New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-02-05
The Punt. bment Of Death.


might a. well give up the point. Our opponents
can 80 shead ON that tack. If their statements
were TO be esteemed conclusive, no community has
ever abolished Capital Punishment without being
constrained directly to reestsblsh it by the appall
rag results But surely the Roman Republic in
it, best estate forbade for many years the infc-
ton Of death on a citizen surely Russia abolished
the death-penalty many years since, and has not
yet recstablished it, though life may nevertheless
have been ia some instances taken for treason or
some other aggravated offence. Tuscany abolish
ed II about 49, and never restored it OF her own
free will, though some twenty five years thereaf-
ter IL Was reestablished by Napoleon in forming
Uniform Code for his entire dominions Vermont
and Maine virtually abolished it some ten years
ago, and we think they have not yet reestabshed
it, though We have heard good many prophecies
that they soon must and would. These do not.
excite 70 much alarm after you have become used
T. them. The citizens of those States have not
vet betaken themselves to numbering each other
by Wholesale, so far rs we have heard.
Michigan the last State, as yet, which abol-
ished the Gsllows and she did it very thoroughly.
We have heard many confident prophecies-some
quite recent and undoubting-that her Legislature
soaid do IT very soon, but can outve these.
Whenever the bill to revive Hanging in Michigan
shall have have become law, we bespeak al
early copy
In that State, the fneDds OF the Gaows have
been lucky. Quite q number Of homcides have
been committed since the penalty was changed,
and though at least one land we think this was
not Singular was committed by phrenzed
wretch who had barely set foot In the State, in
not pursuit Of the objects of his jealous erocity
and who probably knew nothing whatever of the
legal penalties Of that State, yet this case an
swered the purpose as well as another. The
Press has exhorted the Pulpit thundered-still,
we do not see the anti -gaows act repealed. fit
can hold its own for two years longer we are con-
hdens it will not be.
The Detroit Daily Advertiser has been strenu-
Gus and active in favor of the restoration OF Hang
ing. 1t has very Thoroughly backed the clerical |
assailants Of the bloodless penalty. Yet in the
last number which has reached Jan. 23) we
read;
"srATE PRIsoN-A day at Jackson last week enabled
m 70 vial, the State Prison The obsng agent accom-
panied u.s. with several friends from the city through
ali Of s departments In the cells we found solidarity
immured, live convicted murderers; their only EN-
poyment sewing their only companion In narrow
gloomy stone crib their own thoughts Zach one com
blamed of illness As we looked through the grled
doors Of these narrow, solitary dungeons upon vast
ed csdaverous FORMS there q common exclamation
-" hana ring were a mercy I" They are taken IRON
their celia for few minutes once IN eight or ten days
u be shaved The rest OF the slow hours days weeks
months and years, they are alone With murderers
The workshops of the ordinary convics were in
strong contrast with this gloomy picture There were
stesdy labor apparent cheerfuness skillful mechsD
I'm comfortable shops clean dresses, and but for the
weLknown striped prison uniform nothing that spoke
of crime or wretchedness or even involuntary labor
We publish this exactly we find it in the
Editorial columns OF our pro-Hanging cotempora-
ry We cite II as testimony which cannot be im-
pesched BY cur adversaries as to the fearulness
Vi the unbloody punishment Of murderers. ltc
tainly 10 no. the Indifferent, riHing infection
which they have quite often represented It.
champion of the Gallows thinks Hanging would | 9
De a mercy compared with this We do not de
eide whether il would would not but we
should like to see-ony once, and with his hands
tied behind him-the champion of the Death-Pen-
atty who would choose to 90 into one OF these $
murderers cels-no matter how well armed with
de ath W auants-and snap the mortal thread oil
one OF these miserable cuprts, the ground that
he would not otherwise be adequately punished
A word as to the relative moral influences OF
Hanging and Imprisonment for Life in such cases
Who thinks Of or cares for the hanging that took
place five or ten years ago What influence is
exerted by it Even the unconvcted multitude
who crowded and blasphemed each other for a
nearer look at the death-strugge, stronger sniff
OF the blood, very seldom think OF the scene now
and we suspect little profit or ediiicaton
when they do How many of those now living
who saw an old-iashioned Hanging twenty to
forty years ago would like to take their children
to just such one now We trust not many.
Well these wretched convict-homicdes in the
Michigan State Prison were not a moral specta
Gle tor one day only-they have been such ever
since their sentence, and will remain such for
many years to come. They are visited by the in
curing daily the story of their evil deeds is told
aud the consequences to themselves are seem
They are set forth an example, and will re
main for years warning beacons to the violent and
the sangamary. Is there any father who would
hesitate on moral 9, ounds to let his children pass
shrough the prison, and to tell them, pointing to
those pale, sad, suffering tenants OF the solitary
cells Ny children see there the men who have
raised their hands to shed blood, and whom the |
State has therefore felt constrained to shut up IN
these cells for life in part as penalty tor their
crimes but more with view to their reformation |
If possbsat all events, to secure others against
farther outbursts OF their murderous passions. See
what crime has brought them to- and be warned |
in time How many in a million would fear the
moral consequences of such lesson
A word on another point There are nee OF |
them in the Michigan State Prison you observe
There IL no difficulty oonvicting there for muir
der now, and we believe no person has been tired |
for homicide since the penalty was changed and |
not convicted Ii is otherwise where Hanging Is |
still upheld We doubt whether three out OF the
last tive perpetrators OF murder have been convict
ed and executed in any State OF the Union. The
Judge exhorts the Jury In capital case to give
the culprit the beneht Of any doubt Humane Ju'
rors shrink appalled, at the idea of booming to death
. man who may, after all, not be guilty What
days and nights OF horror must be his who has aid
Cd to send fellow-being to the galows who after
death proves innocent What a dire mistake 70
remain unoorected 1t is otherwise with the in
l.tc