The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1854-02-15
Cnnital Punishment.

FRfsSp AilsS.--rhe subject OF CcPita
l'7ri-hm~u i naS nadrr ai'scassion. and
this IL the line % present cbfetiors 20 l''
c4mIinuance.
thstt : li,tla prospeet.dse ses Ang ne CUES
tim b. sn .cfes 70 sh- ScriPInTe. ihasmurt
-. ths reopss iiifri 50 wnely IN epiaion r..
s,ss.ting lie sulhoIiiy oi ibe Old and NrN
TestAnlrnts. SoTuc persons h.lirving that
Sleh parts of,Ihs Jaw ofnR ttnrs ~ 's's
tiict Wilh the precep;s oi Christ wrfr nen'-
.a;-d by rs aaihmav, while q . oet'cvy
IA thr bpding Of he SArgd N1iiusS
ui al ages. stihc present Tine,
Thcre is. no. use in attempting . vecop
cilc ,he mater by IN rPpsal 10 ms Scrir
lures. In Fact tliey never we're ms,Gde tC
I've used by ,he criticisiug rcasnHer fhey
,npcal 70 ,.iemcats in ihe human raind Gar
difernt and loag way above the reason
ins powe,s nf man, 1t Is Improbable lr
subjcct Ilis li1ly Scriptures to the scrutiny oI
nasun. Yoa might as well endeayor L.
inix oil aud water as to mingle reason with
the t,,eliags that emanate from reneration
The result OF either will be failure, while
veirr;l!iaR crowns the head, and oil rests on
the surface ol WATER.
Iwin speak Of tho subject without refer
enoe to the Sacred Mhlihgs.
lis admitted that man is in some degree
u creature of imitation. and in most cases.
will be regulated BY bis education.
Iipersons are tanyht to believe that any
crime will justify others in taking the life of
Il man. each person will sooa decide Ior HIM
s-li what crme will entitle man 10 be re
gistered among the dead
LET men read in the statutes OF their
State that persons shall be killed for the
commission OF certain crimes They turn TO
the laws OF other States and there find that
other crimes are punishable with death.
0s csufse they must conolude that it de-
pends On the judgement OF men what crime
irselvrstie punishment o! det.
Under these circumstances men OF pecu-
iAr organiz alton will not be slow to decide
lhBt their foes are far more deserving Of
death, than many that have been strangled in
accordance with law, and embrace the first
opportunity of removing from society what
they conceive 10 be nuisance.
He that has large animal passions rea-
snns on this wise:-'Ehe laws condemn per
SONS to die for certain offences, therefore it
il no sid TO kill men when they deserve
death, this wicked neighbor of mine is the
most pbominable wretch that ever lived. he
is too mean to enjoy the Pleasures of life
he lives at the expense OF the neighborhood,
he irasIs on The misery Of others, he taxes
his ingenuity for the purpose of tormentlng
nlI around him, he Is worse than nuisance,
the scamp shalt be put aside By some
means.
This kind OF reasoning is adopted by
thousands of persons, and when prejudice
against II neighboF ouce takes hold OF the
mind, the pufest acts of a Christians life
are construed as emanatious from the dev-
H.
Suppose human life was held to be invio
table, and in no case would civil society toll
srats wiful murder under'the sanction of
Isw People raised under influences of this
eh4racter would put different estimate on
Aanaa lJe4--they would be apt to hold it |
more sacred and murders woald become |
tslpre rare.
At least ii capital punishment was abol !
i>h,.i, we shnuid be relieved from one Of the I
ln,st painful and kerri6te spectscles that
elvilisrd men are capable Of enduring, that
Is, 10 see fellow mortal in the hands Of
government, firmly bound and helpless,
forced "a the gallows while protesting his !
innocence and pleading with all his power,
rvrn for temporary suspension Of the
i.tal deed, in hopes that time might reveal
something TO establish his Innocence. HUI
man conclusions are imperfect, and innocent
men have been hung. the safe plan
~odld he 10 abolish the practice Of taking
humNn iii. on any occasion.
MICAJAH r. JOHNSON.
Short Creek, 5th Of 2l mo-, 1854. |