New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-05-11
anfi.(apifaI Punishment.

The Annual Meeting Of the New York State so
eety for the Abolition OF Capita Punishment was nsid
LA, evening At the Apollo Saloon. The room was
den.ely crowded and the proceedings were deeply ID
ierestng -
taxing the Chair congratulated the meeting on the pro
ress Of the cause and the signs Of Its ultimate triumph
Rev I. L. HARRTs was the nrst speaker he maip
tanned that the cause in which the Society was engaged
was founded In everlasting Truth and must Be crowned
with success This ides he dwell upon a. considerable
length and with hs usual energy. He was followed oy
HoRAcR GaKEIEr VINO spoke Of the present state OF
public opinion In reference 10 the gaiovs a. PROOF
that the cause Of reform had made decided progress
and would triumph later according a. IL ad.
vocates should prove faithful or otherwise Every en-
terprse which looked % change 90 important a. that
proposed by this Society must OF course encounter =
powerful resistance. aud for long time must defnd
Tor its support upon lev. The majority Of the thinS
Ing rejecting portion Of the community be believed
were already convinced that Capital Punishment was
wrong but the mass Of the people had gwen little at
tenon % the subject while the instinct OF revenge was
strong Go cut into the hsunis Of vice, and nearly
everybody would be found favorable 10 banging
Though cur meetings were often held within stone
throw Of the vicious neighborhoods OF his City
vss rare that the inhabitants Of such neghborboods
attended them. public execution would attract them
In crowds I. was only by patient unremttng labor
that the could be expected to succeed and Tor
such labor there was abundant announcement.
Rev WILLIAM II. CLAIMING followed Mr. Greeley
in a speech Of great force and beauty In when ne
dwelt principally on the argument OF the Injustice Of
societys taking Human Life, because somebody else
may have done 90 one class, be couiended, who are
likely To become murderers, are thrown out upon the
world at tender age uncared for, unthought Of and
they grow up In rags and wreichsdness to manhood
completely mbruied Brought up IN the midst OF fraud
and violence they naturally enough resort 90 violence
for the redress OF any zeal or supposed injury and
society having both By negect and example educated
them 10 such mas right 70 be ssonished or to
l complain at the result
There Is another class who are brought up in an en-
trey different sphere-who have the benefits Of educa
ton and refined society but stung 10 madness ~ some
wrong done b themselves wife sister or friend ioi
which the law furnishes redress they too resort tC
brute force % Avenge their vrongs. The simple law
I Justice which 10 the law Of Love or Christianity 4
] alone competent 10 eradicate all these evils.
Mr. Charming also commended with great earnestness
and We think concusvey proved that the safety OF 20
ciety does not require the taking Of life.
Tho Annual Report was next read By Rev. WIN :
BAIcH Il showed that the Society had abored during
the past year with good degree Of efficiency and sue
L cess.
Judge LEWIS Of lancaster, Pa. WAS then introduced
TO the assembly by Mr. Greeley. He spoke briefly bu
well and presented many facts within his own eNperi
snce as a lawyer and Judge, showing the pernieiou
influence OF the death penalty, particularly In screening
. the guilty.
Mr. sTRoNG OF Connecticut made a few remarks afte
which the meeting adjourned.