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objection which claims to rest on Scriptural authority。
It was excellently well said by Lord Melbourne； that no class of
persons can be shown to be very miserable and oppressed； but some
supporters of things as they are will immediately rise up and assertnot
that those persons are moderately well to do； or that their lot in life has a
reasonably bright sidebut that they are； of all sorts and conditions of men；
the happiest。 In like manner； when a certain proceeding or institution is
shown to be very wrong indeed； there is a class of people who rush to the
fountainhead at once； and will have no less an authority for it than the
Bible； on any terms。
So； we have the Bible appealed to in behalf of Capital Punishment。 So；
we have the Bible produced as a distinct authority for Slavery。 So；
American representatives find the title of their country to the Oregon
territory distinctly laid down in the Book of Genesis。 So； in course of
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time； we shall find Repudiation； perhaps； expressly commanded in the
Sacred Writings。
It is enough for me to be satisfied； on calm inquiry and with reason；
that an Institution or Custom is wrong and bad； and thence to feel assured
that IT CANNOT BE a part of the law laid down by the Divinity who
walked the earth。 Though every other man who wields a pen should turn
himself into a commentator on the Scripturesnot all their united efforts；
pursued through our united lives； could ever persuade me that Slavery is a
Christian law； nor； with one of these objections to an execution in my
certain knowledge； that Executions are a Christian law； my will is not
concerned。 I could not； in my veneration for the life and lessons of Our
Lord； believe it。 If any text appeared to justify the claim； I would reject
that limited appeal； and rest upon the character of the Redeemer； and the
great scheme of His Religion； where； in its broad spirit； made so plain
and not this or that disputed letterwe all put our trust。 But； happily； such
doubts do not exist。 The case is far too plain。 The Rev。 Henry Christmas；
in a recent pamphlet on this subject； shows clearly that in five important
versions of the Old Testament （to say nothing of versions of less note） the
words； 〃by man〃； in the often…quoted text； 〃Whoso sheddeth man's blood；
by man shall his blood be shed〃； do not appear at all。 We know that the
law of Moses was delivered to certain wandering tribes in a peculiar and
perfectly different social condition from that which prevails among us at
this time。 We know that the Christian Dispensation did distinctly repeal
and annul certain portions of that law。 We know that the doctrine of
retributive justice or vengeance； was plainly disavowed by the Saviour。
We know that on the only occasion of an offender； liable by the law to
death； being brought before Him for His judgment； it was not death。 We
know that He said； 〃Thou shalt not kill〃。 And if we are still to inflict
capital punishment because of the Mosaic law （under which it was not the
consequence of a legal proceeding； but an act of vengeance from the next
of kin； which would surely be discouraged by our later laws if it were
revived among the Jews just now） it would be equally reasonable to
establish the lawfulness of a plurality of wives on the same authority。
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Here I will leave this aspect of the question。 I should not have treated
of it at all in the columns of a newspaper； but for the possibility of being
unjustly supposed to have given it no consideration in my own mind。
In bringing to a close these letters on a subject； in connection with
which there is happily very little that is new to be said or written； I beg to
be understood as advocating the total abolition of the Punishment of Death；
as a general principle； for the advantage of society； for the prevention of
crime； and without the least reference to； or tenderness for any individual
malefactor whomsoever。 Indeed； in most cases of murder； my feeling
towards the culprit is very strongly and violently the reverse。 I am the
more desirous to be so understood； after reading a speech made by Mr。
Macaulay in the House of Commons last Tuesday night； in which that
accomplished gentleman hardly seemed to recognise the possibility of
anybody entertaining an honest conviction of the inutility and bad effects
of Capital Punishment in the abstract； founded on inquiry and reflection；
without being the victim of 〃a kind of effeminate feeling〃。 Without
staying to inquire what there may be that is especially manly and heroic in
the advocacy of the gallows； or to express my admiration of Mr。 Calcraft；
the hangman； as doubtless one of the most manly specimens now in
existence； I would simply hint a doubt； in all good humour； whether this
be the true Macaulay way of meeting a great question？ One of the
instances of effeminacy of feeling quoted by Mr。 Macaulay； I have reason
to think was not quite fairly stated。 I allude to the petition in Tawell's
case。 I had neither hand nor part in it myself； but； unless I am greatly
mistaken； it did pretty clearly set forth that Tawell was a most abhorred
villain； and that the House might conclude how strongly the petitioners
were opposed to the Punishment of Death； when they prayed for its non…
infliction even in such a case。
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THE SPIRIT OF CHIVALRY IN
WESTMINSTER HALL
〃Of all the cants that are canted in this canting world；〃 wrote Sterne；
〃kind Heaven defend me from the cant of Art！〃 We have no intention of
tapping our little cask of cant； soured by the thunder of great men's fame；
for the refreshment of our readers： its freest draught would be
unreasonably dear at a shilling； when the same small liquor may be had for
nothing； at innumerable ready pipes and conduits。
But it is a main part of the design of this Magazine to sympathise with
what is truly great and good； to scout the miserable discouragements that
beset； especially in England； the upward path of men of high desert； and
gladly to give honour where it is due； in right of Something achieved；
tending to elevate the tastes and thoughts of all who contemplate it； and
prove a lasting credit to the country of its birth。
Upon the walls of Westminster Hall； there hangs； at this time； such a
Something。 A composition of such marvellous beauty； of such infinite
variety； of such masterly design； of such vigorous and skilful drawing； of
such thought and fancy； of such surprising and delicate accuracy of detail；
subserving one grand harmony； and one plain purpose； that it may be
questioned whether the Fine Arts in any period of their history have
known a more remarkable performance。
It is the cartoon of Daniel Maclise； 〃executed by order of the
Commissioners〃； and called The Spirit of Chivalry。 It may be left an
open question； whether or no this allegorical order on the part of the
Commissioners； displays any uncommon felicity of idea。 We rather think
not； and are free to confess that we should like to have seen the
Commissioners' notion of the Spirit of Chivalry stated by themselves； in
the first instance； on a sheet of foolscap； as the ground…plan of a model
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cartoon； with all the commissioned proportions of height and breadth。
That the treatment of such an abstraction； for the purposes of Art； involves
great and peculiar difficulties； no one who considers the subject for a
moment can doubt。 That nothing is easier to render it absurd and
monstrous； is a position
