New-York daily tribune., 1844-05-07
>---,,,,on of the Friends of the Abolition
-. Punishment of Death.


N...york as President; and OF the following
Vice cc-Presidents: IF Penn
Cows Of New Hampshire gSS t.af
sFfAE' OF Nn'' - FIX. of Vermont s.,.
The following gentlemen were appointed e'''''1
ries o,yy
WI. Mrllss orPhll j.. o'srLtivAS. OF ~ ,,.n l..
The proceedings of the Convention "e'e
o,eped by PRAYER by the Rev. Nh Mino'' % '''"
York Of the Presbyterian denom!nalion'
NJ, w II, CH.SsISG moved that Commute
be ,npon,ed 10 prepare resolutions for the acton o.
,bs Convention. The following gentlemen were op'
no;oted DIR. Patterson of Philadelphia, Dr. huo-
SON of Mass. and Dr. Green OF New Hampshlfc'
D,,,g the absence OF this Committee for tins Pur-
nose, the Convention was addressed py '''
GREELEY OF New-ioEk.
On the conclusion OF Mr.. Gree'ey's address, 'i'c
following resolutions were reported by pr' fa''ei-
SON on behalf of the Committee
Reso,rsd That this Convention urges upon the
friends OF this reform IN the se'eih' SUIT 3
fnrrhwiih a combined ana systematic orsah'H"io',
,or The diffusion of information on the SUBJECT ana
tnr rha enlightenment OF the public mlnd ana con,
SCIENCE That the following method be reco;iiileii"-
ed for that purpose. with view al once 10 ui'''o1
m;ty. muual aid aud stimulus. and eihc!ent acnoh
on
nI,ce let u Stitc Society or Committee be 'orihe'
r ,. sent of government chief c!ty OF every S'ae
In The second place let similar Society be forhleu
IN each county in aiiiliaon and correspondence WIN
1ne Stale Society. Similar Socielies may aiso W
adyau,ageouslv formed in as many towns ana iafs
villages possible. Let INC Sta'e oo1I'! nH n'ano
il matter of special attention TO ,ause the es'ap
Ii ,hment of ut least one Society III every county ny
correspondence or by sending agents or lecturers 10
the proper points Let the Societies thus cenSiitu'
ed exert themselves actively To promote me on)cct
in view, bv collecting funds for the circulation o.
cheap publications by holding puoiic meetings. ana
discussions hv petitions 10 tie Legislature anu
| such other modes Of legitimate and proper moral
ntiuence as NAV fall within their power Ii Is par
| ricuIarly recommended that the Secretary OF each
| Society place himself in correspondence WIN Inc
State Society OF his State. and also with tne New
York Society The following. h@lng the o3nstlpr,
tion of The Ncw-l ork Society, Is recommended Us
convenient mode for the Constitution OF the propos-
| ed Societies.
ART l. This Association shall be called The American
SOCIETY," for Collection and Diffusion OF Information N fe'
| non 10 the Punishment Of Death. -,
ART The executive business OF The Sccey shall be trans
Presidents Treasurcr Recording secretary Correspond
ing Secretary and Committee OF Five who together VAN
mt,ec nil OF whom shall be chosen fiom the members o! the
society annually the irs, Monday OF tehruary; hal,
ART g. The regular meetings q! the Socety shall be held on
the Monday OF February on The Monday OF the anrys
sIy Week M ay tesn s meetings ~" e @ at c times as the ee
| 80
s It sn mps m IRs"a Rs duty of the President at the
request OF the members. To call special meetings ;
AET Any % my ensd as G the T
Committee may, ut their discretion appoint honorary mcm
ART The funds necessary ecc, the objects OF this So
ciey shal be mised by voluntary contribution. ; J..
AIT This Constitution may be amended ut any time by
vote of wothiS OF the members present. notice OF such
amendment hvin. been given ut previous meeting OF the
Society.
This Convention having beor called together for
| IL, Of tha N
be adopted at the present time for promoting the abb
clifton of the deaih.punishment congratulate the
friends of the cause on the deep hold which it has
taken on The minds Of the people OF country, as
eyinced by the numbers now present from various
parrs of the Union. and the earnest determination
ic bv all that no pause i'll their labors shall be al
| lowed until the good work is accomplished through
out the length and breadth of our land The claims
of this have too generally been lost sight OF III
the multiplicity of retormative movements pressing
on the attention Of the philanthropc, but the meet
ing of this Convention proves that lis Importance is
at length recognized. And now, in order that our
views and feelings on the subject may be more dis
! tincy understood, be II
RcSoiped That this Convention regards with abb
horrence the taking OF human life us punishment
Tor crime, because,
|. IL fails OF The true ends OF penal legislation,
| all experience having shown that il is comparatively
useless as protection to Society from crime, and II
aims at no other end.
p 1t loses sight of the important fact that the
criminal is human being, capable OF reformation
and regeneration.
3. II is based upon the iulse assumption that the
criminal has no claims upon the md charity of
society, and that their duties are not reciprocal.
A. Ii legalizes and sanctions the bloody spirit Of
retaliation.
5. Ii pours contempt upon our common humani-
ty, and refuses to recognize the worth and sanctity
! o mans life.
6. BY its demoralizing influence it debases and
| brulazes the mass who witness II.
T. Itteaches the thoughtless and passionate les
son ofcrime by showing them death inflicted US tie
proper punishment for offence DONE and
o. IL IS absolutely lrremcdiable, placing us III the
horrible possibility OF shedding innocent blood, and
thus doing wIong utterly beyond recall.
ReSoired, That in the Christian law OF love,
which is the true and only law of well being 10
cety as we'll as individuals, the spirit of revenge has
no place, being expressly and decidedly condemned
! in the teachings of Jesus; and that consequently
capital punishment Inflicted upon the principle OF
reIribuOn, the only ground upon which It can
properly stand is most unchrlstlun aud unrg ghteous
III palpabe violation OF the spirit and letter of the
| New Testament.
Resotred, That pledge ourselves TO leave no
honest and honorable effort untried 10 promote the
abolition OF the punishment Of death, that the stain
OF blood shall no longer dellle the statute book OF u
people calling themselves civilized and Christian
ReS0ired, That We recommend the newspaper
called Anti-Draco," published by the New York
Society, TO the favorable notice Of friends and
earnestly advise its general ciruaton.
DR. PATTERSON accompanied the presentation of
these Resolutions with eloquent address in their
support. He was followed by the Rev. Mr.. THoM-
AS, of Brooklyn, Mr.. w. II. CLAIMING, the Rev.
Mr.. SPEAR, of Boston, and C. C. BURLEIGu, OF
| Philadelphia which continued to a late hour, and
| cod
which resolution was adopted for the publication
OF the proceedings of the Convention, and the Con-
vention adjourned.
EV {. c. BURLEiGH, Of Philadelphia, will de-
liver Lecture in opposition 10 Capital Punish
ment, on Thursday evening next, in the Universal
ist Church in Elizabeth street, corner of Walker.
We bespeak for him an ovefdowing audience.
| TRIAL OF GOVERNOR DoRR.--As We have
already stated, the Government closed their cyi-