Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-02-10
From Tie Harrisburg (pa } Argus.
THE DEiTU pENiLTI,

At no period perhaps, says the Highs,own
tN. ,I.y EIr>iSiior, has the subject OF Capita!
Punishment uccnucl so much of the attention
al the citizens ui our State rs within the past
few months. The public mind has hnGn ana
still r.;n::ns dcriir Interested III it, and prrSli
indications arc that it vii! he thoroughly cXam
incd, and decision rendered in every mind
either .;.r or arail:s, IT, 1t is an Oil time-honorcd
statute, sustained Ly all nations through all ages
down To the present, and thus being tami!iarized
with it we are the less apt 70 question its consis
tency. OF late years, however. the popular feel
ing llns risen against it: and III some sections ii
has been blo,te'i from the statute books. In all
Christian communities it receives but little SYM
patly, being held, rs it realiy is, as q relic o
Judaism Tie ttue Christian-who receives
Christ as lis guidc-cannot support or respect
the human law that demands the cold-!,Iu,":ed
murder of Il inltow-beiHg. Very distinctly does
Paul speak Oh this subject in his epistle TO the
Romans.
The idea which, r3rncrly existed that Capital
Punishment was necessary rs an example to
evil designed persons has long since practically
exploded. Public executions are nnw Er!d in
prirsic. within! the prison walls, where The gaze
os the curious may not witness the exhibition.
And WHY, # the cXa:a:i!c is Il rood one aGti one
locker on? WIZ not erect the %ibhct in the
middle of the most pabc thoroaght;r and
there lei the terrible example speak lis wrn;n.
to cvcrv paS>cr bv? Brcause il is too vel!
known that ii. Sucl: scciics Only iamiiiar%" and
harden the heart OF the baholtlcr. In Il moral
view it has almost ceased % be argEed that capi.
tai punishment is bcAiiica, and in many inSt;ln.
ces on: !d;@s.; pass the sentence Of ,l,.;;h as
thcv :hci:!sc:rs say "to maintain The Ii gn;y of
the law Therefore, il tho c"lnmulr;ty is no,
benefited BY capital pun3l!:ncn there is but one
o;her party 10 hr benefited. ii VIC except the ma
Jest; Of iit,: i:.w. and that is the criminal.
All parismcn, is supposed To be inflicted fer
the benIit an.l reformation OF the punished and
ii it has not this object in view it ceases 10 he
punishment and becomes cruelty, hlrDarl;y. in
the case Of capital punishment it becomes mere.
" 4 legal a judicial nurier-a murder in COLI
blood and with malice atOrrihuu9ht. while it
lacks even the plea Of the murderer wlia can
claim mercy OF tie -ro"nd vi passion wllicE! Il;
The i:!tc may have amounted 10 an uncO"!rOua-
be iaS;,a.iv.
Very i"w murders are committed otherwise
than in the heat ni passion ~ the .nonent all
thouYh: ut I'i:mi>h:n2nt is forgotten. !or r4;spn
has lO<; icr sy;.r. Were il not So there might
be more nope liz the hclefica effects of exam.
PIE. The primary crime Being committed. We
holl. y,.S no right :oc the Commission Of an
Other. IL" MAJ; IS clearly proved a nur,icrcr,
ta:a asa, his a:r;ei a%a opportunities for the
conimis::;,a %! aao:hcr crime. a'ul punish arl
refo:@. hut ~ not u:arp tie right Of Tie Al
mi.htv i! taking that which ~ knman power
can restore. Hanging the mnrlcrcr cannot
bring back his victim, an! is no better protec.
ton Of soc:cr., while It's mora. influence we con-
slider is very l.v.ii!cicaS.
Under existing laws it is very difficult, and i'll
nlauy PAGES almost impossible, to convict
murderer where the penalty is death. The rca
son is obvious, anl were the penalty imprison
ncnt Tor i>, justice woall 3e done the o!fcn.
dcrs in ncar: e.ary case. There is a natural
horror il every breast against being the judicial
murderer Of fellow creature, and if possible
the sentence will be avoided. This subject is
one worthy the attention of legislators for the
public good. and should be acted upon. Society
demands that Il change should he made in our
criminal i;:WS. and a'y movement toward abol-
ishin@ capital punishment we believe would
meet with :. hearty cooperation from the public.