The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-05-11
Annual Meeting of the National Society for
the Abolition of Capital Punishment.

1t was much beyond the hour advertised before this
mootjng was organized. MIR David Ellis of this CITY,
introduced the Rev Mr. Spear, Of Boston who offered
an Introductory prayer. After hths,
Rcv Mr. MAY, from Syracuse, spoke He said he had
consented to speak this OCCASION simply because he
had been asked, and, being asked would not miss an
opportunity Of being known opposer of capital
punishment. He said he would give the present
occasion, only few Of his lie opposed to
II because IL was cowardly and mean. II mea A.
because the victim already in the hands of the Of
Tended law. To kill poor victim after having reduced
him by prison fare and prison discipne--to destroy
him in the full consciousness Of his power and intel
lect. in the full knowledge Of what awaited him was
mean as we'll as cowardy and cruel II also cruel
demorazing TO infict it, evidence has shown that
wherever capital punishment has remained and remains
stu the very crime for which capital punishment il
designed has increased dcmoraizing. is shown, by
Tue lact thai nearly every State has changed the
mode OF public hangings TO private ones. although
pubic ones were once thought necessary for
amples sake II II were not crue. continued
the speaker why should the Clergy be indignant when
asked 10 become executioncrs! They supposed TO
be nearer 10 God than most men and next To giving
life the greatest office must be the taking away thereof
yet they would not execute the Office Capital pun
ishmont' the speaker argued, j. wrong. because its
victims the victims Of society society ought 20
sufor because il does not reform things by education
and other means Most Of the murders In our d,v
punished by hanging are committed under the ipAiI-
of drink; and whilst we license grog shops we
should not punish their victims for the deeds done un
der their influence How many have been trained to
murder by being soldiers in the navy only doing
on their own account, instead Of that of their
ltrs VT III mon 700 hucn 10 90 thnt then
own passions which they have been taught to do for
others! And capital punishment IL not inflicted upon
the most cruel offences; il is inflicted only upon those
who Kill the body, not those who kill the soul Is there
any one present who would not rather his son
brought home assassnated than drunk! He then
alluded 20 the corrupter Of female virtue escaping with
paitry inc whilst he who commits rape is hanged;
alluded TO the punishment 81 revolving slaves nd adj
duced few strong abolition Arguments lie said that
government had no right 20 infiict punishmen mt
cspt In self defence which could Of course aludc
10 felon already In prison. lie spoke Of the
passage In the Old Testament Wbosoevcr takes
mans blood &c. and assured his audience that the
word shall y ought 60 be will = to make IL read
right, as II a doubtful word In the translation
aud cquvocal In its meaning lie closed after au-
ding 20 Freeman at Auburn. and the Indignation of
the people In this by assuring the audience that
violence always begcts violence bioodshcd begets
bloodshedn aud that he would quote the scrip.
tura passages In support Of his argumcns which they
would quote 20 support theirs
resOlution next offered 20 support paper
called The Prisonsrs Friend and published by
Reverend Mr. Spears at Boston
Rx Mr.. fISspOsr, from Troy, was the next speak