The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-06-29
From the Ab6eviiie Banner.
Capital Punishment.

MEssRs. Editors: We do not claim
the gift OF prophecy, nor are wo the son of
prophet, yet, from indications in certain
quarters, We feel warranted in venturing
the assertion, that movement is in con.
compilation, in South Carolina, to bring
about the speedy abolition of Capital pun
ishment. 1t is not our present purpose
(nor do we deem it necessarily to point
out the source Of this design; but merely,
without knowing your sentiments in re-
gard 10 the suject, 10 advance a few
thoughts,in disconnected way, suggested
by the following p usage recorded in Holy
Wit:
aye shall take no satisfaction for the
life OF murderer, which is guilty Of death;
but he shall be surely put to death. = " =
So ye shall not pollute the land; wherein
We are; for blood it defileth the land; and
the land cannot be cleared of the blood
that is shed therein, but by the blood Of
him that shed it."
Until very recently, we confess the
writer's mind was undecided in regard to
this matter, we were, in truth, disposed TO
be Of the number who believe that phil
anthropy, and humanity forbids the
taking Of mans lite, no matter how
great crime, or crimes, lie may have
been guilty Of perpetrating. But now,
"a change has come DER the spirit Of our
DREAM" for we belive that human life I've
longs to God, whose law in regard to it
has never been repealed. 1t is mans
right, and duty, to observe that law
the violation Of it being crime against
the Giver. The power making q law,
alone, has the power to repeal il. five
abolish one Of our Creators laws, we NAV
abolish all. BY divine authority man
was made the avenger Of his brothers
blood; by the same power, the duty of
avenging was, afterwards, taken from the
individual and bestowed upon tribunal.
This was not intended for the Jews alone
it is neither typical nor ceremonial--it
is binding upon all men, for all time.
We believe, then, from the above quota.
tion, propositions can be sustained to the
effect that: the Divine law "Thou shalt
not kill" remains unrepealed; the penalty
embraced in the language, "whoso she'd
deth mans blood, by man shall his blood
be she'd" was intended for the race of ,san:
the appointment ofman as the execut;oner
Of this law; and the forbiding Of commuta-
ton.
The "expediency Of abolishing capital
punishment has been, and will lie, spoken
Of The idea entertained by some that il
IL designed for the reformation Of the Grim.
inal, 10 erroneous, 40 can be substantia,ed
by numerous instances, in the Bible. True
in some instances, reformation, tbcugl,
not the design, has been its result But
It's object was, TO exhibit Gods disappro-
baton Of sin--to honor His law. Shall
death for the murderer be abolished, and
imprisonment for life, or any thing else.
be substituted All admit the necessity of
some punishment. Shall the murderer
be placed upon an equal footing with the
thief Is iits 10 be compared with, goldi
Why should we guard our lives with less
vigilance than our wealth. The penalty
must be proportionate to the offence
Abolish death a. the penalty for murder
and you remove the safe guard, the sane
tty Of life.
II Is an important truth, that most of
the opposcn Of capital punishment are
those who deny tho existencs of Cod
lnndeis. II Is, therefore, no less the
province OF the wslLtoncd Prevs, than Il 4
OF the Ministry, 70 speak out upon this
subject. As we value tie ecommandmeuts
Of God, ws should bear fhiy IN mind in
the selection of our fn1srs. Tho people
n tha ManS H;..h r.,s s,...L - ~