both parties avowedly witli an intent to
murder, thinking it their duty as gentle
men, and claiming it as their right to
wanton with their own lives and those of
their fellow men, without any authority or
warrant from any power, either human or
divine, but in direct contradiction of the
1 tws of God and man.” The duelist is,
therefore, a murderer. If one escapes, he
liees from the field of deadly combat a
murderer in fact, and Is pursued by the
cry of blood. Such are the principles laid
down by the highest authority in jurispru
prudence. They are not tho sentiments of
the mere moralist ox - the divine, or the ex
positor of the Inspired Book, but the de
libei’ate commentaries of learned jurists in
expounding the principles of criminal law,
But it is not necessary to go back to tho
legislation of Sinai, nor to appeal to Bible
teaeliing, nor even to the expositors of the
criminal code of England for an explicit
definition of the crime of duelling.
Some years ago the Justices of the Su
preme Court of the United States were
invited by a committee of the House of
Representatives to attend tho funeral of a
member who fell in a duel. After “mature
deliberation” they adopted the following
resolutions:
Resolved, That the Justices of the Su
premo Court entertain a high respect for
the character of tho deceased, sincerely de
plore his untimely death, and sympathize
with his bereaved family in the affliction
which has fallen upon then.
Resolved, That, with every desire to man
ifest their respect for tho members for the
House of Representatives, and the com
mittee of the House, by whom they have
been invited, and for the memory of the
lamented deceased, the Justices of the Su
preme Court cannot consistantly, with the
duties which they owe to the public, at tend
in their official capacity the funeral of one
who has fallen in a duel.
Resolved, That the proceedings be enter
ed 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,
These resolutions prove that tho pulse of
this great Republic beats soundly on the
crime of duelling. The “Code of Honor” is
proscribed by gentlemen who stand highest
in the legal profession, and is driven out of
tho domain of soc al respectability. May
it sink lower and lower still, until it roach
an ignominious grave.
Tho Statute Book of Georgia is as orthodox
as the ritual of Moses or the commentaries
of Coke and Blackstone on this subject.
* * * * * *
/
The extracts from one of your city pa
pers, (theCoNsrrTUTioNALisT)of 18th Decem
ber, 1875, show that your State Legislatu re
has given you a law as sound and sevei'a
as God’s own on this subject. That every
guard which human enactment, sanction
ed by the Inspired Code, can possibly
place upon the life of a citizen is provided
by State legislation. You require nothing
moro stringent, nothing more explicit. All
you want is a faithful and vigorous ad
ministration of your own Code, in order to
deter or punish the parties, if detected in
the crime of duelling, whetbor they in a
primary or secondary capacity.
To all this may be added the sentiment
of the press of our country. The journals
of the land, whether religious or secular,
aro unanimous in their testimony again, t
tho crime of duelling. Tho admirable and
well timed editorials of our two city papers
of the 18th of December show that the see
ular press of Augusta is sound on this
subject. In the face of all this array of
testimony, who will venture to lift his
voice in defence, or even in palliation of
the inhuman practice of duelling ?
The crime is denounced by the highest
of all authority, the Almighty himself. It
is denounced by the laws of all civilized
nations as unnatural, brutal and impious.
It is denounced by the press, tho pulpit,
the bench and the most intelligent and
respectable members of the bar. It is de
nounced by the wailing widow’ and the
weeping orphan, whose only support has
in a moment of frenzied fury, been diivtn
into the presenco of God, the Judge of all,
by the deadly weapon of an enraged ad
versary. It is denounced by the broken
hearted father, the loving mother, the de
voted sister and the surviving brother,
whose wretched home is draped in sor
row, caused by the woful tidings which
have been borne from the field of “honor,”
the Aceldama of the duelist. We ask
again who will venture to defend—who
will even dare to palliate th 2 sanguinary
enactments of the “Code of Honor ?”
“ ’Tis hard indeed if nothing will defend
Mankind from quarrels bub their fatal end ;
That now and then a hero must decease,
That the surviving world may live in
peace.
Perhaps, at last, close scrutiny may show
The practice dastardly and mean and low;
That men engage in it compelled by force,
And fear, not courage is its proper source—
The fear of tyrant custom, and the fear
Lest fops should censure us and fools
should sneer—
While yet we trample on our Maker’s laws,
And hazard life for any or no cause.”
