Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-07-04
For the Jefersonian Republican.
Capital Punishment.

as contravention of the Saviour's precept. "to
resist not eyil' as opposed to that universal love
taught in the gospel, and that the execution of a
murderer-is murder itself. If these things are
so, we ough. to know them. While the laws of
our Commonwealth remain az they are and so
much wholesale sin is commited: by our magis-
ua,es we cannot be innocent, for we make and up
hold the laws and elect the magistrates.
If il shall appear, however, that the warrant for
taking life was given by the Great Author of life
that God himself first gave the law to our race and
sanctioned the execution of it; there will not be
much propriety in stigmatizng it as relic OF bar
barsm, unless we go irreverent as to aver that
the pure and holy God ever made barbarous laws,
or ever commanded the execution of barbarous
laws Our Saviour in that most admirable pre-
cept "to resist not evil" was very far from con-
demning the laws or the rulers under which he
lived.
In the judicial laws of the Jews it had been en-
acted that the magistrates should punish crimes in
proportion to the injury done as san eye for an
eye, tooth for tooth," Exodus 81, "a; Lev. %,
1870. The Jews had perverted this law and
made it sanction private retaliation and revenge.
Against this perversion Of the law our Saviour
speaks. He did not complain of the law in the
hands of the magistrates, nor forbid his followers
appealing to it. but they must neither take upon
them to Judge their own case, nor repair to the
magistrate from principle Of revenge. Surely
our Lord did not violate his own precept when un-
justly smiten before the High Priest-yet he did
not tamely turn the other cheek and invite the rep
ettion of the wrong. On the contrary he remon-
strated against it. John ls, 90. He taught us to
love our enemies. This precept pious rulers OBJ
served under the laws of the Old Dispensation,
and they may observe under the laws of our State
while performing the palnfu task of capital pun
ishment. Hatred and private revenge is contrary
10 the whole Bible, and to the laws of our State
also.
We hold that the great law of love requires cap
mandments precisely as Christ does in supreme
love to God, and love to man as ourselves. Cap
ital punishment is the penalty affixed by God to
one of these commandments If his love led him
TO write Thou shalt do no MURDER and to sane
ton his law with the penalty "Whoso sheddeth
mans blood. by man shall his blood be shed,' how
can obedience to that requirement by the civil ma
gisrate be contrary to the law of love! Does that
love which is the fulfilling of the law and which
is the substance of the gospel. require to care
more for wilful murderer than for the safety of
the entire community Would you condemn
skilful Surgeon, who, by amputating limb pre-
serves the life of the whole bodyl How then can
you arraign the goodness of recttude of that heav
en- sanctioned penalty, which, while it off the
the lives and interests of thousands of innocent
and virtious citizens!
But it is objected that the passage quoted from
Gen. 9, 6, was only one of the cerimonial laws
made for the Israelites of the Old Dispensaton,
and that it has passed away with that dispensat,on.
It was made many centuries before the lsraeiies
existed as nation, and was enacted for US as di-
rectly as for them. 1t was law enacted for the
race Immediately after the food. The right to
punish capitally was given at the same time with
he right to kill animals for food. If our superior
light and civilization deprives US of the one right
t deprives US of the other also, and we bound
10 give up our beef pork, fish, venison, &c. &c.
In Gen. 9, 6, reason is grven. in addition to
he one we in the habit of alledging, for in the
mage of God made he man. The fact of his
having been made in the image of God creates no
BAR to his capital punishment, but is strong ar
yument for it, for the murderer has committed
,reveous offence aga nst the creator
But the New Testament settles the question:
10 the 18th chapter Of the Epistle to the Romans,
he inspired Paul declares that "the powers that
'e" or magistrates are ordained of God are Gods
minister's to execute wrath on evil doers. And it |
added of the magistrates that she beareth not the
sword in vain" The sword was an instrument of |
leath and in ancient governments there were Of |
icers whose business il was to execute capital
punishment in this manner 1t was thus that Be- |
laiah slew Jacob with the sword by the command
# Solomon. If the New Testament declares that
iod puts the instrument of capital punishment |
nto the hands of the magistrates and if he is Gods
minister while depriving the murderer of life, then
e who opposes this law opposes God.
He who declares that the execution of a murder
II is murder, is accusing God of the most dreadful
rime. What right have they to live day under
system Of laws which enjoins murder Would
he apostle have exhorted pray for rulers that
hey might be successful in their office, if they
elieved their office required them to commit mur-
eri