Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-04-08
Cap.tal Pantsh ment.

Capital Punishment.
| To tie editor ofthe Alec ndra Gazette
| A f,w articles or The I'll of Ca plta pun
isbmc1t" havicg appsalci a short tlme slocs
10 The columns Of the 'G,z,tte," l send en-
closed copy of a p3cn, which hava 10 my
posses.i,n fer icse7,ioa. | am sorry have not
the name Of the author. A. w. j.
| Ac.o!ink, Ga month, 25, 1879.
| What. would you s#iog y5u: Brothers form
High up in Heavens free ar.
Aod place the Image Of your God
a dapslicg y:c:im there
" no gave you power to read bis heart,
Or k1oT how deep his guilt,
| 0. JUICE what proVocaloDs came
Ere blood BY him VAS spit
Can ye retracs tue eugth OF year,,
Sioco re coume5csd bis lite,
And mark the coutsilg of events,
His wrongs his woes, Biz strife
His battles 1Ith ualoHard fate.
His blasted hopes and schemes.
His Iong;Ggs for the pure aad tlgbl.
His visionary DRAINS?
Perhaps, from lite's first carly dawa
LII nestled b. his side,
His teaching. may have been 10 wrong,
Add siu his chiihooa's guide;
No mothers voice, perhaps, Tor him
Sent up az CsrGcet prayer,
No father ct the mercy seat
hshed his acceptance there;
No sister tE!1ed accuod his heaIt
A so:. aud gen!la spell.
Which made aG atmosphere OF love
Wherever he might dSell;
Virtue, DethsDs, 10 hin Tts knoEn
But as az empty Uapc,
Aod truth, ao1 j1-licc. but the guise
OF coGar1icG a0d shame
Reron'I win6lag, earacSt tones
May le' er withn III: soul
TIav. spread thci: itillcoc divine,
To purify the whole
Thea, would ye sNog you7 brothers form
High up in Heavens free alr,
And psc, the image ci YOUR God
Il Gyiog victim there?
With ii hi- srs upcu his head
Before his destined hour;
l. voucS he fat Of bis doys
Yours .he avcrgiog power?
Did not that Ece tha; saw his dead
Take pote wheu it was done,
Apd read tho thought that caused the get
Ere yet It WIS 3c:un:
And could He rot Wthvc0gcaDco swift,
Have laid tho u'piit low,
IF. 10 his wisdom. he had sctn
II meet 10 deaf tha blow?
Think you Li; hand less strong than yours?
Arc you mere Just, mere wise,
That " with daring hands unro5e
The soul that never dies?
Ia whom y0ur God 10 mercy spared
No mercy meets 10 you,
And yet wc pray" "ftraiVe Us Lord,
As W, Ill others 90.
Perhaps 90 guilt ecu: prisoner knows.
Although tJr crime arrelgoed,
Aud proofs may Cluster thi.kY round
By circuns auca maiotanedi
He may bo ionocant, and sand
Before bis maker sight
A spoiless one, more pure than you,
Who thiuk you aco the right
Ard can yc give him life again.
OF mere hin rzht ior wrong,
If iuure time should prove the guilt
May some whcre else balOUg?
Then, dare sou sG!Ug your bICtncr f0tm
Hrgh Up ia Heavens fr:e cir,
Whcu time may tell, SO iunoceot
Has cten Suspended thers
Snnuo,e be did i.-and suppose
,ur pries;s around hlm placed,
feaa5ing, repentance may atone,
AID sinners may be sraeed-
Surpos, he does regent, and lies
Washed cesu b:fure he throne,
Becomes .,iot, and pGrrh:d,
Aud ,aven be feels bis owu;
Wmh a,xcus z:sl his spin. Graves
70 fill hf.'s iirIe sos1
With calIiug al to turn and s:e
GoG's love to gully mao.
Ard who, than he, ouee suck 10 sio,
Can mere thst !oya per ra5 !
Who preach moro ttu'g-Siouer, turo,
Cline uay b, washed away
Then, coud yon hang tba: slot. redeemed.
High I'D 10 HeaVcss tree arI
[, earth 60 iu'l Of righteous ones
That ye h.v. snm. 10 spars
And waele yout Father mercy showed
Gan =. pn mercy sloS Z
Have Sc &c er slnoed that ve NUT thus
DIAL the aycUgi5g bio"
Bot, ii rcpeotatc, shouil not cou1e
Before bis hour Of doop.
IF unregenerato you saouta s'od
Your brother 10 the toI!o,
Thick you thar ye viii Gu;r'"5s $3.50
B.fo,c ycur Fsrhcr's eye?
Did ye TO, murder when yc s1i1
Your pIlsgcer sh0ul! die
Or. are yCu: piisy1 houses foil
Have sc 10 roam oue foc enc?
Is bresd 50 sc.ut ye caGrot feed
Till lies shCrt course ls Iu,?
Hsvc yc 20: bos aud bars enough
To bold the victim fast,
Whcu tnreIars with their thoUs:nd wi!e5
Are there securely cast?
And ere sc sure no cnsDpicg tatc
May give to you hs place
Arc ye so saucited in good
Ye csonot fill from grace
Csn DO temptation have tho poTer
10 urge tho has.Y blow?