New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-03-16
THE TRIBUNE.
Capital Punishment.
,, Of The Tribune.

To ii. Editor OF The 7ribUae
writer. T. L. in the Courier and Enquirer yes
,s,asy who seems 10 labor under the singular de-
losiOn tha; the Eceniag Post is replying TO his
hack yomi,. whereas every body else understands
tb,, paper 10 be merely reviewing the Capital Pun
;.bnent argument. from time 10 time, triumphantly
directs your attention TO the famous syogisn' OF
cbsever, on pages 26O-262 Of the book This won
dsrful piece OF logic is as follows:
81 The punishment Of death for murder Is one that
.bas natural tendency make men Teyengefu ana e-
rocous to pervert the sense OF right ana essen 'ne
nura horror al the thought OF shedding teach
adoctrine and example helping 10 form men LOT
he commission oil murder hill,
The Almighty God established. in express terms. Tor
oson for whom he condescended 10 iegate as Hi' o"
peculiar people.
law The natural tendency of which Is TO make men re-
rsp,e,u and feroc!ous-which perverts the sense OF
,,ab ,eachcs lesson and sets example helping to
hym men Tor the commission OF murder
Mr. Cheeyers comment this syDogism is this
we care not now whether the Jewish law Is speci-
csgy binding on not; we are only defending lis
.bsAcer from the aspersons and blesphemles OF men
who If they thus teach deserve no other name, ana
whom We all hesitate to style inhdes ne hrst
or,mi,e ia taken word for word from MIR burieish's
sok The second premise is just true or false as the
ruth or fasehood OF the Bible. The blasphemous con-
clusion needs no comment
Well. then, let US try Messrs Lewis and Cheever
BY their own rule;
l. Page 207 OF their work Gays the annexation of the
punishment by death minor Cfences In codes OF law
pooriousy severe has begotten deep sentiment oil IN
ns,ce' &c. Page 2l2 says there can be no doubt
hat undue frequency et The punishment by death
,bongh It's abuse in the application 10 minor 0Jeces does
Inevitably tend To lower the estimate of human lie both
ii the view of the criminal and OF the community"
Pare 2l3 ssys by putting this crime (murder) or
syel with others, tempt man 10 commit II tor the
zane inducements.
But the punishment of death for minor 9Dences,
some thirty or forty in number all inferior to muir
Der IS kidnapping, eating leavened bread during
Passover suffering an unruly to be NJ liberty if he
kill witchcraft, idola,ry, sodony, violation OF the
Sabbath adultery, cursing OF parents, basphemy,
asurpug the sacerdotal functions &c. &c. &c. was
one which the Almighty God established, in express
terms for nation for whom he condescended 10
lessale as his own peculiar people.
s. Therefore the Almighty Gcd established, &c.
laws which. "annexing the punishment of death 10
minor offences, have begotten deep sense of in
JUSTICE which inevitably tends 10 lower the esti-
Mate Of human life both in the view of the criminal
and the community and which, putting murder
Opa level with ether crimes tempted "mcn to
commit for the same inducements
1--WE care not &c "The first premise is taken
word for word from" Mr. Cheever. The second
ust as true or false as the truth or falsehood ofhe
Bible The blasphemous conclusion needs no COM
nent Yours, BIGoT