Press enter after choosing selection

The Duelist: For The Signal Of Liberty

The Duelist: For The Signal Of Liberty image
Parent Issue
Day
30
Month
October
Year
1843
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Messrs. Editots:- You will agree with rae that, when a man goes out with his musket, rifle or pistol with the intention of killing his neighbor; whether he succeeds or not, he is a murderer. And if he voluntarily stands up himself to be shot at and killed by his neighbor, he is a suicide. It is conceded, however, that, in coming to the conclusión that murder and suicide are the proper terms to be apphed in the cases here supposed, many believe that there must be nothing like what they cali the fair play of dueling. Or, in other words, that the man who is killed had not an equal chance to take the Me ofhisadversary. If a man goes int0 the streets in the darkness of nïght, and thrusts his dagger into the bosom of some unconscious travelier, nobody heaitatgs about the term which ,s proper lo expross t"c outrage And if hc conceals himself inome lonerecess, and waits Ihe coming travel Ier, even under a mid-day ssuii, and as he approaches, aims the -daadly rifle at his lieart, the cry of "murder" is heard in every hamlet, village, town orcity where the bloody deed is known. Or, if hc assails liis victim in the public Valks of town or city, manifesting no desire to conceal the misdemeanor, he quickly takes his lodging in tho "Tombs"' to answer the Commonvvealth ibr the crime of murder. Again, if a man destroys his life by taking opium, arsenic, deadly night shade, or Prussic acid, or by using the razor, pistol or halter, if he it not a maniac. cvery body calis him a suicide. Now, what can be the difference in a premeditated assassination.or sudden homicide, and the parade of a duel? Ah! - there is a diíForence; and the odds is immeasurably agaiust the duelist. Most suvely, if any body is worthy to be cal-led a murderer, it is the duelist. The homicide which he commits is most emphatically a premeditated homicide. He spares no time nor pains to make himself familiar with the weapon Avhich isto lav his victim in the dust. And he meets his man by appointment. to tako his life or lose his own. He enters tlie field with the murderer's prospects. At the bidding of his second, he marches, halts, and fires, and if his intentions are fulfilled, sends his adversary into eternity, or is sent there himself, to be judged by that Being who says. ';Thou shall not kill." And, "he that hateth his brother is a murderer."

Article

Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News