Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-11-23

FIom the vergennes vermonter.
CAPITAL RUNIsH16EfIT.

To the Editor In contemplating the
infliciion of a capital punishment, the
thought that strikes the mind with over
whelming force is. the Immortality Of the
soul. That the being whose natural life
is about TO be cut off By an act of his fell
low men has soul that is to lire hrouh-
ozt Eternity-tha, the endless happiness
or intefminable misery OF that soul de-
pends upon its character while yet con-
nectcd with its bodily tenement-that 1t is
destined forever 20 enjoy the blissfal So
ciely of Angels and the spirits OF just men
made perf.cl, or doomed 10 be the cease.
less companion OF devils in the regions Of
darkness and despair, according as its
state may oe when the mortal puts on i'm
mortality Almost the entire population
OF these United States, who are capable of
formingany religious BELIEF, profess 10 hold
these sentiments; and also that the grand
object OF the benevolent Creator in placing
man in this state OF being is, TO give him
an opportunity to prepare BY course Of
moral training, for the inconceyable fell
city which is the reward of sincere repent
nnce for past errors aid future faithful
obedience TO the requirements of the Di-
vine law: and that consequently, whatev-
or may be our duties and responsibilities
growing out Of The various relations we
hold to our fellow creatures, we are ever
10 bear 10 mind this primary OBJECT Of our
present state OF existence. both as it re-
CARDS ourselves AMI others and our high.
est wisdom, as well as our most important
duty is to direct our uniiring and vigiant
efforts. in our own behalf and in behalf Of
our fellow Creatures 10 this great end in
asndch as all the temporal Interests of the
Universe are not 10 be compared with the
Eternal destiny Of single immortal soul.
And yet while protesting all this men will
presume 10 cut the thread Of life and send
an immortal soul to its 6nli account, red
with the blood Of n fellow man and load
ed with an accumulation of guilt sufficient
10 crush il 10 the lowest depths OF eternal
misery. What responsibility FIR falble
man 10 assume Thus 10 wrest from the
hand of Jehovah the prorogative o: deter
mining TO every human being the leng h
oi his probation Thus TO interfere 10 the
arrangement Of his government and irus.
lrale if possible. mis- designs in regard TO
the most important relation existing be-
tween uIlu utlu UlS
1t is said in reply 10 considerations like
these "that they are true and worthy oil
all the importance here attached to them,
and because Of their truth uni importance
is Capital Punishment insisted on-Tha
because Of the value Of human life and Of
the awful consequence which may follow
from cutting il off prcmaturely, is this
protection to it made nccessary.-That i
is better tha. one murderer should perish
Than that whole community should b.
endangered that bis escaping this penal
" would encourage crime, while his exc
culion would exert saiutary restrain
over other vicious persons which no 9th
or form Of punishment would effect"
This. however, is begging the preston
and that too in the face both Of phiIosoph
aud facts. have endeagored to show. i
the course of.lhe discussion with whs
success, leave your readers 10 Judge
that Capital Punishmenls in this counir
do no, and cannot from The nlture OF III
case AMI the state Of public opinion affor
adequate protection TO human life; and
have produced evidence Of nature whlc
cannot be doubted and of character ID;
will not be questioned, to prove that u
mitigation cf the criminal laws of otht
countries has been attended with increase
salty to life. Ii this be true land it It
not, should like 10 be shown the lallac
of NV arguments or the error OF the ties
mony with which | have endeavored
sustain my positIon,) how can this plea
be urged in Justification Of an act fraug
with such tremendous const quences 2
l.. ~ II
would be less secure without the Capt.
Punishment Of the murderer. the arg
ment in favor of its abolition arising fro
the immortality and incstimable value
The soul remains good; far if The fulu
state Of man is the object Of paramount
terest, every other consideration sinks
10 insinnifcance before il j; and there
every reason 10 suppose that the soul
the assassin is more unfit for the III
change than that cf his victim. Al lie
zee knotc the murderer is not prepared
30, ani 90 nc must, withou. any rel
.nce 10 his repentance, within the sh
period allotted him by his earthly tril
nal, and in respect to his victim. we CT
not know in oil cases whether he is 9
parsd. or not. There is. certainly, e.,
CT reason 10 hope in the case Of The desr
ed than in that Of the destroyer.
Another argument against Capital p
ishment, which, ]. appears to me, sho
press with weight upon every one VIII
liable to be engaged in carrying out
provisions of The law ia relation TO
subject is the Juilibility Of all human
bnnais. and the pAecrtainly ofknman
fim0ny This fallibilny Of Judgment
this liability 10 error in weighing The T