New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-16
ANTECAPITAL PUNISHAENI'
TO ths EDITOR Of The tribune

To the Editor Of The tribune
SIR: Mr.. Boyee's article in your paper OIL
Feb o. on the above subject makes some Statements NV
only Wild but unwise especially for the cause nc au'o
Gates. For example this:
1.-THE elements which cluster around tno Pr ~,
and kindred institutions will be found arrayed III favor
of the gbbot for. in gratifying INC DLu Eco
mans nature the gallOws stands unrivaeu rsg
PESPGT!GP Psr w Judging rom the past camor fGr
the retention of the statute Of blood ior Dooa am
human tribunals well calculated to minister 70 .o
,etre element SO fondy nurt1red bg many % the
penalty OF DEATH" .
Suppose we aualyze this paragraph. "Tho 'przorng'
and kindred institutions favor the gbbe That's prize
fighters, burglars, robbers, cuhroats and murderers
favor tho doctrine OF hanging Again, largo proper
ton of those churches termed Evangelical" favor the
gibbet The plain inference from this snrs that tho 30
called unevangelical churches opposed to the Gbbe
and therefore they embody aud represent most not ALL
tho humanitariansm OF the age; second that prize
lighters pluguglles &C. and Evangelical Churches or
majority OF them OF the same stripe OF moral re-
formers. Again, 1t must be admitted that no punish
ment inflicted by human tribunals Is so well cacu
lated TO minister the rebJupc element fondy nur
tured by many OF the socaed Christian Churches-as
the ncton Of the Irenaty OF Death" this sentence
means anything, It must mean that Capital Punishment
gives numerical and moral force TO the churches In other
words hanging reviyas ofreg0n and acces
sons to the churches than preaching and praying do
The captous nnuendo implied by the terms $50 called
Christian" gives US TO understand owhat spirit the au
thor is 1t Ia sufficient reply TO SOY that such state
ments and insinuations moro easily made than
proved and furthermore they rather inure than aid the
cause for which they are made.
Let me suggest another mistake OF Mr.. B. He gays;
'The strength OF our cause rests not IN the Mo
sale Code but in the peceps and teachings OF the Gins
tian religion" And yet he tells that tho command
ment, Thou shalt not kill Is as binding upon human
governments upon the individual man.
Is not this command q part OF tho "Mosaic codei'
And was not Moses the author equally Of the command
Thou shalt KILL" and OF the penalty OF the violated
command, T. Whose sheddeth man'sibood, by man shall
his blood be shedr Did not Jesus appeal to Moses In
proof Of Ills Divine character and missioni and did lie
not say to destroy tho law Mossic or the
prophets but TO fulhllH
Let me ask Mr. b. II he Ia opposed TO military eNocu
tions or tho enforcement OF law by military rule Is
policeman authorized TO take human life in suppressng
mob or I'm arrestn bar glars and murderers In they
should get the upper hand OF him. and would either Kill
HIM escape FROM justcef -, " -,
THE TRIBUNE has the discussion Of this subject pretty
much side. Il II 10 the discussion OF tho
other sidel Yours truly, A. g. RosE.
North GrdnriNe N. L., Feb. II, 1869.
I'VE print the foregoing because it seems to
have been fairly provoked by Mr. Bovoc's man
ifesto but if he or any one else, should rcjoin,
we bar all alusion TO theological points. One
on each side will do for that aspect of the
controyersy.-Ed.1