New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-03-20
THE DEATH PENALTY.

,p,ssl Address of the n. Y. state Society for
The Abolition Of Capital Punishment.
ozing 10 the crowded state Of our columns, we
:, a,.bIe 70 publish tho whole of this very inter
.,aDs paper but must confne ourselves to the fol-
ring extracts. The Address was presented to
I. Society at its annual meeting, Feb. a. by JAS.
= Trrr. Esq We presume the Society will is
g. it in pamphlet form.
rh existence Of the State Society for the Abolition
srsoS,sl Puni.hmen, had It's origin more than two
.a-s since 10 the increasing conviction which
ksed through 81 sections Of the State and with all
ss Of etens against the idea of the proprsty or the
,hty Of the eath penalty. The object OF the Asso.
,soa 70 show that this dreadful exseton Of the law
rsedess for the protection Of society is
rsa pncpeto cherish that feeling OF hostility TO
he allows which results from the investigation Of the
,ubrc capital punshmentto propagate the doctrine
al he sscrcdness Of human life places IL above the
each Of civil suthortytO prove that the death penalty
dsmorszne In effect as II is ant. Christian in is
o,ars-snd finally. that ts infection Is irreuediable
outrsse on Immortal souls involving assumption Of
nowsr over human life, which regards civil authority
s,ouuts 10 sacrgious invasion Of the prerogave OF
,es Almighty The plan OF action Of the Society since
m organization has been 70 stimulate the exertions Of
indiydnah In the dissemination OF Its principle
Concentrate into efficient force the amount of convic-
ION produced In favor of those principles and thus
promote TIE measures and means whereby. ultimately
be humane object OF the Association may be attained
Ia III, revision of the history of the society md
l warrant for congratulston and encouragement lts
principles have made rapid progress In the favorable
sstnsnon Of many lntegontand vrtuous ctizens. who
heretofore have been either active defenders or else
passive supporters OF the gallo~s The operations OF
bs focey have reused spirit Of inquiry relative 10
IL opdefy aud necessity Of capital punishment which
v, clam 10 be earnest OF the success with which
ssern shall In time be rewarded. Many OF those OBJ.
,sess arising from preiudces or accidental habits OF
oSbt By which the progress of this movement OF re-
bra ~ FIRST greatly embarrassed begin TO give way
snasf the inf uence OF critical examination and cslm
vsonlns The adventurous advantage heretofore pos
issed BY opponents derived from that religious re-
yec entertained by many for the Imperative accepta:
iaef the text In Genesis which il has been claimed
rscbed the sscrfce OF the murderer 81 at0nement
lf he blood which had peen shed now no longer pre-
vs 70 the extent did previous 20 the deliberate dis
,ssons and intelligent invesheations OF the tuDecL
vhich have been insgated In this country and In En
rope through the fundamentally OF this society and OF
thar of Ike character few years since, notwith-
nnSns the progress of merciful reiornatained win
Inference 10 the punishment OF crimes heretoiore sVe
the death pensltythe proposition TO spare also 'ue
lie Of the murderer could ind but lew sotaty Al'o
.s,es History. however, In defence oil the honor OF
humanity teaches US that through all sges and IN ali ma
tons when and wherever intelligence and rehnemeht
have prevailed then and there always have been 0uno
some Individuals Of estmsDle reputation win voc eneI
,ton whose minds were Ut trammeled py the pino
A
the dca OF the doctors OF divinity and oil the learned
the law but that they could discern errors which had
teen enisiled upon them. and act moe Pehaenuy " ei
orts to establish what they considered tue truth'
Such men hnd speaking boldly against inc Fequl,
,ton tho Death Penalty-like Saoachus Porous ana
Cicero Of ancient times--ke Bscearis Howard aud La
rsue 10 modern Europe-like Penn. Franklin IomP'
kM and Livingston IN our own country. THESE men
voices In their day raised almost singy against
Capital Punishment ana their doctrine appeared 20 as
hos thaV aTrpAsQ now tnQeo
who weak against the Death Penalty. are no longer
found 70 10 few in number and speaking In sn isolated
rAnnsf-est the advocacy OF the righteous reform IS
beard IN psrusnce ofloud language nom muintudes.
