The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-03-06
Vol. wi.

Murder is in his heart. To gain his neigh
bor'sgold is the object Of his pursuit. And
though the gallows frowns upon him, yet
he will even climb over it to gain that which
his soul covets. With ready skill the fast
enings are opened, and the assassin is in
the house. lie approaches his victim with
silent step. There lies the innocent man
before him, unconscious Of any danger,
wrapped in the sweet slumbers of the night.
Suddenly the cold iron enters his brain.
and his soul returns to consciousness stand
ing in the presence of its Great Judge
Oh. cruel murderer! Look there at that
lifeless body weltering in its blood! Look
at that weeping wife, who shrieks aloud for
help, and faints away in the fright! Look
at those poor children. sobbing aloud, and
exclaiming, where is my father! Those
little ones we're dependent upon that father
for sustainance. Oh, who will minister to
their wants! When the storm howls without,
and they stand shivering around the cold
hearth. who will comfort that widow--their
broken hearted mother! Who will now
bring them food and raiment, for their father
is no more--he has been murdered. Cruel,
cruel murderer! That soul may have been
unprepared for its exit into eternity. Driv-
en- without a moments warning into the
presence ofits Judge, it must meet its doom.
No minister OF Jesus was there to tell him
OF Saviour's bleeding love. No voice Of
prayer attended that spirit into the pres
ence Of its Judge. Who that gazes upon
the scene can fail to endorse the sentence
of Eternal Justice! "Whoso sheddeth
mans blood by man shall his blood he
she'd, for in the image Of God made he
man."
We should do injustice 10 our opponents.
were we to leave the impression. that they
openly advocate the abrogation Of all pun
ishment. Most OF them zealously maintain
that the murderer should be punished, and
in every case, where the crime is clearly
made out, he should be imprisoned for life.
Some 90 so far us to affirm. that this pen
alty would be even more terrible to the cul-
prit than death itself. II so, then let us hear
no more about the barbarous cruelty Of
strangling men upon the galows, 'through
the instrumentality OF legalized hemp" for
out of their own mouths are they con-
demned.
As Imprisonment for life is the grand
substitute, and as it seems to be the OILY
penalty that the superior philanthropy OF
modern times can approve. allow US to in
qure for moment into its justice and util-
ity. myrisonment far life. What secu
rity have we that the murderer will end
his lille in the prison! The Executive OF
the State moved by the entrealies OF the
wife, or by some more potent considera-
ton, may instantly grant a reprieve, and
forthwith the man of blood is let loose up
on society. That this has been done in
many instances, even in our own State, is
a well known TACT. This difficulty is ad.
mitted by all. But it is alledged, that the
pardoning power ought to be so restricted,
as to render the Liberation Of the prisoner
impossible. Suppose then that such a
thing were possible; here then we are met
by the law Of God utteringi its voice as loud
as seven thunders ..ye shall take no sats-
faction Tor the life of the murder; the muir
derer shall surely be put to DEATH" Even
il punishment could be devised ten-fold
more dreadful than death, God s law would
not be satisfied. 1t seeks not the torture
of its victim, but the enforcement ol JUS
tice. God is love. He sees the end from
the beginning. His wisdom is infinite
And that affected beneuolence, which would
seek to amend his law is insolent presump.
ton. "Who art thou 0 man. that repliest
against God? Shall the clay say to him
that fashioneih it, why makest thou me so?
Wo unto him that striveth with his Maker" /"
| But we are far from beliv ng that inn
prisonment for life is punishment more
terrific than death. "All that man hath