Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1846-03-28
For lie Gasett..

Aokuc uit Ndpital TuMSHmen on which
with your, permission should be happy
to make few comments through your col
umns. Its object evidently isto show that
capital punishment is a divine institution.
and as such ought not be abolished. The
article itself is well written though exceed
ingly barren and contracted in its views.
l should Judge the writer understood The
art OF style much better than that of dialec-
tics. He proceeds entirely upon scriptural
grounds; and although cannot boast OF
extensive theological lore, not having been
brought up TAT the feet Of Gamaliel,' vet
1fatter myselfas having sufficient sssmat-
tering"o biblical knowledge to expose his
errors, and thus remove tbs force of the
charge Of ,'unsodly teaching and s'rebel-
lion against God.''
Here as elsewhere see evidence Of that
infexible tenacity with which mankind
have always hung to the institutions Of the
past. But thanks to the spirit of human
ity and its bene6cent Author, the watch
word of mankind is onward! Like child
bursting into maturity and manhood, its
clothes gradually becoming out grown and
forced to be laid aside; SO society in its
progressive steps Of amelora,ion and de-
velopement is forced at times to doff its
vesture claws, manners, customs as stale
and worthless, and adopt some other more
suited TO its enlarged spirit. This change
Of raiment on the part Of society is often
attended with ''dea,h-throes," as in the
case of the French Revolution, what Car
lyle terms truth clad in hell FIRE; but the
change itself is inevitable: and why not?
Who would desire an eternal sameness
stamped upon humanity? It wonld be cen
trary to the course of God and universal
nature.
But TO the article; first. the writer
seems to think the movements OF reform
care sadly ominous Of that approaching
night" which is supposed TO precedc MI
lsniul day. Now, my good sir, we say let
it come; that blessed day is what we are
after, though it only be attained by pass
ing through boys, quick sands and very
or even shrink from that protracted night
which preceded aud gave birth 10 the glo-
rious dawn Of republican day? Verify
not, for it would have been mean and pu-
sillanimous. It is no part Of valor, wis
dom or virtue to fear or shrink from, but
rather duty TO hasten all manner Of night
when day and blessed sun light are to be
the prize.
He speaks thus in reference to the NOR
al law. 1t was originally inscribed upon
the heart of man at MS creation. The
guilty conscience Of Cain testified to the
Law" Very true; but at the same time
Heaven testified 10 the ungodliness Of cap
ital punishment. "Whosoever slayeth
Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him
seven-fold.' The law to which the con
science Of Cain testified was not that Of
strangula,ion by hemp cordage for which
the writer contends and which now exists
only by force Of desperation andfire-eyed
rage, but the retributive justice Of Gods
providential government. This law j. va
riously spoken of in Revelation. When
Simeon and Levi had committed most
diabolical and atrocious murder there was
nothing said about ropes or ."blood for
blood" but the Patriarch Jacob announced
the retribution which was to oyertake them
and their seed in the course Of Gods prov
idence. Then again, "the man Of blood
will not live out halt his days. che that
taketh the sword, shall perish by the
sword" Sc. &c., sc. And it is matter
ofhistory as well as observation that through
war, violence and blood which have ever
delaced Gods fair earth, the murderer is
sure to be overtakcn by justice and brought
TO an untimely end. We are led to sup
pose therefore that those passages which
at first would seem 10 favor the doctrine Of
death-punishment are simply declaratory
of the law or tendency of providence al
And the writer speaks again in these
words. ''It was afterwards given to I'LL
.Mankind-to Gentle as well as Jew,
through Noah, the second progenitor Of the
human race whatsoever shedeth mans
blood by man shall his blood be she'd"
Now it is true that death punishment was
an element Of the Jewish law, but to as
sign this as reason for its fitness and ap-
plication to the spirit Of modern civiiza-
ton is preposterous and unworthy Of con-
sideration. But the language Of the above
passage was delivered to Noah, '.the sec
ond progenitor Of the human race" Here
then is the writer's strong hold, if any
where; and if not here apprehend his
whole article becomes idle breath, except
so far perhaps as to subserve the use of
school boys in preparing for anniversary ef-
forts. e
1.-THE sixth verse contained in the ninth
chapter Of Genesis ever did involve com
mand. it does not prove necessarily that it
is binding as such now, for the circum-
stances which then seemed to call for such
a law have disappeared.
For some centuries after the deluge man
led wandering life. No society was es-
tablished, no government instituted, no cit !.
les built. Hence when murderer was
caught there remained the one alternative
only, execution Or rreckless liberty. I'm
prisonment was, any thing but com patible
with the habits Of pastoral life. But as
that alternative is not presented to us, it
seems highly proper the command should
be sci aside.
But further; if it be command at all,
there is unreasonable presumption, judging
from the tenor and typical character Of the
Old Tcstement that its object was to inn
. -.