The North-Carolinian., 1842-06-25
For the Carolinian.

Mr. Bayne-Are you aware that among the SUBJ
jects which render the approaching session of the
General Assembly of North Carolina one OF peculiar
interest," is, that it will be of the duties o! that
body to revise Criminal Code, so far as capital
punishment is concerned; and to decide whether in
al. any of the Stances in which off nders agains
the law suffer death, some more humane pun
ishmen shall in future be adopted? Is it not strange
that this subject seems have engaged little at
tention? That the public mind is giving utter
ance to its opinions? Aud that the public servant
is likely to enter upon the duties of his station in
the next Assembly, unnfo:med as TO the wishes
of his constituents, if this matter were then to be
sprung upon him for the first time? fer one, feei
great solicitude upon this subject. 1t is of the
hi gh privileges Of the human race that by forecast
make large provisions not only for the com
fort and happiness Of the individual but for those
Of our great family in the aggregate What is our
privilege is also our duty; and in matter involving
such temen .ous consequences as the one before us,
woe be unto the who neglects to exert his fore
cast and to give to his fellows all that it furnishes
Human language by periphrases express
the vast train OF ideas whic is let in upon the mind
h M Is s,ss wsss Pss And
nearer af,rdng US an ad.v uae conception of the
value ofe, or the awfu,nes OF death, and the utte
ins'gnfcance of all things else, earthly in compar
ison with them; and indeed he would have but
weakened the force of the impression ever made up
on the mind by the simplest uttcrance of the words
the sl ghtes reference to them. In dea linz then
with subjects Of such inefablc importance, the re-
sponsibility Of society Is superlatvely great and
that of every individual member who omits TO do
what he to effect oht conclusions will be suf-
fcient to crush him in the last day. if it poss;
bic for him then to have nothing e!.e for which to
answer. Without, then, pretending to any pecu-
| liar knowledge wisdom upon this subject, a pain
| fu consciousness of my share Of the responsibility
| though but very mite in society," will not suffer me
| to remain altogether silent, but impels me to throw
out some suggestions to my fellow citizens.
1t is admitted that neither by the laws Of God nor
Of man, betw cen individuals has one human be-
ing the right to take away the life Of another,
in the of necessary self defence, literally
pounded as it is, to include ones pcrson and
property, and that Of husband, wife, parent, child
master and servant-or when ii Becomes inevitable in
| attempting to preserve the peace. From whence
does society derive any greater authority? These
great principles unquestionaply accorded to
ciety; and ifthere be any other ground upon which
society may presume to take away the life Of one OF
Its members, it must be upon the express command
| of God through the medium of revelation. And in
deed am not aware that the Most strenuous advo-
Gates for capital punishmenls have ever just flied
them upon any other ground, than their being di-
fectly sanctioned by revelation, and the absolute
necessities of society. 1t follows, then, that if both
these grounds can he rendered doubtful and espe-
ciay if they can be entirely removed, the hair Of
ry member of society will rise with horror at the
bare proposal to continue tho sT:sm of capital pun
l :cL. A~I - :~ L. A. r
the necessities OF society calling FOR the death Of
0ender, in any case, the interest Of society would
promoted in every instance and in every way by
resort to other modes Of punishment, the obliga-
ton Of the Legislature at its session to set the
| christian and humape example Of aboshing capital
| pun shment, and adopting other appropriate
| punishment punishments in their stead, will be
| felt by ALL BECCARIA.