The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-04-09
MRS. CHILD ON CAPITAL PUNISH


The following remarks on Capital Punishment
are from MIS-. Child's last Letter TO the Boston
Courier:
| see you have brought in Tirrel not guilty.
on the ground of somnambulism.* This is an
other indication OF the extreme unwllinpness TO
convict In capital cases. Dickens says f.: "The
question always ,Uit present itself TO the minds
OF jurors, (however earnestly the presiding Judge
may discharge his duty.) Is it The greater wrong
to society TO give this man the benefit of the posi-
billy OF his being mad or TO have another public
execution, with all It's hardening and deprayino
influences? Imagine myself juror, and suppos.
ing the evidence had forced me from every other
ground OF opposition 10 this punishment if I could
by any reasonable special pleading with myself,
ma MN mad rather than hang him think |
would"
Blessings on Charles Dickens | know of no
missionary in the world who is doing more for
humanity. Like the Crcke, on the Hearth.
every chirp he makes, wakens kindly household
thoughts and general charities. hope YOU will
copy his letters on Capital Punishment CARLYLE
says, "lt is marvellous how long rotten post
VIII stand, provided 1t is not shaken" Shake
the Galiows then in the name of humanity, shake
1t, Till it falls. That hideous sceptre of barba
rous age is standing too long in The full light of
she l9ih century. 1t is becoming more and more
shocking TO the good sense and humane FEELING
of the civilized world am glad Dickens has
written on this subject for no man has had bet.
ter opportunities to observe the effect of existing
laws on criminals, and no man is so universally
read. | am glad, too, that a man has done il
1t woman said precisely the same things, she
would be liable 10 the charge of sickly seniimen
tally; opponents would profess themselves too
gallant TO reason with her on such an important
topic, and graciously suggest that love. stories
were better adapted 10 female intellect. This
mode OF rejoinder is extremely common, especial
iy, when the case will not bear such plain oues
ton as &C Is the argument an argument2 Js the
fact a facti Is the hit a fair one 2" But, com
mon as 1t is, 1t never seemed to me peculiarly
manly style of controversy. 1t always reminds
me OF The boy who, finding himself worsted in an
encounter, cried out. "Well, if can't lick non.
l can make mouths at your sister,"
There is, however, q visible Improvement
Formerly, when women ventured to discuss any
general principle, they were positively advised to
= mend their stockings" But since the inven
ton Of the stocking loom has made hose so CHEAP
darning seems TO occupy less prominent place
IN the imagination of men ; and now, when we
meet them in the field Of intellect we are cour,e
ously recommended 10 confne ourselves to the
appropriate walks of poetry, rhapsody, and TO
nance. But, notwithstanding this advice. Doro
thea l.. Dix quietly moves on in her noble mis-
sion, influencing the actions Of Legislatures from
one end Of the Union TO the other. Harrie,
n.
by her popular adaptations of political economy
Mrs. SomeryilIe benefits the scientific world by
her accurate astronomical calculations, without
needing ByTon's suggestion, that I" the business
OF female astronomer is to discover whether
there be man in the moon" In view of these
things, 1t certainly does begin 10 be dimly recor
nlzed that once in great while, a woman man
arise. who " know e'en-a. most as much as some
men!" j observe, with quiet smile, how al
every onward step man attempts to take, he en-
counters the vexatiOus " woman question" The
moment any subject, connected with human pro
gress, is discussed, or acted upon, it proves an
exploring traveller, which walks, like Belzoni.
right into the mummy cases Of old traditionarv
opinion and usage, and makes the dust hy at n
fearful rate. There is no help fCr it, Woman
Is mans mate, and not his servant or his play
thing She Is co sovereign Of the world, in Ills
departments; and, as things tend toward harmo
ny, slowly but surely she moves into her place
"a mistake Want Of proof not somnarobulizro
was the ground Of acquttal, as stated by the Jurv
IN reply to the question of the Court.-Ed Tribune
Ill