Original Correspondence.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XVII, Issue 1723, 5 February 1862, Page 3

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectatoi. Wellington, February 3. 1862. Sir,—-The solemn impression made by the late execution has been much deepened by the tone used by the press of Wellington. I would, however, by your permission, notice a fallacy, as it seems to me, which ruled in one account concerning the expediency of capital punishment. It was said, “ that it might be lawful to take away human life judicially, but that it was not expedient io do so.” I judge, however, that it is not only lawful, that is a thing not absolutely wrong, to inflict capital punishment, but that, in a Christian community, it would be in direct disobedience to Cod’s law not to inflict it*

The original command given to Noah, when the world, was as it were commencing a new phase of existence, has never been abrogated: nor is there anything in the law to shew that it is not of universal obligation,— not for one time only,as was the case with the Jewish ceremonial law. Again, the teaching of the New Testament is not separated from that of the Old Testament; a new light only is thrown upon human duty, and a higher principle held up to animate to that duty. Now, in Romans xiii, St. Paul I believe sanctions and continues that original command. He tells us that the. ruler who beareth not the sword in vain is the minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” This same passage shews, too, contrary to much that is written now-a-days, that the end of punishment is not for reformation only;—the wrong doer is to be punished for the evil that he has done. If then capital punishment be commanded, and not permitted only, it would be most inexpedient to abolish it; for no human law could be just or expedient.that should oppose the Divine law. But besides this, I believe that one great reason of the present frequency of murder is the infrequency of capital punishment. Juries, disgusted with the past practice of punishing with death, contrary to the law of God, for forgery and other offences, have now become unwilling to find even the murderer guilty of death. Ten years ago it was a common thing in the east of England for mothers to enrol their young children in burial clubs, and then to murder them for the value of the club money. If the first who did this had been executed the crime would, I believe, have ceased. Collins himself, when he heard of the petition to the Governor, praying that his sentence might be remitted because the petitioners wish to abolish capital punishment, answered “ That will do me no good;, might and not right would prevail then.” And at another time, “Ifl am not executed, this will not be the last time this crime will be heard of in the regiment.” I judge, then, Sir, that the Bible commands that the murderer should die; that therefore it would be inexpedient to abolish capital punishment; and that criminal statistics prove that it would be inexpedient. ‘

I am, Sir, your obedient servant, R. A.