The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-04-19
I,,,t least the gen.

ceptlon TO ms, rs lie doeS 10 ever.
thing else, it will probably be necessf
ry to ascertain. il possible what killing
means. AS ! understand it,, to xiii.
mems to Mke life. Now if Philos o
any other man can show wherein hang.
ing is not killing or taking life, then
and MT till then, will it be agreed to
that "lhou shalt not kil'' was intended
not for the ruers but for the ruled. Ii
it was given 10 Moses, only for the oh
servaLce OF those over wirim lie had
the immediate control, why was it MOI
couched in language similar 10 that 10
Exodus and other places, which says.
"thus shalt thou say unto them.' VIII"
did the Almighty mean when he SAID
"th0u?' Who dare say that it was moi
intended for all! What consistency
would there have been in the Supreme
Ruler of the Universe giving the rulers
power 10 kill and withholding that pow-
n from the great miss OF m lnklnd?
That the passage OF scripture here
lbove quoted was intended for all, is
Omitted hy all believers; while the one
in Genesis is objected to by the great
mass OF mankind. But are there not
sufficient texts of scripture in the New
Testament, to show that we have not
the right to take the life Of fellow
being?
The gentleman seems to have q par
ticuar hankering after Jewisms. Again
ne says that they, during the time then
government was pure Theocracy.
punished four different crimes with
death, and concludes therefore that il
was light then and is light yet. | am
Of opinion that he has run into yer!
great difficulty here. .or if justice de-
manded that different crimeS.then should
be punished with death. and justice acts
the same in AL ages of the world. it fol-
owsas necessary consequent that
there are at least four different crimes
in this age nf the world, which deserve
to he punished with death. think !
would not hazard any thing in saying
that it was left fur his very sagacious
gentleman of the nineteenth century
to make this discovery, who will have
the glorious privilege Of enjoying the
whole benefit OF it himself. But before
leave this part of the subject, would
ask, what is the language OF Christ III
the New Testament, relative to MoSp
ruSt0ms Of the Jews? He says, "yuu
have heard that it hath been said, an
eve lor an eve and Il tooth fur u tooth.
but say unto you that ye resist not e.
vii, bless them that curse you, d" good
to them that hate you. &C.; thereby
maniesting His condemnation Of such
practices, and ''Christ is God"
said in my nrSt communication that
punishment with death W IS contrary 10
reason, which | am challenged to p owe,
and shall in 50 doing, endeavor to show
wherein II is contrary totheir own rea-
snning. 1t has been admitted by Phi
los that it is wrong to take life in any
case except in self defence. Now il il
is ri.h, for an individual 10 take life in
self defence, it is right for nation:
for us | Stated, in my last communlca-
ton, governments cannot possess more
power than man their creator. Sup
pose for illustration, that Phlos or some
other individual. should max, an attacl;
upon me for the purpose of taking my
liie, and l., by the assistance of Il friend
succeeded in Wrestling the instrument
OF death from him, and after placing
mmnacIes upon his hands an feet,
would deliberately seIze the deadly
we pom and plunge it into his bosom.
and thus ,ake his life. would he per-
United to pass unnoticed? Or would
nol be arragned and tried? would be
seized and dragged TO dungeon, there
toawait my trial; and there is not Il
criminal code extant which would no,
find me (and justly too) guilty of man
slaughter. IND why? because ! was
not acting in self ieience. IL was not
necessary TO the preservation OF N,
own life, that should destroy his; for
) had him go in my power that it was i'm
possible for him 70 do me any harm
How viii hisapply to the law9 An in
dividual commits the attraction. crime o
murder. He is Immediately upon de
tection, arrested by the authorities o
the state and chained in cell of the
prison, where lie may he SO confinec
that there can be no earthly possibility
fhis escape, or committing any fur
: their depridalions upon society. The
!; day of trial rolls round and u jury oI
/ TWELVE men are set in judgment or
his case, wha pronounce him guilty o
/ the crime of which he stands charged
The Judge delivers the sentence pre-
| scribed by the Statute-of death!! The
: day ofexecution arvrs--the culprit j.