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TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. Daily—one year $lO oo " six months 5 00 " three months 2 60 Tri-Weekly—one year... 5 00 “ six months 2 60 Weekly—one year 2 oo “ six months l oo Single copies. 5 eta. T* news dealers, 2% ots. Subscriptions must in ail oases be paid In advance. The _paper will ba discontinued at the expiration of the time paid for. JAS. G. BAILIE, ) 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. I M B ‘l? 10 (April 21, 1875,) all °f the Constitutionalist will be seat iree *Ol postage. TIBKM , ENTS “ ÜBt he paid for when han ded in, unless otherwise stipulated. ? r Candidates foi office, 20 cents per line each Insertion. M or Pos^i y Order mltted atour rlßkby E *Press Correspondence invited from all sources, and valuable special news paid for if used. Rejected Communications will not be re turned, and no notice taken of anonymous letters, or articles written on both sides. 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.