The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-02-20
Vol. vi.

Vol. VElo WsZ N Ioe61ssl.I mo..
and annul its sanctions. Every friend to
the law-to good, government, must ff1l be be
panied, when he sees the deliberate at
tempts that arc being made to change the
ti,ne. .hon6red basis Of its administration.
We knn orvw full well that the science Of law
will admit of Improvement; and we bid
God.speed to, any efforts that might pc
,nado to secure the more wholesome adj
ninistration ofjustice; but when the voice
Of the All.Wise God has uttered its solemn !
fiat, when Jehovah has by his own mouth !
clearly settled a principle of law and JUS
tice. Il becomes all to hold that revelation
sacred. And we would say to sucl, as
would presume to be wise above what is
written. beware! God is wiser than you
Let his record stand. Let no miscrcant
lay his sacraligious hand upon it. Break
not the tables Of stone. "For he is
Jealous God; and fhis wrath BE- kindled
but little. ,yc perish from the way,i'n
This counsel will apply with special
force to the effort now in progress every
where over our country to abolish punish
meert b. death. We believe that the spirit
nav 50 prevalent in opposition to capital
punishment, is closely akin 10, if not one
Of the legitimate products. of that spirit,
which would undermine the law, and tear
down all government and all authority Not
that every man who is opposed, to capital
punishment is an infidel. Far from it. We
are sorry to say that there are some whom
we revere as among the good and the 'ctse,
who Glamour loudly for the annulment OF
that punishment which justice would award
to the murderer But good men may be
mistaken. They may be led away by
false philanthropy. They may be under
the influence of prejudice. Some may
regard my tone as too positive. But how
can change my tonel How can speak
less positive, with the declaration OF the
Almighty staring me in The face, ''ye shall
take no satisfaction for the life Of the mur'
dorer, which is guilty Of death; the mur'
, de,er shall surely be put odeath-'vi-No, II
: matters not who may anuul this. penalty
however great, however good, however
t wise; yet he is not so great, not SO Sood,
y not so wise as the author of the Holy Bible.
q God has uttered his solemn voice, and
n dost thou, wilt thou, poor child Of yester-
: dav. dare to contradict that voice. Go
0 thou ah,l learn lesson Of humility. and
know that-lb4 !oolishncss Of God is better
i than the wtsdom OF MAN. .1o.r.sr. a-
S Win these introductory remarks, let us
r proceed Immediately to the discussion o.
n tho subject. We affirm then that, on this
: point, the law of God is very clear and
e positive. 7e
i Every honest. and intelligent man is
i willing to acknowledge. that the Law o.
/ Moses required that the murderer should
e be put to DEATH On this subject, we be-
" lievc, there is no dispute. But then, We
e arc told, that the precepts Of the Gospe
i have long since abrogated this penalty
s. and that the superior wisdom and philan
r thropy of modern times. loudly call for the
n abolition Of a punishment SO extremely
+, barbarous. As to whether this law is re
d pealed in the Gospel, we shall see by ant
y by. But what we would allege here, is
of that there is something connected with th'
= Jewish law upon this subject so UNUSUAL,
g explicit and pointed, that it seems 10 u
}. strange how any one can deny its authori
It tx. There the distinction is drawn in dc
: tail between the case Of one who kills
e person unwares, and him who aims de
n liberate blow which deprives his victim Q
j. life. Not content with nero genera
d enactment upon the subject, the law goe
!. into particulars and defines, at greatlength
!. he The, yarions modes Of violent death whicl
:, Il condemns as murder; and after eacl
g distinct specification; tAe decree is re
Q iteratcd in the same AUTHORITATIVE manner "a
's aif be 9smite him with an instrimean,t', a,' /.
e iron so thatihe die. he is "a murderer; u,
e murderer shall surely be put to DEATH
q "a
d "Or ifhc smite him with q hand weapon o
e wood, whercwith he may die, and he die
e he is mprqerer the murder shall surel.
u be.put to- death.' Again, as if this defini
e ton had not been sufficiently clear, it wa
is Lfurfher enacted: SSH he thrust him of he
y tired, or hur at him by lying Of wait, 81
ofI that he die, or in enmity smite Lin, witt