New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-03-24
Improvius and Reprovfna.

We are no, surprised TO learn that the clergyman
who preached the funeral sermon OF me mufoese'
Van Mes, family in Cayuga County, improved 'iie
occasion TO defend Capital Punishment and denounce
,b, efforts now making to abolish it Neither shall
ue return bis censures He doubtless believes that
Hanging tends 10 diminish murders, as heartily Is
we believe the contrary. He probably believes
that the growing aversion of the public TO vindictive
and sanguinary penalties had stimulated the muE-
derer 10 his deed Of horror thoroughly as we De-
lieve that the vindictive infections to which this
wretch had been subjected, the spirit and the prac
tical operation Of our criminal jurisprudence, had
trained and melted him TO bloody vengeance Be
tween these opposite views, the Public must decide
In order that may decide fairly let Discussion De
FREQ not alone in the Press but in the Pulpit and
elsewhere.
Yet we do not hear that the clergyman aforesaid
took occasion to rebuke his numerous hearers, In
Guiding Deacon and many protested Christians
who had savagey attempted 10 wrest the wretched
murderer from the ministers Of the law and gut
their vengeance personally by tearing him in pieces
We think this would have been more literal obed-
ence 10 the mistakenly termed) command in Gen
TX g. than even our clerical reprover would justify
in his carner moments How came he TO pass over
in silence so important feature of this appalling
tragedy 1t does seem to Us that no other was
more susceptible of improvement to spiritual and
moral good.
The Rochester Advertiser goes little into e1-
tras in expressing hopes that this murder will defeat
the election of Delegates TO the Convention from
Cayuga County friendly 10 Equal and Universal
Suffrage We say this is rather ahead; but, on
full consideration it is not Here is an outca't
and degraded race, member OF which mas just
committed an awful murder. What lesson is taught
us by that MURDER Is il one of mercy or OF ven
geance? Shall we deprive this race OF the lew
rights they now enjoy or restore 10 them others
Shall we kick, beat hang and burn or shall we not
rather instruct treat kindly. uplif and pate tly Ia
Dor to exalt 10 manhood Shall we best secure our
selves against murders from this class by showing
them from the sidewalk, shutting them out from
schools driving them into the worst corner OF
churches and denying them reputable ways OF
earning living or by taking opposite course
Such are the questions to be answered through
the Convention and elsewhere. Let US be sure that
Reason. not Passion controls the verdict we render
IL The HUDSON RIVER is 10 have $4,000 Of
the 81 ,37e45O appropriated 10 the improvement of
the navigation of Rivers Lakes and Harbors by the
bill which has virtually passed the House, This
item of the bill was carried by vote Of lO2 TO 81
divided politically thus:
For i,..--..W Wings 81 Natives. Lccos..---47
ARainsth... 30 .-.-92
About one eighth of the Wings and t~othirds of
the Locos voted against improving the difficult ma
vigaton of our River, on which nearly halfthe Com
merce of the Nation is foated. The nine Wing
Nays are ell from Slave States, of them from Ten
nessee of the AZ Loco Yeas, II were New Workers.
and the balance almost entirely from Western States
directly interested in the navigation of the Hudson