Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-09-07
From the Non Resistant
THE POETRY OF HANGING.

80 q y sl fs
The friends Of humanity throughout
the world have been grieved, as well as
its enemies rejoiced, within few months
past, BY the publication Of series OF SON.
nets in defense OF capital punishment, by
the poet Wordsworth. They were also
as much surprised as grieved, that one
who lad been honored especially as the
poet of humanity should have descended
from his godiike vocation, to pander To-
the cruel cowardice of society. But SO IL
is--to whatever cause we may attribute
it. Here we have, in good set verses, all
the old slereo,yped arguments in favor Of
hanging. If itwere not for the sorrow
which such a prostitution of genius must
excite, and the sense of mischief which.
the weight of such mans influence must
have in a community upon the general
mind, as vet unsettled on the question, II,
would be absolutely laughable to see our
old acquaintance trieked out in their new
and jingtng dresses. The thrice-slain
common place Of our gallows-loving cler-.
gy are snalched from the graves where
they were quietly reposing, TO be en-
bamed by the wizard OF the lakes, and,
in their mummy-ilke ghastliness, passed
off as living truths. Perhaps they may
deceive some for a time, and perhaps defer
The final repeal Of the remains Of the
Draconic code Of England. for which
purpose they were enthusiastically written
and published. But the poet will be pun
ished for the misdeeds OF the man. The
remnant of barbarism which it is the de.
sign of these sonnets to uphold, can not
in the nature of things. endure much
longer in what calls itself ihe civilized
world. The sentiments which these eff
fusious have excited inihe few, will beforl
long be those of the many ~ OF the all
and they. must be regarded TO the end Q
time as deep blot upon his lame. l. ]
to be hoped that b, may yet, recover tn
true vision of the Bard, and that he ma,
learn 10 look upon these poems las line
perhaps the only ones) (which, dying, b
would wish to blct.' z = '- SO
ai It will indeed seem strange TO a NOR
civilized posteriiy, to look upon the occu
patton of this great poet, whose vocatio
has been to touch, and purify, and elevat
the heart Of man, by the divinest magi'
STOPPING 10 daub over half-rotten absurd
itv. and to consecrate a crime OF whic
the very Old Bailey was beginning 10 b
ashamed. The poeiical Nestor OF tn
nineteenth century crowning Jack Keic
with laurcls, decking the gallows vii
garands, and painting it coeieEr de r0s
as the French Jacobins did the gay gui
Iotinei' As if people were NOT read
enough to ayenge themselves Of their el
emies, and 10 ,endeayor to provide then
selves with an imaginary security. b
describing around them a circle ol hums
blood. without sacred bard coming
sauctify the deed. The clergy expe
10 see eulogizing and blessing those vi
thirst for their brolhors' blood But
begrude the poets. Is there no one &
to sing the gio.iesof ne human shamLI
and 10 vindicats the God-given RICH:
breaking human necks. but WIN. Wor,
WORTH Is the gibbet aboutto divide W
the battlefield the songs of the poet
Are epic poems to be founded on /
Newoate calendar? Is the hangman
come in for his share of the praises viii
his brother desiroyefs of the sword ha
hitherto monopolized2 This is poeti
justice, admit. The one is as mu
entitled 10 the need of tuneful admiral
ms the other The hero Of theshalter
serves as much. nay more, from the co
parative fewness of his murders, the
miration of mankind, as he Of the fe
marshalPs truncheon. But. still, X "
It had fallen 70 the lot Of somesether' Il