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