TheRev。HenryChristmas，inarecentpamphletonthissubject，showsclearlythatinfiveimportantversionsoftheOldTestament（tosaynothingofversionsoflessnote）thewords，\"byman\"，intheoften—quotedtext，\"Whososheddethman’sblood，bymanshallhisbloodbeshed\"，donotappearatall。WeknowthatthelawofMoseswasdeliveredtocertainwanderingtribesinapeculiarandperfectlydifferentsocialconditionfromthatwhichprevailsamongusatthistime。WeknowthattheChristianDispensationdiddistinctlyrepealandannulcertainportionsofthatlaw。Weknowthatthedoctrineofretributivejusticeorvengeance，wasplainlydisavowedbytheSaviour。Weknowthatontheonlyoccasionofanoffender，liablebythelawtodeath，beingbroughtbeforeHimforHisjudgment，itwasnotdeath。WeknowthatHesaid，\"Thoushaltnotkill\"。AndifwearestilltoinflictcapitalpunishmentbecauseoftheMosaiclaw（underwhichitwasnottheconsequenceofalegalproceeding，butanactofvengeancefromthenextofkin，whichwouldsurelybediscouragedbyourlaterlawsifitwererevivedamongtheJewsjustnow）itwouldbeequallyreasonabletoestablishthelawfulnessofapluralityofwivesonthesameauthority。
HereIwillleavethisaspectofthequestion。Ishouldnothavetreatedofitatallinthecolumnsofanewspaper，butforthepossibilityofbeingunjustlysupposedtohavegivenitnoconsiderationinmyownmind。
Inbringingtoaclosetheselettersonasubject，inconnectionwithwhichthereishappilyverylittlethatisnewtobesaidorwritten，IbegtobeunderstoodasadvocatingthetotalabolitionofthePunishmentofDeath，asageneralprinciple，fortheadvantageofsociety，forthepreventionofcrime，andwithouttheleastreferenceto，ortendernessforanyindividualmalefactorwhomsoever。Indeed，inmostcasesofmurder，myfeelingtowardstheculpritisverystronglyandviolentlythereverse。Iamthemoredesiroustobesounderstood，afterreadingaspeechmadebyMr。
MacaulayintheHouseofCommonslastTuesdaynight，inwhichthataccomplishedgentlemanhardlyseemedtorecognisethepossibilityofanybodyentertaininganhonestconvictionoftheinutilityandbadeffectsofCapitalPunishmentintheabstract，foundedoninquiryandreflection，withoutbeingthevictimof\"akindofeffeminatefeeling\"。Withoutstayingtoinquirewhattheremaybethatisespeciallymanlyandheroicintheadvocacyofthegallows，ortoexpressmyadmirationofMr。Calcraft，thehangman，asdoubtlessoneofthemostmanlyspecimensnowinexistence，Iwouldsimplyhintadoubt，inallgoodhumour，whetherthisbethetrueMacaulaywayofmeetingagreatquestion？OneoftheinstancesofeffeminacyoffeelingquotedbyMr。Macaulay，Ihavereasontothinkwasnotquitefairlystated。IalludetothepetitioninTawell’scase。Ihadneitherhandnorpartinitmyself;but，unlessIamgreatlymistaken，itdidprettyclearlysetforththatTawellwasamostabhorredvillain，andthattheHousemightconcludehowstronglythepetitionerswereopposedtothePunishmentofDeath，whentheyprayedforitsnon—inflictioneveninsuchacase。
THESPIRITOFCHIVALRYINWESTMINSTERHALL