Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-10-13

abrChterera than shone atthe commences !
IneHt OF that revolution. Liberty descen-
ned in the shape of an angel. Hat few |!
heeIing years have past, and the nation !
has reiaPsed into a slavery more giided |
perhaps bat certainly not less abject than
that OF he darkest ares.
I.etmy country take warning from these
instructive lessons, Let her learn thai
a. thc First sep from vir,ue is TO ruin te-
,naie fame, So one false pr.nciple. adopted
b anau ~ rawii d into 81 he evils which
time uniformly d.ve!opes, may subvert
The iairest fabric OF human wisdom.
On this subiecl. fortunately, for MS, the
opinions Of tine enlightened and liberal of
all nations, coincide in the leading prin-
q, cip!es Which ought 10 determine the con
du:l of he legislator. A few plain AK
op.s, ea,y of apprehension, have been u
niyersany received. These are /. That
the prevention of crimes is the sole end
OF government; }. That every punish
ment, wbtch Is not absolutely necessary
Ter that purpose, is cruel aid Iyvannical
act 5. hat every penalty should b.
2rpcr'ipned To ne offence.
From the leading principles, the FOL
lcw;rg differences have been drawn; !.
Tia, The Punishment Of Crimes should be
prompt hnd certain; .. That pavdons
sh9l'A Be ,a,ciy, il ever, iuIerposed; 8.
'Tha' ~ order 10 insure certainty of pa
niahmcnt aud to avoid the necessity uf
p4rs'oi,s, pnnishme0ts should rather be too
light than too severe. Facts have shewn
taa, uriers code oflaws, founded on these
PRINCIPLES, crimes have been few; while,
under sangnuary system, they have in
Ylriably become more numerous and
trooious. The Engii-h code is the most
stigoilaiy Il Lorope, and IN that kingdom
by ar more crimes are perpetraleei fhan
in amy equal population in the world.
A." ct IL eXomine," saws Mr.. Bradford
Of PeiInsY'veua. Ia very valuable tract
written so'ne years since, "rhe situation
et E"g and, where an opposite principle
!. adjusted, and where The terror cf death
Is On sil occasions resorted to as the sur.
est meaas of preventing crimes.
" Blackstone in MS commentaries stat
ed the number OF capital crimes (that IS,
Of TelcHes ous,ed of clergy at 1861
Since that time ti,ey seem II have increas-
cd: for, in vas Captl Loft enumerates
anl states hem as follows:
Fei6nes without clergy l76
rE"ln'eS W'"H ciSrGy o.
Jebo on Paws. 90.
&" Amidst .his multitude OF sanpuinary
laws, auocious crimes are very IL .one.t
aud ihc severity of the pun shmenf. nv
bcin. ia.n;,iar, is M ionrer an ohiecl of
,errcc, and by exciting hopes of mYuni-
t., ass bsc0ne ;he parent o. crimes. 81
Cannot tell" savs Or. Goldsmith, = whe.
thel II is from The number OF our penal
laws, or thv iicentionsne7s Of oar people.
that Tbs country artid show more con.
vlcts IN year no, nAi! oil The domlnions
Of Europe united" we ide'bnrn, an 90
tcii'Gsut GerR,o who ia'civ visited En-
gland assures u s.at the punishment :
d|ath IS moe 81. quenuy iu.'itlcd in Tn
G5nh, ih1o adj E"ope cog 1eT. in the
sane 5p@cc o! ths. Hone 81 IS that
executions 'u-e az the ;e'ro's hich al
tend tie.n ~ othey c"uotIcs l.vl!. prs
ne author OF 'H'r& an hrceHH0 .'Vs
Icr' 'bGr DEGREES nc situation d ta%.and
80 'f95 " y" ci''lzed nz'"n that kap"
d. h"s =" lament as We have, ihu teiIT
: ''" l''''"' W '''~ ''"N' 'tii.', 't' era