Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-07-01


post, the pillory and the rack Of tho
inuuisition could not be re6rected TO
punish as heresy any theory based
upon this motion. Ii Is also quite
clearly settled that the immutable
laws of nature are mutable, continu-
ally and it is thought by many
progressively-~developing new forms
and new features; leaving In their
trnck the debris and fossil remains Of
old and extinct varieties. The laws
OF human thought and human intelli-
gence are not tho less variable, and
in this variability seem to defy any
generalization to mitigate evil and
eradicate vice. We approach the
far-famed Atalantis only as we are
governed by tho light Of reason
within us, deduced and drawn from
mnterial things In tho laws Of God,
governing them and yet the great
mass and body of mankind who
do no thinking, hang to exploded
theories and obsolete forms, as
though their welfare here aud happi.
ness hereafter depended upon them.
Within our own time, however,
single step has been taken which in
dicates the dawn Of another era. In
all tho fimsy trash, the translucent
CANNON and nonsense, spit out OF
the modern pulpit, no ono talks of
eternal damnntion and everlasting
misery in the world to come be-
eause it ia an exploded theory, as
iiendish and unnatural ms Il is re.
voting to reaRon. Passing away
with il, IL thesdoctrine that society
has an inherent right to commit de-
liberato---tlough judicial murder, in
order to punish crime; and this bar
barous feature of Christian civiliza.
tioh--opening the door as it does to
Wholesale bloodshed In unholy war
is presently to sleep with the brutal
antiquities Of tho Jows and the code
Of Draco Statesmen and tleolo-
gians viii never be able to convince
mankind that ii is morally wrong for
tho individual to do murder for re.
venge, whilst the blood stain Of tbs
death penalty is on the statute. book.
and Il god or rather demon of battles
is appealed TO in prayers for victory.
by all who have given a thought to
the subject, death by hanging, as an
example TO deter others from crime,
is n gross and palpsblo abortion;
whilst to argue on tho other hand
that IL is necessary, in order to pro
tect society from the vicious, 10
weak il not cowardly subterfuge.
The criminal on trial for his life,
often goes unwhipped of justice be-
cause Of the natural repugnance of
an upright and conscientious jury to
this barbarous mode OF punishment.
Under modern enactments in Louisi.
ana, any citizen summoned as n
juror in capital case. can be chal-
lenged and excused from duty by
stating his Conscientious scrupIes MS
TO tho correctness Of the death pom
atty; whereas, if Imprisonment for
life, or for term Of years were the
inevitable punishment, the very best
men would have no compunctions
about jury duty. The power of tho
Executive TO pardon is modern
step in the right direction.
Are we living under the old dis
pensation of the Jews, which de.
mands an eye for an eye, or the new
code Of our Lord and MaBterl Are
we governed in this matter by the
light before us, or tho grim, black
shadows OF antiquity! Five States
Of America have abolished the death
penalty with the happiest results.
In England but few years ago.
death was inflicted for horse-stealing, !
robbery and arson; and now it is ,