The banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, April 01, 1846, Image 1
THE BANNER.
*
[WEEKLY.]
Vol. IIL Abbeville C. H,, S. C. April 1, 1846. No. 5.
Published every Wednesday Morning, by
ALLEN & KEKK.
Jirto ffrrms.
ONE DOLLAR AND FIFTY
CENTS per annum, if paid within three
months from the time of subscribing-, or
TWO DOLLARS after that time. No
subscription received for less than six
months; and no paper discontinued ur.til
all arrearages are paid, except at the op~
tioii of the editors. Subscriptions will be
continued, unless notice be given other"
wise previous to the closc of the volume.
(for the banner.)
DUELLING?TEXAS.
Mr. Editor :?If common report^ and
unfounded suspicions are to be credited,
Texas is the worst spot in all this western
hemisphere. It was at least before
its admission into the Union, the grand
depot of all villians, according to some
reports or suppositions ; a sort of Botony
Bay place, to which all the ring-leaders
in crime transported themselves when
threatened with law in their own Stale.
But while it is admitted that Texas, has
no doubt been a city of refuge to many
an out-law, yet it is by no means peo
pled with that class of persons ; on the
contrary Texas would compare favorably.
we presume, in this respect, with
any of the older States in the Union.
In^pod old sober South Carolina, we
' ' :. on hands a very general asiment
of all grades of trifling characters,
notwithstanding the hard times,
and the great opening for such characters
to the West.
In Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama,
and Mississippi are to be found a superabundance
of just such characters, many
of them of domestic manufacture, and
not a few of foreign exportation. Texas
then, is not the only refuge of vice and
of such characters, while at the same
time are found in her, many noble hearts,
and much correct sentiment. This is
evident from the character of her lately
adopted Constitution. Some of the provisions
contained in the Constitution,
could not be sccured at this day, we
*nnnn?p in Smith P.nrnlin-i n Itlinnnrli
she can boast over Texas of superior attainments
in law, morals and religion.
Nothing in the Texas Constitution
pleases me better than that portion
which relates to duelling, and if I mistake
not, Texas is in advance of all the
other States on this subject.
This pernicious, murderous custom is
effectually cut up by the roots in Texas.
No man who regards his present character,
or future prospects, would think
of fighting a duel in now Texas. Under
the " general provisions" of the Constitution.
the fifth section contains the pro
vision on duelling, which runs thus:
" Any citizen of this Slate, who shall after
the adoption of this Constitution, fight
a duel with deadly weapons, or send or
accept a challenge to fight a duel with
deadly weapons, either within the State
or out of it, or who shall act as seconds,
or knowingly aid and assist in any manner,
those thus offending shall
be deprived of holding offices of trust or
profit under this State." To make this
provision effectual against duelling, the
oath which the members of the legislature
and all ojizers are required to* take
before entering on their duties, contains
the following clause,?" I do further solemnly
swear (or affirm) that since the
adoption of this constitutioaJby the Cod
- 1- i I
gress of the Uuited States, I, b^?g a c>ii-1
zen of this State, have fiot foagbfca duel
with deadly; wpnnons within- this Sf*te^
or out of i' * L?"?^v P*f^ {
A ch ' ' -^sis4ip
... i}rAi \;
. ...thldWfe
at .# left
tne life w
;ian in Texas' grTnbout
Is and woods dhootingfttt
umps for two or three
, order that he may
rl nf thnt limp tn
* the heart of his
. paltry offence,
public sentiment is
nd that such a
- and forever
in so
ciety that are reckoned honorable ? It
will be said however that men will still
rosort to the duel, regardless of exclusion
from office. What then will be the
motive prompting them to the fatal rencounter?
Not considerations of honor,
for an act that would debar a man
from every honorable station, cannot be
viewed as an honorable act, and it
would never do for those noble and magnanimous
souls who resort to the duel,
to engage in it from sheer malice ; the
most despicable villain can be moved
to murder by the same unhallowed emotion.
