The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-04-02

PUNISHMENT OF DEATH FOR CRIME. a cores
pendent has handed us another communication up
on this subject and it is subject of little in
terest community, give it pubcity and If
there are those whose views differ from those of
the writer, they will find columns open for a
candid discussion of the subject .r. ...
! CuADwIcK-Having noticed in the Caledo-
nian ofthe goth March communication over The
signature OF T. relating to the subject of capital
punishments, l beg corner of your paper for the
purpose fpresenng few consid erations not there
expressed
1t appears to me that the argument of F. is ncon-
elusive. The simple fact that the life of the
derer was required under the Leviiical Law, does
not necessarily imply that Kit would be sin in us to
undertake to deal with him in any other way
The same law required the life Of the owner of an
OK which ''wont to push with his horns If
that OK should occasion the death of man. But
il will not be contended hati such case "it would
be sin in us TO deal with him in any other way -
Various other precepts and statutes Of the Levcaf
Law peculiar TO that dspensatlon, and i'm
pose no obligation upon governments and commu
mites of the present day. 1t may may not DO
oxpedient that certain provisions of that ritual
should be incorporated into statutes. The fac:
that capital punishments authorized under
|
lature TO make similar enactments but cannot i'm
pose obligation to do it.
| There grounds upon which l arrive at tho
conclusion That capital punishments for certain
crimes unsuitable, expedient, and indispensable
to the public safety. l will speak only Of the crime
of murder and possibly other need be included
And fret, as to the right of human governments
to take the life of The murderer know it is ar
gued that governments, being constituted by, and
deriving their power from the people, have no other
rig hts than those originally in the people and con
Ierred by them individuals that because in their
ndiv idual capacity the members Of The community
have not the right take life therefore they have
the right in their associated capacity TO confer
tins power upon the government, which derives its
existence and its powers from them
But Sir, assume that human governments arc
an institution Of God. The form of government
depends, or should depend upon the will of the
people, and the government should be regarded on
ly as representation 'of the people. Still when
organized it becomes institution recognized Of
God. Governments have been thus regarded since
the Pariarchal age, and the Apostle fully ,ecog-
nzes them as such-Rom. 49, IL, "Let every
soul be subject to the higher powers, for there is
power but of God the Po,ccrs Tint be are ordained
Of GOd,' &c. Hence il is obvious that human
governments sustain functions which the people,
as individuals, do not possess and cannot confer,
and that they derive these functions from the Au-
thor of Being. All admit that He who gave life
possesses the right also take it. 1t equally fol-
lows that He has the right to delegate this power
to others The enquiry hence arises, has he thus
delegated it, and to whom? Obviously, under he
Levical economy He delegated it to human
government. If he had right TO delegate this
power to 4 human government under one economy,
he might also to another under different economy
Has he done it? The Apostle admits it. OF tho
magistrate he says, "he is the minister of God,
messenger, to execute wrath upon HIM that doeth
evil" That it the design of God thus to del
egate this power to human governments is fully
inferred from His command to Noah-Gen. 8: 6,
"Whoso sheddeh mans blood, by shall his
blood be she'd The Patriarchal government
was then recognized, and the power and the duty
Of nflicting capital punishment upon the murderer
thus clearly imposed upon it.
| 1t follows that human governments, being instl
tuted by God, have the right to fulfil the object OF
their creation by enacting and enforcing such laws
as in their discretion shall conduce to the safety
and happiness of the people, provided they are MOI
inconsistent with the moral law; and that laws III"
fcting capital punishment upon the murderer are
not inconsistent with that law, but are clearly III
accordance with the Divine will.
The question reours-is 1t expedlent 10 ihii'o'
capital punishment upon the murderer, ana does
the public safety require Ill will answer ."S
question next week e.
The Quebec Gazette states that all the CANADIAN