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the laws of the land are a nullity-every man must trem ble, and walk softly, and speak softly; lest he implicate his neighbour's honour, and jeopardy his own life. Duelling will become as common, as irremediable, and as little thought of, as assassination is in Spain, in Italy, in South-America.

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Then, indeed, will the descriptions of the prophet be hor ribly realized. "Judgment will be turned away backward -justice will stand afar off-truth will fail in the streets, "and equity be unable to enter. Yea, truth will fail, and "he that departeth from evil, will make himself a prey." None will call for justice-Revenge and murder will be the order of the day. "We shall grope for the wall as the blind-we shall stumble at noon day, as in the night-we shall be in desolate places as dead men!”

Can you sit and calmly await the approach of these evils? Will you bow your necks to the yoke? Will you thrust your hands into the manacles preparing for them? What if these evils may not be realized in your day-have you no regard to posterity? What if never, every man, woman and child will fall in a duel-is there nought to be dreaded in the sword, or pestilence, or famine, because they do not extirpate our race?

11. The facility with which this evil may be suppressed in the way proposed, will render us for ever inexcusablewill constitute us partakers in the sin, if we do not make the attempt.

There are, indeed, many duellists in our land, and many half-apologists for the crime, from whom no aid is to be expected. There are many, too unprincipled, and others too indolent, to be engaged by considerations of duty and there are some, and even professors of religion, whose strong party prejudices, and political attachments to such men, will be liable to steel them against conviction, or impel them to make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. But after all these deductions, there are yet remaining multitudes, thousands and thousands, whose abhorrence of duelling, though diminished by the frequency of the crime, is still sufficient to overwhelm its abettors with infamy.

Nothing is necessary to awaken and embody in one formida ble phalanx of opposition, a vast majority of the state, the great mass of our plain and honest people, but to place the crime in its horrid aspect, and fearful connexions, full before them. Only let them see, and they will feel-Let them feel, and they will act-will hurl indignant every duellist whom they have elevated, from his eminence, and consign to merited infamy every one who shall solicit their favour. Nor is it impracticable thus to exhibit the subject. Ministers of different denominations, all united, would be able to effect it perfectly. Let each, in his appointed sphere, make due exertion to enlighten his flock, and the fire of indignation will soon begin to blaze through all the state. And if beside such exertions further efforts should be needful, the newspaper, the magazine, and the distribution of small tracts on the subject, may be enlisted as auxiliaries.

Nor can any reasonably object to such conduct on the part of ministers; nor will any one probably attempt it, who does not for himself or some favourite, fear the consequences. Our obligations are most solemn to lift up our voice, and to put forth our exertions against this sin. Our God calls to us from heaven-The damned call to us from hell-The blood of murdered victims, from the ground lifts up its voice, and mingles with the cry of the widow and the fatherless-the prophets, by their example; our saviour, by his; and the apostles by theirs, forbid us to be silent, or inactive.

It is in vain to cry out "priest-craft" or "political preaching." These watch-words will not answer here. The crime we oppose is peculiar to no party; it is common to all. It is a crime too horrid to be palliated; too threatening, to be longer endured in officers of government. Any political effect of such exertion on our part, will be a consequence merely, and not the object of our exertions; small also and momentary: and were it to be great, it would not be our fault, or alter the course of our duty. If we may not denounce duelling, because men of political eminence are guilty of the crime; because the enlightening of your

consciences would affect an election; every crime, wil soon find a sanctuary, in the example of some great politician. Our mouths will be shut-we may not whisper the guilt of crimes; lest, awakening your consciences, it should produce some political effect.

It is practicable then, and it is the duty of ministers, to awaken the attention of their people, and arouse their just indignation, against criminals of this description. Nor will it be difficult for the people, once awake and engaged, to effect their purpose.

If only the members of christian churches become deeided in their opposition to duelling, it will produce a sensation through the state. The votes of professing Christians, of different denominations, are too numerous and important to be thrown away. And will not the churches awake? Will professors of religion, a religion commanding, "Love your enemies," and breathing "peace on earth, good will to man;" uphold deliberately, and encourage by their suffrage, the practice of duelling? On this ground only, a formidable stand may be made.