s change Of public opinion on this subject with most
Nations aod siates already has removed many oioosy
tpoo from thar criminal statnes-and we now seldom
bear Capital Punishment advocated except As an atone,
neni for murder With reference 10 the progress vi
ne mehcrsrons Of law 10 Its pena! eNaeuons Ar- hsn
Oal IN communication 10 the Legislature OF Msssscha.
euA makes this pertinen; remark. which we commend
The srous attention OF all our citizens and especsi
dou legislators Most OF those who have regarded
sa favor existing Death Penalties have enteo ~ the
eAoras atom othOso which have been repeal
"a that no sooner is any item stricken from tue
bloody catalogue than the voices Of iis former deiehoei
rsnced and all the world seems 10 have discovered
Once that II has been practising for ages without
shadow Of Justification. revolving cruelty
Ia this rapid growth Of opinion sgains, tue bloody re-
sssroas OF criminal laws recognise clear evidence
Of the truth and rRhteousness OF the reform We Sdvo-
saie-sna from We should feel encouraged TO perse-
vert in efforts until disodge the advocates OF
capital Punishment from their last resort that CITY OF
heisss into which they retire as INTO sanctuary 70
sacrifice The uurderers whom alone they now claim AZ
appropriate victims for their altar. Even now We DIS
cover spoa toe portals of that false sanctuary the decsy
o. Toe Inscription Nhoso sheddeth mans blood. BY
man shsA his blood be shed which lise some
motto an ase OF superstition. has had the effect to re
palss many whose feeling and Judgment bad prompted
tam 10 s5vsnce In aid OF the entire overthrow OF the
ytlovs The change OF sentiment IN favor oil the pro
pr esA,ion OF the ssncuty Of human lie, which has
.sady removed so many bloody stains from the crin
nsodes OF the present age and now only sanctions that
vai<h relates 70 murder-wi soon IN every clvihfeo
Nd Christian land 90 transngure that charmed inserp
lea ,as the ssows will longer ne able TO resist the
tee Of enlightened public opinion but viii tel never
more 10 rise untl hestheoism and superstition supp
civilization and revealed religion
We aessre no, 10 be Inisspprehended in these re
rass relative 10 the scripture authority Tor Tue deatn
perIy IS claimed BY our opponents. H. as 'ney As
'et tee ssows has not only It's sAncnOn ~ the wore
o. 0od su "a strictly enjoned as duty ana mat loo
ssge ~hieh makes II a. OBLIGATORY upon ~, W.
ssse civilization. equally IS II may have been upon
o9se 10 were existing under clouds Of superstition
va embarrassed By al the Disadvantages OF hestSensu
n indeed we could so resd and 40 spprehsho snS
-. nsn shoud this address De coassdeTeo sseIs
nte1A and the existence OF society snoulo %
roosnd - sn &C, OF impsoas rebellion ssanst zoe co
Ssme kalo. We however, take courage snd re)oAoe
'eesass' We have not 50 learned Christ"
losh act the age nor the country in which either me
o. doctors OF divinity the dictates OF doctors Of
ss ns laws Of lsssisturss nor the couneis OF con.
can prescribe luts TO the independent exer.
sritcism and Of private judgment Neither gil
sfo ieel u 70 be alike their privilege and tner
70 contend for reforms bc discouraged from their
- y being denominAted with the aPpeilsuons oil
Auiss7s innoysiors and inhdes- These DjudicioGs
60 frequently emitted against Tciornsrs can
WI WI prevail Arguments TO controvert principles
hsir foundation In Truth and these vko win
- soas motives oppose error. however much II may
!, ssctned BY age or saptoned by ortheoox sninor'
20 can with eneire complscencg allow themselves 10
:. ~ hard nsues Tor their ia,hful Investigators.
- 1eu Independence Of adyenritiOus suthoriy, "nsn
~ neoilee; the justification Of independent inquiry
- y private judgment contained in the encousium OF
aposuss, when they said. The Bereans were more
~ man those In ThesssloEiea in that they searched
scriptures daily WHISTLER those things were so"
sas sasoy Of nations teaches 10 scruunize with
49, slously al relis pleas sdvsncedi In support