New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-11-22
The Paa5shrnen, of Dea.4 Defended.

end OF that unfortunate ndh 80" s.
make some remarks upon the SUBJECT Oh o0p.S'''
Punishment to which wish to ealyoar attention.
7 ,,.,, ,oru observed, and been much gratihed
with the high tone of moral sentiment winch
Ia. so uniformly characterized your Ldito-
rails and regret that you should entertain what
think is so clearly an erroneous opinion, on that
subject. No matter how sincere or forclble may
be your views, if they accord not with the D'rane
Lar, they will hot prove satisfactory TO those OF
vour friends who believe in the Bible
eve will hope that this tragedy in ali its pro-
portions, has done much to hasten the abolition Of
the Punishment of DEATH" is one of your express
sions. Ard again, you ask, "What has been the
influence of the Punishment o: Death in this case ;
! What moral effects have been produced by its ex
istence? Have we not seen the community dvi-
ded-not equally, indeed, but still divded-with
| regard TO the Justice Of the sentence r.
! do not consider these questions legitinlately
asked of the Public by any one who believes in a
higher Authority than merely Public opinion
| With such an enc the question should be simply
this (: as it Divine command - If it is, then
| the subject allows OF no argument whatever, to
/ its beneficial results upon the community. We are
bound TO obey it and although we cannot always
solve every mystery, still must believe that an
ALL-WlsE Being would never enact Laws that
! were less rational than mems.
Are not the opinions of the community divi-
ded-not equally, indeed, but still diyided'-on
| many OF the other Laws of God Has not the
Adjustment Of the laws and sacred obligations of
Marriage; its advocates Do not some secls
cntend strongly against the rights Of property,
without which there can be no stealing thereby
ab<,rh he ~,
And would you argue against the wisdom of these
Divine commands Lam cen6den, that you would
not. And yet neither of these laws has higher
authority than the of which you advocate the
4bolishment.-'. Thou shalt not kill which our
Saviour in quoting stated to be Thou shalt do
no murder" has, on account of its enornity, It's
penalty affixed; as though the Great Law Giver
would not trust the punishment due to its viola
lion, to the changeable, shortsighted and uncer-
tain enactments OF men. He that smiteth man
50 that he dies, shall be surely put to death"
Some may contend that this was given as mere
Jewish com mand, and therefore not now binding
But This is readily answered. For when God sent
forth Noah and his family from the ark, he gave
aim general instructions or commands, which,
through him, must go down to all of his posterity
This is evident, because those Instructions there
svas no express or implied limit given. At the
hand Of every mans brother will require the life
Of man. Whose sheddeth mans blood, by man
shall his blood be shed, - is command as unllmil-
I'd as the human race, and as broad as are any 81
the promises of the Bible. And it was afterw ards
inserted IN The Jewish code, not aboiishing the
law as 10 all other nations, but to make that code
in itself, perfect and complete to the Jew.
And why shall the law be abolished? Merely
because men differ in their opinions to its
roI hat Itv
10 it on account of expedency; aor merely be-
,ause it was crime against human society. His
reason for it, as given by himself, was this For
in the image OF God made he Man." Who, there
Fore, has the rig ht to disregard, even question
the validity Of that reason; TO act merely as he
may think will benefit the community, or most
reconcile the conflicting opinions of men! II that
ground be TAKEN one after the other of those sa-
cred laws, with all their obligations, may glide
| away, giving place to mere expediency; and the
| Bible finally cease to be book of reference.
BIZ. the ahnli.hment of cap;tnl pnniShnae for
| murder would not long satisfy even human ideas
| justice. Let some monster, whose atrocities
shall exceed any punishment known in civilized
life, be convicted and sent to prison, and the very
bought that he yet breathes the air of heaven will
Keep alive horror and beget fear; and men will re-
oe against law, and themselves execute summary
left the mode of death to be determined by men;
and it need not be, in all countries and ages, uni
! form. In the present state of society, we may
| prolong the day Of execution, and administer the
consultations of religion. We may also exclude
| the attendance of the public. 1t is enough to
know that the penalty Of the law is duly executed
| it is knowledge of the fact--not the horrors OF
the spectacle-that cxerts sulutary influence over
| the life. But that the murderer must die By no
ience at the hand of man, is as surely binding
| command of God, as it is that " shall not
| kill" The penalty is affixed to the crime, and
cannot be annulled There is no other punish
meat schich, ,rith the sanction Of the Bible, can
be inflicted apon the acilful murderer, but DEATH.
JUSTICE.
| Reply 10 tie Adore.
Our correspondent having been allowed to state
his whole strongly as he may we shall take
room barely to hint at the heads OF our reply. They
arc these:
/. IL there be any man who feels himself Dl-
viuely commanded TO imbrue his hands in the blood
of murderer. let him do it, and take the respon-
sibility We do not; and therefore protest against
being dragged in to share the responsibility OF a
deed from which we shrink with horror.
>. Government is not founded on Divine Reeve
ation, but on the consent of men of all creeds and
opinions. 10 require community to engage in
killing men because the religious views of part
require it. is to transform Government into The
ocracy, and ultimately Hierarchy since the Cler-
gy are the virtual interpreters of the Word and
VIII OF God. Should the views of our correspond
emit be accepted as sound, Colt should have been
tried, not according to the Revised Statutes but
the Bible, and prosecuted, not by MIR. Whiting.