New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-04-07
A Defence Of Capital Punishment.

To the Edu0r Of The IrbAm
With your permission, we wish to say few
words to the public against the Abolition OF Capt.
tai Punishment, for which you are perpetually ar
guing. We presume, from your character Tor can
dor, that you willing to give both sides OF an
important question a hearing, and there may be
no need for us to claim matter Of justice small
space OF your paper 10 express our sentiments on this
momentous subject, because we are subscribers Tor
your ably conducted Tribune. We all prciessedy go
for the greatest good OF the greatest NUMBER or IL
10 doctrine that commends itself TO the conscience
and heart OF every man that has those TWO tenHs ar
ticles Nov we iuquire moot seriously, AID AJAX every
one whose eye the inquiry may meet to ponder II wei
Has not the first thought arose In the mind OF
any 10 argue for the Abolition OF Csptsl funsh'
ment sprung from sympathy for the individual whose
crime had forfeited his ifeths murderer-rather tnsn
frcm sympathy concern for the safety OF the multi
tudes OF honest people that compose society or the
State and Nation Well the sympathy, the pity for
the guilty wretched murderer rght-humsnity should
not forsAke humanity however based-out the wrong
consists p preerng the supposed interest OF 0ae md
vdEa and he the bsses of his race to the welfare OF
. ~hole community .
lon of Capital Punishment assume that other modes
OF punshment may better subserve the interests oil So
cety; and, with strange consistency OF logic, whls
thew declare that the Death Penalty even Tor pyh9
unydrr il BETTING only the Bloody Code OF Draco or
that of the halfcviiged Law giver Moses only ~ for
savage and Barbaric tbestoo horrible and scsndsious
| IN re- nj
the middle of the blazing transcendenta got OF the
Nnstt nth Century-ihey declare also that II IL alto
xeksr unaecssdy because they have found sure guar
sny for the protection OF life by nficng or he vii
ful murderer terrible and drfH PHrishmsm than
desth-viz perpetual Incarceration such was the
reasoning and very nearly the language OF MI sui
/ hvsn of pamphlet memory who We believe, oessn
the agitation OF this subjec, in the New York Legisa
ture some years sso
we have not time to go fully into this matter as
we could wi.h-if we bad we could not expect you
would give the space necessary IN your paper 10 90
ns,ice TO this subject We feel IL to be very impor'
tsnt one II ,trkrs the very root OF all government
II IL 10 morally wrong TO take tho life of any man,
whatever may be his crime, then ofncers OF uoNern
mept can never arrest elops pirates traitors Tor tney
must suffer themselves To be- shot down rstner IMAM
epdsnger the lives of the villsins they should arrest
! Indeed any one Of common ssgaciIy must see al
glance tina, such doctrine must enc IN no n s
| government" And scarce can restrain my iudisna.
lion sssnst those milk and water phisnthroplsts ana
| sdole headed and hearted ressoners who attempt 70
confound the sheriff who executes inc gment iessy
and rshteously obtained against trsndnent credi-
tor by selling and selling bis goods Tor the pay
rnt Of his debts and the burglar and ielon VINO enter
merchants shop by night snd Hsa MS soods 'of snel.
own benefit: and who with perfect impotence, II not
inhd,lity drag Ia the sixth commandment 10 sustain
their rotten ypotbessperectly Pervertins the very
command uent Of God making IL thus enurey 10 nut
fy i,self-for God II He has revealed His VIII plainly 70
us on auy subject, has done 90 in relation To ~ha'
the ueo.ty shall De for him who vfuily volstes tbs
| comm sndment. And Legislators, who have or snsi
lasisiate thi subject contrary 10 the eefnsi LsN
,v.r .houd prepare tn mseves 20 confront innoiie
i.som and goodness Mercy 10 said TO ee TIE darling
| attribute of Deity We should bless His holy name
ths, He does dshs TO show mercy and hAs no rtsas'
An m, hmont Of any OF HIS Creatures Yet a.
~ora .pd providence sbundsnty prove 10 Ne that lie
~,l maintain His lsw-His justcs CAPITAL PN2sAnenl
he ipdc,s on all the race There have been bat t~S
| exceptions - yet ,,..l
,nsr N, highest guaranty that De given Tor the Sc
curly of life assinst murder 10 that the ~iifu murder
.r shall lose his then. that GOd nss PLAINLY re
,.s Lad s,sI<d raa blood where Innocent blood IA
b<en shed anui De who shed I, 10 slain
REASON AND ScRurcRE-
Nsx- York Jan. H. ls49
y We give our correspondent eA ~
Hanging entire. and shall let it go to oar rssaer
without comment. Does be know any journal o.
his side Of the question which woald do hkew"
- .,.um.pts' [Ea. Z-,5.