New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-07-24

ssympathy, for Criminals.
You may generally distinguish oad Cause "
the inability of its advocates 10 state, aoo apps
rently to comprehend, the positions and views OF
their opponents We see much In the journals
favorable 10 Hanging Of the missPPlied ph'fa"'h'o
py, mistaken synpathy, sc. Of their Antagonists
for Matthew Wood, lately executed for poisoning
his wife. All this is imagined in order 70 be
confared. True, while we considered his gu''
doubtful lac we did till very near the last we e"
especially averse 10 Woods execution, hoping
that time might establish bis innocence bu'
neither In bis case nor in any other have we ever
desired 10 excite sympathy for an undoubteo' oe-
lberate murderer.
Our sympathy is entirely for the community
xrhose humane feelings we deem an execution
cslcalsted 10 deaden, and whose moral sense we
believe il Htted to obscore II Hanging does not
teach the rightfulne. and duty Of svengng our In
iaries, then our logical powers must be feeble In
deed. Suppose the gsllows erected In the PARK,
and a hundred thousand persons wedged around 1t
20 witness the spectacle Of an execution. la the
struggle and press, Nokes accidentally treads on the
toes Of jerks, and jerks, stung with pain, hastily
deals Nokes a blow over the head which makes the
latter see stars. Nokes isn't knocked down, for
there 10 no room for that dangerous exhibition Ct
himself and in little while he RECEIVERS, and sees
jerks still wedgsd in beside him, and within fair
reach of his good right arm. Shall Nokes return
the blow with which his head still rings Calling
an officer would b. ridiculous-none can come
near them. To wait is to let ell go--for they twc
never consciously met before, and probably never
will meet again. Comp LIANT st the Police would
be worthless; Nokes does not know the name OF
his ssssilant, much less where he may be found
Now shall Nokes hit back 1t does seem to us
that the Gospel dictates Que answer to this ques-
ton and the gallows quite another. Those who
think differently have of course a right to their
opinion 90 have we TO ours.
Whether Hanging a murderer be severer or
milder punishment than imprisonment for life, is
a question quite aside from the main issue. 1t
sufhces that the Imprisonment does not necessa-
rily imply any vindctive feeling toward the cu-
prit--any desire TO nAct pain save to reform him
or to shield the public from future crime at his
hands. In earlier ages and in ruder communities
in ancient Palestine or modern Caliornia-the
lack OF ability to confne securely and retain en-
durinely- may have rendered or may now render
the infection Of Death inevitable, as the only
means Of preserving the community from the con
tinued misdeeds OF q m aleisctor whom no law re
strains and no consequence appalls That peril
suggests i've own laws, but those have no bearing
here.
Revenes-pain for pain--evil for evils a
ready dictate Of cur perverted nature There is
aof w.
ing weeds in our gardens or tsres among our
wheat. Yet we think the State does inculcate II
In prescribing and inaicting the penalty OF Death
and in 80 doing nerves the arm of the executor o.
private vengeance, stamping him craven who
forgives the wrongs caaselessly inflicted on hlu
by others Not, thep for the sake Of the few pool
wre ches whom the gsows cuts off but for tina
Of tho Millions whom II miseducaies and steel,
against the pleadings OF Humanity do we desir,
its abolition.
The charge Of exciting pernicious sympsth,
for indicators applies far more justly 10 those
who prefer il than to us. Hanging q man doe
tend to excite sympathy for him, not among
class only bot Throughout the community. lndie
nation 10 dissrmed, adherence Of the crime fade
In view Of the stern doom of the criminal, an
tears and sobs about the foot of the gallowstre
are COMMONLY plentiful as oaths and imPreoationi
The sympathy thus excited is an unhealthy sens'
ton. tending 10 the confusion OF right and wrons
IL is one which punishments not necessarily WI
diosivs are not calculated to excite. We thro'
back, therefore, the charge of exciting sympSth
tor marderers, insisting that, If it DO valid at a.
iss rightful application ia to the advocates not
the opponents Of the gslows