Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-02-25
For the Portage Sentinel.
Capital Punishment.

We have long considered some of the stat.
utes of our state as odious, and we believe
that justice and humanity require their abo-
lition, or, at least, their modification. Among
these we regard none as more Objectionable
than that which makes provision for capital
punishment. We consider this relic OF bar
barous legislation, which has, as yet, survived
the test OF time, and now stands forth,a Drom-
inent link in that chain of connections, which,
by the power of association, shows US oul
intimate relation with the rude age o. the
Goths and Vandals. 1t was conceived in the
invention of revengeful mind. and brought
forth when cruelty had corrupted the feelings
Of humanity, and it now stands a foul blot i'll
the fair fame of our State judiciary. Such,
then, are our views of this institution, and If
they can be sustained by reason--reason foun.
ded in truth, justice, and humanity-we are
sure there can be but one voice concerning it
that it should be abolished.
We all abhor the wretch, who, with cool
deliberations maiciously takes the life of a
fellow being, Our sensibilities shllnk from
the contemplation Of such scene, and yet,
why--yea, echo answers why-will thousands
in all the energy of human passion, excited by
curiosity, crowd to the place of execution, to
behold the dignltary of the law take that life
which it is not IN his power to gives and send
bis fellow man with all his sins and transgres-
sions to the bar of God who created him; dis
regarding that religion which wou ID teach US
to allow the most guilty the full period of
time allotted him by his Creator for repent
ance and reformation. What more revolving
or demoralizing spectacle? What better cal
culated to light those fires anew which burn
ot the altar Of human passions? But view this
subject in another light. We hold that the
institution of capital punishmet is but sys'
tenn of legal murder. View it consistently,
and :ell US. ye who can, the difference in the
nature of the guilt whether one man or thou>
sand resolve on taking life. If it is right in
The one case it is in the other. Again, it is
an absurd idea to think of improving the NOR
al condition of society by the shedding OF
human blood. We can find what seems to be
almost too much of spirit of revenge in the
criminal Legislation Of the present day. Thou
sands will crowd to public execution to be~
hold the last struggles of the victim of the
law, who, (were it in their power) would hard.
ly exert themselves as much to save his soul
from eternal damnation.
| The great aim of punishment should be the
reformation of the guilty. Let small part
of the sum which is now annually spent by
our government for less noble purposes, be
spent with direct view to the moral reforms
alton of society, and we should have fewer
criminals. Let the true and philosophical
principles for the government of human ma
nature be practically demonstrated, that few
would annually diminish, and we should learn
that society may be better protected by due
moderation than by destroying veagance.-
We rejoice that that system is fast becoming
unpopular, and we trust the day is..not fal dis
,ant when it shall be stricken from the stat
utes of each and every state in the Union, as
a practice unbecoming moral and religious
people. 4. Ii. w.