6. There is another article in the “Code
of Honor” which demands serious consid
eration, We refer to the part, the awfully
responsible part, which it assigns to the
Seconds in a duel. After the challenge is
given, everything is placed by the rules of
this brutal “Code” in the hands of the
Seconds. Life, honor, character—all art
entrusted to two gent emen, who have it
in their power to arrest the duel or to
carry it through. Now, as there is a right
and wrong in every case, no difficulty can
possibly occur between any two men In
which one of the two is not blameworthy.
Let the Seconds then find out where the
wrong is and make it right with the in
jured party. If the Seconds are sensible
men, and peace loving men—men of truo
honor—whose only aim is to do right and
cause others to do right, then they have
to say there shall be no blood drawn. And,
as they have it in their power, we maintain
that the Second in a duel is more responsi
ble than his principal, and if the Seconds
are wise men, there never can be a duel.
This article in the “Code of Honot ” throws
the entire responsibility of the duel and
all its dreadful consequences on the seconds.
New Series—Vol. 28, No. 104
If there are degrees in sin, as we believe
there are; and if sin is aggravated by cir
cumstances, as we believe it is, thea of the
two parties, the principal and his second,
the latter is by far the more culpable, be
cause his spirit has been roused by no in
sult. His temper ruffled by no harsh word,
his judgment blinded by no burst of pas
sion, he plots, plans, a 1 vises and abets in
this case of willful and deliberate murder
in a moment of cool reflection. The mur
der of his friend, or the antagonist of his
friend, lies at his door. He drove his friend
into the field of combat. He was an acces
sory before the fact. And if it is recorded
of Jereboam, the son of Nebat, that he was
pre-eminently wicked because “he made
Israel to sin,” so it may be said of the sec
ond in every fatal duel — that he is much
more guilty than either the murderer or
the murdered man, for he made them both
murderers!
That there are degrees of criminality is
evident from the announcement of the
Lord Jesus Christ, who, addressing Pilate,
said: “He that delivered me unto thee
hath the greater sin.” Pilate sinnod in con
demning the innocent Jesus; the soldiers
sinned in plaiting the crown of thorns, and
in piercing His hands and feet; the soldier
sinned who pierced His side; the high
priest sinnei; Herod sinned; they all
sinned; but the man who betrayed Him
sinned above them all. He had “the greater
sin.” So in the case or the duelist. Ho sins,
for if he is the challenger he has time to re
flect and ponder upon the serious step ho Is
about to take, and though goaded by pas
sion and craving revenge, and maddened
by insult, yet he has it in his power to
calculate, and to challenge or not challenge,
but, when he throws himself into the hands
of another man and resigns his entire re
sponsibility, physically, mentally and
morally into the hands of a friend , a sec
ond, and that friend says you must fight, 1
say, tbat second is by far the worse man of
the two. The laws of the country ouly regard
him as a pa rticeps criminia, as an accessory
before the fact; but in the sight of God
ho seems, to me, to be by far the more
guilty of the two. He has it in his power
to prevent murder, and yet he will not pre
vent it. Hence the laws of the country re
gard the second as equally guilty with the
principal; but as there are degrees in guilt
it seems to us that the seconds in every
duel are morally more guilty than the prin
cipals. You are passing a neighbor’s house,
and you see an incendiary striking a match
to sot lire to the premises, The match be
gins to ilieker in the breeze of the night,
and you hand that ruffian a box of matches
and bid him God-spoed in his diabolical
deeds of darkness; which is the more
guilty of the two, the depraved incendiary
who, it may be, burns that house to take
vengeance of a man who has done him a
real or imaginary wrong, or yourself, an
voluntary accomplice and a willful abettor
in the shocking felony V And who Is the
greater criminal in the sight of God, the
frenzied challenger, whose wounded pride
and burning passion impel him to seek
vengeance for a wrong under which his
soul is writhing, or the man who hounds
him on to that atrocious act which chases
hi immortal soul or that of his murdered ad
versary into the presence of an angry God?
Before the bar of inscrutable justice, and
in the presence of “God, the Judge of all,”
tell me who is the more likely of the two to
become the subject of Divine compassion?
the slaughtered principal in the fatal duel
or the hollow hearted adviser, by whoso
mistaken counsel he was led to the slaugh
ter.
I can imagine that when the Recording
Angel who hovered over that field of blood,
where the frenzied combatants met, lied
back to Heaven’s Chancery to lay the dras
tic tidings in. he dropped a tear of pity
over the tragic record and blotted from the
page the names of the maddened princi
pals in the sad affray, and charged the
blood that flowed, not to tho hand of the
demented duelist who shed it, but to tho
misguided advisers whose counsels led to
such a fatal issue.
