Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-10-06

to make such sensible impression Of min and 10.
lnomiDy upon the wicked and unprinciped os In
deter them from buzartling the consciousness of
crime land tho last, SO far as consistent with
most ehectually securing these results, the comfort
and reformation OF The offender"
II is worthy of notice, That tho aged fathers up.
on The bench The long tried and experienced iu-
rlsls the men whose position aud experience hest
lit them to Judge in this matter are mol found A.
mong the advocates for abolshing capital punish
ment. Such men warn us against hazording the
experiment. This scheme of cIemency common
ced with mere notionsts in philosophy. And the
community, willing TO avoid what IL mans, no
less than Gods strange work t. that Of furnishing
man, have left them to make their improv tnents
in their own way. But | cannot allow that the
benevolence which is claimed 10 actuate this
movement is genuine. II seems so partial aud
one sided, that cannot help suspecting it to be
spurious. Why is il, that the sympahies of the
friends OF This measure, ali seem to DO expended
OIL The culpri-the murderer? Why is il that we
near SO little Of The safety of the community and
of The protection which the dread of this trenen.
dous punishment affords to human lite and of
The fear OF drawing down on The whole commu-
MY the dlspeusure OF Cod on account of the
Innocent blood unrigh,eously shed, but not MON
ed ior2 Why IS all the pity of these reformers
expended on the guilty offender? is il not plain
That thus arises from too exclusive contempla-
ton OF one of the ends Of punishment
| D. 'hiru source oil prejudice against capital
punishment, arises from Mistaken pieto of The
condition Of The worid when Col gdue This latn,
" hose sheddeih mans blood, by innn snail his
blood be she'd II has been commended that this
sanguinary law was designed for rude and feru
cious age of the world, aud, though necessary and
useful then, it ought now To be laid aside aud tina,
nillder punshmens should now be substituted
adapted to our increased civilization and refine
Ineni. Lei il be remembered that this was one of
the laws given TO NoaIl at period when proba.
bly three iourths OF earll's inhabitants were pro.
lessons OF the true religion. This great iuw,
therefore, nstend of being one of the necessities
OF rude and irreligious aye, WINS given to those
who stood high in pieiy aud civilization -" 1t was
the gift OF God to IA ctrslanzed humanity" Aud
as 10 the supposed severity of the Jewish code (of
which the law above quoted was part only in a
modified sense,l it WIS lar more mild than the
present criminal codes Of the most refiued nations
OF modern Europe The Jewish code which has
been 50 much censurrd for its supposed cruelty,
never inflicted the penalty OF death for any mere
INVASION OF property save one, viz the iniquitous
INVASION and assumption Of property in mau, Ex
~: IL. I" He that siealeh a man and seiieh him.
or Vhe be found in his hands, he shall sureiy be puf
10 DEATH"
Having in some measure prepared the way, [
intend in my nexI, to examine the theological ar
gument IN favor OF capital punishment
With highest respect
Yours truly. G..