The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1873-03-29
Dsatss the Penalty ofHIurdcr

The execution Of Foster, for the muir.
der of Putnam, which took place on
Friday, March 2lst, has called forth
extensive comments from the Press
throughout the length and breadth of
the. land. The question which ngitated
tho mind of the people of New York,
GLOW to stem the tide of murder"
naturally evolved the questions, of the
moral Justice of capital punishment, its
expediency and effect. In our last issue
We published an extended extract from
a,Ssermon of gifted minister of the
gospel, whose arguments as to the sane.
ton and moral, social aud religi jus
sice Of the death penalty were irrefut-
able, Before even the PRONUNCIATION of
the tdecalogue, the canon of death for
murder was announced from Heaven as
Sne of the fundamental principles of
Gods moral government and as safe.
guard for His creatures from their own
passions. The first divine statute is a
penal, one for the greatest Of all crimes.
Heaven, by this statute, has enforced
upon human society, upon government
~.
this sanctioned right and imperative
duty.
Though depraved morality and
wanton infdelity may excl,im in their
own iavorite and repeated phraseology
fHan. ing is played out" yet its sane.
aion remains written the first command
iasht, in the revelation of Gods will.
The first gseat object of human
punishment is to deter others by terrible
example, Can there Be any hesitancy
In daciding upon the wisdom and policy
OF this terrible punishment for murder
A sielly .cntimentality may shudder
at the retribution of life for life (; bu.
the political philos,pher the patriot or
the christian will have no scruples in
bbeJing and admiring .lis his ceuntry's
and his Gods first law.
Atheism and low state Of social
purity. and morals may incite morbid
isympathy for the murderer but the law
Stands majestic and true: "Whoso
Sheddeth mans blood, by man shall his
blood be shed for in the image of G cd
made he man." Mark the reason!
81, The execution of Foster, under the
circumstances was q remarkable and
great event, and Dix, the governor Of
New York has by the unfinching dis
charge Of his duty afforded memorable
example for the guidance of executive
seficers in the exercise of the preroga.
ytiFe Of arden.
|ESiNeser was all the enginery of sympa
thy so skilfully arrayed and exercised
than in this case. Ya he remained
true toithe principles Of divine and hu-
5 man; justice, and quailed not He dis
played q subliuler heroism and truor
moral courage in withstanding all the
path0s of appeal, all the ingenuity of
scphistry, an the influence of wealth,
!, position and society, than does the
bronsed general in confronting the
batteries, the maltilatioR and death. In
iSithstanding, he is greater victor.
- The lesson will be mos. salutary as it
ssras most needed in New York.
'fa Murder will no longer be the brutal
theme Of jest and boast, nor will the
= murderer strut, the hero of tho rufian
s7esew. But the sauctisy of life, the
Ia iamajssty Of law are most nobly illustra
tedand vindicated All honor TO Dix /!
Ho has done his duty, when most sore
ly tempted to disregard it.
10; The sublime spectacle of the COVER
aoaor, surrounded by the ingenuity of
great learning, the glitter Of great in
ifgshcs, and the most plaintivo appeals,
iYuoL.