In conclusion, permit a word of warning
and affoctionate counsel to the young men
who sit in these pews. “ W horewithal shall
a young man cleanse his way ? by taking
hood thereto according to Thy word.” The
Statute liook of Heaven is the highest and
holiest “Code of Honor.” The young man
who reads his Bible daily, and makes it
“the man of his counsels,” is never likely
to receive or accept a challenge. In this
volume yon have a system of ethics which
regulates all the relations of life, and an
nounces not only the duties you owe to
God and man, but prescribes infallible
rules for their performance. JLot me put it
to you to-day, as in the sight of God,
whether would you have It written on your
tombstone that you were a member of the
Young Men’s Christian Association, and
that your life had been spent in “works of
faith, in labors of lovo and patience of
hope,” or that you were a brave, daring
hero, who had fought a duel, or ten duels,
and slain as many adversaries, and received
as many wounds ? Do I address a young
man to-day, who would wish to walk the
pathway of life pursued at every step by
the cry of the avenger of blood V Do I see
before me a young man who would wish to
carry the guilt of a murdored antagonist
to his dying bed, and face the Judgment
Seat of Christ with the blood of that an
tagonist on his conscience ? Not one. Is
there within these walls a single man,
young or old, who does not shudder at the
thought of meeting “God, the Judge of
all,” laden Avith the sins of a whole life
time, spent in the neglect of known duty ?
If so, what must be the state of that soul
which is dellled by the crime of murder ?
To avoid the gnaAving of the worm that
cannot die; to escape the burning of the
fire that shall not be quenched, there is but
one course prescribed. Purify your way by
giving heed to God’s word. Give your
selves first to God, and devote your lives to
His service.
We recommend to all the young men of
our city to ally themselves with the Young
Men’s Christian Association. Like the
name of the Lord, it is “a strong tower;
the righteous runneth into it and are safe.”
It is a city of refuge, and within its walls
the avenger of blood will seek you in vain.
It is a temple of worship, and on its altars
the eye of faith may “behold the Lamb of
God who taketh away the sins oi the
world.” It is a Christian community, and
the only test of membership is that you
have giA’en yourselves to Christ. It is an
hospital, and it opens its doors for every
young man who is sick and sore and sin
wounded, that he may receive the treat
ment of the great Physician. It is an army
corps, and over it floats the banner of the
cross of Christ-the great Captain of our Sal
vation. Let your names be placed upon its
muster roll; be faithful in attending its
drill and parade; be ready for action when
called to your post of duty. “The weapons
of its warfare are not carnal, but mighty
to the pulling down of strong holds, east
ing down imaginations and every high
thing that exalteth itself against the
knowledge of God, and bringing into eap
tivity every thought to the obedience of
Christ.” The enemies against whom its
forces contend are not even the ungodly
and the profane, for this Society loves and
pities, and Avould save the vilest reprobate
To Advertisers and Subscribers.
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reeking out of Hell. They “wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against princi
palities. against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high places.”
GEN. SHERMAN.
SIR JOHN FALSTAFF COME AGAIN,
The Great -Hummer Makes a Fool or
Himself at New York—An Opera
Bouffe “March to the Sea”—The Big
gest Military Blackguard Extant.
[Richmond Dispatch.]
The notorious Gen. Sherman has
been assiduously hunting for the little
end of the horn, and he has found it.
At “Forefathers’ dinner” in New -York
he out-Shermaned Sherman, He could
not be content with braying over Ply
mouth Rock, but must go out of his
way to insult the people of the South.
It belongs to ignoble hearts to do things
like that—insulting the fallen—and his
heart was ignoble enough for the task.
He tells us what terrible things he will
do with the South if they dare “cherish
one thought of hostility and boast of
their old Confederacy.”' He is a very
Bobadili; and, like ancient Pistol, would
readily “eat the leek” upon occasion.
What could tho great Sherman mean
by swelling and gobbling in such a
manner at a time of profound peace,
when the South is quiet and law
abiding, by railing at its people and
telling them what he will do with them
if “ they dare to boast of their old Con
federacy ?” It was a mere show of
personal vanity and turkey-cock valor
where there was no risk in displaying
it. It was empty valor and insolence
to the defoated without provocation ;
disgraceful to the honorable vocation
of the warrior. No man worthy of tho
insignia of the soldier would have per
petrated so wanton an outrage upon
an immense body of civilized people.
