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