If the idea of honor is taken away
from the duel (as it is in Texas by the
constitution.) could such a custom be
perpetuated ? All the niceties connected
with the duel are scrupulously observed,
under the notion that honor, requires
attention to such puerile punctilios.
It is the idea of honor that loads
to the interchange of those ominous notes
...i i t ? -
which ure a preiuae to me coming contest.
A delicate sense of honor requires
that such letters should be polity, it U
honor that prompts to all the politeness,
and hypocritical civilities that pass between
the parties and their seconds. It
is honor that measures oflf five, ten or
twenty paces as a decent and gentlemanly
distance to be shot at. it is honor
that prompis the parlies to reserve their
fire until some onecounts one, two,three
It would be horribly vulgar and murderous
for one of the parties in combat
to re'ain his fin-, and then aim coolly
and deliberately at the life of one w.io
had shot at him in haste, and nnder the
influence of n cowardly dread. It would
be exceedingly indecorous for one of the
parties to rush on the other, when they
were required to stand five or ten paces
apart. All these are nice points, and a
high tone of honor runs ihfeiuh the
whole. Fie on the man who would be
so ill-bred as 10 violate any of the provisions
of this precious code ! IS'ow why,
we ask, do grown up men, men of srnse
and solidity, loose themselves, and thcif
moral heroism, and cow, and truckle,
and submit with a double refined hypocrisy
to ail the little niceties of the
bloody code ? It is the notion that honor
requires such things. The combatants
prepsirc to kill each other veiy politely,
not that they have any love or respect
for each oflier, out (not lo speak
now of malice a?id revenge which rani_i
_ *i_ _r i v .?w
uit; in meir nuuie soujsj uiey engage in
the duel, and try to act the Chesterfield
through the scene, with the hope that
should they survive, they will be esteemed
and honored, and the way prepared
for their promotion to offices of
honor, profit or trust. But suppose that
the duel would exclude a man from all
honorable office, as in Texas, would
men in quest of honor engage in it ?
Would those whose hearts were full of
malice, and who weie ready to fly on
each other !il?e tigers, submit to the code
of honor, if no honor was to accrue ?
Verily no.
Keep then the notion of honor out of
the question, and the duel is at end ; and
the way to accomplish this is to adopt
the course of Texas, and deprive the parties
in a duel, both the combatants, seconds,
surgeons, and advising friends, of
all honorable or profitable office, and
these i: affairs of honor" will be fe^'
and far between."
It would be almost impossible to get
up a duel now in Texas, for although
t\vo men might be so full of wrath and
revenge as to resoive on each others de-"
.struction regardless of the above sections
of Jije constitution, yet it would be diffiI
^(Obtain two gentlemeA to act as .
seconds-?two to act as surgeons, and' *
15!K> or three more to act as friends and
tfdviiefg^ Not only the persons who
ifi?tai} btftt all who have any part in a
deprived of all office of profit or
ipipfriih Texas. We say that the prospect
of getting up a duel there, must be
'Very discouraging. Lack-a-day! what
would the young heroes in South Carolina,
or the old fools about Washington
city* do jf they were in Texas ? They
could'nt show off their courage j they
could'nt act on the "code of honor"
there, for that code is nullified, dead
and hurried.
Some of our men of fire and fame, it
may be, will refuse to emigrate to Texas
because their darling code is abolished
; while others will repair to that happy
land just to get out of the reach of its
monsirous and tyranical requisitions. ;
Ctfnnot South Carolina have a clause
4 *
on duelling in her constitution, and in
the oath of office, similar to that of Texas?
Cannot the citizens of Abbeville
and other districts support Col. Memminger,
and others, in their laudible efforts
to suppress duelling, by sending up
full ajad stronsr Detitions to th? nnvt
meeting of the legislature ? Shall " we
the people" connive at, or by our silence
and inactivity indirectly sustain the
murderous custom of duelling, or shall
we by a rigorous and united effort forever
wipe out the deep stain which this
iniamous practice has brought upon the
laws and honor of the State 1
Beecher.
