Blake had not only wronged him, but he had violated the laws and to the laws he was bound to give him up." "Give up a poor, erring young man, to the stern, unbending, unfeeling laws! No one is bound to do that.

It is cruel, and no one is under the necessity of being cruel." "It is simply just, Mr.May, as I view it.

And, further, really more just to give up the culprit to the law he has knowingly and wilfully violated, than to let him escape its penalties." Mr.May shook his head.
"I certainly cannot see the charity of locking up a young man for three or four years in prison, and utterly and forever disgracing him." "It is great evil to steal ?" said the neighbor.
"O, certainly--a great sin." "And the law made for its punishment is just ?" "Yes, I suppose so." "Do you think that it really injuries a thief to lock him up in prison, and prevent him from trespassing on the property of his neighbors ?" "That I suppose depends upon circumstances.

If----" "No, but my friend, we must fix the principle yea or nay.

The law that punishes theft is a good law--you admit that--very well.