The Dawson journal. (Dawson, Ga.) 1878-18??, 1883-01-25
AN OPEN LETTER TO GOV.
STEPHENS.
Columbus Times.
COLUMBUS, GA, Jan. l. 1883.


DEAR SIR:-The genius of on
government allows every citizel
! however humble, to scan the act
? of our public servants; and Will,
this liberty is often abused, still
) hold it a great safeguard 10 oul
rights. In addressing your excel
'ency | assure you that I am mo-
ctuated by any unkindness tc
you or to the unfortunate mar
whose recent pardon from the
Penltentiary to which he was sen.
fenced for life for theFcrime OF
murder. and whose pardon by you
prompts this communication. ]
beg leave to Say here that / have
no personal knowledge ofeither Of
these parties to me fatal affrav. of
Mr.. Cox I never he<rd untilsafter
the murder, and 1 only knew of
CoL. Alstona from report by him
to the Legislature few years ago
upon the management of The con-
wet camps. My respect for you
forbids me for one moment, charg-
ing you with wrong intent in the
granting this pardon. What |
fear is that the weight of opinion
upon this question will have a
bad influence upon the public
mind, already sadly diseased with
the belief that every man is to be
the judge as what shall be the
provocation, that shall justify him
In the killing of one so offending
The object of punching crime
is two fold First thai the law
may be satisfied in the punish
ment of offenders, and next to
deter others from like violations.
that peaceable citizens may feel
secure in their persons and prop
erty. This, the law guarantees to
every citizen however weak. The
poor as we'll as the rich, and hay-
ing SO undertaken it forI,ids orr
avenglng our own wrongs, except
where the imminence of the threo.
tened danger may not await the
laws delay; in that case self-pro-
lection, (the first law of nature)
allows us to defend ourselves even
to the killing of our adversary if
necessary.
Those familiar with the Bible
must be forcibly struck with the
sanctity of human life when thew
read the many safeguards thrown
around it In the sacred volume
Thou shalt not KILL" is the first
command in the second table.
Any killing of any one in anger
was murder, and the law saws:
thou shalt take no satisfaction for
the life of a murderer, which is
guilty OF death. "He shall surely
be put to DEATH" The killing of
one by an OK, known to its owner
to have pushed with his horns"
If he had not KEEP him in was
murder, and such an owner must
pay the penalty by his own death.
The accidental killing of any one
made the unfortunate one liable TO
death by the avenger of blood, un-
less he could gain the city of re-
tuge, where he must reman a pris-
oner until the death of the then
High Priest, and if found without
the city wells during that time the
avenger might kill him with i'm
punity.
These are not the laws of rude
people, or savage tribes delight
ing IN blood, nor laws of Moses as
they are sometimes called, but
Gods laws proclaimed upon Sinai,
amid all the terrors of that fearful
hour, and are as binding now as
when first proclaimed.
The blessed Savior, whose mis-.
sion was onlysof love and mercy
said: "Not one jot or title of the
law should fail till all be fulfill
ed" Amongst the reasons giver
for the pardon Of Cox, are numer
Gus petitions signed by ell classe
of citizens requesting his pardon
We all know how hard it is to re
sist the Importantly OF wife, pa
rent or child, pleading for mere,
for a loved one. And J ventur,
,he assertion that there is not
convict in the Penitentiary, VIII,
with money and friends could no
get enough signatures to petitio
for his pardon, if these were sufi
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