The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-02-24
AN ESSAY,
Read before the Stroudsburg Philomathe-
an Society,
BY JACKSON LANTZ,
Decemhe IL. 1853
December IL, 1858.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT"

In ages far past was established th
penalty of death for crime. 1t had il
: origin in semi-barbaric people, and wa
instituted because of it's necessity in oil
), der to compel obedience to the ordinau
$ ces or laws of that people. But that ne
cessity, We think, has long since ceased
and its infiction now appears to us to b
an unfortunate adherence to one of th
relics Of Ba-barism, which, by commo
; consent, in most countries and States
has been continued to the present time
If it is right then all is well, but if it
wrong then its infiction is crime agains
humanity, the enormity of which cal
scarcely be conceived.
1t is admitted by a great majority o
those who have considered it in all it
bearings to be, to say the least of it, o
doubtful right and expediency. 1t there
fore becomes our imperative duty to re.
examine this matter and to keep we'll tc
frst principles and endeavor to discover
whether it is not contrary to the mora
law, whether it does not tend to produce
the evil it was intended to eradicate: and
whether indeed it is not perversive of the
very nature Of man.
Because the law of Moses sanctions the
taking OF human life for crime, is nc
guaranty of its propriety or expediency
at the present tIne,-no more SO than the
stoniDg to death for various offences au.
thorized by it.
The Divine law, not unlike the human
law in some respects, is, or was, modified
and varied according 20 the necessities oI
the case, and the necessity which gave
rise to the taking of human life. if it ever
existed, ceased when Christ came upon
earth as be both by the letter and
spirit of his teachings, has to our mind
clearly repealed that part of the law oi
Moses which sanctions the taking of hu-
man life for crime. Hence the only ex.
cuse we can plead, for the taking of life
for crime, is the example set by Moses.
Then let US briefly recount the history
of murder and the penalty attached to it,
from the creation Of the world to Christ,
and see whether it has been uniform, and
whether Christ has not taught that after
him it should not be inflicted.
Cain, the first born on earth, murder
ed Abel bis younger brother because OF
jealousy. The Lord directly took this
case in hand, as We are taught, and meted
out to Cain what was undoubtedly his just
punishment, in making him fugitive and
Vagabond in the earth, (Gen. Ia. God
cursed him and Cain discovering what a
wretch be had rendered himself, was
afraid that bis fellow men would kill
bin, aud the Lord comforted him by
saying that whosoever should kill Cain
vengeance should be upon him seven fold.
Now this is an express prohibition of ta.
king the life of murderer.
But Moses subsequently, established the
death penalty for the practice of witch
craft, shifting parents, disobeying parents,
Sabbath breaking, rebellion, Idolatry,
adulatry, man-stealing, for endangering
life, for murder &c.
The penalty of death for these crimes
was inflicted from its establishment to
Christ, without any interruption. But
Christ taught another law than that OF
revenge. He taught charity, mercy and
mutual forbearance, and bis teachings,
We think, have expressly repealed the law
of revenge as inculcated by the law Of
Moses, as the following passages pretty
clearly indicate:
Then came Peter to him, and said,
Lord, how oft shall my brother sin a.
gaiust me, and l forgive himl till seven
times Jesus saith unto him, | say not
uuto thee until seven times: but, until
SeUe'aty times seen. Matt. Is c.-21, o.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses,
your heavenly Father will also forgive
you: But if ye forgive not men their
trespasses, neither will your Father for.
give your tfespasses.-Matt. c.-l4,
IS.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves,
but ratte' give place unto wrath for it is
written, Vengeance IS mine; | will repay,
saith the Lord.-Rom. I2c. I9v.
A new commandment | give unto you,
That ye love one another; as have low
ed you, that ye also love one another
John Ii c.-34v.
Judge not that ye be not judged
condemn not aud ye shall not be con-
demned forgive and ye shall be forgiven.
For with what judgement ye Judge, ye
shall be judged and with what measure
ua u,oto - Sball ba ,noaarroJ - -,