From the Greenesbo-o (N. C.) Patriot.
ADDRESS TO MECHANICS.
Our Mechanics ?Brethren?you
lack knowledge?knowledge which
you all have the means to purchase and
the capacity to comprehend. Why
don't you read some good perioJical
which sheds scientific light upon the
trades by which you make you inn Ice
your bread and sustain your standing
in society 1 The u Scientific American" j
continues its weekly visits to our table,
sustaining its original usefulness ancl
spirit; its abundant and valuable practicable
suggestions enable us to perceive
what you loose by not keeping up with
the mechanical improvements of the
age. There is more useful information
for the nrlizan >n one number of this little
sheet I'm cm be found in a whole
cart-load of the bragging mammoth
" liternn? s" of the North. The latter,
we uJ:: i, suusurve the purpose of their
publication?that is, to kill time; the
former, to improve it.
Our mechanics must cultivate their
minds, particularly in those branches of
science connected with their callings,
or they never can obtain that stand and
influence in society which they ought
always to command. They are hardy,
honest, and industrious, as a class?the
"the bone and sinew" and the very
foundation of society in our towns;?but
they have not that degree of intelligence
to which they might readily attain, and
consequently lack that dignity and
power in thecommunitv to which their
I
numbers and the intrinsic respectability
ol their trades otherwise entitle them,
it is with themselves to elevate themselves.
They must employ their heads as
well as their elbows. There is a wide tieid
for the useful and beautiful display of
mind?taste?genius?in the mechanic
arts, as well as in the fine arts .and
learned professions. The plodding
hand, who does a piece of work merely
as he had been made to do it at the apprentice's
betich, without the application
of a single.prigihal idea in process,
?need not expect to succeed equally
with the energetic, inquiring artizan,
who slu'lia his subject, and t:ikes advantage
of the suggestions he can command
in this progressive ag.e. Superior mind
and superior cultivation are exhibited as
palpably?as honorably and profitably
inil illivrnrs (illitn CIo innni>anllir irt
the mechanic arts, as in any other field
of human effort or human ambition.
Mechanics?do not depend upon your
trades to elevate you. " Keep your
shops, affd your shops will keep you."
The lawyer, the physician, the divine,
are'not honored by their profession ; if
they have not capacity and acquirement
to enable them to act up to the
standard of their profession?they, and >
not their profession are disgraced. Epamjnondas,
the gieatest patriot and lawgiver
of yhfcbes was once appointed by
his envious enemies, who happened to
be in power, to clean the streets of the
M_ * _ _ _1 . . 1 ' 1
cuy, wim me aesign 10 Dring aisgrace I
and ridicule upon him by this mean oc- |
cupation. The wise Theban remarked. !
that it was not the office which conferred
honor or fixed disgrace upon the ;
man ; but the man had it in his power
to honor the office, however low, or to
difrgTace it however exalted. He forthwith
set about the exercise of his new ,
functions with such judgment and energy,
that, in a short time, the streets of
no city w?re to be compared Witfct those
of Thebes 'for cleanliness and beauty.
And for a long period thereafter, the office
of street scavenger, was one of the
most honorable-of the city.
Avoid an angry man for a while.
for bis passion will cool; but avoid
a malicious man forever, for malice
never dies.
v
Arrival of the Steam Ship
H1BERNIA.
Twenty-Two Days Later from Europe.
The steamer Hibernia is in at Halifax
and Boston, with advices from Liverpool
to the 4th ultimo.
The most important nem of intelliir.
' TT
Sv..v,u 10 mc ?uw 111 uiu Diiiisu nousc
of Commons, in favor of the new Corn
Law Scheme and Tariff of Sir Robert
Peel, by the decided majority of 97.
The Iron Trade was in full vigor, and
the iron masters were full of orders.
The trade was consequently very brisk.
Cotton, up to the arrival of the packet
ship Patrick Henry, had been depressetU
in price, but the news brought by her
being considered of a somewhat hostile
character, the prices rallied and the market
became firmer.
Provisions and flour were dull, and
the money market?in consequence of
the fifteen millions of pounds sterling
I 1 eked up by the railways?was very
I l'?ht.
i mi.. __.:_i_ .i : i j:
i iitj hi licit: ui mui^c, ui j.uui<iii turn,
was becoming very popular among the
people.
The French have met with disastrous
defeats in Algiers. ,
Accounts from Berlin state that Mr.
Wheaton, the Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plfininotentinrv nf lhn T7nit?vl
States, hod left that city for London.
Louis Phillippe is said to be in favor
of referring the Oregon dispute to the
arbitration of three English and three
American gentlemen?-thus carrying
out the idea of Mr. Winthrop, of Mass.
The American Minister in London,
Mr. McLane, is confined to his house
by severe indisposition.
Father Mathew has published a letter,
accompanied with specimens of
bread and "stir about," made from Indian
corn. Efforts are now making to
introduce this excellent beverage, not
only into Ireland, but into the three
kingdoms generally, on the t>lan which
marks its use in the United Slates.
From the Liverfool Times, 4th ult.
Prepa rations for War.?Whether
or not we are to have war, great preparations
are being made for it. The
army is to be increased 10,000 men ; the
militia are to be in readiness for immediate
training ; the ordnance corps arc
to receive an accession of 1500 men ;
I hi> rnirnl miiriiioo
?.iav tMiKKIVO A-yVV/ lliril J <111*4 mull
regiments of the line 6,000. The increase
of the navy will be about 1,000
men.
FRANCE.
The French Chambers have voted a
sum of money for the establishment of
a line of steamers between Havre and
New York, so that when all the projected
" vapor ships" are in action, a
daily, or at least a semi-weekly mail between
Europe and America will have
been secured. The spirited and successful
managers of the Halifax mail stea
mers are building another fine vessel,
to add to their already splendid fleet of
steamers.
The Catholic Bishop of New York is
in Paris, and has been preaching several
sermons. The greater part of his auditories
has consisted of English and Irish
Catholics. The Bishop of Texas is also
here, having come to raise money,
and to obtain priests to accompany him to
Texas, to assist in promulgating the
faith. His mission is said to have been
as successful as he could possibly wish.
I The idea broached by the London
Times of the re-establishmcnt of Monarchy
in Mexico has been received, upon
the whole, with favor by the Parisian
press. Even the republican Nation
al does not denounce it, if.it be the pleasure
of the Mexicans, but insists upon
the full liberty of action being allowed
I them. It also advises that jn any mea[
8Ure the French Government may be
i ?-i - -
ujuuicu iv juiii 111, euro ue i<ikcij mat II
be not made the dupe of England.
Mr. King, the American Minister, at
Pari?, gave a grand ball on Monday, in
celebration of Washington's birthday.
The fele was a most splendid one, and
appeared to afford the highest gratification
to all the gaests, and will rank .
- among the most brilliant of the presant
season. ^ m a
Washington trying, the UflitedjStatea L
Minister at Madrid, ha&fl*it|ft& Paris af-1
I tcr several weeks;Wheaton, |
" 1 I
Advertisements
WILL be conspicuously inserted at 75
cents per square for the first insertion,
and 3?? cents for each continuance?
I longer ones charged in proportion. Those
'not having the desired number of insertions
marked upon them, will be continued
until ordered out, and charged accordingJy
For advertising Estrays Tolled, TWO
DOLLARS, to be paid by the Magistrate.
For announcing a Candidate, TWO
DOLLARS, in advance.
0^7" All letters or communications must
be directed to the Editors, postage paid.
' United States Minister at Prussia, is
now here.
