Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-03-22
ESSAY ON
c5pTy,sL PU.NISHNE.hIS.
bliSHED.
No. Y.

and rucompence." Kill, ald hlahC
live" To reward obedience, to punish SINS,
and to give or take away life, is the sceptre OF
Gods kingdom. But bloed-thlsty aid asplr-
ing men, joining themselves with Gods ;
grand adversary, the prince OF the power OF
this world, have, Gf may so speak wrested
the sceptre from the Almighty, and usurped
the dominion of this world They have tlled
the earth with violence, and thinned It OF It's
Inhabitants, by scattering death and destruc-
t;on a,nonsr their fellow mortals with an un-
SHARING hand. They have sacrificed tons OF
human blood on the polluted affairs of Mo-
lock, the God of human vengeance Envy
revenge and ambition, have slain thousands
superstition and civil tribunals, tens OF thou
sands. 1t appears that God hath surrendered
TO his creatures "the power OF death ior
time : that they might fill up the measure of
their iniuuities I" But "when ne Shall whet
hls elittering sword, and his hand shall take
hold on Judgment when he shall make in
QUESTION for the blood OF al! his prophets,
martyrs and saints, and for the blood OF his
first beeotten Son, We have reason to expect
that he will include in the guilty account
nearly all the human blood that hath been she'd
by man, either in bis private, civil or ecCiesl-
astical capacity"
From, the blood of righteous Abel whom
Cain slew, to the blood OF our Saviour, whom
PLATE condemned TO death, to CRAFTY blood
thirsty mob; although, az the same time, he
declared him innocent thence to the blood
thirsty Dominic, the founder CT the bioody III
QUESTION thence to the iate bloody ieEoiu-
ton Of France and from that time to the Sc
neral Judgment Nothing but the all prevail
ing blood Of Atonement can eXplate the guilt
The civil sword, the halter, and the guillo-
tine, are deadly weapons IN the hands OF trail,
passionate and biood-thirsty man, whose
tender mercies are cruel. 1t was wise
choice which king David made, when nc
chose the sword, even the pestilence IN the
land, and the angel OF the Lord destroying
throughout all the coasts o. Israel > and SID,
Let me now fail into the hands of the Lrrd,
for very great are his mercies; but let me net
fall into the hand Of man" ! Chron. xxi. s.
The primary ends and designs OF clvl! go
Yernlnents. are the protection of the peoples
rights, and the promotion Of their happiness.
And civil government rightly established and
administered, might become an inestlmab!e
blessing to mankind. But, as it hath been ge-
morally conducted in the past ages of the
world, it hath destroyed, or eslaved great
part of our race The protection of the rights
Of the great body of the people, and the pro-
motion of their happiness, have been but lit
tie regarded. From the days of Nimrod, the
Mighty hunter Of men, down 20 modern times,
tyrants have generally usuiped the govern
ment and, with the assistance OF a few con-
genial associates, have held millions OF their
fellow men In slavery, both Of body and mind
and instead Of protecting, tEey have Tantonly
traInpled under foot, nearly all the nights OF
their subjects, whether natural, civil or sacred:
During this term, millions of the human race
have been put to death, by judicial tribunals,
only for expressing their sentiments or the
important subjects of religion, and cl"i! go
yernment. But We, who live in this land OF
light and liberty, are under TO such restraints
We are restricted, only BY the rules OF COM
mon civiiity, and decency, In the discussion
of religious, scientific or political subjects.
And we ought, diligently, to improve this sim
sular privilege, with gratitude to Heaven, and
concern for the happiness of man. We have
already made great Improvements In the SCI
ence of civil government. But something re-
mains to be done. We have vet remaining,
some SSFNllC CuStOlllS1 SOi-SSi SlNt oatho
and slavery, which have descended to US from
tvrannical governments. We have some su-
perstitious pre- udices in favor Of capital pun
/ ishments, derived from the penal laws of Mo
ses THAT were abolished at the commence
ment ofthe gospel dispensation) which ought
! to be eradicated.
To effect this, we should resort to the hrst
principles of the christian religion, and OF civil
government, and restore them to their divine
authority, and real importance We boast Of
being an enlightened and independent nation
Let US cast off our leading strings; diEes'
ourselves OF al our slavlsn habits, and super
s,itious preiudices and begin to think, speak
and act, like enlightened freemen. If our CT
vii rulers would be the first to make the at
tempt, their noble example would soon b
initiated If hey would cause our penal code:
=, be critically revised, ard 10 be made con
forn,abIe 70 the trne principles of the ohristia'
religion. reason, humanity, and liberty, the,
you'd Law a permanent foundation for or Il
sing empire, tia; might endure while TINE
lasts. By doing thus, they would contribute
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