The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-22
THE DEATH PENALTY.
Nv a CitIzeD of the commonwealth Of Penn
sytVnntu.


subject, on account of existing efforts to
effect, through Legislative action, the abrogs-
ton Of the law which inflicts upon the muir
derer the penalty of death. Believing that
the subject is fraught with momentous inte-
rest to every member of the Commonwealth,
it is proposed to enter briefly upon its dis
cussion, not in the light of mere expediency,
however successfully the issue might be met
upon that basis, but in the higher aspect of
Divine authority. Notwithstanding there is
much upon the surface of society TO sadden
the heart and deepen the impression that God
is forgotten, yet there are few who do not
acknowledge the force of the inspired revela-
tion, and that the divine oracles are the only
infallible rule of faith and practice.
In attempting to institute for the reforma-
ton Of fallen humanity means not sanctioned
by divine authority, men arrogate to them
selves the attributes of the Deity, and expe-
rience in failure the futility of such instru-
mentalities History faithfully repeats itself
in existing attempts to introduce system of
moral reform not recognized in the divine
code, and which, if carried into execution,
would break down the barrier of safety to
human life, in undermining the only penalty
which appals the murderer. That such efforts
may prove unavailing in unsettling the public
mind, it becomes all good citizens to enter
their cG0edt, not only in view of the deleteri-
ous effects upon society, but as doing vio-
lence to divine authority.
Instituted governments are essential to the
well-being of society. We cannot more
readily conceive of communities existing
without the force of salutary laws, than we
can imagine the various parts of a piece of
complicated mechanism, each fitting them
selves in their appropriate positions, and
evolving their forces, independent of the hand
which created them. The laws which govern
society should be emanations of the great ori-
ginal, andmay be briefly comprehended in the
attributes justice, love, and mercy. These are
eternal principles, and had there been created
no intellectual being to reflect these attri-
butes, they still would have remained in the
bosom of the Creator, eternal as His own ex-
istence Had man retained his rectitude, who
can doubt that he would have continued to
reflect these attributes as living characteris-
tics, exemplifed in breathing towards
the whole brotherhood of mankind a
not necessary to introduce into
our argument the taint of UNCONVENTIONAL
distinction, in order to force upon the mind
the conviction that these attributes do not
find in man congenial resting g-place-that
pure affection to God and man does not beat
responsive in the human heart-but that, in
opposition to these divine principles, there
exist enmity and hate, filling the world with
violence and confirming the declaration that
''mans worst enemy is man." Hence insti-
tuted governments, based upon the require
ments of the great Lawgiver, find their ap-
propriate place in the family of man, whose
judicial code should not confound, but dis
tinctly recognize the divine authority.
Prominent among the original enactments
Of Jehovah to govern the human family stands
that which declares the death penalty. 1t is
isolated from the Jewish ceremonial, having
been announced in the early patriarchal age
of Noah, the second representative of man,
nine centuries prior to the Jewish Common
wealth, and is therefore cosmopolitan man.
date, obligatory upon every human being,
until the apocalyptic angel shall declare that
''time shall be no more"
The domestic constitution was the original
form of authority, and the depository of legal
enactment. Hence the importance which was
attached to the male line of posterity, not
only for the enforcement of law, but as means
of defense against aggression. In the course
of time the patriarchal relation was amplified
into powerful trib es and numerous petty
Kingdoms, and finally into illustrious mon
archies During this cycle of the worlds
history, embracing period of seventeen
centuries, these busy actors upon the theatre
of life were fitting types of the generations
which would follow, in the rise and fall of
kingdoms, eliminating in universal anarchy
Three or four pages of the Divine record en-
brace all that is impaired to us regarding the
eventful period of mans history during these
seventeen centuries preceding the deluge. 1t
is evident, however, that the progress of
society from patriarchal to kingly govern
ments was rapid and commensurate with the
rapidly increasing population and aspirations
of ambitious monarchs
After the deluge, the Divine Lawgiver
makes Moses party to new covenant, and
the depository of legal authority. To him
there was accorded dominion over the crea-
lures and authority for the use of animal food,
which hitherto, it would seem, was interdicted.
Connected with this covenant, the Divine
Lawgiver repeats to Noah, with solemn en-
phasis, the mandate regarding the death
penalty-"Whoso sheddeth mans blood, by