Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-08-13
Capital Punishment.


To the Editors Of the State Sentinel:
GENTLEMEN In your weekly paper Of the 23d OF
July, find among the editorial. the following:
LEGAL MURDER. - Albany, Tuesday evening,
July Ia. John Barnett was executed al Schenectady
this afternoon, for the murder Of Somberger IN Scho-
haire county, sometime last winter. He died
dreadful death life not being extinct until twenty
minutes after the bolt drawn from the drop thus
the tragedy ends legally. When viii lawmakers
learn that the worst you can put man to is 10
hang hint"
1t is true there many among us in the commu-
nity that inclined to the opinion that capital
punishment should not be inflicted IN any case-that
the murderer should not die But there are also many
of different opinion, of VIII m frankly confess
myself to be. And though our legislature, last win
ter, virtually abolished capital punishment in this
State not yet convinced that that act pro-
per and correct one.
The rulers Gin this country the people, the supreme
power being lodged in them) .are Gods ministers,
executoners Of his viii and Of has vengeance, ordain
cd to wait upon him and 70 execute his mandates"
Inspiration hath said that the ruler " bareth not the
sword in van Is il not rational to conclude that If
he do bear it in vain, ii viii be taken from him and
given to another who viii bear If NOT VAIN Why
is sWord given TO him If he should not use it And
if he use it Gods revenger to execute wrath
upon him that doeth evil" must his act in discharge
of that Office be called " Legal Murder!!" Must he
be called murderer! He being the minister Of God,
if ne be murderer, Of necessity, God must also be
murderer
incline to the opinion that the Ruler of the uni
now, the days of Noah, a. at the hand of
every mans brother, will require the life of man,
also think that 5000 years ago :" the land
cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein
but BY the blood Of him that shed it." | know many
others who are of the same opinion. My impression
is, that there is sdeded majority of the people of
this community who Of the same opinion, OF who
would be. on proper reflection and examination Of
the subject. But should we be found to be in the
minority "a decent respect for the opinions Of this
portion of mankind, might suggest the propriety Of
phraseology different from that of the above article
An inquiry very naturally rises in my mind. Why
say of the murderer Burnett, He died dreadful
death life not being extinct until twenty minutes %
after the bolt was drawn from the drops" and not say
of the murdered Somberger, ." The horrors of bis
death were beyond description; the mortal wounds
were inflicted him by the murderer, on Friday eve
ming, and after lingering in continued pain of the
most excrucatng character, until Monday evening" he
expired leaving wife and FIVE young children to mourn
their bereavement, and who almost distracted
account of the loss of him 2! do not say that this
is true of Somberger; but say it is literally true of
that occurred some years ago. In the town
where reside, and which fell under my own obscrya-
ton. Why should all the sympathy be excited in
favor Of tie murderer, and the murdered go unwept
and unsung, and none to punish his wrongs, or speak
sympathetic word in behalf of him and of his ire
trievably injured family And when Gods avenger
executes wrath on him that does the foul mRrderOus
evil and ceanses the land of the blood that was shed
therein, by the blood Of him that shed it, this must
be called % legal murder -
And more. Those who are disposed to look at the
injury done tie murdered, and sympathize with him
and his bereaved family, and faithfully Though il be
painful task execute the high mandates of the
Ruler of the Universe against the murderer. they
must be sneered at in the extracts from the Brook
Ign Eagle and n Y. News, in your same paper above
referred TO. Such things smack of infideiy more
than of philanthropy. Because the popular current
is setting somewhat in favor of abolishing capital
punishment, that popular impulse, 1t to me, is
seized upon to sow broad cast the seeds of in6dety
under guise of philanthropy. Do not understand
me though, as charging you, gentlemen, with dis
position to spread infdelity. think ii is inadvert-
ance in you-that you have not sufficiently reflected
the subject and become apprised of the consequent
ces.
/ know it is usual to denounce the advocates of
capital punishment Rev. Divines, sancti6ed advo-
Gates of death punishment &C.. because more of
them(and TO their honor be it spoken)-h lifted
their voices and pens discuss the question RATIONAL
lys than any other class do belong that class
belong as you know, TO the profession of the law.
But if | can husband time enough from my necessary
business, have obtained my consent to contrib
ute my mite TO forming correct public sentiment on
the subject think it high time to take up the mat
ter seriously, and not lie still till the ibes and eers
Of morbid and mock philanthropy prejudice the
public mind and cause an incorrect public sentiment
to be formed. Therefore, if you will give the
of your columns during the fall, propose discussing
the subject either with you, if you choose to take the
other SIDE or alone, as can find time to write an
essay. If you give this communication place in
the Sentinel, shall write others, as can, and send
you If you do not publish this communication, [
shall take it an intmation that you do not want
the subject discussed in your paper
l am, gentlemen,
Very respectfully, yours, &c.,