New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-03-17

q We shall be obliged TO qualify the remark
some time since made in columns in regard to
the Capital Punishment controversy, that ii is little
consequence what is said this subject go that you
keep talking We must positively except the wit
and humor expended on the side of Hanging By
Doctor of Divinity Having read the recent article
OF the Evangelist on Hanging the Gate, with that
in this weeks issue OF the paper in tacetlous
reply to Darkness Visible, we are compelled TO
give it up. that il would take an immense deal OF
such talking 10 answer any purpose one way or the
other:
LEWIS AND CHEEyER IN DEFENCE OF CAPITAL
PUNISHMENT
Tbs book bds fair TO sell extensively and TO do its
work thoroughly II We may judge from the bitterness
OF the attacks made against it. 1t IL curious crcum
stance that the reviewers of all attempting 10 spike
its guns by fierce essays the turbulence and dlaoos
NJ lis spirit. They have made it on. such demon in
carnate of book that will certainly read Il out OF
sheer curiosity 1t is much as If men should say There
cannibsl in the Museum, who ate SIX CHRISTIANS al
meal. o.,
The Star in the Tribune has risen upon this book with
the heat and passion OF the dogssar In august por
ton of the flame is borrowed from contemporary lum
naries SO as to indicate briefly the character OF the
book in quotation, which answers all the purposes OF
gument and enables the writer 10 dispense
with the labor OF preparing Il serves also LOT text
the subject mater of which divided into several heads
the Vestiges OF Creation being adduced as matter Illus
ra,ye The text is thus Its premises are Honstrous
its reasoning sophistca its conclusions absurd and It's
shirt dabolic" good text that but the main thing
considered is spirit. The review which grows out
of this text is what theological critics accustomed to
call xtual discourse but considerable latitude OF Illus
raton is allowed taking ill., besides the Introduction TO
the yestiges of Creation certain said 10 have
been imposed upon the public under the guise OF pill
grimage among the Alps The respective merits Of the
Old and New Testaments are proposed 10 be settled by
Arbitration together with the question OF the correctness
of Prof Lewiss views; and Rammohun Roy, or some
learned person. who never saw either the New Tesla
ment or Prof Lewiss Essay, is proposed as one OF the
arbitrators If the Star will make the suggestion TO the
President OF the United States perhaps for the sake of
convenience he will 10 have the Oregon question
settled at the same time the arbraors to meet in India
Some iIlnatured persons might be disposed to ask
what has all this do with Capita! Punishment or is II
fair specimen of the antiargument But they forget
our friend Mr. Greeeys important rule which that
argument is to be conducted Only keep talking,
ter oAa you say This is good rule OF agtatlng gene
ralship and it does not require much drilling the
ranks of speakers and writers may easily be kept full
constantly becoming FuUer. The maintains this
sort of discipline admirably, though not quite so well as
Mr.. Vests Mathematics concerning the increase of
thieves and murderers The mode OF argument thus
established among the AntiCapita Punishment agators
may be denomnated for convenience sake the Babel ar
gumen; form of rhetoric and logic, which will doubt
less hereafter take its place in all authentic eases on
the subject.
The book on Capital Punishment though not OF the
Babel will yet hope in spite OF all its disbosm
carry the day. The more said against it. the better
this will induce to examine its arguments. The
grand reason why furious attack is made against
It's spirit is because II exposes, with incontrovertbe
and power may be nstanced in the case OF
Prof Lewiss sylogisms, the absolute inhdety, with
which some of the Babel builders laying the stones
of their tower. Some of them have not this nhdel
spirit but are acting under the impulse OF mistaken
philanthropy Others Of them are Hcated by thorough
hatred of orthodoxy and of those eternal and mmuta
BILE principles of punishment for sin, which lie at the
basis Of revealed truth and seadfast government They
hope in building their tower hoist great gun Of
oil liant
all the puny deences OF retributve justice in the uni
verse They ought to have inner apartment in it
consecrated to the Idol of Bumps The Statue OF Aieri
with the bumps of adultery and duelng marked as his
mission of freedom to the world, would be good minor
god head the surrounding images Then they should
have Idol of Insanity the patron saint Of murder
an Idol of Moral Necessity the god Of defence against
responsibility and retributon and an Idol OF Social Dis
order with altar Of refuge and excuse for criminals
in general. The tower might be so constructed as also
hold asylum, MIR. VESTS plan, Tor ungovernaole
cerebral developments and for those who the author
of the Vesges of Creation has it, Nature having made
them villains in this world in spite OF their will
up angels in the world TO the praise and
glory of Natures compromising imparttality. Hurrah
for Progress The trumpet rings, the tide swels no
dam stay it. even for moment Hurran Hurrsh
Professor Lewis and Mr.. or DIR. Cheever will doubt
less be carried their own dam headong, Tor now
they stand such roaring nde OF Progress no man
can tell There will be Vesges left OF them In Crea
ton But it is little toe bad 10 be inveiged to ones
own destruction. That copy OF the 'eslges win tne
celebrated Introduction which the Star OF the Tribune
pds with its soft light believe furnished by our
selves when il very difficult to find one. Now We
think this is refinement in cruelty, which those who
plume themselves on their peculiar benevoence OF heart
ought TO be heartily ashamed OF 1t is bad enough 10 re-
ceive 30 dreadful castgaon; but to twist super
numerary scourge for yourself and put it into the hands
of your fair executoner when otherwise you would
have stood upon the merits of Capital Punishment alone
this is too much endure. Surely all compassion has
taken leave OF mankind.
The Star ought TO have considered, if we are such
determined hsters. how much should have hated to
be so exposed More regard ought TO have been had to
our feelings. Besides, if really has the bump OF
Hatred there is help for it. According to the author
of the Vestges have, by and by much love
as will make up for it and fair executoner ought
TO have considered The schoomen say not in esss
but in posse not are but we are 10 be; and
ought TO venerated much the germ OF such great
future goodness treat with such unbecoming impa-
tience The only posse should contemplate as likely
to befa such welldeveloped haters would be posse
corsias but the theory OF opponents prevents their
admitting the possibility of an armed and retributve
power. We not mercenary IN these matters, nor
even pecuniary but shall be well satisfied. II all
these gales of criticism make the book on Capital Pan
ishment SELL The edition is nearly all gone and ii one
more Star will rise upon it, we think it will be finished,
and then shall have opportunity to say few words
in addition.