Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-03-18
ESSAYS On
CIPlT.4L PU.tJSiI-KE.fTS.
NXrCRLIsHEB
T rrgs: he ,f,rer1c0n Daily .4dz'ert!ssr.

ing tic crfrc Of NyfnER, they zso~ld Be salts
fed. sritl1ensidfr their fretesoi. Bat soould
first mcite their candid attention 20 0 }sS, more
sen,qrks on tie qae4,ion as IL 'oz, stsnds.
Our civil tribunals n the trial of any cause,
nav great ycneration to ancient usages. and
iinmemoriai customs and especially to pre-
cedeits taken from higher courts, N similar
cases. ! can adduce precedent that is re,t-
want in the present case. which Is OF greater
antiquity, and of higher authority, than any
that Can be found in all our law reports. 1t
may be found in the reports OF Moses, the
first reporter of law cases and stands record
ed in the sacred volume for our imitation. 1t
is the trial and punishment of Cain for the
murder of his brother Abel. Cain being under
a thcocraticai fern Of government, God him.
self was the sole Judge. The Crime of muir
der charged against Cain was aggravated in
many respects. Itwas flatricidc or the killing
of brother. 1t was committed immediately
after the kindest assurances, acknowledgements
and promises, and the most solemn warnings
from God. Gen. W. It,was committed ON
a man OF real plcty and without any provoca-
ton. And it seems that by it he DESTROYED
one fourth part OF the human race then OH
earth which no nlan since his time hath ever
done. The fact was proved, not by f4liible
semi-eviGence, and uncertain conlcctures, but
be the incon;cstible evidence OF Gods own
perfect know ledge and "by the voice of his
brothers blood crying to God from the
ground" And when the Lord said unto him
" Where is Abel thy brother!" He replied,
" know not" He added to his former crime
the henious sin OF lying. had almost said
the sin OF perjury; tor we may we'll suppose,
that to utter talschood in Gods immt di:,te
presence, Oh such IN occasion, would be as he
But Cain was not content with having COM
nlittcd all these aggravated crimes he adt.td
an insulting question "aln / my brother,
kecper!' Such IN answer from, che mar TO
his equal would be deemed Hncivi! II given
IN our courts of law it would be considered 4
high contempt OF court. iiien surely such "a
answer given 10 his Cod and Judge by g gull
y culprit, when Cd tri.l for henious CRIME,
would by men, be condemned as an nr,p.seian-
able insait. The sentence Of such asiie lnur-
derer, even Ill this haif enlightened age, asa>-
baby would be. That YOU A.. B. be takea
from the pl..ce Of yourco,.t:aenlen. % ,hs place
Of execatios, and there be hangediy the neck
till ycu be dead" And perhaps for form sake
it might be added " and the Lord have mercy
On your sou,..' But it was a. very favorable
for Cain, that he did rot fail into
the hands OF men; e." Whose tender mercies
are cruelty" All the punishment Which God
inflicted Oh Cain for this aggravated MUNGER,
sras hord labor end tanisAmen.. And Cain
thought this too severe, for he said uric the
Lord "lny punishment is greater than /. can
bear" And 1t appears that God compass
his Case. For upon CAMS saving
that it will come to pass, that eye,v one
who hndcst me will STAY me- God kindly re-
liesed him not only from the danger itseH, but
also from the fearful apprehensicns of mind
he Was under. And the lord set mark upon
Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
Please TO take notice not lest he should kill
another naGr---the danger of which, even in
in this our haht lailnanized age, is urged by
many IN justification of the inhuman practice
cfputting Murderers to death. But God who
best knew the human heart, knew that the dam
ger OF killing Was On the other side and there
tore he took his measure accordingly in order
to prevent it. The mark which tie Lord set
upon Cain, whatever it may have been answer
ed a double purpose. 1t warned mankind not
to commit murder; and not to take away the
life OF the murderer. In both these respects
this mark was more efiectua!, lasting, and
beneficial warning to mankind, than it would
have been to see human being, crea1ed in
the image oi God, hanging ON halter ua,ser
2 gallows, ard expiring in, I'll the eXcrutiafine
asonieS and contortions OF violent and ,snna.
tlral death Such all awful spectacle would
doubtless give greater shock to the feelings
S sensib;ii:ics OF human nature, than the pun.
ishIhent which God inflicted on Cain, t,1f the
impression would he mon,en.arv, if no, Der,
nicious; distressing while it lasted; and
would not equally with the latter, convince
the understanding and mend the heart |
might now conclude with this exclamation.
what could God have doae more. than he
hsth done, TO prevent the effusio,,of human
blood! But am constrained to msntio1 one
thing more. =
Although the mark placed on CAIN MIGHT
answer its appointed ends, as abovemon,ionsa,
during his natural life, yet least they sheald
be forgotten after his death, and that succeed
r.