Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-12-07

evil doors. Itrnst he Two OF three hnn-
dred, singled out. from the mass OF New
York population BY particular invitation, !
especially the judges and civil ofticers,
will feel. the foil. weight OF the compli.
meat. During the French Revolution,
public executions seemed too slow, and
Fonquier proposed TO put the guiHoline
under cover. where patches of hundred
might be despatched with few spectators.
!" Wilt thou demoralize the gpillOtine =
asked Cabot, reproachfully.
That bloody gulllotine was an instru.
ment of IaWs as well as our gallowsi and
what, 10 the namesof all that is vllanous,
has not been established by law? The
slave trade was once honorable business.
in the eyes of that large proportion OF
mankind who have merely legal con-
science. Nations, clans. and classes, en-
gagged in fierce struggles Of sel6shness
and hatred, made laws TO strengthen each
others power, and revenge each others
aggressions., BY slow degrees, always
limidly and reluctantly kociety energies
out OF the barbarian with which it thus
became entangIed lis but short time
ago that men were hung in this country
for stealing. The last human brother who
suffered under this law,in Massachusetts,
was so wretchedly poor. that when he
hung on the. gallows his rags fultered in
the wind. What think you was the COM
parative guilt, in the eye OF God, between
him and those who hung hima Yet. it
was according to lao; and men cried out
as vociferously then as they now do, that
it was not safe TO have the law changed
Judge Mexican, governor of Pennsylva-
MIA. was strongly opposed to the abolition
of death for stealing, and the disuse of the
pillory and whipping -post He was a
very humane man. bat had the common
fear of changing old customs. cit will
not do to abolish these salutary restraints"
said the old gentlemen, to Isaac L. Hop
per; " it will break up the foundations of
society,"" Those relics Of barbarism were
banished long ago; but the foundations OF
society are in nowise Injured thereby.
The testimony from al parts Of the
loorId is incarible and conclusive, thai
crime diminishes an proportion TO the
| miLdness Of the latos. The real danger is
IN having laws on the stAtute-book at va
rance with universal instincts of the hu
man heart, and thus tempting mensto con.
tinual evasion. The e0asiOn, even of a
bad law, is attended with many mis-
chievous results; its abolition is Away.
safe.
/, But many say, "the Old Testament re
quifes blood 70. blood" So it require.
that woman should be put to death fol
adultery and men for doing work on tn
Sabbath and children for cursing thei
parents; and !" lfan OK were to push witt
his horn, in time past. afidit hatbbeen ties
Titled to his owner, and he hath not KEEP
him in, but he hath killed man or wo
man. the OK shall be stoned, and his own
er also shall be put to death" The com
mands given to the Jews, in the old dis
pensatioR, do not form the basis of any lie
gal code in Christendom. They eout,
not form the basis of any civilized code
; II one command is binding on our con
: fscience. all are binding; for they all res
: on the same authority. Those who fee
l bound to advocate capital punishment 70
: 4 murder. on account of the law given 4
Moses, ought, for the same reason, TO ia
. sist that children should be executed 70
| striking or cnrsing their parents. If on
{ "eyes were lifted up" we should see. no
) Moses and Elias, bat Jesus only.
The tone Of some of the papers with re
gard TO the infant son o! John G. Coli
: seems totally unworthy of a Christian age
{ and republican country. They talk D
his inheritance of iniamy." Becaus'
: the father has left US an awful record o
i the danger and the guilt OF nngoverne,
passions, is the innocent babe 10 blame p
/. In countries which still cling TO hered
itary rank, such remarks would be il
a better keeping. The idea they express j
7 a vestiee OF old, aristocratic times, whel
8 men. having divided the honors aud pos
e session Of the world. by physical force, ha
: a keen desire to hand down 10 their pos
: terity. with all their rank and wealth, al
q the hatred and revenge they cherishe
i toward their enemies. 1t is sentinen
a every way unworthy OF the 10Th century
) Such child has peculiar claims on tu
, man sympathy; he should be guarde
q with a more earnest love, for the sake {
J, his misfortune. $50
s i mean no extenuation Of the awfu
e crime OF John G. Colt. when | say, ths
L lhrough the whole course of this terribi
Il tragedy. he has shown the 'self-same qua
3 tiles which men admire under the nam
n Of military greatness. The stern silenc
8 with which he shut up in his own brea.
Z MS secrets and his plans; his cool sci
possession. under circumstances that woul
have crazed common brain; his Dol
e defiance ofthe law, which he regarded d
n a powerful enemy; the strong pride whic
Ie bore him up under a long imprisonment
IS and prompted him to suicide. all thes