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 ;

45 relic

of Barbarism, and never has one part of the argument

against

it

been put more sententiously than by Franklin



"A

duel decides nothing," said this patriot philosopher, " and the person appealing to it makes himself judge in his own cause,

condemns the offender without a to

be the executioner."

To

jury,

and undertakes himself would add

these emphatic words I

two brief propositions, which, if practically adopted, make the Duel impossible. First, that the acknowledgment of wrong with apology or explanation can never be otherwise than honorable and, secondly, that, in the absence of all such acknowledgment, no wrong can ever be repaired by a gladiatorial

where brute force, or skill, or chance, must decide the Iron and adamant are not stronger than these arguments nor can any one attempt an answer without exposing his feebleAnd yet Slave-masters, disregarding its irrational characness. contest,

day.

impiety, and unconDuel as a regulator of manners and conduct. Two voices from South-Carolina have been raised against it, and I mention them with gladness as testimony even in that land of Slavery. The first was Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, who, in the early days of the Eepublic, openly declared his " abhorrence of the practice," and invoked the clergy of his State " as a particular favor, at some convenient early day, to preach a sermon on the sin and folly of dueling." The other was Mr. Khett, who, on this floor, openly ter,

insensible to its folly, heedless of

its

scious of its Barbarism, openly adopt the

declared as his reason for declining the duel, " that he feared

God more than man." Generous words, for which many errors can be pardoned. But these voices condemn the social system of which the Duel is a natural product. Looking now at the broad surface of society where Slavery exists,

we

shall find its spirit actively manifest in the suppression

freedom of speech or of the press, especially with regard Nobody in the Slave States can speak or print to this wrong. St. Paul against Slavery, except at the peril of life or liberty. could call upon the people of Athens to give up the worship of unknown gods he could live in his own hired house at Eome, and preach Christianity in this Heathen metropolis; but no of

all



man

can be heard against Slavery in Charleston or Mobile.

We condemn the fluence to

which subjects all within its incensorship and secret judgment but this tyranny is Inquisition,