CHAPTER III.
Duty of Challenger and His Second Before Fighting.
1. After all efforts for a reconciliation are over, the party
aggrieved sends a challenge to his adversary, which is delivered to
his second.
2. Upon the acceptance of the challenge, the seconds make the
necessary arrangements for the meeting, in which each party is
entitled to a perfect equality. The old notion that the party
challenged, was authorized to name the time, place, distance and
weapon, has been long since exploded; nor would a man of chivalric
honor use such a right, if he possessed it. The time must e as soon as
practicable, the place such as had ordinarily been used where the
parties are, the distance usual, and the weapons that which is most
generally used, which, in this State, is the pistol.
3. If the challengee insist upon what is not usual in time, place,
distance and weapon, do not yield the point, and tender in writing
what is usual in each, and if he refuses to give satisfaction, then
your friend may post him.
4. If your friend be determined to fight and not post, you have the
right to withdraw. But if you continue to act, and have the right to
tender a still more deadly distance and weapon, and he must accept.
5. The usual distance is from ten to twenty paces, as may be agreed
on; and the seconds in measuring the ground, usually step three feet.
6. After all the arrangements are made, the seconds determine the
giving of the word and position, by lot; and he who gains has the
choice of the one or the other, selects whether it be the word or the
position, but he cannot have both.
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