The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-07
Fer the National Era.
CRIME TN MICHIGAN = THE DEATH PENALTY.

A certain class Of newspapers in the East are
making great ado about the increase OF crims
in Michigan, and creating in the public mind
impressions which are not only utterly false, but
highly detrimental to the interests Of our young
and growing State. / deem reputation AS impor-
tant to State as TO the individual, and whoever,
through malice or thoughtlessness, makes an I'M
justifable assault upon either, commits a great
wrong. IL is for the purpose OF parrying the
force Of these repeated and violent strokes at the
honor Of our State, that ! trouble you with this
article.
IL seems to be assumed by our Eastern neigh
bors that there has been great increase Of crime
In Michigan, which assumption Is In no degree
true IL is true there are several important Grim
inal trials now In progress in this city, which,
from the number and character Of the persons
accused, and the nature Of the offences charged,
have excited public attention, and created for
time good deal Of public clamor, arising chiefly
from the exaggerated statements Of newspapers in
regard TO the guilty purposes and plans OF the
accused. allude more particularly TO the trial
Of some thirty seven persons for the burning OF
the depot of the Michigan Central Railroad Com
pany In this city last fall. Some ninety persons,
believe, we're presented by the grand jury as
guilty Of this offence. lnferring, as the public
had right 10, from this fact, that there was at
least priNa face evidence Of their guilt such an
was well calculated TO cluse excitement alarm,
and dlstrust, in any community. But the prose-
cution has concluded its proof In this case before
the country, the hearing Of which has occupied
four long weeks; and II we allow full credence 10
all the statements Of the witnesses for the people,
not over six or eight persons can be considered
as implicated In the crime charged. Whether
there Is really any proof OF the guilt OF any, can
not be safely asserted until the defence Is heard.
Bot on the report Of this as II has gone forth
over the country and on this alone has been
based the grave charge that crime Is fearfully on
the increase In Michigan, and those who make
the charge have seen fit in their superior wisdom
TO attribute the fearful state Of things which they
assume TO the abolition Of capital punishment
This conclusion Is as MegRim0ts as the premises
from which II is drawn are false For, admitting
that the defendants on trial in this case for sim
pie arson are all guilty, what has that fact 10
do with the question Of capital punishment
The existence or non-existence Of that terribly
vindictivs penalty for the crime Of murder alone
cannot possibly have any influence TO prevent or
encourage the commission Of lesser offences. The
laws Of Michigan against arson, robbery, then,
40, are just rs stringent as are the laws Of New
York or Massachusetts,, and are as seldom vlo-
lated II property Is not as secure here as In either
Of the States named II s not because the laws are
different But not only is property as secure
nore no bncFo, Jul no buo cIttniuhA etaeishOo
Of the State will show, is even more secure. At
any rate the statistics show oonclusivey that hu-
man life Is more secure in Michigan since the ABB
oiition Of the death penalty than before. ConYic-
tons for murder are FAR more easy and certain,
yet the number Of convictions, taking into account
the increase Of population, has decreased Ana
t 10 reasonable that this should be So for the GER
tainty Of a punishment Is great element In the
sybfcieney Of II to prevent crime. Here the mur-
dsrer Is readily consigned for life 70 solitary
confinement, without that popular eHcl.emsns s .l
tumult which ever attend the execution OF the
death penalty. That morbid sympathy for the
] criminal which more than counteracts the terror
Of the penalty is not created but, on the other
hand. tie Judgment Of the law pronounced by the
court Is upheld by public opinion, which ever
ss~as more sanctlty TO law, and lends more terror
70 its sanctions, than all the fortunes that bar
harous ingenuity can invent So far, indeed, rs
the experience OF Michigan from vindiesting the
| necessity Of the death penalty, that Il 10 daily