Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-06-19
CAPITAL. RuwxsHMrNr.

We have observed for some time past cossidera-
bic discussion going 10 portion Of the public
Press Of this Country, upon the eSpedieney Of
aboiisksng capital panishmsat We are almost
inclined to say that we consider this agitation Of
the subject Of Capital paHishpest one Of the hum
bugs Of the day, which will serve its hour and then
vanish. This subject seems 10 Us TO have PERI
odical existsnce--it comes and goes again every
nov and then, and for few years we loose sgnt
Of it altogether. II lie now, however, in foil blast
and numbers among It's leaders Vice President
DALLAS. Ex-Governor moron, Rosr. J. WALK
Err, and other equally prominent men IN the coun-
rry. Such, however. has always been the case,
and vet the infection Of capt. punishment is still
recognised and re.ortsd TO by Government. We
certainly are not in favor Of the infection Of capital
punishment in minor offenses as, we occasionally
see, il done under the authority Of some Of the
old "bIue laws" sill unrepealed in this county
We think all such laws should be repealed, or
abolished wherever they are yet found 10 exist
but the infic,ios Of Capital punishment for the
crimes of murder, treason, and such other offences
Of society," should be visited with the most terrible
visitation Of the law. "Whoso sheddeth mans
blood, by man shall bis blood be shed: for in the
image of God made he man." says holy writ We
have no evidence any where in the Bible that this
law has ever been recalled or abolished by its dt
vine author. We however see many attempts BY
The advocates Of the measure to show that the in
Fiction of Capital punishment is contrary to the
will and word Of Deity expressed in the New
Testament. We profess to have read our Bible
with some care and attention, but we have never
learned any such doctrine from it; on the contrary
the express and emphatic declarations Of the old
Testament against the murderer every where
sustained by the strong presumptive evidence Of
the New Testament Foi instance, Paul, when
arrested and brough, before Fsstus, and in answer
to his question "Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem,
and there be judged Of these things before me y
he answered--'I stand a, Caesars judgment seat,
where ought to be judged: to tho Jews have
done no wrong, as thou very we'll knowest." And
again--"F For If Toe an cfender, or have commit.
ted any thing Sortay Of death, Irtuse not to die"
Here it will DO perceived that Paul's objection is
NOT to tho right to punish with death, but he ap'
peals to Cesar because he has done no wrons-he
refuses not TO die, If he has done any thing worthy
of death--thereby furnishing in his own case and
in his own declarations a recognition of the right
of Government to inlict Capital punishment in all
cases where the offence is worthy Of DEATH All are
also familiar with the case of the woman whom
the Scribes and Pharisees brought to Christ de-
handing that she be stoned to death ngreesbly to
the law Of Moses, and asked his opinion in the
case. The Saviour, it is said, heeded them not,
but after considerable importantly said to them
"He that is without sin among sou, let him first
cast a stone at her" but they being convicted by
their orn conscfences departed, and when alone
he asked the woman--"hath no man condemned
theei I" "She answered, no man had. And Jesus
said unto her, Neither do condemn thee: 60 and
sin no more" Here is the strongest presumptye
evidence possible furnished 10 The New Testament,
and by the Saviour himself. that Capital punish
ment is still recognised in the divine law-because
be does not deny the force and existence still Of
the law Of Moses, but acquitted the woman because
her accusers failed to condemn her. We might
adduce other cases from the New Testament to
meet the scriptura views Of the opponents of Cap
ital punishment, but we have not the time and
space to do so.
But, independent OF this view, we ask eui bono 7
1t is utterly impossible for human society to exist
unless there is regular graduation OF crime and
punishment. Murder of course is one Of the most
atrocous crimes that can be committed-the wan.
ton and malicious taking away of human life, and
therefore there is othet punishment equal to its
enormity but the infection of Capital puaishmsnt.
Any one acquainted with the system of our laws
nowadays well knows, that the criminal on his
trial has every advantage that wise and humane
system of criminal law can extend to him, and
thar i'll there any rational doubts whatever ex-
listing in his case he is entitled to their benefit and
an acquttal. We grant that some chance time an
innocent man may suffer, which is much to be de-
plored, but stll we cannot that such a circum-
stance is sufficient reason for genera abolition
Of the law. The advocates for the abolition OF
Capital punishment wish to punish the crime OF
murder, but they wish all "punishments moderate,
prompt ard eertain-no pardons combinations
except where facts trsnspire, proving that the
gct was innocent, or at least far less guilty than
was supposed" This will all do very well-but
we cannot see why the same ends canDot be gained
under the system of Capital punishments as now
enthusiastically they can. They also want
time for the murderer to repent Of his sins and
be hurried into eternity unprepsred. This time OF
repentance is to be found in his long years of coz
fnement in the penitentinry--but where are the
evidences of the great good of pententary reform'
If that be the ground, we think the force of argu.
mentis uih--not ogaiast-Capital punishment
The Convict knows his days are numbered, and if
ever he intends to turn his thoughts on his destiny
beyond the grave, it will be when death is staring
him in the face.
Public executions no doubt have a most demon.
alizing tendency and they should never be allowed,
it is easy matter in oil cases for the officers
Of the law to discharge the painful duty required OF
them in private. We think it would prove most
disastrous to the peace and safety Of society to
abolish Capital punishment, and therefore we op,
pose it. We see McCurry, the murderer OF Paul
Roux in Baltimore, il to be hung on the Q7th inst