Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-01-09

dcre- was ignorant of s. whose sheddeth mans
blood by man shall his blood be shed - for he al
ludes particularly to the case of Cain. We might
cite other cases, but we pass on. .i..
End. We believe that this lawNis not binding
because wo think God never intended it to read as
it has been handed down to man. In tho ancient
Latin version the text would be-''WhOsO she'd
deth human blood, his blood will be shed - EN-
inent writers contend that the proper rending
should be-' Whatsoever sheddeth mans blood
by shall its blood be shed ," and this appears
plausible from the verse which follows-''and
surely your blood of your lives will require; at
the hand of every beast will require it, " &c.
We therefore narrow it down to this, that 'who-
so" or Whatsoever sheddeth human blood its blood
will be shed.' We see nothing in this to warrant
man in taking the life of his fellow man. A great
writer has said-''this text is merely expressive
of a great retributive fact in nature, and in the
overruling providence of God that he who design
cdly and wickedly takes human life. shall assur-
rcdly in some way or other, meet with severe pun
ishment and probably come to violent end p
In corroboration of this, the Psalmist says
'sBloody and deceitfu men shall not live out half
of their days. He does not say that they shall
be put to DEATH but that the nauralresult will be,
a short life. We have no more evidence that this
is a command of God, than we have that "whoso
sheddcth mans blood by man shall his blood be
she'd" God spoke through or to Noah, and
God spoke through the Psalmist.
But once more. Christ said '' all they that take
the sword shall perish by the sword" If we apply
the same construction to this as is given to
"Whoso shcddcth, &c.," why all those who take
the sword, and escape the bullet of the enemy,
must be put to death by the sword. The author
of the Apocalypse says =" He that leadeth into
captivity, shall 60 into captivity he that killcih
by the sword, must be killed by the sword.'' Ac-
cording to this, the construction our correspond
ent would give it, bas:ns it upon the Capital
Punishment argument, would be, that upwards
of 200 shareholders in this country, should be
led into captivity. We Go not question the just
ness of this, but doubt very much the intcrprcta-
tion of the scripture quoted.
Moses, under the covenant, we think, commit
ted a deliberate murder. We read. "IIe (Moscs)
that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and
hid him in the sand," and yet Moses escaped un-
punished, and why? Simply because the law
was law of man and not of God, and God led
him into safety. The only law on this subject,
cmanating from the Deity is" Thou shalt not
kill" THIS is in accordance with great and
mercful God, for man having no power to give
life, has no right to take it, either individually
or collectively.
We have confined ourself to day with merely
answering the first proposition of our correspond
ent. We might have said more, but we think we
have said enough. We might have alluded to the
beautiful teachings Of Christ, who said he came
not to destroy life but to save it. We might have
alluded to his withcring rebuke, g Ye have heard
it said, an eye for an eye and tooth for tooth,
but say unto you resist not cyil.'' But we hope
to meet our opponent on this point in future is
sue.
''Citizcn" should remember that the Apostles
were uneducatcd men, and yet they have left
names on the record of time which can never be
oblitcratcd. 1t is not always those who are the
deepest learned in theology who are the wiscst.-
Very often the '' foolish are chosen to confound
the wise, and if we have no education, we hone
our natural abilities.
NEW YEAR CALLS The custom of calling on
the ladies, very generally followed this year.
We learn that some had as many as two hundred
We are happy to record the fact, that there was
less drinking of spirituous liquors among the
young men, than on previous occasions. We hope
this latter custom will soon cease to exist, but
that the cordial greetings of friends on the first
day Of the year, will be long continued. The
weather was warm, and the wheeling and walking
excellent.
FIRE At ST. LoUrs.-The extensive Rolling Mill
of Chotcau, Harrison & Vale, of st. Louis, has
been destroyed by fire, causing loss of $l6O,OOO,
on which there was an insurance of $ll0, ,000.-
BY this fire three hundred and forty laborers have
been thrown out of employment.
CoNcREss.-Nothing from Congress in conse-
qucncc of the holidays. Now they are over, we
trust something will be accomplished.
The Richmond Penny Post announces the death
of John r. Cooke, Esq, one of the eminent law
yers of Virginia.
Cy MIR. Joseph Mathews, 81 years of age, of
Prospect, Conn.,, was found dead in the road in
that town on Sth inst, frozen to death.
CyF Hundreds of tons Of rags and similar ma
terial are being brought from Liverpool to the
United States.
Cy The Legislature meets to day. No tel
ling when the Goveners' Message will, be delv-
cred.
To OUR PArRoSs.-Our news boys wish us to
return thanks for the very liberal manner in
which they were received on New YEARS DAY.
We think none begrudgc the small pittancc they
dropped into the hands of the little faithful Car
riers.
C-T A writer in Chambers Journal says that
table-tippings and others of the so-called spirit
ual phenomena, have been known in China for
2400 years.
CO The st. Anthony Express appears with a
new head. We can't say that We admire it.
CO 1t is estimated that over 1000 lives have
been lost by shipwrecks during the last eighteen
months.
CT The number of persons employed directly
BY the Boston newspapers is about nine hun
dred.
CJ' 1t has been given out in Paris that no more