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Lot 338
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"On Dueling" - Fascinating 19th C. AM Condemning the Code Duello as "barbarous practice… act of the assassin"
"On Dueling" - Fascinating 19th C. AM Condemning the Code Duello as "barbarous practice… act of the assassin"
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Description:

Dueling
n.p., n.d. but early 19th C.
"On Dueling" - Fascinating 19th C. AM Condemning the Code Duello as "barbarous practice… act of the assassin"
AM
A 2pp autograph manuscript entitled "On Duelling" [sic], possibly a school assignment or speech draft, and missing a conclusion. N.d. but probably early 19th C. N.p. Written on both sides of cream-colored paper, with scattered contemporaneous edits in another hand. Expected wear including even toning and isolated discoloration. Flattened paper folds, with isolated closed tears or loss along some folds. Very legible and else near fine. 7.5" x 9.375."

In full, with unchanged spelling and punctuation:

"On Duelling

It is a well known fact, that for a great many years back, a practice has prevailed (more or less) generally among civilized nations, to settle individual disputes by single combats, with deadly weapons, of a determined description, at a defined time, and place - In whatever light we may view this barbarous practice, we see the act of the assassin, veiled under the hypocritical appearance, of manly courage, in accepting the challenge of an enemy - It is said by some, that duelling is right, so far as it assists to promote civility and good manners - but here the very absurdity of the case is evident; reason proves to the reflecting mind, that it is otherwise. Is it to be supposed for a moment, that a man of principles and of honorable standing in society, can be civil from the mere fear of a challenge? No. Politeness and civility cannot be forced from a man who is ruled by principles from any fear of a challenge

[page 2]

if they exist in him at all, they will always display themselves, prominent features of his character - In looking back to ancient Greece and Rome, we see that duelling did not exist, and we also see, that men occupying the highest stations in life, were as polite and civil, in their manners, as men of the present day, and in fact more so than men of some other nations where the practice of duelling prevails - Thus we see that duelling in itself produces no good, but produces the desire of revenge, and deprives many an helpless infant of a father, and launches the mourning widow upon the billows of the world, destitute of all comfort and convenience, dragged down in poverty, there to struggle, til death with its iron grasp demands her as his own - If every one would take into consideration the immense harm which duelling has caused, and is still likely to cause, I am sure they would all unite in one firm body to oppose a practice which has --"

Dueling was codified by European customs as well as by statutes like the "Code Duello" drafted by Irish noblemen in 1777. "Judicial combat" was practiced in the English colonies as early as the 1620s. Early civic, military, and religious leaders abhorred such wasteful bloodshed, and it was condemned by Benjamin Franklin as "murderous." By 1859, about half of the United States had outlawed dueling. Despite harsh penalties for violating the interdiction against dueling - including fines, prison time, the forfeit of any elected office, or even capital punishment - Americans still found ways to defend their honor against personal slights. The practice was commonplace in the United States, especially the honor-bound American South and West, up through the 1840s. The practice only declined after the Civil War.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 7.5" x 9.375"
  • Medium: AM

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