New-York daily tribune., 1844-02-19
Voc. EEE. NO. eGa.
Capital Punishme mt in Massachusetts.
Correspondsnce Of The Tribune

Correspondence OF the Tribune.
BosTo2, Feb. Is, 1874.
The subject Of Capital Punishment is exciting
a deep interest here at the present time. Nearly
thrce weeks ago, CHARLES C. BURLEIGH, OF Phila.
delphia, delivered most logical and eloquent
Lecture, at Amory Hall, before highly thought
| ful and intellectual audience, in which he de-
monstrated the inutility and wickcdness Of put
ting men to death for crime. Ihavenever listen
cd 10 more complete and mastery vindicaton
OF Christianity from the insult heaped upon it by
those who claim its sanction for the pallo"s. nor
to more satisfactory answer to the various OBJ
Jcctlons against the Abolition Of Capital Punish
ment which are urged Oh every hand. whether
grounded IN Scripture Or Reason. The effect of
such Lecture, as might be expected, was, to ex-
cite still more profound interest in the question,
to lead TO further investigation, and to induce
those whose hostility to the gallowg had become
fixed principle, to petition the Legislature for
It's abolition. At this crisis fortunately for the
cause Of humanity and mercy, a work was issued
from the press, well adapted to aiding inquiring
minds III the formation oI right opinions on the
whole subject, and presenting mass of facts
which demonstrate the demoralizing tendency Of
the Punishment Of Death, and the duty and safety
Of its abolition, l aude to g Essays on Capital
Punishment by Rev. CHARLES SpEAR;' a work
which hope TO see appropriately noticed in your
columns.
Petitions for the abolition Of this relic Of bar
barism, numerously signed by ladies' and gentle
men Of high intelligence and gteat NORA worth,
have been presented to the Legislature and in
the House re scrred TO the Special Committee, of
which the Chairman at least (Mr. NEWIL.Li, Of
Sangers,l is an open and jealous enemy of judi
cal killing. One petition OH this subject, which
was lately presented to the House, is of char,
acter SO novel and extraordinary that I seud it
to you for publication. It runs as follows:
To the Senate and House of Representqtiues Of the Com
aonyeesh cf Massachusetts, IN General Court con-
The undersigned citizens OF Massachusetts, earnestly
you immediately 10 abolish all laws OF this Conoh'
wealth which require the inieon oi death as penalty ot
IT. however such abolition shall be deemed by y.u neon
with the public welfare and all infringement oi the
EIrst-That clersyme instead Of shers may be appoint.
exeGuCnIs they having bee ordained and copscraedas
ministers OF Him whose law is SAID 70 require blood for
in legislative military bodies sacred be conferred
without manifest mpr9pety upon mere ayme3; however
work Of putting an end 10 human life usherns the soul
of the criminal the OF It's final Judge should be
committed TO none other Than ordained and consec'aed
haads
all possible religious solemnty and their intu.
upon society," pray you so TO alter he laws tat heY
psse 5 Of pnbe worship such as may be selected by
ica execuener that thus the whole community may witness
where e can bs seen bn BY small number of persons aud
those always of the class likely 10 be benefited by
cord wil the example OF fathers, who placed their po
Iies and whppns-poss at each church door,
This petition produced strong sensation in the
House. 1t was headed by the Rev. CHARLES
SPEAR, of Boston, and signed by l66 others, Ia
dies and gentlemen of high rcspectability, from
whom may mention the name of the Rev. SUM-
NER LINCOLN of Whateley an Orthodox clergy
man. After some discussion, 1t was referred to
the Committee on Capital Punishment and or
dered to be printed with all the names appended:
precisely the disposition of it which the petition
ers most desired
The Committee having signlfied their willing
ness to give the petitioners for abolition public
hearingl WENDELL PuILLIPs and w. l.. GARRI-
SON went before them on Tuesday last, in the Rep
resentatives' Hall, where, in the presence OF
| crowded audience, they were allowed to argue in
behalf of their cause at great length; and not be-
ing able TO go over the whole ground on that day,
an adjourned meeting was held yesterday, when
the argument was concluded by Messrs. GARRI-
SON and SPEAR All the speakers acquitted them
selves we'll Mr. Garrison spent some little time
| in vindcating those Of the petitioners who had
asked that clcrgymen might be appointed hang
men. He contcnded that their petition, consider
ing the grounds on which Capital Punishment IS
now defended, was pertinent and timely and
fair application of the argumeatnm Gd hominen
| Although he had not himself signed the petition,
he contended that it was not justly obnoxious to
censure on any ground, but timely blow saga
ciously aimed at the gallows, which, If followed
un, would send that barbarous and mhuman
invention reeling to the earth. He was listened
to throughout, both by the Committee and the
audience, with the most marked attention. III is
the opinion of many intellent men with whom |
have conversed, that this novel petition has done
more to prepare the way for the abolition of Capi
tai Punishment in this Commonwealth than has
been accomplished by all other instrumentalltlcs
| for many years.
Yesterday remonstrance against the abolition
Of the gallows was presented to the House, sign
cd by fourteen gentlemen, eight of whom are
ciergymen, and three or four of the others dea-
cons of churches. This is the only petition
| in favor oil hanging that has been offered
to the Legislature at its present session un-
derstand that the Rev. Messrs. Phelps and Col
yer, two of the renlonstrants, are to have public
hearing in support of the gallows on Monday
night Then will be presented once more the
shocking spectacle OF prolessed Ministers of
Christ,
Blessing with solemn text and word,
The gallows drop and strangling cord;
Lending the sacred Gospels awe
And sanction to the crime OF Law! !!
Notwithstanding this opposition, however,
look for strong Report in favor of abolition from
the Chairman of the Committee, and | hope he