The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-04-23
For the Middlebury Register.
Capital Punishment.
MEssRs. EDIroRs:

MEssRs. EDIToRs:
There has been Of late a good
deal oil loose discussion upon The subject
OF Capital Punishment, and with respect to
the right and duty OF civil government to
nhict it for the crime of murder The
subject is often treated as one OF mere poll
cy or expectancy, depending upon the va
rablc and erring reasonings Of men. II is
believed, however, bylmany, that resort may
he had 10 higher authority than mere hu
man reasoning for the decision OF these.
questions. In the discussion of the sub
lect, two questions seem naturally TO pre-
sent themselves. LIST. Had The Au
thor Of human lie the righlul authority 10
prescribe the penalty for lis destruction
2nd. Has he done il? shall adduce no
argument TO prove The righuul authority of
God irho created man in has olcn image 10
prescribe the penalty for the destruction of
the life of his creature. Let the con-
science Of every man who acknowledges
the being of an infinite, all-wise, just and
omnipotent Creator, decide that question
for himself.
As TO the question whether God has pro-
mulgated any law in relation to The punish.
ment of murder, the inquiry is, what does
the Bible teach upon the subject?
See Genesis 9. 6. Whose sheddeth
mans blood by man shall his blood be
shed, for in he image Of God made lie
man. This was general law promu.
gated by God to Noah, the representative Of
the human race after the flood in imme-
date connection with the covenant made
with him and his seed, for perpetual gene
rations, not to drown the world again.
Exodus q, II. ''He that smitelh man
so thar he die shall be surely put TO death"
Verse II. eli man come presumpiu-
ously upon his neighbor 10 STAY him with
guile, thou shalt take him from mine altar
that he may die"
Levitt. "a. 81. "He that killeth a man he
shall be put 10 death" This is not law
for the lsraelites only. for in the next verse
III is said, "Ye shall have one manner Of
law as well for the stranger az for one of
your own country for am the Lord your
God.n
Numbers 50, verses l6, II, IS, 20, 81.
"lf he smile him with an instrument of
| iron so thai he die, he is a murderer, the
murderer shall surely be put 10 death"
"lf he smite him with throwing stone
wherewth he may die, and he die, he is a
murderer the murderer shall surely bepul
10 DEATH
"Or fhe smile him with hand weapon
OF wood, wherewith he may die, and he
die, he Is n murderer, The murderer shall
surely be put To death"
"ll he thrust him of hatred or hurl al
him by lying of wait that he die; or in en-
mi smte him with his hand that he die
he that smole him shall surely be put to
death, for he il a murderer"
Yer. 81. Moreover, we shall take no
satisfaction for the life ola murderer, which
is guilty of death, but he shall surely be
put TO death.
AVER. 80. "The land cannot be cleanse
OF the blood that is shed therein, but by the
blood Of him that shed H."
Deut 10, IL, ~, 10. "lf any man hate
his neighbor and lie in wait for HIM and
rise up agains. him and smite him MORALLY
that he die, the oldest of his city shall de
liver him into the hand Of The arenger o
blood that he may die. Thine eye shall
not pity him, but thou shalt put away The
guilt OF innocent blood from Israel, that !
may 90 well with thee
When or where has this law been ahro
gated or repealed? Christ says ha"cam'
not TO destroy the law but 10 fulfil it.
Some contend that this law prescribed Il
Noah and reiterated 10 the lsraelles is no
applicable in his age Of progress. TIL
laws given TO Moses. written on the table
Of Stone, are they repealed Are they O