And it seems remarkable, that this system should be persevered in, when
we consider that death, as far as the experiment has been made in our
own country, has little or no effect as a punishment for crimes.
Forgery, and the circulation of forged paper, and the counterfeiting of
the money of the realm, are capital offences, and are never pardoned.
And yet no offences are more frequently committed than these. And it
seems still more remarkable, when we consider, in addition to this, that
in consequence of the experiments, made in other countries, it seems to
be approaching fast to an axiom, that crimes are less frequent, in
proportion as mercy takes place of severity, or as there are judicious
substitutes for the punishment of death.
I shall not inquire, in this place, how far the right of taking away
life on many occasions, which is sanctioned by the law of the land, can
be supported on the ground of justice, or how for a greater injury is
done by it, than the injury the criminal has himself done. As
Christians, it seems that we should be influenced by Christian
principles. Now nothing can be more true, than that Christianity
commands us to be tender hearted one to another, to have a tender
forbearance one with another, and to regard one another as brethren.
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