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THE FRIEND OF PEACE,

No. I.

A SPECIAL INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES AND OMAR, AN OFFICER DISMIS-
SED FOR DUELLING.

President. YOUR countenance, sir, I think I have seen before, but your name I do not recollect.

Omar. May it please your excellency, I am Omar, the man who was lately an officer in the military service, and who was dismissed for some concern in an affair of honor. I have for some time been desirous of an interview on that subject.

P. It was painful to me, to issue the order for your removal. I had no personal animosity against you; but I had become convinced, that unless something could be done to check that needless and inhuman custom, many valuable men would lose their lives, without any service to their country.

O. I was indeed offended, when I was informed of your determination; but afterwards I took the matter, under serious consideration, and became fully convinced, that duelling is a wicked, unwarrantable custom, which occasions the sacrifice of many lives, and the distress of many families, without any benefit to community. I therefore entirely approve your conduct in removing me from office, and thank you for your fidelity.

P. I am much pleased to see in you a disposition so friendly and magnanimous. Your views of duelling are clearly correct. I sincerely wish they may become universal, that human lives may no more be sacrificed to false principles of honor. You, my good friend, now stand on fair ground to be eminently useful in preserving the lives of valuable members of society,

by an effort to open their eyes to the enormity of a custom, which has made such deplorable inroads among men of rank. No one disputes your valor, and as you have become convinced of the evil of the custom, your influence may go far towards its abolition. Only render the custom direputable, and it will wither away like a weed pulled up by the roots and exposed to the heat of the sun. Popularity is the only element in which such a murderous custom can thrive, or even live, among men of reflection. To save your fellow men from untimely death, is an object which your benevolent mind will pursue with ardor. And any aid which it may be proper for me to give, will not be withheld.

O. I thank you, sir, for the kind sentiments you have expressed. I think I should be willing to exert myself to put an end to duelling, if I could see a fair prospect of success. But you are aware, sir, that the prepossessions of many gentlemen, especially in the southern states, are very strong in favor of the custom. Should I write or speak much on the subject, I shall probably be dubbed with the title of puritan or fanatic, and bring on myself much reproach, without being able to do any considerable good.

P. A man of pure mind and benevolent heart, has little to fear from being called a puritan. As to fanatics, I am not acquainted with any persons mere deserving that name, than those who will wantonly sacrifice their own lives, and the lives of others, to false principles of honor, without even the pros pect of benefit to themselves, their families, or their country.

O. I feel the force of your remarks. I am disposed to do what I can to preserve men from untimely death; but I must rely on your patronage.

P. Of that you may feel assured, in so good a cause. I have long lamented the prevalence of duelling, but I never saw before so fair a prospect of opposing it with effect. I am determined to bear a decided testimouy against it, while I hold the presidency, by dismissing every military officer in the army or the navy, who shall be guilty of giving or accepting a chal lenge, or of instigating others to such a combat. I indeed

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