The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1850-04-12

moral sense Of The people is aroused and
the infliction of capital punishment gives
rise to renewed discussion upon the pro-
priety of judicial murder. The recent
awful tragedy in Boston ard the Prppos'
ed manner of avenging the dignity aud
purity of the law by retaliating upon the
person convicted of the crime, gives op,
to the friends aud opponents
Of capital punishment TO again array
against each Other and the
discussion will apparently spread as far
and wide as the excitement extended.'-'
There is but little, if any, hope for Prof.
Webster, and he will in all probability
have TO expiate this great fault of his
life upon the scaffold-.-.and for what
good purpose2
The magnitude of the crime, the So
cial position of the criminal. the wealth
of the murdered man, family come ctionS,
the trial and the verdict----al these
things have kept the community in an
intense state OF excitement, the strong
est sympathies Of humanity have been
aroused, public opinion has been vari-
ously formed and freely expressed; but
during this whole time the probable end
of the prisoners life has excited but lit
tie if any remark. If the example. this
example of taking man upon the scaf.
fold and sending him to eternity fails to
excite the same interest in community
as did the crime, the examination and
the verdict, what good will be accom-
plished by thus putting an end to the
excitement and allowing the crime and
criminal to be forgotten in few yearsl
Would it not be better to confine him in
the walls of prison, put him at hard la
Dor, and throw around him all the safe
guards that may be necessary
A cold-blooded murder, wilful and de-
liberate, is generally planned beforehand
In nine cases out of ten, there can be no
direct testimony and the jury in making
up the verdict must depend upon train
of circumstances pointing with almost un'
erring certainty to the guilty person. But
doubt. Men too will differ upon the
strength of the testimony. Is it right in
this case to send tho condemned man
out of the world---.to place him beyond
the reach of any event that may turn up
in his favor-to deprive his family of his
society and supporting hand beyond the
possibility of future restitution even in Q
case of clear innocencel
Suppose in this case of Prof. Web
ster that Dr.. Parkman. after the execu
ton of his supposed murderer. should
make his appearance, ,orthalfurther events
would disclose conspiracy to fasten the
charge of murder upon Prot. Webster
either of these is possible, what restitution
could the law or society make either tt
himself or family2 What would thu
Court, the Judge, the Attorneys and al
those who assisted in his conviction do il
the way of an atonement for the wronl
unintentionally comnittedl This can b,
avoided. by adopting another mode o
punishment, equally in vindica,ion ofth
law and society. The execution nigh
be excused il any good reason was show
why the criminal should be thus dispose
E Of by his fellow. men; but looking at it i
its simplest formulating the prisone
from the Jail, leading him up the scaffold
fixing the rope around his neck. spring
5 ing the trap and then have few dyin
struggles witnessed by Ministers of Goo
the Sheriff and number of persons {
all ages, sexes and conditions--all this
does seem to US is unnecessary to say III
least, and the example cnn have no goo
tendency.
N