Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-09-22


ton of inscrihng these papers 10 YOU.
With sentiments Ui high regard,
am dear sir,
As ever, yours truly, G.
Sept. LIST, 1s4}
Public Sentiment Respecting Capital Punishment
Dear SIR: The most lnporlnnt temporal con-
Germ OF the Safe Is its criminal jurisprudence. -
This is The chieI pillar Of the public security, aud
is Intimately connected with the fundamental pru
Ell les Of morals and religion. lie who looks pa
tlentl, into this subj ct, will see 'hnl it has many
,mpnr,aut bearings; aud iha. our existing code
tor the punishment of high crimes is Que I'll The
| last things that ought to he Experienced with
hastily 10y our Legislators. THIS would lie to nm
.eue all our established convictions respecting
the gniH of crime. and to trihe with The most sn-
cred interests oi society for it is supposed III
The public safety aud welfare defend on tie
prompt infection Of adequate penalties on Tie VI
oators Of Wholesome law. Puniitce justice, thus
executed, we believe to he jenerOience 10 tie pub
| lie.
The first fact claiming our attention. is the re-
cent, general NOV, nent Of the pubic mud
towards the abolition OF Capital PunIshnent.--
There is n growing dissatisfaction with the penal
codes established by the Purans of New Eng
land and by Penn aud his associates aud by those
Christian patriots who conducted our nation
through the revolution, and established govern
nent of law aud order. These men were rs much
Il slnguisrd for their onftieuousness aud hu
uInnlty US for their practical wisdom and CONSUME
mate ability. why are We dissalsii d with HE
codes ordained by Them, and approved aud com
mGrded to us 10y the experience OF hall century
That there l. discomfort, is am. In the Legisla.
lures OF several of our Slates, the ahOllion vi
capital punishment is among the lavorne and
popular measures Of the day. In New YORK,
Pennsy lvHnia aud some other states, the popular
branch OF the Legislature have well nigh carried
the point. Other legislatures are every year eli
Toned to act in the Saue direction. Furnishing
The wlful murderer 10y death, is denounced as
barbarous," savage" sc. Oar own Legislature,
infected with this new species OF heuevolence has
taken one step in The work of reform, aud in their
wisdom and meicy, have ordained that the nnr-
derer shall be imprisoned for life aud then hung
This tn he sure, looks little Ike Gdpmcing -
backcards However the doctors Ut the law
have 81 aoctored this bill MS to give lolerably
health, aspect. A cousid, rahe portion OF the
press has taken ground in favor Of dong away all
punishment by death.
Look which way we Nill, we find sad evidence
of The relaxation OF criminal law, both i'll the en-
acthent aud IN the execution. Crime is becoming
bold and frequent and the puplIc consclence III
sensible To It's enOrmiy.
The seucer WHO carries infany and misery in.
to the bosom of n once happy family who lie
stroys the reputation and peace of The very pride
of rha family, is doomed Ivy law TO no PUNISH
nent. Trub by law he may he fined IN the sun
W hudie" "oiIais VI @" Dut S''ic"S '"'S !, ~
punishment IL Is deemed no rea' Disgrace ni
haV'hS lIa' me s'ini-("nch ca' never he an OH
SET against the RUN Oh CHARACTER h' hhpiuess'j ht
walks, unwiI'pied uhscOrhe'i, INTO lie same cif
ce OF soc'e'y "ho 'oos1S u" cdS'e' IL Is c"he@ae'
ny an 'hai crimes OF ms character are huch more
/ frequent imam t"rlhery' ne wreck OF innocence
III char'c'er anu Vi moran worm Is sar',,"S' l.
lsa sIa'e OF mugs ho' 10 oe eh'inre' Ahn
hI"uerS 90 on ~ '"e Preseh' raie' 'he orer I" 8"
cle'y VIII soon he reVersei' allu our ""oe iegs'a
non may i"'' mo ,he minus o' NOSE VINO "ehe''
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, we nave Ell" e''uence VI 'ne r',""a''n" :"
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