Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-10-30
From the Conwayboro Telephone. !
"Thou Shalt Not Kill"

The sixth Commandment equally forbids
murder and suicide. No man has right
to take his own life. Self-murdcr is the
embodiment of all crimes. Whether
prompted by cowardicc or revenge, it is
rebellion against Jehovah aud an olfcnsc to
society. All truo governments seek the
protection of the life of their subjects. The
act of suicide cannot be punished by hu-
man laws, because the offender puts him
self beyond their reach. But he thrusts
himself unbidden into the presence of the
Author and Avenger of oil law.
What circumstances aro sufficient to
justify one individual in taking the life of
another, is question of difficulty. The
original command is ia accord with the
common sentiment Of mankind, that the
killing of another, in defiance of law, is
alike sinful aud criminal--offcusive to COD
and man. The right to take life must be
tho result Of special enactment, as the
general law absolutely forbids oil killing
a special enactment can only be of sulli-
oent guarantee to the killer when it comes
from the author of the original prccept.
Under tho thcocratic government of Israel
certain crimes were punishable by death
"
thorities to kill tho pcrpctrator of tho Of
fcnses named.
1t is thus apparent that while the pro-
hibtory command for the protection of life
does in certain events cease to become
obligatory, yet the individual must submit
his right to the determination of tho nu.
thorities of government. Blinded by pro-
judicc or fired by passion, the individual
might suppose himself invested with au.
thority to kill on adversary, but it is not
likely that multitude in counsel would be
equally mislcd, and hence every violation
of tho fundamental law is submitted to the
judgment of court, whether it be consti--
tuted of the Jewish Sanhcdrim, the Roman
Tribunal, or an American Jury.
The responsibility Of justifying viola
ton Of fundamental law should rest only
upon men of undoubtcd intelligence aud
and arc capable Of apprcciating its advan-
tagcs The trial by jury often becomes q
m,rc mockcry of justice from the incompc.
tcncc Of jurors
Tho duty of governments to protect life
often involves tho necessity of taking life.
A murderer permitted to pass without pun.
ishment is encouraged to repeat the offcnsc,
and his exemption from legal penalties
affords encouragement to others who may
be tempted to the act. And hence, whore
the crimes of people might have been
arrested, they arc accelerated, by legal tolc.
rance.
That murder is becoming more common
than formerly will scarcely be denied by
The price of human life is cheap among
tho roughs Of the forest and the city. But
it is not more surprising or lamcntablc that
crime should bo on the increase, than that
it should DO encouraged by the practical
sympathy of courts with tho criminal. A
good man falls victim to sudden wrath or
malicious envy, and is shot down with as
littlo ceremony as bcof Is killed in tho
butcher pen. But when tho case is before
q jury they orc induced to pity the murders
er and fear the guilt of condomning follow
man to die. From what wo believe to bo
undue sympathy with the fraity of hu-
manity in tho person Of n criminal, they
loso sight of the widow and tho orphans he
has cruelty thrust upon society, and do
injustice to the memory of good man
slain. For the safety of society the mur-
deror ought TO DO hung.
But another evil which grows out of the
sickly and sentimental manner in which
criminals arc dealt with, is in tho ultimate
turning loose upon society of some Of the
worst men that ever lived. Consigned to
the penitentiary they arc either farmed out
to escape an inadequate penalty, or they
romain only long enough for friends with a
shrcwd lawyer 70 to work upon the sympa--