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then must -we not punish with death those who -break into a house?—those who write a wrong name ?—those who t steal a sheep ? And will any man in Tahiti say that death should prow for these ?—No , no ; this goes too far ; so I think we should stop . The law , as it is written , I think is good ; perhaps I
am wrong ; but that is my thought / After a moment or two of stillness , Upupara , a noble , intelligent , and stately chief , stood forth . It was a pleasure to look upon his animated countenance and frank demeanour , without the smallest affectation either of superiority or condescension . He paid several graceful compliments to the former speakers ,
while , according to his thought , hi some things each was right , and each was wrong . * My brother , Hitoti , who proposed that we should punish murder with death , because England does so , was wrong , as has been shewn by Utami . For they are not the laws of England which are to guide us , though they are good ;—the Bible is our perfect guide .
Now , MittiTi'utu ( the Missionary Crook ) was preaching to us on ( naming the day ) from the Scripture , * He that sheddeth man ' s blood , by man shall his blood be Shed ; ' aud he -told us that this was the reason of the law of England . My thought , therefore , is not with Utami , but with Hitoti , ( though not because the law of England , but because the Bible ,
orders it , ) that we ought to punish with death every one found guilty of murder . ' There was a lively exchange of looks all through the assembly , as if each had been deeply struck with the sentiments of the speaker , especially when he placed the ground of the punishment of death , not upon English precedent , but Scripture authority . Another chief followed ,
and rising , seemed a pillar of state / one whose aspect , and presence , and costume of dress , ( richly native , ) made the spectators forget even him who had just sat down . His name was Tati ; and On him all eyes were immediately and intensely fixed , while , with not less simplicity and deference to others than those who had preceded him ., bespoke thus : — . Perhaps some of you may be surprised
that I , who am the first chief here , and next to the royal family , should have held my peace so long . 1 wished to hear what my brethren would say , that 1 might gather what thoughts had grown in their breasts on this great question . I am glad that I waited , because some thoughts are now growing in my own breast which I did tiot bring with me . The chiefs , who have spoken before me , have spoken well .
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But is not the speech of Upuparu like that of his brother , Hitoti—^ -in this way ? If we cannot follow the laws of England in all things , as Hitoti's thoughts would perhaps lead us , because they go too far , —must we not stop short of Upuparu , because his thought goes too far likewise ? The Bible , he says , is our perfect guide . It is . But what does that
Scripture mean , * He that sheddeth man ' s blood , by man shall his blood be shed' ? Does not this go so far that we cannot follow it to the end , any more than we can follow the laws of England all the way ? I am Tati ; I am a judge ; a man is convicted before me ; he has shed blood ; I order him to be put to death ; I shed Ms blood ; then who shall shed mine ? Here , because I cannot go so far , I must stop . This cannot be the
meaning of those words . But , perhaps , since many of the laws of the Old Testament were thrown down by the Lord Jesus Christ , and only some kept standing upright , —perhaps , I say , this is one of those which were thrown down . However , as I am ignorant , some one else will shew me , that , in the New Testament , our Saviour , or his apostles , have said the same thing concerning him that sheddeth man's blood as is said in the Old Testament .
Shew me this in the New Testament , and then it must be our guide . ' Much cordial approbation was evident at the conclusion of Tati's speech , and its evangelical appeal seemed to remove some difficulty and doubt respecting the true scriptural authority applicable to the case Next rose Pati , a chief and a judge of Einieo , formerly a high-priest of Oro ,
and the first who , at the hazard of his life , had abjured idolatry . * My breast , * he exclaimed , ' is full of thought , and surprise , and delight . When I look round at this / are bure ra ( house of God ) hi which we are assembled , and consider who we are that take sweet counsel together here , it is to me all me huru e , ( a thing of amazement , ) aud mea faa oaoa
te aau ( a thing that makes glad my . heart ) . Tati has settled the question ; for is it not the gospel that is our guide ? and who can find directions for putting to death ? I know many passages which forbid , but 1 know not one which commands , to kill . But ( hen another thought
hi growing in tny br-eaat , and , if you will hearken to my little speech , you shall know what it is . Laws , to punish those that commit crime , are good for us . But tell me , why do Christians punish ? Is it because we are angry , and have pleasure in causing pain ? Is it because we love revenge , as we did when we were
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549 Critical Notices . — "Miscellaneous .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1831, page 540, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2600/page/36/
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