New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-02-06

| a large proportion OF tnose persons pesl Io''ii
for it's important function, it sends into 1t large pro
norton of those who do take their seats there, WIN
minds more than half untitled for the solemn duties
to which they are sworn
3. We call for The Abolition Of the GGiio,rS-
BECAUSE, 1t is great mistake to suppose that the
fear of possible chance OF death-that eventual ehd
70 which we ali know that every step IN HE is bringing
~, nearer and nearer-has often much effect in de-
,err;ng men from any act TO which they are lmpelled
~, any n6werfil passion or motive. They are usually
IN snch state OF mind as defy and despise IL; or
else mpel!ed by temptation and deceived by nope,
their fear of it prompts only 10 mora enactuai pre-
cautions for concealmeut and escape. There is no.
thing that men are constantly hazardlng with more
thoughtessness than their lives. The natural dread
of death when actually close and certain, is very
different from the careless indifference with which
most men find like difficulty IN exposing themselves
10 the mere chance of greater or less RISK OF en-
countering it. AS lettering penalty, weakened as
il is by the diminished probability of its infection,
il is believed to be far less effective and useful
one as general rule, than the substitute proposed.
Though when actually within the shadow OF lhe
Galows there are few who would not pray Tor lis
communication into imprisonment, yet "ilile ootl 'tie
still distant and doubtful even on the supposlon OF
an eouali,v of chances, the thought OF the latter,
with an utter impossibity OF escape or pafdon-per
petlal ignominious, labOrous and solltary-"ll 10
large majority of minds, present by tar the most Ell
iecve terrors. 1t is the spontaneous remark heard
is presented that they would prefer death TO such
doom. How much is the force OF this argument m
creased when we add to it that OF the greatly III
creased certainty OF punishment which II Is not de-
MED would attend the proposed REFORM 1t is tact
| established by the most conclusive stahsucs that
the fear of the penalty OF death has never been iouna
effectual to restrain men from a host OF MINOR OF
fences to which ii has been applied In all the pro-
gressive melioratons of the penal code the subst-
| tuition of Imprisonment for death has always been
found to work with perfect success, dlmns hing IN
stead of increasing the number OF the o1lences coi
| mted and there is every reason TO anticipate with
confidence a SIMILAR beneficial result from extending
10 the few crimes which yet LETT on our statute
| book as punishable with blood. See Appendix.
d. We call for the Abolition OF me GdAo1cS-
BECAUSE Every execution puts IN aJeopardy be-
yond our power to estimate, the eternal destiny OF
human soul, that mi ht have been saved under tie
influences which the Bible, with the time allowed by
its Creators own fat would bring INTO the solitary
cell Not only large number, but the greater
number of criminals, actually 60 to the scalioid m
nenitent Especially TO all who receive the doctrine
of the eternal horrors OF the future doom OF slh must
this argument address itself with awful force 1t
appears incredible that any such can dare the ire
mendous responsibility of that penalty which must
hurry an immortal soul, reeklng with recent guilt,
to such fate. Among the most depraved OF those
whom the mistaken and inconsistent Legislation OF
Christian community thus plunges into eternity,
with all their transgressions on their heads, ending
life in reckless basphemy stupid nsensblllty, IN
homeless despair, or under the influence OF that too
| often deceptive repentance which is the mere Off
spring of terror, who can venture to say mat even
the very worst, if he had been secluded tor years
from the contagious society OF his associates and
submitted to the influence OF process OF moral
| and religious instruction, mis- ht not have unelgned-
" repented of his past enorrnties and explated
them in way most beneficial to the country he has
| injured!
s. We call for the Abolition Of the GallowS-
BECAUSE 1t is not necessary to hang man who
has committed murdet for the protection Of So
ciety against possible repetition OF the act. That
argument would with still greater force require the
destruction of every horllicdal unatiC and indeed
of every lunatic, from the general tendency of in
sanity less to9ard homicide. 1t is not
deemed necessary to kill every ferocous wild BEAST
against which society can for its amusement protect
itself with entire case and security by enclosing
! them i'll cages. Lunatc Asylums have no difficulty
in this respect. The science of prison construction
and prison discipline at the present day is abundant
ly adequate TO the safe custody OF any number OF
murderers that may be committed to the massive
triple and quadruple walls OF their solitary cells.
They can be easily precluded, not only from all
possibility OF escape but also from that OF INJURY TO
their keepers within the prison. Its also an essen
tia part of the proposed Reform that it should be
Companled by the abrogatlon OF the pard0nng power
in such cases.
/ U.
| BECAUSE Nothing short of an absolute and de-
monstrable necessity can Justify its maintenance
| Avoiding all metaphysical argument upon the alb
stract right of society 10 lniilc the punishment OF
Death, and conceding ii, the principle OF sel-de-
fence when no other adequate means of seli-dcence
exist we insist that il is only in clearly established
case OF such absolute necessity that the right can be
rghtully exercised In the face OF the vast accumu-
lation of evidence and argument adduced by those
who have written ganst Capital Punishnentn no such
IL he JlDw
who NAV not see in those writings an absolute de-
monstration OF the superior advantages OF the pro-
posed reform, cannot ut least refuse to admit the
strong of probability made out by them, lmpos
ING on us at least the duty oieXperment-an exper
iment which can only TOO easily be abandoned, ii,
contrary 10 all probability ourexperence should
prove less successful than that OF others who have
| not been afraid TO venture the same, under CIR
cumstances less favorable than our own lndepen-
IDENTITY OF every other objection TO that cherished IN
stituton, this experiment least ought not, under
such circumstances, to be refused, even by those
who NAV mStrust It's issue, TO those deep and ear
nest feelings and convictions OF very large and IN
creasing portion of the community, consclentously
opposed to the Punishment OF Death which are so
painfully shocked and outraged by every occasion
!. of its intction. Remainder Tomorrow.
The meeting which, Notwithstanding the ex-
IRENE nclemency of the weather. was very large
as it was also enthusiastic, was then eloquently
addressed by several gentlemen, and having con-
Guided its business, adjourned
w. 7. McCoUN, President
SIS; $ss$s H a5. ;:sss, s,,.',..
~" The Herald of yesterday, along with good
portion of its usual scohing Religion and Reli-
gous movements, and mos, wanton, shameful
holding up to ridicule aud ignominy OF clergyman
of Brooklyn who had done nothing to provoke its
ribaldry but marry, has column of amenation
!, over and alarm nj the progress of Foriertsm, as