Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-09-07
Wordsworth to be the laureate of the


gailows. 3s@aa - IS
In one of the sonnets, a slightly new
view is taken Of the hene6cent influences
OF hanging. AT least, / do not remember
to have seen it urged in other quarters. -
Mr.. Wordsworth thinks that when al man
has been condemned for capital crime,
and has made up his mind to be hanged,
he ought not to wish 10 be pardoned, be-
cause all his penitencc might thereby be
thrown away, and hea become wicked
sinner again. This is presenting the ar
gument from the absolute humanity Of the
operatlon--showing that the advantage Of
the criminal is BY no means overlooked
In It. Indeed, he more than intimaies,
that man wishing for pardon or COM
mutation, under such circumstances, plain.
ly shows that be does not know what is
for his own good, and should betreated
accordingly. apprehend, however, that
II our poet should fnd himself, some fine
morning, Standing on ,Newgate drop, with
moose under his left ear, and a hundred
thousand eyes gIaring at him, it might
somewhat modify his preconceived opin
ions on the subject He enlarges. more,
over, on the advantages of hanging over
transportation or imprisonment in a man
]ner which should commend itself 10 any
convict of taste and discretion. In short,
he throws such mantle Of fine words
over the somewhat matter offacl business
OF breaking a mans neck, that It actually
seems 10 rise into the ideal, and Is be
surrounded with misty halo Of glory.
Perhaps he may succeed in bringing the
! gallows into fashion among his numerous
admirers; and who knows but The Lake
school of poets may give place to the
Gallows school 60 Perhaps he may do
wha: a celebrated gentleman OF Boston
suggested, some years ago, as probable,
for other reasons. He was dining in
company with Governor Everett, and
with the rest of the patty was urging'him
to have Russel and Crocket (the incendi-
arles) hanged. The Governor suggested
the various reasons which had been offered
tor commutation of punishment-amo
them, that one execution generally pro-
duced others, 'Ah! yes replied our gen
tleman with diabolical glee. ..lhere is great
danger OF creating taste to be hanged
But, to be serious, There is one as
spect OF this preposterous sonne,teering
which is favorable to humanity. Hshows,
| at least, that enough general interest in
the subject has been excited in Great
Britain, to make it seem important 10 Mr..
1 Wordsworth, or his employers, to ma Ike
this demonstration in favor Of the old con-
stitutionala remedy. Thirty years ago,
1 Wordsworth would never have thought
of setting his muse about such sanguinary
work. The revolution which has beer
! going on in the public mind Of England
for generation past, we may be assured
will not 60 backwards. It can not sbe
materially stayed, even by the great name
I of Wordsworth. Men viii not be rhymed
Tor preached, out Of common humanity
forever; bat they will at last and soon
too, perceive, that the strangling of mat
can not be beneficial operation to any Q
the parties concerned; and not all tn,
poets or preachers in the world will per
. suade them that either religion, or NOR
atty, or the public good will be com
promised by its abolition. -E. q. arss..