New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-11-26
CAPITAL Punishment.


The opponents of Capital Punishment are com
mencing their prcmonitory skrmshnC. Doubtless
when they hive got up sufficient amount OF steam they
will DC met they have been, 20 thc- hearts
tent. Our attention is. for the present called TO
notice in Tuesdays Tribune, of late article ascribed 10
Leonard Bacon d. D. This writer, il is said, entirely
repudiatcs the idea that Capital Punishment must be in
fctcd because supposed 10 be commanded in the Bible
and also charges that Chccver and Lewis have both be-
traycd the cause they protested to defend
ofcoursc, the writer Is highly praised for his candor
and is declared TO be just the kind OF opponent the enc
mics OF Capital Punishment would be glad 10
meet Now it is certainly not little singular that those
who have surrendered the cause TO the adVersarics
should be those adversaries objects OF such un,irng
maignty, and should he visited with hostility so much
beyond what is manifested toward opponents from
whom us it is pretended, there is much more to be
feared IL is also strange tina, the arguments which
ARE regarded enenly's weak points. much so
lhat insist upon them is betrayal OF their cause
should be- the very arguments which ever produce the
most ducrns in the opposite camp and ever call iorh
the principal and most violent resistance.
How clearly has the course OF this contest ever shown,
that opponents of capital punishment regard the oN
pediency view alone (wlchcr justly or not we do not
inquirer from which they anticipate little
trouble ii they only get rid OF the Scriptural
grounds ana those kindred ideas winch are connected
with the true doctrine ot rer5uuOn divine and hui
man government. Not that would in the least III.
sinuatc, that this defence OF CapuM Punishment IRON
cxpediency has not overpowerng force when placed IN
the scale against opposing eNpcdences but because the
advocates OF the other know ana ee IN ttclr
souls and conscieuceS that II derives this very force
from its With those higher considerations
against which their chic hostility ~ directed and that
severed from them il dies ike branch cut from its
neurshng aud supporting root Al AL events whether
Justly or not they do feel thus and cannot disguise II
Hence those hattering descriptions OF candor &c 10
ward the honest adversary who will ease their minds by
giving up the Scrptural argument and accounoaauus!
coming upon their ground, the highest principle
both OF divine and human law.
The Theological school that thus maintains eNpedcn'
.1
sac circum sances) TO be the highest ground OF punish
mcnt under the Divine law instead OF an absolute, m
;,iasic and eternal demer-such school, we say WILL
OF course De compmened by that class oil reisonists
who are well known be- the principal opponents OF
Capital Punishment. These latter feel that they and
their candid opponents are not lar asnndeT ana maj
the consequence from these premises land inevitably
on their own views OF the ultimate nature OF all thst i
STYLED law aud punishment in the universe. They ee
comfortably assured that this hypothesis and by this
school, John Fosters argument IN respect 10 future pun
ishment be successfully resisted Hence the
great admiration of such odRdta opponents, and their
undisuised dislike OF those who t;o1oie them WIZ me
Scripurl declarations the doctrine OF an GsosAe
and intrinsic rcribuon lying a. the basis oil every
thing which claims TO nc, IN any sense inorsi power"
AS furnishing short the only sur foundation even ioF
u true preventive and Informative cNpedeicy.
Experience has most Abundanty shown that there Is
nothing of which the enemies Of Capital punishment
are so much afraid the Bible argument ms Is II
matter about which there be no deception. They
NAV talk as they please about having betrayed the
cause but they ever find it impossible 10 disguise the
real feeling with which they welcome their edRdnf OPP
ponentS their conviction thai those who insist upon
the Divine command and the doctrine OF reriouton on
which grounded do touch the very core oi the ar
sueni ana are actually defending the very citadel
sSins. which their most hostile attacks are ever direct
I'd. CONSISTENCY.