The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-06-04
For the Middlebury Register.
Capital Punishment.
NIR. EDITOR -

Noticing the article in the Regis
ter, not long since, under this head, the wri-
ter of which appeals to the Bible to support
and Justify the punishment Of death for muir
der, insisting that it is there commanded.
and tina; VIC should respect this command in
forming our laws, have ,enturcd TO send
YOU few words on the same subject. | Il.
cree with the writer Of the former article,
that on such vast and wciehty subject
one that involves the issues Of life and death,
and summons the criminal to appear before
his Maker, the teachings of the Bible should
have great bearing, and that they should be
well considered before feeble and crrng
man ventures TO act in such case. Ii the
offender is to be hurried into an un,incly
grave and neverending eternity, while the
bloo1 of his victim is yet fresh upon his
hands, but a very short time is given to wipe
those stains away. through repentance of the
rash act he so nnluckily committed.
must confess have somewhat differ
cnt opinion of the true meaning Of the sa-
cred Scriptures, where they refer TO this
case, from that Of the writer, who has made
his opinions public through your columns.
The first murder Of which We have any ac-
count. was that in which Cain, the first -born
/
Of this occurrence, which we find in the Bi
bic, we learn that God himself, who was pro
yoked TO wrath BY the wickedness Of Cam
called him and asked, Where is thy broth
err" Cain added falsehood to crime in tho
presence of lis Maker. Blu; for all this h,
was not deprived of HJe. for the great OF
fences lie had committed. When God pro
nouncod the sentence upon him, he great,
feared lest it should hotray him, and HI
should he slain. But God said. " whosoeve
slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken Of
him SEVEN roLp,' What a striking Illus
tra,ion is tbs, in the beginning Of The worl
when man first commenced tilling tn
earth A sentence pronounced by the Al
MIGHTY, which sarcd the life of the murder
err and as further security vowed scret
foul rengcdnce upon any Que who shou!
dare TO take 1t away.
The first account which we find OF I'll
death penalty, is when the law was given
Noah. soon after lac and his family left I'll
Ark, and were the only representatives
man in the world. We again find it rea
, frmed in the law given 10 the children
Israel through the band OF Moses. Here
is, that the supporters and defenders Of Ca
: tal Punishment obtain nearly, ii not quit
: all the Scripture authorities TO which the
i so i'oer"''! ie'er' l" o'uer ~ sus''''' III
r measure
5 we are informed "iouan 'nv Iopn
Is 'ereM'"h' mat ,"o i-o'I WIN N'"He Nv
II covenant "''h 'he Is'"c'l'Ss' toI nc,o,
II ing 10 INC covenant nc n'"ue WIN '",'i la
o Trs, wneh ,, ne 'ooh ,nvn' ,'1n VIC h I"'o
e re!Pet' ~ MS uoun''o1s 'e'e'a ~ a,'e 'u'
z ~ VI Sn's, "''o n'' i',1 H. ',I'ia t'a,
n ','ne WHY" h'Ion' eo'e .;1 NV. 'ne m"Y'o o o,
1t 'le eor'n anu w"o s"" , He t""'f NOS
II neS"9y, uu' W S"'. '''oi' i',e - s nL;
e. ns " ane noSu'' S 1o,e II" ,ial,,v o. "a,
10 l'o' ".i I'i,e ~ 800, , -. u
D. i13''''I "p' l,o ,u'', IN IT,.
l. ''''"'' o' 'ei''i '' u.'a' 'o ~, W., ,a =;
ID u"u ."'," '', ,ron V ia law iii ali
As r" ' ~ ~ rhe ; n.,;reI lock foil. Of .,
l. ,wan crimes ,hn, ,lerc nnYi.hohr Inv dso
u M ~ " 'I - -, /,