But the churches will not be left to stand alone. In every district of the state, there are multitudes both conscientious and patriotic, whose zealous co-operation may be expected. Voluntary associations may take place; correspondences be established; and a concert of action formed. Representatives may be chosen in reference to this thing; as they have often been for points of far less moment. And from such a legislature, may emanate a council of appointment, breathing the spirit of the people; and prepared with stern justice to exclude from the honours and profits of office, those who now, by connivance and artifice, evade the law: and even should the contest be more arduous. If, in the tempest of an election, all these arrangements should seem to be swept away; and religion, and conscience, and patriotism, to be lost in the delirium of passion; are there not in every church, and in every congregation, a chosen few, who would brave the storm? Whom no sophistry could deceive-no influence bend, and

no passion move from their purpose? Are there not in every parish, at least ten righteous persons, to avert the curse of heaven and commence a reformation? But ten persons, in every congregation in the state, would constitute a weight of influence ultimately decisive. In a government like ours, where a state is often almost equally divided, a few thousand votes are too precious to be lost. When, therefore, it comes once to be known that the fighting of a duel is a serious blot upon the character of a candidate; and that in every district and in every town, there are considerate and conscientious people who will not vote for him; parties will not risk their cause upon the shoulders of such men. Duellists will become unpopular can'didates, and such men will be selected as shall merit, and insure your suffrage.

Even the county of Suffolk, is able, if disposed, to throw into the scales an important weight of influence against duelling. It is one of the oldest counties in the state-extensive, populous, united, and distinguished by its veneration for religion, its strong attachment to liberty, and the honest and peaceable deportment of its inhabitants. It embraces few, if any duellists, or friends of duelling. Ministers, magistrates, and people, all, it is presumed, think alike on this subject. And beside these advantages, it has often, in contested elections, been looked to, and may often again be, as holding in some measure the balance of the state. With these advantages, it may speak and be heard. Let it be known that even one county will not uphold despotism and murder, and the names of DESPOTS and MURDERERS will no longer disgrace your tickets of suffrage. The fighting of a duel will become a disgrace, a millstone about the neck of aspiring ambition.

You have often lamented the prevalence of duelling, but have not known how, as individuals, to do any thing to arrest the evil. Now, you perceive what you can do. The remedy is before you. It is simple, and easy, and certain. And if you do not apply it; if you continue to vote for duellists, and thus to uphold the crime; you are partakers in

the sin, and accountable for all the evils which will ensue, and which you may now so easily prevent.

Finally, the appointment of duellists to office, will justly incense the Most High, and assuredly call down the judgments of heaven.

Duelling is a great national sín, With the exception of a small section of the union, the whole land is defiled with blood. From the lakes of the north, to the plains of Georgia, is heard the voice of lamentation and wo; the eries of the widow and the fatherless. This work of desolation is performed often by men in office; by the appointed guardians of life and liberty. On the floor of Congress, challenges have been threatened if not actually given, and thus powder and ball have been introduced, the auxiliaries of deliberation and argument. Oh, tell it not in Gathpublish it not in the streets of Askelon! Alas! it is too late to conceal our infamy. The sun hath shined on our guilt, and the eye of God with brighter beams surveyed the whole. He hath surveyed, and he will punish. His quiver is full of arrows, his sword impatient of confinement. Ten thousand plagues stand ready to execute his wrath. Conflagration, tempest, earthquake, war, famine, and pestilence, wait his command only, to cleanse the land from blood; to involve in one common ruin, both the murderer and those who tolerate his crimes. Atheists may scoff; but there is a God: a God who governs-an avenger of crimes-the supporter and the destroyer of nations. And as clay in the hand of the potter, so are the nations in the hand of God. At what instant he speaks concerning a nation, to pluck up, to pull down, and destroy it; if that nation repent, God will avert the impending judgment. And at what instant he shall speak concerning a nation, to build, and to plant it; if it do evil in his sight, he will arrest the intended blessing, and sen forth judgments in its stead. Be not deceived-The greater our present mercies and seeming security, the greater is the guilt of our rebellion, and the more certain, swift, and awful, will be our calamity. We are murderers, a nation of murderers, while we tolerate and reward the perpe: