The Code of Honor

The Code of Honor (Or, Rules
for the Government of Principals
and Seconds in Duelling)

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Title: The Code of Honor
Author: John Lyde Wilson
Release Date: July, 2004 [EBook #6085] [Yes, we are more than one
year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on November 3,
2002]

Edition: 10
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE CODE
OF HONOR ***

This eBook was created by Holly Ingraham
Summary: Originally this was published by the author (1784-1849), a
former governor of South Carolina, as a 22-page booklet, in 1838.
Before his death he added an appendix of the 1777 Irish duelling code,
but this second edition was not printed until 1858, as a 46-page small
book, still sized to fit in the case with one's duelling pistols. This code
is far less blood-thirsty than many might suppose, but built on a closed
social caste and standards of behavior quite alien to today.
Transcriber's Note: In the appendix the term "rencontre" is used. In
British law (then covering Ireland) this refers to an immediate fight in
the heat of offense. A duel would be undertaken in "cold blood" if not
cool temper. Killing a man in a rencontre counted as manslaughter; in a
duel, as murder.
On more than one occasion, the author refers to "posting" an offender.
This refers to posting to the public a notice as to his behavior in some
central club or business spot frequented by all men of that level of
society; exactly where varied from town to town. It was the ultimate
sanction, making the challengee's refusal to either apologize or fight a
public stain upon his character.
THE CODE OF HONOR; or RULES FOR THE GOVERNMENT of
PRINCIPALS AND SECONDS in DUELLING
by John Lyde Wilson
TO THE PUBLIC
The man who adds in any way to the sum of human happiness is
strictly in the discharge of a moral duty. When Howard visited the
victims of crime and licentiousness, to reform their habits and
ameliorate their condition, the question was never asked whether he

had been guilty of like excesses or not? The only question the
philanthropist would propound, should be, has the deed been done in
the true spirit of Christian benevolence? Those who know me, can well
attest the motive which has caused the publication of the following
sheets, to which they for a long time urged me in vain. Those who do
not know me, have no right to impute a wrong motive; and if they do, I
had rather be the object, than the authors of condemnation. To publish a
CODE OF HONOR, to govern in cases of individual combat, might
seem to imply, that the publisher was an advocate of duelling, and
wished to introduce it as the proper mode of deciding all personal
difficulties and misunderstandings. Such implication would do me
great injustice. But if the question be directly put to me, whether there
are not cases where duels are right and proper, I would unhesitatingly
answer, there are. If an oppressed nation has a right to appeal to arms in
defence of its liberty and the happiness of its people, there can be no
argument used in support of such appeal, which will not apply with
equal force to individuals. How many cases are there, that might be
enumerated, where there is no tribunal to do justice to an oppressed and
deeply wronged individual? If he be subjected to a tame submission to
insult and disgrace, where no power can shield him from its effects,
then indeed it would seem, that the first law of nature, self-preservation,
points out the only remedy for his wrongs. The history of all animated
nature exhibits a determined resistance to encroachments upon natural
rights,--nay, I might add, inanimate nature, for it also exhibits a
continual warfare