Gen. Sherman, as though he were
lord of the realm, tells the Southern
people that if they will do certain
things they will be welcomed to equal
ity, &c., as though they were bora “on
the surface jot Plymouth Rock.” This
is the ingenuity of insolence. Who
that was born anywhere else does not
think more of his birthplace than of
Ply mo utli Rock ? Was ever there a
man who regretted that he was not
born ou “the surfaco” of Plymouth
liock? If there ever was such a per
son ho would assuredly have his regret
changed to gladness upon learning
that Gen. Sherman was one of the chil
dren of that hard, granitive and insen
sible mother.
There was no need for Gen. Sher
man to make this display of himself
He has gained nothing by it, save per
haps the increase of the contempt felt
for him in the South. He was present
along with President Grant, who had
inflicted a cruel insult upon persons
near and dear to him. Yet he vied with
Gen. Grant in courting the favor of the
very persons Grant most delighted in
offering this insult. He won their ap
probation, aud that of even Grant, by
his wanton and ridiculous display.
Sherman had been justly regarded as
a vain, conceited and jealous man; but
he had not been regarded as entirely
ungenerous aud a braggart. Ilia last,
display robs him of all claim to consid
eration as a man possessed of any of
the virtues that belong to noble minds.
Like a foolish man, whose heart is both
silly and wicked, he has wantonly in
sulted a people great in numbers and
renowned in virtues and heroism, He
has spoken of them with the arroganoo
of a ty rant and the vulgarity of a man
unacquainted with the qualities of a
gentleman, and unrestrained by the
sentiments of humanity.
(Baltimore Gazette.]
The trouble about General Sherman
is, that he will keep on “marching to
the sea.” General Grant, with all his
faults, showed magnanimity at Vicks
burg aad at Appomattox, and has never
shown any fondness for taunting his
prostrate foes. General Shopman is
very fend of telling the rebels frankly
that he thrashed them soundly onco,
but, bless their hearts, the nex \ time j
&c., &c., &c. Whenever Sherman, out
West, is invited to address any meeting
ho always takes occasion to declare
what tiie North is going to do tho very
next time that tho South dares to rebel.
So long as the rebels stay at home
quietly at the plow, pay their taxes to
the carpet-baggers, respect Chief Jus
tice Moses, Governors Ames and Pinch
back, it is all very well. Under these
circumstances he will permit those
who are truly penitent aud
know clieir place to rally around the
flag in a small and unpretending way.
but if they ever dare again, &c., &c*
And this appeal to the worst side of his
audience always brings down the house.
At the Bunker Hill centennial, where
old friends North and South, long es
tranged, met in genuine friendship once
again, and where Boston had invited
the extremest of her late foes aud
spared no pains to do them honor;
where the soldiers of Maryland laid
flowers on the monument of those they
had met in battle; tho voice of Sherman
was the only discordant note. Under
the shadow of Bunker Hill, standing
between the pine and the palmetto,
Sherman again mounted his hobby,
and throw these same taunts and leers
into the faces of the Southern guests
of Boston. It brought down the house,
of course, but it made the ladies and
gentlemen of Boston blush. And now
at the celebration of the landing of tha
Pilgrims General Sherman again brings
down the house by telling what the
North is going to do the next time the
South, &C. f &C.
It happened that Gen. Sherman made
all his reputation by a march through
a country where there was no enemy.
With an army three times greater thau
that of Joe Johnston, and Sherman
was no longer opposed either by troops
or tactics, ho set out on his great
“ march to the sea,” a thing that was
no more resisted than would have been
his march through Illinois. It sounds
grand, and looks well on paper, but it
was no feat of military genius. Tho
Southern Confederacy was in fact al
ready prone ; he was only stamping on
the body.
But this has given General Sherman
a great fondness for making bold and
brilliant dashes into countries whero
there is no foe. It has taught him,
like General Bourn, to go about en
treating people please to show him
some enemy; and it has taught him to
find enemies 'ln the prostrate South,
where none exist, and to treat those
who are striving hardest there to bring
baek fraternal feeling once again with
distrust aud insult. His book shows
that kis head is a little turned by the
flattery he has received; he believes
himself a great military genius; and so
he keeps on “marching to to sea.”
Theatricals at church fairs are usual
ly quite inferior performances. Iu fact,
the saints can’t act as well on the stag 4
as the siuners can.
