Swords Drawn

In a stack of family papers, liberated from the back of a dusty cabinet at my father’s house, I came across an official certificate dated January 11, 1823, in which some relative of mine named Jacob Slaughter of Sullivan County, was given an official military commission from the state of Tennessee.

As a historical document, it’s not terribly interesting. I don’t know who Jacob Slaughter is, how or even if he is related to me. I’m not sure why he went into the army, or what he did there. The only thing noteworthy at all is a statement printed on the back that reads as follows:

“I, __________, do solemnly swear on Holy Evangelists of Almighty God that I have not given or accepted a challenge either written or verbal to fight a Duel, nor have I fought one since the passage of an act passed in the year eighteen hundred and seventeen entitled, An act more affectually to prohibit Duelling, nor have I been second or bearer of a challenge for such a purpose; and that I will not fight a Duel, or be bearer of a challenge either written or verbal for such a purpose, or act as the second of both or either of the parties concerned in a Duel, during my continuance in office, So help me God.”

A space at the end requires an initial, which Jacob Slaughter did not provide. Perhaps because he refused the commission, or perhaps because the Anti-Duelling clause was, by 1823, a mere formality. Maybe there’s an interesting story tied into all that, maybe not. From my 21^st century vantage, I find the fact that such as proviso was necessary, even as a formality, to be the more salient point.