Citizens of Washington county, Pennsylvania, for suppression of duelling within District of Columbia
Dublin Core
Title
Citizens of Washington county, Pennsylvania, for suppression of duelling within District of Columbia
Description
Petition requesting action against the practice of dueling in D.C., especially amongst government officials.
Creator
Citizens of Washington, PA
Date
12, March, 1838
Contributor
Tim Schranck
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
That they, and the great body of their fellow-citizens, hold the practice
of dtelling in abhorrence, as inconsistent with a state of civilization, as
utterly at vtariance with the precepts of christianity, and as a violation of
the lawvs of God and man.
This detestable practice, at all times, and in all places, and between any
citizens, vicious and inexcusable, becomes a vice of peculiar enormity, when
followed by those to whom their fellow-citizens have intrusted civil, military, and political duties.
Your petitioners would apply this remark particuarly to those intrusted
to make laws, and especially to those delegated to, the Congress of the
nation.
This practice assumes a more injurious and malignant character, When
members of Congress undertake to punish one another for words spoken
in debate, where all have an equal right of reply; or where members lend
themselves to persons out of the body, to call each other to account for
transactions within it.
If either of these practices are longer endured by the country, the right
and value of popular representation in Congress are destroyed.
Your petitioners think, too, that the peaceful and orderly citizens of tile
District of Columbia have a right to some efficient protection from the
violation of their laws and peace, and from the effect upon their youth of
a practice which is an outrage upon law, civilization, and religion.
Your petitioners therefore respectfully pray, that your bodies would pass
a law with adequate penalties against both principals and seconds in duels,
of dtelling in abhorrence, as inconsistent with a state of civilization, as
utterly at vtariance with the precepts of christianity, and as a violation of
the lawvs of God and man.
This detestable practice, at all times, and in all places, and between any
citizens, vicious and inexcusable, becomes a vice of peculiar enormity, when
followed by those to whom their fellow-citizens have intrusted civil, military, and political duties.
Your petitioners would apply this remark particuarly to those intrusted
to make laws, and especially to those delegated to, the Congress of the
nation.
This practice assumes a more injurious and malignant character, When
members of Congress undertake to punish one another for words spoken
in debate, where all have an equal right of reply; or where members lend
themselves to persons out of the body, to call each other to account for
transactions within it.
If either of these practices are longer endured by the country, the right
and value of popular representation in Congress are destroyed.
Your petitioners think, too, that the peaceful and orderly citizens of tile
District of Columbia have a right to some efficient protection from the
violation of their laws and peace, and from the effect upon their youth of
a practice which is an outrage upon law, civilization, and religion.
Your petitioners therefore respectfully pray, that your bodies would pass
a law with adequate penalties against both principals and seconds in duels,
Files
Citation
Citizens of Washington, PA, “Citizens of Washington county, Pennsylvania, for suppression of duelling within District of Columbia,” Mason's Legacies, accessed April 16, 2024, https://masonslegacies.org/items/show/887.