New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-12-19
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT,
Christian Fatbero VS.. Modern Diyines.

10 TIC Editor Of TIE tribune
The views OF some modern dyines upon Capt
raj Panishmen, and the;r effort. TO preserye the
sanctity of the Gallows, are so well known that
no. one word of explanation is necessary to the
purpose OF this article Il Is proposed to show.
f,on the records Of the Church, what views and
pcti2n some OF the most eminent OF the early Chs-
sans took in reference 70 criminals condemned to
death quote from B inghanas Antiquities of the
Christian Church" because K has been held as OF
tbe highest authority ne cives more full ard cir
camstartial account Of the affairs Of the early ages
Of the Church than Riddle or any writer have
ever seen.
Book II. chap ;. lvoI / pr. aa-4oisst London ed
ton, on the privilege OF Bishops to intercedc for
criminals. he says Il have Observed N the iore-
going chatter that Bishops we're never allowed to
be judges in capital or criminal causes because
no, ,ere not TO be concerned in blood they were
tobe 90 lar from having anything do in the death
of anv man. that custom made 1t 8 piece Of their
Office and duty to save mon from death, by inter-
cedinq TO the secular magistrates for criminals that
zero condemned TO die Many instances are
gwen Of such intercession by 81. Ambrose 81
Austin and others 1t finally carnC 70 re high
consideration ia the election Of 4 Bishop whether
ne had this active benevolence strong case IS
cited BIZ SidoniGs Apol.iaaris w hen 1t vas
made an objection b. the people against the cleo
tion Of certain bishop, that being man Of monk
;sh and retired life, he was filter 10 be abbot
thar bishop he might intercede they said. m
deed nth the heavenly Judge Tor their souls bat
No vas not qualified TO intercede with the earthly
indges for their bodies Men can stand still and
,-aJ to heaven but 1t requireE 0c'ire beDs~Qence
70 procure earthly assistance J. may be added
hat they never interceded IN ci,il matters abd pc
c1niery eases
10 good men in the Catholic church says s. aus
in are pleased 10 lave any one. although lie be
heretic prosecuted unto death. he farther saws
m 4 letter TO one Donatus, prcconsnl IN Africa.
raf he only desired the coTgcctt4n of the criminal
and for this reason wanted idm t. live. There
tore punish Their crimes in such manner. that
the authors may continue IN beng to repent Of
them" Let 1t not seem vile and contemplate
IN YOUR eyes, that who pray 10 God to correct
them, intercede with you not to XIII them There
Is much more OF the same
The same earnest entreaties made 10 Mar
cellinus the tribune, in behalf Of some Dona.ists
who confessed themselves guilty ofmurdering some
u TIE Catholic clergy ." beseech Won let their
punishment be short o. death, though their crimes
be 50 great A farther cnrreaty is made for them
through the proconsul, aud the privilege desired
that the prisoners might no. be executed till word
could be sent to the Emperor for his clemency.
st. Austin urges the same arguments on another
cellinus, by all that is sacred.
not to proceed to the utmost extremity against some
Circumcellions and Donatist clergy, who
cted OF numbering two Of hs presbytcrs belonging 10
the church of Hippo after having first barbsrously
struck an eye and cut oft tie finger OF OF them.
am under the greatest concern imaginable, says he
lest your Highness should decree their punishment by
the utmost severity of the law 10 make them suffer the
came things that they have done. Therefore bescech
you in these letters by the faith which you have in
Christ by The mercy Of the Lord Jesus that you nci.
IL - L.. a 81.
might excuse ourselves from their death. iorasmuch as
twas not by any accusation Of oura but by the intor
nation OF trose who have the care oil preserving the
public peace, tHt they were brought IN question yet
;e would have the passions Of the Of God
be revcn Ped with the like punishments as il By
way of retaliation Not that we are against depriving
wicked of the liberty OF committing such villanous
acons but because We rather think II sufficient without
either killing them, manning them in any part of thc
body 20 bring them by coercion OF the laws from these
mad and turbulent practices. TO live peaceaby and so
berly or at least instead OF these wicked works to en-
sage them in some useful employment He yet again
more pathctcally urges the same matter Aprin
gus another African judge. in these very aicctionstc
and moving terms pleading for mercy toward the
Circumcelions am afraid lest they, who have com.
Tntted this murder should be sentenced 10 death by
your power. That this may not be done iha,.am
Christian boseech you the judge that am bishop eS
hort you that Christian. know the apostle says
Ye bear not the sword in vain bat ministers God
10 execute wrath upon them that do evil But the
1.-THE State s thing, and the OF the Church
another The administration Of that he State) is to be
is to be commended by her clemency. Then. using
several arguments he adds little after II nothing short
Of death could be imposed upon them for part
had rather they should be set at liberty than that the pas
sons of our brethren should be revcnged by EMBEDDING
the blood Of their enemies But now, since there i5
room both show the gcntcncss OF the church, and
also 10 restran the audscousncss OF the cruel why
should you not incline to the more providcnt side and
niider sentence, which Judges have liberty TO do
IN causes where the church is not concerned There
fore stand in with us OF the judgment OF God the
Flth hey demonstrate
your mother For what you do, the church does, for
whose sake you do il, and whose you that do it.
Therefore contend and vie goodness with the evp
They BIZ monstrous nhumanity aud wickedress tear
Of the members from the living body do you in mercy
cause their members which were exercised in such
barburous works 10 remain whole and untouched il
them thst they may hcncciorh TO WORK some
useful labor. They spared not the servants OF God
preaching reformation 10 them, but do YOU spare them
that have been opprcheudcd in their crimes spare them
chat have been presented 10 your examination spare
hc that have been convicted before you They with
the sword of unriehteousness shed Christian blood do
vou withhold even the lawful sword OF Judgment from
being imbrued in their blood They slew the minlsieroi
the church and thereby deprived him OF the tine %.
living do you let the enemies OF the church iTe and
thereby Grant them time oil repcntnc Thus 4: he.
comes Christian judge TO act in the cause OF the church
&. request at sd;nonton NJ our inercession.
Other won't 10 appeal from the mildness OF the
sentence. when their enemies too iavoraoly dealt
with upon conviction but we so love our enemies that
five did not presume upon Your Christian obedience
vic shorld appeal from the severity OF your sentence
Much more Of the same sort might Dc given, bur
this is enoueh 10 show how the early Christians
.elt and acted toward criminals convicted OF CAPT
tal offences. The names ot such men rs Angus
tine Ambrose Chrysostom AtianRSlus, Austin
and even the cruel Tertullan are associated with
such clenencv toward criminals. WI some mod +
en Doctors OF the Church oter their apologies ior
adopting different course from these eminent men
Q. the earlier Church H.
Azs-.e----.-.-a..ss