Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-03-06

eliectlal for the security Of human
life than all human legislation, aetu-
Il or possible. could bc. Lo; the law
then cease 10 coantcract its own OLE /
jects, and let il rather teach that great
lesson which pure Christianity, sound
philosophy, and the instructive die
tates Orou own better nature cuncnr
in teaching that the life of man is
something sacred, not to be violated
BY human hands, rightiully to be taken
away only by Him who gave it. 1t
has been imagined, that the Mosaic |
and anti-Mosaic laws upon this subject |
are still binding upon Christian COM
muuiies and tLntt therefore, capital |
punishment for this crime cannot be !
done away with. Ii the great antiq-
uity ot these laws is suppos II to prove
their universal obligation, let Ia 60
back farther TO an adjudication OF d.
vine wisdom in case much more an
cient than any of them, the case of the
first murderer, Cain, upon whom mark
was set, not that he might he capitally
punished, but purposely to prcvest
such catastrophe, lest men finding
him should Stay him. Coeval with
the law referred to, asf promulgated
with quite rs many indications Of an
intention to render it universally OBJ
ligatoIy, is the regulation forbidding
I animal food TO he eaten with its juices,
in the manner now practicel hy all
Christian nations, vet no Christian
has any scruples about regarding this
as n 'ocal and temporary ordina.ce,
although it IS one of the provisions
expressly retained by the Committee
Of the Apostles when they declared the
Mosaic ritual generally to b. abolish,
ed. AS a part Of the same system,
resting upon the same grounds and
meant, for all we can dscover,to have
the same duration, the law OF Moses
punished with death slight infringe
ment of the prescribed rest to the Sab.
bath, and authorized also q parent to
put TO death disobedient child. SO
we'll satisfied are We all that the change
in the whole conditions and funda-
mental construction Of society has adj
yocated these provisions Of the Jewish
law, that while the whole community
, acknowledge their divine origin, Il Jew
who should carry into effect these pre-.
Cepts Of his religion among us, would
be tried convicted and executed for TIT
crime Of murder, murder,t too, which
If the Mosaic law on this and co,iat
eral subjects is still in. force, it wa,
his duty to commit; and from which
as Il pious and conscien tious p"ofcsso
Of his ancient religion, he could no
4 excuse himself. Let those who believe
that the anti-Mosaic and Mosaic laws
of murler is still in force recollec
what that is and they VII be among
:, the first to disclaim it. 1t Introduce
TO new principle Of action, but merGI,
for wise reasons growing out Of tn
then existing state Of 50 ;iety, sane
toned the indulgence Of priyat
wrong. The ayenger Of blood with
r. out Judge or jury, upon his own re
spOnsihlity executed tho law. How
would intelligent men receive prop
osition to re. enact in the present stat
Of civilization code 50 liable to TIL
grossest abuses? These laws wcr
" framed to meet the wants Of Grad
- society and should cease, for the mos
+, prrt they have cea8el, with the con
= dition to which they were suited. l
~ the imperfect organization and irrcg
ular actions Of the Jewish Governmer
- through most Of the period of its il
- dependent existeace, it was nrcessar
T. that the execution Of the law again
murder should be lodged in hanl
where interest and the passion of +
:. vcnge would ensure that it should M
:" remain dead letter. Such was til
situation of the avengcr of blood, h
bad passions were allowed full scoI
- in this for through them only cou
~ the violated majesty of the law he vi
dictate l.. Upon the known and III
form principles Of human nature
must have been a most efficient iud.
-; DEGREES, and swift and indefatigab
~ pursuer and destroyer of his vctir
40 The impossibility Of any secure pc
., pctual Imprisonment left those barb
i. rous ages without any eligible subs
tute for capital punishment. III
the only valid plea in excuse of tn
l. savage practice has long been do
away. J. r..