New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-03-02
Suggestions for Improving tho Mana,
ment and Efficiency of the Gallo,.'a

domination of the chicken hearted vet hair.b,,;a
ed sentiments you allow TO be proclaimed tbro,.s
your columns, regarding the institution Of o.
Gailows-sentlments at once childish in H.
selves and fTaught with great peril TO the Co.,
munity You do not seem to realize ,ba. ;,
Gallows IS the Corln,hian capital of orr So,
edifice-that its tinbers form the arch wb;ch
hold the Social fabric and framework be,ro,.E
ed to US by the wisdom of our ancestors ~
can any man dream of abolishing the GsIlow.
and not shudder for the consequences s,,,.,-
he cannot realize that all men, in state &c
ture, are totally deprayed and incapable OF GOOD
from earliest infancy-that their hearts d.
tends to evil and that only incessantly-and ,b,.
each of the unregenerate {who form at less.
nineteen. twentieths Of the human racel won,d
rob and murder his best friends for the mere -.
LITIGATION thence derived, if it were not for tho
fear OF condign punishment. How, then, ca,
any one who regards his own safety tolerate tbs
idea OF abolishing the Gallows ?
And yet see that the mischief is not all a,
one side-that the use of the halter has fslle,
partially into popular disesteem from the incop
sderate and inconsistent course OF large portion
of its prominent advocates. They talk well Of
the righteousness and necessity OF hanging men
they contend earnestly that this is sacred du.
ty of the community-made so by express com.
mand Of God-but they arc strangely shy of per.
forming this duty themselves. They are pune
,ual at the Gallows to offer up prayers for the sal.
walton of the criminal, which is not specially re.
CURED by God, nor essential to the well.being of
Societv-but they never do any part of the busi.
ness there going on which is imperatively requir-
cd bv divine command and human safety On
the contrary they leave this sacred duty to the
nrofane hands of a reluctant civil functionary-
who is generally an unregenerate snner-but
more commonly to those ofsome low wretch who
is picked up for the occasion, disguised and hood.
ed and made so drunk TO be nsensble to the
loathing of all around him. Who can wonder
that the sacred and venerable institution of cbok
ing men to death with rope is falling into dis.
esteem under such auspices Are they not enough
to make anything unpopular 7
Now, insist on thorough reform in this par.
ticular-a reform which shall elevate the Gal.
lows again to the level of general respect. You
adversares of hanging have given usa hint on
this subject, which must be improved 10 the ut.
most. Instead of constraining shrinking She
riff or picking up some low loater to otficate in
the dignifed and responsible Office of Hatgman,
we must select for this station, men Of leaning.
character and piety-such as have the olor Of
sanctity about them in the vulgar estimation
and who will necessarily impart it to the Insitu.
ton which now stands in such imminent reed
thereof. We must select especially from The
Clergy who earnestly contend for the faitlin tbs
matter-who are willing not only to declare, bu
do the whole will of God. For many and obvi.
Gus reasons, would suggest the Reverend George
B. Cheever as eminently calculated by his tai
ents, industry and zeal in support of this Institu-
ton. for the post of Chief Hangman for the City
of New. Y ork and vicinity, with liberty to select
his assistants from among his brethren OF similar
faith and calling From the specimens have
seen of his arguments for the Gallows, am sure
he would discharge the duties of that station with
signal energy, giving, as well as receiving, great
satisfaction.
This is much, but not enough. We need more
sanctity about the place of execution. The Gal.
lows has greatly suffered from inattention to this
particular Many have gone to a hanging to
Judge dispassionately the moral effect of such
spectaces and, seeing there vast mobs drinking
or drunken, swearing, gambling, quarreling and
picking pockets, calling impatienty for the show
as if it were dog-fght or bulbaiting, have gone
away disguised and often alienated from the in
sttution. This shows the evil Of hanging men
in such profane sort Of way. insist, there
fore, that future cuprits shall be strung up not
merely by the most sacred hands, but in the most
sacred possible place, to wit, the churches, where
in the Gallows is believed in and defended. There
would be immense advantages In this In the
first place, officers would be in attendance to turn
out all the turbulent, quarelsome and thlevlng;
and the fear of losing the show would make all
ouict and decent for the time being, which would
be so much clear gain Then the clergyman
might preach q sermon before the operation, with
n, running out during service; and with CON-
Portable assurance that his auditors were such as
needed preaching to- the worst way. After this,
he could proceed to the hanging and if the JOB
were performed in neat and workmanlke man.
ner, las with practice it soon might be- the gen.
erai admiration and interest excited by the spec
tacle would induce hundreds to come again ana
again in the hope of happening in on similar
treat.
am confirmed in my view OF the prophecies
of this business by striking analogy. Inc
| h;erarchu of the MEXICAN Empire always INSISTED