The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-02-27
For the Spirit Of Democracy.
Ought the Murderer to be Punished
with Death?


We closed our-last number with an ex-
animation of Genesis 9: 9th. A passage
50 unusually pointed and explicit, SO COM
pletely stript Of all ambiguity, SO entirely
disconnected from any one economy or
dispensation, ought, we think, to produce
settled conviction in the mind of every
lover of truth. Whatever, therefore, may
be said in opposition to the passages quot.
ed from Numbers 35, on the ground that
they were addressed to the Jews; whatever
evidence may be drawn from the New
Testament, setting aside the claims of the
Mosaic economy, and of all the particular
precepts, interviewer with the Jewish poll
cy, never can invalidate the evidence
drawn from Genesis 8: g.. Based as it is
upon the principles of eternal right, that
Injunction goes forth from the mouth Of
Him who never lies, towering above every
particular economy, surprising in authori-
sy all particular legislative acts, standing
out prominently, as a fair exponent Of
what Eternal Justice always demands.
Let us now look for moment at pas
sage or two in the New Testament, which
are regarded by many as repeal of all
Old Testamentlegislation upon the subject.
i The case of the woman taken in adulte-
ry, recorded in the 9th chapter Of John, is
often triumphantly adduced. as powerful
evidence, that our Saviour intended 10 alb
sogate the punishment by death in every
,case. We admit the pertinence Of the cx-
ample, so far as the crime OF adultery is
concerned; and whenever our opponents
will point US to an instance in the New
Testament, in which murderer Yves
brought into the presence OF Christ and
dismissed with the admonition. $50 and
sin no more," then we will not only admit
the relevance ofthe argument, but we will
Immediately yield the question and ac-
knowledge our error. The passage con.
sains not shadow Of evidence upon the
one side or the other.
Again, it is alleged by the advocates of
The abolition of this statute, that the Ser
mon ofour Saviour on the Mount, contains
in il q number of passages in direct oppo
sition to capital punishment, For exam
ple--ssYe have heard that it hath been
said an eye for an eye, q tooth for tooth,
but | say unto you, that ye resist not evil,
but whoever shall smite thee on the one
cheek, turn to him the other also.''--
Again: "Ye have heard that it hath been
said, thou shaltlo thy neighbor and hate
thine enemy. But ! say unto you love
your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray
forthem that despitefllly use you and per-
sscute you" In reply to the objections
based upon these and similar passages, it
might be sufficient to state, that they were
never intended to apply to the administra-
tom of public justice. All the circum-
stances show decisively, that our Saviour
VIZ not here prescribing rules to guide the
civil magistrate in his public official capa-
CITY, His sole object, in these beautiful
precepts, was to guide and regulate our
conduct in relation to the adjustment Of
r.iydte offences. The Jews were natural |
lyavindicdve people, full Of the spirit Of
retaliation, They claimed The right, Is
10 many do now,s-dsys, whsrsvsr sn in.