New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-02-07
= q 2 r R [ B Z n E !.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
.,a,to the Legislature for the Aboli-
Menoir the CaIIovvs. lConcluded.

Men Ian Of the GaIloSvs. lConcluded.
u. .eH for the abolition Of the Gallotos--
4 ~ While the reasons thus far adduced are
E. "son6ned TO the demonstration that ii is an
chen! ,ss and tina, the proposed substitute may be
9th safety and probable vantage, our case
sSosu. atop at that point but we derive our strong
DOE t;ec,;on to the Punishment OF Death from the
esl uS that it is far worse than merely useless
con'su;. fatally perncious, and attended with the
mat n,..a,orazing and brutaizing influences upon
mos Multiplying the very crime which it vainlv
socs', :, nrevent by initiating and suggesting it-so
sfAs " ,bs onnion of many who have reflected much
oal ~ snb;ect. The hangman as himself the direct
On ul: couse of more murders than he erer pm
i,les or arsnges.
. .'I NJ ,oll for the Abolition of the Gallows--
O. prr,rsr. II is founded on and sustained by
pssl1y Vicious moral princple-the principle Of
Tasasance principle which, however it may dis
'"s ;sslf nnder the name of .juStice is condemned
sul'II ass emphatcally by the highest wisdom of
u reason than by the pervading spirit OF the
wSoIe faith and philosophy OF Chrstanty-at least
nile for human action. The prevention OF CRIME
a. The reformation of the criminal, are the sole OBJ
aus ofa lust and true penal system. Vndcve
}psu.hrenl. on any rule ofreaation, apportioning
analty 10 guilt for its sake to satisfy an imagn
Piry e not iimpiously presumptuous equilibrium of
s.;,buon. we hold to be utterly forbidden, at least
~ human hands and human judgments. The benev-
lam, objects above referred to- prevention and re-
,rmoou. pursued in spirit of merciiul love even
Sr he wretch whose very name implies his wretched
mass mlst be the sole aims of all such punishments
nc ~ can claim any right to int1ict One of these
,oessental objects is utterly violated IN the practice
n the death.punishment. To exterminatc, not to
,pfom. is the revolving function of the hangman
md il is in the spirit and on the avowed rule Of
a,ala,on the claim Of "blood for blood" that ii is
infected This bad spirit OF Vengeance in various
degrees and modes pervades a large part of the
ne6al laws. even of the most civilized Christian
communities though il is now beginning fast to melt
owoy beneath the warm light Of that Gospel which
50 few OF them have as yet comprehended or felt
In the Law of Death it stands revealed in It's worst
and most manifest hideousness; and by its example
exercises strong influence on the moral education
of every community in which it subsists-on the
formation of the habits of thought and feeling of
individuals, and of the general spirit of the society.
The evil seed does not fail to bring forth It's due
abundance of evil fruit. The powerful influence OF
the laws on the character of the people living under
them is seldom sufficiently appreciated; and IN 1t
IS contained the explanation of the truth which has
become almost truism, that cruel laws make a
cruel people; and that the mitigation OF The more
fierce and sanguinary features OF the one is always
attended with corresponding dimlnuuon OF the
more nerce anu sang ulhdry cIbles So'iiiiI'teu " "
ether.
g. We cali for the Abolition Of the GallowS-
BECAUSE, Peculiarly fatal effects attend the eX-
ample which it presents to the community living
beneath its perpetual shadow 1t weakens the idea
of,he sacred invoablity of human life to familiar
lie the mind with that of its deliberate, relentless
and remorseless extinction. 1t tends TO harden the
hearts of men; to give rude shock to that natura
instinct which pronnpts them 10 revolt at the idea OF
e cold and wifu infection OF death by man upon
md weaken the deep-seated strength of that in.
stinct erd to send away from the field Of blood, and
the spectacle Of the Gallows, many man far more
ready than he came to yield to the temptations that
nay beset him, to commit murder to which he may
Re urged by any strong motive OF mallgnlty or GU,
ldty. The number of cases is very remarkable Of
men who have gone fresh from the sight OF recent
executions to commit similar crimes-ln some IN
aances, by a horrible species of fascination, COM
aitting them with strange imitation of the very
eu,ion they had witnessed. Out of l67 ma]eiactors
under sentence of death visited by the Rev. T. Rob-
Es, Of Bristol, the number who had witnessed exc
ations was l64. This tendency is diminished only
degree by the privacy OF eNecuuons-the effect
hing similar when it is known that at certain
lour the hideous and disgusting process Is being
performed within q neighborng pnson-yard, even
hough lis sombre wall may screen 1t from the
actual view OF all but the select number OF invited
yuests.''
In another mode, too, is this example of the high
nncton OF society itself, to the moral righteousness
mhcdng death as a fitting and lawful penalty Tor
elme, attended with most pernclous and democrat
nng effect. Ii is in truth probably, the indirect
oHgln OF the greater proportion OF all the murders
That do take place. Very few of these are murders
Of cupldly-they are generally murders OF revenge
OF excited passion. All men are daily liable 10 be
thrown into circumstances where they are the OBJ
lecs Of wrongs, real or imaginary greater or less
'or winch II may be impossible to seek redress from
the public justice To the disordered reason or
passions OF individuals smarting under the resent
nents Of such situations, this solemn public prac-
ice operates as n direct suggestion and encourage
Ieht 10 exercise the same analogous night with the
pIHale nand. Hence many private murder OF as
stSsinanon, and many public murder OF duelhng,
Ninch would ueyer have taken place but Tor TINS
,@a suggestive example and sanction held up hlgn
n n view TO the whole community by the Law tseli.
Revenge always calls itself and generally believes
NSeh 10 be Justice. Half the odium and horror
Oh taking life is lost says Mr. Livingston, "by the
Example OF seeing it made public duty while the
motives are Sanctifed which are buttoo apttoJusulv
! IN The mind of an injured individual, who magni-
'es 'e INJURY he has received, overlooks the provo
auon he gave, and thinks himself Jusuhable III 40
as to satisfy his passions, that which public justice
Toes from the same motive, revenge. The sensation
y horror with which we see human beng suhcr
olent death, would certainly be increased, II the
land ofjqstice was never employed in the unholy
FORK; and private vengeance would be checked BY
ae laws when they no longer encouraged by their
aample.' Instead of thus desecrating and vlolat-
~, |! should be the policy of all social government
y maintain and magnify by every means IN It's pow
y TINS great moral idea of the sacred invlolabllty
u human Ee, In opposition TO our present practice,
J. J. mere Impressive lesson Of it could be taught
asn by respecting ii even III the person of the muir
erer himself and far more would be done 10 prevent
murders BY thus Strengthening this association in the
pubic mind, than any punishment, with whatever
lssraya,ion of torture, ever effect through fear.
~, We call for the Abolition Of the Gallo,os-
BECAUSE, From strange principle of insane imi-
auveness which appears often 10 reside IN the hui
nan mind, it has been observed, in frequent cases,
NAT S executions very liable TO be Immediately
ou9wed by suicides by hanging, clearly traceable