The New York herald., 1845-02-27


society for the Abolition or Capital Punish
ment.
Another numerously attended meeting Of this as
'ocation was held last night, at their Rooms, cor
ner Of Lispenard street and Broadway, at which
iebate took place upon the propriety of reforming
he penal code, by the abolition of capital punish
nent Both sides of the question appeared to be
fairly represented, and the proceedings were con-
iucted with due order and method-the motto,
asdi aiteram partem, being scrupulousy and very
properly observed
Mr.. PHMo PRICE, in absence of the regular off,
GERS OF The association, was schosen as President,
whereupon-
Mr.. BAvLcH was called upon to address the house..
He said that Of the officers of the Society being able
% attend due exertions made to procure
not to advocate the cause which dear the Society
mad to say against and if there present any
vocaes OF the gallows they would be gladly listened to-
spirit OF and philanthropy such as would
DC Tor doing away capital punishment and, among
me me rest gratifying change was being effected in
proof Of that only this evening of the most in
auential and respectable journals Of the day had made
principles and showing strong feeling against the
iufction Of the punishment Of death. (Mr here read
short article, such he described, from an evening
paper) When remarked that but few years ago.
no of the papers would risk their reputation by Ia
kg up the subject favorably whilst six of
the most influential among them the advocates Of the
cause there to hope that 1t would eventually
prosper An encouraging case was found in that Of a
upon oeing invited to take part in their discussion de-
cned, assigning partly his for doing So tn
hardly tell side he should take If he came forward
to make address the of capital punishment
SAPpr9Sa,ion The cause was prog!sssns and all they
and spread information until that last relic Of barbarian
should cease to disgrace their country. Above all
lions America should be first and foremost in the
of humanityfrst to act in obedience to that authority
which said vengeance was the Lords, and he would
pay-the It to recognize thsl dnsss of fs which,
the gilt Almighty but He could give take
lway At former meeting Of the Society. case was
essed himself the author Of murder for which another
had been executed and the last steamer bore Of
another In which two boys convicted Of capital crime
aad sisted till the last moment and the threshold OF
eternity, their innocence Of that for which they
abost to suffer- and he thought from all the circumstances
these they had but to look at home to the execution
Troy to that at Worcester, to that at Providencen all
adduced procure convictions the unhappy victims So
lemny avowed their innocence whilst breath remained TO
hem i was horrfyng thought that life was thus to
verdict OF guilty upon evidence barely circumsan
a In this age and benevolent
not wonder that these barbarous, and he would
almost say Internal institutions should be supported by
christian by ministers Of that religion which
teaches to render good for evil? And it fact that
among the advocates Of the gallows there found
ny ministers Of the gospel Of mercy and peace In this
o. ooSa aey oMe r 70 see
vengeance the hands Of mortal mani II became them
hen although they might be misrepressnted laughed vt
and maligned to their best efforts spare human life
to preserve that which God bestowed man, and to
yer desis from their lsbors until the gallows cut
The PsE.IDENr here arose and addressed few words
to gentleman in the audience inviting him, as
for reason the statement Of which not audible
to the reporter After few moments, however,
ed he said that he had an intelligent audiences to
but whatever criticism he might expose his de
sire to have the cause weighed he would lay ew argu
ments before them The question of the abolition ofcp
tai punishment worthy the consideration of the Le
sislaure well the people, from whom all law ems
mates Whatever attention he had given the subject was
with honest purpose and the result was that he could
be satisfied that would be expedent to abolish the
punishment Of death in all Mr. r. then commenced
pain vigorous, argument in support OF
the retention of capital punishment but he canddly
present stood nor would he desire to see the ncon Of
deah exceptn Of deliberate and intended murder
He thought the distinction made between arson in the
first and second degree bad If there to be SUCH he
would reverse their relation to their respective punish
ments. Burning at night was regarded by law as
greater facilities for the escape Of the cupr pun
ished higher Perhaps that sound principle and one
regarded but 10 look ct il solely upon s own merits he
could not help thinking that the audacity the bodness
and Of the day light van "a added deeper
Of the matter led for the common weal to punish in
higher degree those crimes which secresy and other
facilities for escape rendered double vigilance necessary
Who could then defend the propety OF doing with
death punishment for the wreched miscreant who In
ragged thereto from some persuasion that in doing the
only who could testify the act silenced for ever7
Mr. @ M the a. mot
was to deter from and prevent crime more than any
thing else He could only account for the hostility
punshment by DEATH by the fact that there spirit OF
change abroad very often reckless impatient Of control
and which stopped not to examine general principles
the aboltionists criticised in very searching
and the nhction Of death vindcated the ground
OF is analogy to the divine institution Of rewards and
The Rev. Mr.. BALLow replied with much energy and
some warmth. He contended that reformation
senal end to be kept in view in dealing with criminals
il false principle forget the criminal in
Of ssnaca to that effect and said that some Of the most
distinguished Of christian philosophers agreed with him
confederation did experience shows capital punishment
ft to t7 No such thing proved most clear
y By facts worcester in was M the scene
Troy the scene of the last execution and the last
murder in this States and so in several others The
speaker entered into long discussion Of the scrpura
arguments used in defence Of death az punishment
showing that the declaration, che who sheddeth mans
blood by shall his blood be shed did not applyiun
der the gospel dspen that Noah and Moses
high authorities for matters relative to creation and pro-
nc escss whose
were alone TO be binding and Of sole authority.
would be entirely beyond our limits to give , even
say that the meeting appeared to be sad with the
csedings throughout. The debate is to be renewed
shortly.
NATIVE ECONOMY Alag! for the "nativesp
Their last sad effort to replensh the sunken nanc-
Of the city treasury manifested itself yesterday,
in the disposal, by public auction, of the Corpora
tion platc-the sale Of which amounted to about
&300-the purchases being made by three or four
Of the corporators The spring election is near,
and it appears the poor "natives" are determined
to make the most Of their time, during the remain-
der Of their stay. Quere-Ought some $4,000
worth of plate to be sold for the sum Of $500
But this is all "economy and reform,'' according
to the "native" catechsm.
Our MORALS AND MANNRRs.-Pear street ex
h,blted humliatiDg spectacle last night. About
nine o'clock one Of those ptiable outcasts, hall