Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-02-17
For tae Delaware Republican.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

Mr.. EDIToR:-We may say in truth that
We were shocked On readiHg an article In your
paper Of the 10th inst, with the above heading
and by ioould De teacher Of the people, and
Drofessed follower Of Christ whose teachings,
precepts, commands, and examples are directly
The opposite 10 the sermon preached by The
Rev. ID. }. Beile Of Light Str..l Church, Bal
timore.
1t Is lamentable, that to sustain his teachings
he must so back to the old Mosaic law Of "eye
for eye, tooth for tooth, blood for blood and
life for fe," which Is utterly at variance with
the Whole life of our blessed Jesus, who-e al
most last act vas 10 pray for those who were
about to murder Him-"Father forgive them
or they Know not what they do"
In the synopsis of the sermon preached by
the Rev. u. J. Beale, lie only uses the name uf
or Saviour once to quote all they that take the
sword shall perish by the sword"
AS we have always understood this pls,a.,.
it was to show how wicked It was, and Il total
abandonment Of His psacabla doc. .rinc, aiiI If
you will be so wicked you cannot fail to sut-
FER
You will oblige Us by inserting the follow
ing which more fully explains our views, vnd
was written sometime sinca but never pub
llshed.
We have often beaa surprised to Had So
many wiss aud good persons, ANA high pr
iessors OF religion, violating the positive com
mands OF him whom they profess to fellow
and often seeking some other construction or
meaning Uf His plain precepts, than the words
CLEARLY imply.
Transactny some business with person
whose life, was 10 all appearance exemplary,
and an elder in the church, We were grieIe o.i
his picking up the morning paper, giving il II
nervous shake, aud with shrug Of his shoul-
1ers, saying cmphatGally:
| swell, that wicked man Ware Of Camden Is
| dead. Why, lie evan cursed and swor5 upon
the scafold, that the miuister should not pray
for him"
We expressed our sorrow for such conLi
tion, and said 1t was all wrong in OH. estima-
ton, the taking away his life; 1t was in direct
violation of the positive command of our Saw
| iour. we hiuk the actors We're guilty Of great
wrong He remarked. "Well | feel some
| what safer that 50 wicked a man Is out Of the
way"
We replied, that we la read the testimon y
| OF the three principal witnesses and have grave
doubts Of the soundness Of Wares mind he
Was all animal in his nature, and In committing
this wicked deed, was like tho whelp protec-
| ing its mother The father had at times beat
en- the mother terribly in the presence Of her
son, and he had threatened his father, II he did
so again he would kill him. Upon this sad oc-
| casion Tue father beat and kicked his ms ther,
drove her out of the house, aud tollowe her
up the road with violent language. Young
Ware i'll u revengeful and wrathful mood took
the gun, met bis father returning and shot him
dead.
| This conversation has inuuced us TO collect
some thoughts on the law of
PUNISHMENT OF DEATH.
''Jesus Christ saysi-Thou shalt not kill, but
do good unto them that desp tetuily use you
! and persecute you, Xc.
| To take the life of fellow creature Is to ex-
crt the utmost possible power Which one man
eau possess over another. Ii Is 10 perform an
action, the mos serious and avful " hich a hu-
inau being eau perform. Respecting such all
action then can any truth be more manifest than
that the dictstas of Christianity ought espe-
cially to be taken into account Look for a mo.
Ment upon the capital offender and upon our.
selves.
lie, deprayed and deep violater TO the law
of God, one who Is obnoxious to the ven.
geance Of Heaven, one, however, whom
Christ came peculiarly tu call TO repentance
and to save; ourselres, his brethern, brethren b,
the relationship of nature, brethern in soms
degree in Offences against God, brethern espe
cially In the trembling hope of a common sal
walton.
Ought We to kill or to endeAvor to amend
him? Ought we, SO far as in our power, tu
cut oil his future hops, or 50 far as in cur power
sire gthen TIE foundation Of that hope? Is II
the reasonable or decent Office of our candi-
date for the mercy of God, 10 hang his fellow
candidate upon gibbet.
since, then SO much IL sacrinced to extend
the terror Of example, we ought to be indisput-
ably certain that the terror of capital punish
inent is greater than that Of all Others. Do
we knoWlhis' We fully believe ,oe do not
Have they not had To abolish public execu.
tions ia consequence OF the vilest passions
being exhibited under the gallows even unto
mm der, despite the supposed terror Of the ex-
ample.