Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-07-16
From The Yankee Blade.
The Death Penalty.

q TIC ht " nv hp1 W III uIAu-
ments, pro and con, on the propriety of Cap
ital Punishment, as the phrase is (cdpifal pun
ishment being simply the greatest punishment
inflicted, to abolish the penalty of death will
only make the next highest capital, and not
put an end 10 capital punishment entirely.
But among them all we have seen no view of
the question more striking than the following
passage taken from 1.-THE Lesson OF Liie,'' a
strange, wild, grotesque, yet thrilling tale,
from Cakes aud Ale,h by Douglass Jerrold,
the celebrated dramatist. A dialogue takes
place in the Jail of Paris, between the com
mon hangman and a monk who had visited
the prison on an GRAND of mercy -
= \ = Jacques Tenebre, the hangman
of Paris, quafled his wine aud water, aud
drew his chair neal the chair of Father George,
the most rigid and conscientious monk of the
order-such, at least, was his reputation
and, in a tone of familiar confdence-for the
friar was Antonette's confessor-said, ''Father
George, | want you to instruct me: never
mind that poor lad-poor innocent!' cried
Jacques, observing that the monk glanced at
the vacant Narcisse "1es, | want your
counsel in an affair of conscience )" cried the
hangman.
Thou shalt have it," was the benevolent
promise Of the monk.
Thou hast called death a punishment,
most holy father, let us debate that simple
point and Jacques sided still closer 10 his
reverend guest.
The declining sun shone through the case
ment, and, falling upon the heads of the exc
c~utionrr and the monk, bent, as they were.
towards each other, presented a strange and
striking contrast of character us developed in
their features. The monks face was long
and sallow, marked with deep lines about the
mouth, which seemed restless with ~ill-con-
cealed passion his eye was black, full and
heavy a ioyless, unreposing eye. The coun-
tenance of Pierre Tenebrg was round and
somewhat jovial; a love OF mirth appeared TO
twinkle in his look, and his lips seemed made
for laughter; his black hair and beard were
sprinkled with white, and his complexion was
a clear, deep brown, flushed in the cheek
with wholesome red. The sun, shining up
Oh those heads, brought out their separate OPP
posile characters in the strongest relief to
each other. A stranger looking at them from
a distance, would have thought the hangman
some humble, yet wealthy, g~ood-tempere6
citizen of Paris, consulting with his house
hold adviser, on a daughters portion, a sons
patrimony, or some other domestic arrange
ment. Very different was the subject which
at that hour supplied the discourse Of Jacques
Tenebra, the ~hangman of Paris, and Father
George, the austere Capuchin.
Thou dost call death a punishment 7" re-
peated the executioner. 81 live by it, and
should therefore, with the wisdom of this
WORLD"
"The wisdom of this world is arrant folly"
interrupted the Capuchin.
81 am of thy ghostIy opinion" observed
Jacques TenebrH, "as TO a good deal Of it.
Yet, death being made a punishment, makes
my profession-l speak TO thee in private, and
as a iriend-my profession is little less than
arrant folly a mistake, a miserable blum
der !"
"The saints protect me! what meanest
thou by such wild discourse ;" inquired Fa.
ther George.
"Hear me out, listen TO the hangman; y
cried Jacques Tenebra. "There is another
world, Ell! good Father George"
The Capuchin moved suddenly from the
side of the queTist, and surveyed him with {
look of horror.
MAY, nay, answe me-" said Jacques
" but for the form of argument. Twas 70
that | put the question"
Its scarcely lawful even so to put it,
said the Monk. However, let it be grant
ed-there is another world"
"And all men must die" asked Jacque
Tenebrn. "Eh9-is it not so z"
I'VE are come into the world doomed t
the penaltv." replied the Capuchin. "Deat
is the common lot of ALL,
0Of The rood, and the wise. and the ur
wise eh. father Z" cried Jacoues.
",Tis very certain" answered the Monk.
"If such. then. be the case" said Tene
bra. "if M virtne. no goodness. no wisdom
no strength, can escape death-if death b
made. as Won saw. the penaltv of the ROOD
wbv should # he thouoht the punishment {
the wicked Wbv should it be thought til
onIv doom for the blackest quilt. which.
nav he, the yerv same hour. the brinhtes, vi
the is condemned TO suffer! Answer m
,ba, y; crieJ ,hn bargmap.
noint hove INV annrehension. Ia,
cues Tenebrr," renlied Father GEORGE. Al
nnarsn,lv desirous Of chanoinr the discours,
t .Let i rest, Jacoues, for ADLER wits tina
,Li"an ~
" ,,orlJ NOT lii \ culnri,,s sopl T.,