Honor, Politics, and Vigilantism

I. IntroductionII. Honor

A. Notions of ManhoodB. The Implications of Political SpeechC. Honorable Men of Politics

III. ViolenceA. BrawlingB. DuelingC. Revenge Killing

IV. LawA. The Law of Public OpinionB. The Unwritten LawC. North v. South

Introduction

The Caning of Sumner, May 23, 1856

Manhood

Political Speech

• 127 episodes of journalistic combat, 1782-1860

Honorable Men

• Andrew Jackson

• Sen. Thomas Hart Benton

• John M. Daniel, Richmond Examiner

Brawling

• William P. Darnes versus Andrew Jackson Davis

Dueling

• James Watson Webb, New York Courier

• William Graves (KY)

• Jonathan Cilley (ME)

Revenge

• Daniel Sickles shoots Francis Barton Key, 1859

Law of Public Opinion

The “Unwritten Law”

Sickles jury

North versus South