GREAT BATTLE IN INDIA.
Our advices from Bombay, since th?
sailing of the steamship Cambria, come
down to January 17, and furnish accounts
of one of the greatest battles ever
fought by the British in our Indian Empire,
in which we have sustained the
known loss of 3,300 of our brave soldiers,
including the gallant Sale, Sir J.
ivi'ivaskill and Major Broadfoot.
.An Extraordinary Gazette gives the
official account of all the military operations
in this great struggle. On the
12th, 13th and 14th of December the
Sikh army crossed the Sutlej, with, at
the lowest estimate, 80,000 men (of
whom 20.000 or 30,000 were cavalry)
and about 150 cannon of the largest
calibre moveable in the field.
A fierce conflict ensued, in which the
Sikhs lost the artillery attached to their
division, in number 17 guns. It was
in this stage of the battle that Sir Robeit
Sale and General M'Kaskill fell.
Imagination can scarcely depict the
fury and the obstinacy of the two days'
flight that must have preceded the capture
of the invarlAv'a ramn with all i?o
materiel and artillery, and the utter dispersion
of the invading army on the 22d
of December. Their loss is variously
estimated at from 25,000 to 35,000 in
killed and wounded. Our loss in killed
and wonnded, it is to be feared, falls little
short of 3300, including 50 European,
officers.
Sermons are like guns.?Some are
long, others short; some are new, others
old; some are bright, orhers rusty; some
are made to be looked at, others to be
used; some are loaded, others empty j
some are owned, others borrowed. Some
are air-guns, some pop-guns, some ol
every size, from the pocket pistol to the
Paixhan gun. Some are charged only
with powder, and make a great noise
and smoke. Some send only small shot,
that irritates rather than kills. Some
carry heavy metal, that does execution.
Some discharge chain shot, mowing*
down whole platoons. Some are widemouthed
mortars, throwing only bomb
shells. Some are duelling pistols, used
only in controversy?vile things! Some
go offhalf bent. Some flash in the pan.
Some make a terrible fix, the charge all
escaping at the priming hole. Some
shoot too high, some too low, some side
ways, a few i^rcctly at the point Some
are aimed at nothing and hit it. Some
scatter prodigiously, some kick their
owners over. Some are unerring ; others
always hit the wrong object. Some
have too much wadding, and vice versa.
Some are alarm guns ; others are complimentary
guns, used only for salutes
on special occasions. Some are in a series,
constituting a battery ; others are
swivels, made to turn in any direction.
Some are useful, some useless,some dangerous.
Some amuse, some frighten,
some exasperate, some explode, some
gain the victory. Very much depends
upon the manner in which they are
made and managed. 5
Christian Watchman.
Making Manure.?The chief, the
grand object with every farmer, should
be the accumulation of manure, from one
year's end to the other, day in and day
out, and from every possible resource.
Not a single pound of feathers, or of hair
?of horn or of hoof?not a single pint of
ashes, or of soapsuds, of urine?not a
weed, if it were pissible to prevent it,
should be lost?all should be saved and
converted into manure. Of one things
every farmer is certain?that cultivation
exhausts his land?something of course,
must be done to restore that of which it
is exhausted. How long will a horso
work if he gets no feed 1 How long will
the best cow give milk if she gets nothing
to eat ? Neither can a farm bo
worked and milked without bfeing fed..
Instead of looking.only to the ftfnhlfr.
or the cowpen of the barnyard Sfo
nure, and managing tfctn C*nglflK%
and unskilfully, the, thinlnm*.*fcjrfWor
will reflect that
wilt rot but
good fatume* ^d&r'Jiia farm. ...If?*
hors?. dies on. tjp let hiptrbfeycp*
feted with* cm/L loads&f
vrt-y gases that escape in the coujra*
juj/efactyjn, will impre^jy*
fjftq4 manpie oTtljp T**'
noting -J&lijaP'
the^qwlp^ '