The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-13
Glow I give you the list
Capital Punishment.
WEsrON. May s

To he Editor Of The DsmOcrut:
Another reason why the Punishment
Of Death should be abolished, espvs.
tally by all Christian governments, is,
that it is positively forbidden Lg lie
ChHistiGR Scriptures.
With the writer Of these articles,
there is no authority superior to the
authority of God. His word is my cri.
tcriOn. | never, knowingly, swerrs
from its divine requirements aud teach
ingS. Human speculations, in tho
presence Of the plain teaching Of the
inspired volume, like mist before the
morning sun. dissipate into airy moth.
inguess. "LGt God DO true, but ey.
cry man q liar" is the motto by which
| an led and, happily, with refer.
ence to tho subject under considers.
ton, lie is upon tho side of clGmcncy.
lie "will have mercy and not sacrifice"
But" answers my opponent. "the
Bible certainly sanctions the Death
Penalty. There is no palmer or more
positive declaration than this Whose
'hedcieth mans uoOi, lyman shall his
blood be sled and all know, who
know anything Of the Bible, that the
law Of Moses demanded the life Of the
offender for a multitude Of sins.
Breach for breach, eye for eye, teotb
for tooth, is the express declaration Of
God himself How, then, can we
abolish the Death Punishment, without
first abOlishing the law Of God; and
how can We disregard the law of God
with any degree Of safc,yt'
No well.informed, sane man, no mat
ter what his religion, would consent
for any consideration, to 60 back to
the middle Of the last century, an in.
sti,atc its penal code as a substitute for
OUT own But il the Jewish law is
still binding, hCw can We remit all its
punishmcnis Int one and what
grounds have we to argue that dis il
bindiug-aud to the end Of time
when we admit tina, all tue rest were
temporary, ind only designed for pre-
ylOus age? More than this: 10 not the
question at least worthy Of our careful
consideration. whether, having abol.
ishCd tue entire code Of Moses, with
the exception Of this, with no apparent
injury, but with manifest Improvement
and with no violation Of the divine pre-.
cept, we cannot also give up thisi
In The very first sermon that Jesus
preached, behold how positively and
clearly be defined the principles of bis
own religion, in coniradistinction TO
those Of Moses: "Yc have heard that
it bath been said, an eye for an eye
and tooth for a tooth bat Isay unto
you that 20 resist not evil but whose.
ever shall smito thOo on thy right
cheek, turn to him the other also.
And il any man will sue thee at the
Law and take away thy coat, let him
have thy cloak Also" We canno,
suppose that Christ designed that this
should DO literally oh. yed,
but the principle contained in this
declaration be did design should be
enforced as q new, a better, a more di.
yiae Law; q law which should abrogalo
the Mosaic precept and take ils place.
And | ask my Christian brother or sis.
ter, who may perusc these words, il not
is rule the exact opposite Of tue lie.
yitiCal lawH How would the above
declarations Of Christ appear as writ.
ten notices for the gallows? "Lore,
he fulfilling Of tie iap," inscribed on
Ihe crots.bar Of the giLbetl What an
Jesus "lived the doc.
'ine which be taught" lie returned
good for evil aud blessing for cursiug
Ind finally died upon The cross for bis |
'ueniieS, closing and Sanciioning bis
abors Of love by that more than NOR.
al petition, Father, forgive them, for