Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-04-21
SUOrcester
PUBLIC EXECUTIONS.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 81, 1924.

teemed, respecting the execution, at New
York. of the murderer johnson, we have seen
much to confirm the opinion, THAI such exhi-
pose whatever. Every thing that familiarizes
the mind with the commission of crime, i'm
perceptiby, but certainly, diminishes our alb
horrence of guilt, and in witnessing its pun
:shment, our detestation of the criminal is gen.
orally lost in pity for the sufferer. We be-
lieve, most assuredly, that if the punishment
of all crimes, now capital by law, were chang
ed to solitary imprisonment for life, it could
not but have a salutary effect on society. Man
is social being, and there is something pecu-
iiarly dreadful in the idea of being inc arcerat-
ed,alone, within the walls of dreary dungeon,
to linger out a tedious life, with no associate
and no companion but a guilty conscience.
But if no change is made in the kind of pun
,;shment, one ought certainly to be made in the
manner ofit. On the day ofJohnson's execu-
ton, New York is said to have exhibited all
the amusements and the excuses of great
holiday, and six pickpockcts were detected.
pil'eripg from the crowd assembled at the foot
ofthe gallows. To obviate these evils it is pro-
posed that all executions should take place in
private with only the necessary officers present.
We extract the following remarks on this SUBJ
ject from the New York American.
:" If it were known that alta given hour, the
condemned criminal was to die in silence, al
most in solitude-without crowds to excite his
hardihood, or sustain his courage-or impart,
in the last fatal moments, an artificial strength;
If the execution were to be announced by the
solemn tollinS of the bell, and its event made
known by the display of black flag, would
not the Imagination be much more strongly
impressed--would it not picture forth the suf-
ferings of the convict, in colours deeper even
than truth.-and more than all, would not the
horrid spectacle be spared to the eyes Of men,
women and children, of fellow creatures suf-
terings? A spectacle which must harden and
brutalize the mind"
To this we would add one suggestion more.
When criminal is committed to prison. let
his intercourse with the world cease. Soli-
tude and Silence are best adapted to refec-
ton, and repentance is concern between him
and his Maker alone. We would not deprive
him of spiritual counsel and consolation
minister Of religion should attend him, but un-
der solemn injunction Of secresy. fla cloud
Of doubt and uncertainty were to rest ON the
latter days of the felon, the effect would be
far more solemn and impressive than it is, when
our sympathy is excited by tales of penitence,
which may or may not be real, and when his
death is viewed rather as the triumph of mar
tyr, than as the expiration of guilt.
The New York papers have given accounts
OF a series Of galvanic experiments, made in
that City on the dead body of Johnson. If
the cause of science can be advanced by
such experiments, we do not object to it but
why, we ask, should the public feeling be
shocked by relation, at which, every feeling
mind must revolt: Why are not such ac-
counts confined to the books of science
where, alone, they should be found Who
would not join III Reproduction of the man who
would expose to the public gaze, the secrets
of the dssecting room? And highly in.
proper as that must be, this is hardly less so.
By the following article from the Column
oian Observer, it will be seen that we are not
singular in our opinions on this subject.
- We have been waiting with no little mpa-
tIence to see some manifestation of public alb
horrence through the newspapers, of the re-
cent 6Gr6arouS outrage committed on the dead
If h. o
ork. This man had, it seems, murdered
member OF society, and society, in order to be
reVenged, turned on their pinioned victim,
and murdered the Murderer. According to
existing laws, perhaps, this was all proper
eaough-but we doubt if such law is author.
ised by the fundamental and strict principle of
the Constitutions delegation of rights and
po|ers inherent IN man, and which supposes
the right Of every individual to take his o,vn
tye. Passing this over, however, as too alb
struse question for cursory discussion, we
will proceed to ask the questionable we live
IN a csptt'ssd age? Are we, as we boast our.
selves, Christian People? Are we now in
the 18th or 10Th century? If we are in the
latter age, we should like to be informed, how
me torturlng OF the flesh of a dead BODY, can
De Justiaeds 1t surely cannot be said, that
Is 10 improve science and benefit the human
lamily-ior Galvanism is not in its infancy.
nor Is 1t necessary, if it were, to improve it on
the corpse of a human being. johnson is in
sensible to the indignity done to his body.
but nc mas ch'tdren; audhumanity cries aloud
Tor forbearance from the brutal and savage
experiments of callous hearted and cold
FLOODED college Of experimenters. We hope
never again TO hear an account of a similar
outrage upon decency, humanity, and our
>ooasted pretensions to civilization.
CONGRESS.
The Tariff Bill continues to engross most of
the time and attention of Congress- Tho 5ata;Is