The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-11-30
BACKWARD REFORM.

DNIAe AM Rbr'ha.
Michigan paper states that since the nhoi.
ton Of Capital Punishment, in tina, state, mur-
ders have become 50 frequent that the Grand Ju-
rors have unanimously ADOPTED a memorial 10
the Legislature ior the restoration Of The death
penalty.
"Lf,," SAYS the Detroit Advertiser, "wi,h US,
has already become tr.t,,, and for palry ten
dollars, there arc those among US who hesitate
no, TO murder.'
What say We 20 this. We advoca,cs Of the death
penalty abolition --Knor iatclhgeacer.
We believe that VIC have hid few words
hei"rc with orr Rev. friend upon this sub.
jet. He claims 10 have made himself
thoroughly ronversani with the merits and
dement's 81 the death punishment. and with.
AT hesitation assigns iothc fnrmer the pre-.
pnndcrance. I'm this short article we mere.
" wish Ia give few IDEAS upon the sub
Ier,, f,r which We d. MT clam originality.
nnd leave them 10 the serim's consideration
II "nc whom fran persnaal acquaintance
we know would M, advocate any scp,i.
mrni, If he were convinced it were aversc
la the spiri, of christianity.
We wnuld premise with the remark that
=, least two things are requisite 10 The sue.
cess III the abolition oi capital punishment,
First, our prisons should he made stronger
50 ms I" utterly preclude escape. Second,
Governors should lie Invested Of the Gem.
mu''nc aud pardonng poucr.
We agree with uur TREND, so far rs the
morality %. the title 10 the above paragraph
j. considered, ,ha, !, is something Of a
backward reform" The death penalty
was abolished in Michigan, in the language
"a another, no, because il was inefficient
as Il scarccrow, but because 'ihe sentiment,
Of the People had condemned MS monstrous
ru'e which assumed the attributes of the
PERFECT. b. furnishing beyond the Iimi, OF
redress" This is the morale of the oucs
'iaa, the gGea, moral argument in favor at
the abolition ofcari,al punishment. and un-
al human judgment becomes as infallible
as the uncrrirg wisdom Of Him who CANNOT
err. il shanld never attempt an act which
/, cannot repair. as hainan wisdom can
not hiring back lie 20 man. i, should never,
blind, infatuated and rrejudicod as is the
mind If man, deprive hin ot tia, which il
cannot restore We are weak and lallihle
mor,als and in nothing more liable TO err
than in the administration Of Justice. cx-
posed ~ are orr hesl acts To wrong con-
s,ractlon and surrounded by fellow beings
educated from earliest infancy TO regard
with mere attention tho shades than the
tights II character.
~ enc :nnecent nan have persisted bv
the death penalty since tho creation the
world. the rule is bad one. II is mon-
SIRIUS. Aav rule is nlanstrous by which
IN lnnacen, msn may die" Here is Il
proposition that we submit 10 Cur worthy
friend. |, is clear. logical aud conclusive,
Alike iinpresnshlc upan all sides, with ~
turning rom within It's circle, il deties him
~ tho attack.
In tie present condition of society. rs
simply question al punishment, we IRE
mt strenuous advocate Of the death pen.
i'y aaali,ion, rs IL may possibly in some
in>'ances prevent premedi,a,ed murder
With the hope II par,lon or escape cxlin.
.ol>hed, the love oi lite IN few bosoms
burns = brightly n to prefer il prolonged
amid suffering l" in.ian, deprivation, hence
With the suggested reiarms, this monsirous
law caa.d he crase, from our statutes with
Al, a.,