TIP #470 - THE CODE OF HONOR, CONCLUSION For those of you who missed the first two posts, click on the URL in my signature line called SCKY LINKS. Then click on the research link and you will find the archives of these posts. CHAPTER 5 - Duty of Principals and Seconds On the Ground. 1. The principals are to be respectful in meeting, and neither by look or expression irritate each other. They are to be wholly passive, being entirely under the guidance of their seconds. 2. When once posted, they are not to quit their positions under any circumstances, without leave or direction of their second. 3. When the principals are posted, the second giving the word, must tell them to stand firm until he repeats the giving of the word, in the manner it will be given when the parties are at liberty to fire. 4. Each second has a loaded pistol, in order to enforce a fair combat according to the rules agreed on; and if a principal fires before the word or time agreed on, he is at liberty to fire at him, and if such second's principal fall, it is his duty to do so. 5. If after a fire, either party be touched, the duel is to end; and no second is excusable who permits a wounded friend to fight; and no second who knows his duty, will permit his friend to fight a man already hit. I am aware that they have been many instances where a contest has continued, not only after slight, but severe wounds, had been received. In all such cases, I think the seconds are blameable. 6. If after an exchange of shots, neither party be hit, it is the duty of the second of the challengee, to approach the second of the challenger and say: "Our friends have exchanged shots, are you satisfied, or is there any cause why the contest should be continued?" If the meeting be of no serious cause of complaint, where the party complaining had in no way been deeply injured, or grossly insulted, the second of the party challenging should reply: "The point of honor being settled, there can, I conceive, be no objection to a reconciliation, and I propose that our principals meet on middle ground, shake hands and be friends." If this be acceded to by the second of the challengee, the second of the party challenging says: "We have agreed that the present duel shall cease, the honor of each of you is preserved, and you will meet on middle ground, shake hands and be reconciled." 7. If the insult be of serious character, it will be the duty of the second of the challenger, to say, in reply to the second of the challangee: "We have been deeply wronged, and if you are not disposed to repair the injury, the contest must continue." And if the challengee offers nothing by way of reparation, the fight continues until one or the other of the principles is hit. 8. If in cases where the contest is ended by the seconds, as mentioned in the sixth rule of this chapter, the parties refuse to meet and be reconciled, it is the duty of the seconds to withdraw from the field, informing their principals, that the contest must be continued under the superintence of other friends. But if one agrees to this arrangement of the seconds, and the other does not, the second of the disagreeing principal only withdraws. 9. If either principal on the ground refuses to fight or continue the fight when required, it is the duty of the second to say to the other second: "I have come upon the ground with a coward, and do tender you my apology for the ignorance of his character; you are at liberty to post him." The second, by such conduct, stands excused to the opposite party. 10. When the duel is ended by a party being hit, it is the duty of the second to the party so hit, to announce the fact to the second of the party hitting, who will forthwith tender any assistance he can command to the disabled principal. If the party challenging, hit the challengee, it is his duty to say he is satisfied, and will leave the ground. If the challenger be hit, upon the challengee being informed of it, he should ask through his second, whether he is at liberty to leave the ground, which should be assented to. CHAPTER VI - Who Should Be on the Ground. 1. The principals, seconds, one surgeon and one assistant surgeon to each principal; but the assistant surgeon may be dispensed with. 2. Any number of friends that the seconds agree on, may be present, provided they do not come within the degrees of consanguinity mentioned in the seventy rule of Chapter 1. 3. Persons admitted on the ground, are carefully to abstain by word or behavior, from any act that might be the least exceptionable; nor should they stand near the principals or seconds, or hold conversations with them. CHAPTER VII - Arms, and Manner of Loading and Presenting Them. 1. The arms used should be smooth-bore pistols, not exceeding nine inches in length, with flint and steel. Percussion pistols may be mutually used if agreed on, but to object on that account is lawful. 2. Each second informs the other when he is about to load, and invites his presence, but the seconds rarely attend on such invitation, as gentlemen maybe safely trusted in the matter. 3. The second, in presenting the pistol to his friend, should never put it in his pistol hand, but should place it in the other, which is grasped midway the barrel, with muzzle pointing in the contrary way to that which he is to fire, informing him that his pistol is leaded and ready for use. Before the word is given, the principal grasps the butt firmly in his pistol hand, and bring it round, with the muzzle downward to the fighting position. 4. The fighting position is with the muzzle down and the barrel from you; for although it may be agreed that you may hold your pistol with the muzzle up, it maybe objected to, as you can fire sooner from that position, and consequently have a decided advantage, which ought not to be claimed, and should not be granted. CHAPTER VIII - The Degrees of Insult and How Compromised. 1. The prevailing rule is, that words used in retort, although more violent and disrespectful than those first used, will not satisfy - words being no satisfaction for words. 2. When words are used, and a blow given in return, the insult is avenged; and if redress be sought, it must be from the person receiving the blow. 3. When blows are given in the first instance and not returned, and the person first striking, be badly beaten or otherwise, the party first struck is to make the demand, for blows do not satisfy a blow. 4. Insults at a wine table, when the company are over-excited, must be answered for; and if the party insulting have no recollection of the insult, it is his duty to say so in writing, and negative the insult. For instance, if a man say: "you are a liar and no gentleman," he must, in addition to the plea of the want of recollection, say, "I believe the party insulted to be a man of the strictest veracity and a gentleman." 5. Intoxication is not a full excuse for insult, but it will greatly palliate. If it was a full excuse, it might be well counterfeited to wound feelings, or destroy character. 6. In all cases of intoxication, the seconds must use a sound discretion under the above general rules. 7. Can every insult be compromised? Is a mooted and vexed question. On this subject, no rules can be given that will be satisfactory. The old opinion, that a blow must require blood, is not of force. Blows may be compromised in many cases. What those are, much depend on the seconds. END (c) Copyright 11 December 2003, Sandra K. Gorin Colonel Sandi Gorin SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html SCKY surname registry sites: http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyclinto/reg.html http://www.rootsweb.com/~kyclinto/forms/SCKYreg.html Gorin Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/