Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-02-06
Iowa CRY, Feb. 3, 1851

Iowa CITY, Feb. 3, 1851.
Among the many things which the Legislature
has passed in shot haste of late, is the abolition
of Capital punishment for ssrder since that part of
the Code has gone through various forms Of read
ing and amending in both houses and met but lit
tie opposition. II is rather surprising that three
legal men, like Messrs Hampstead Mason and
woodward should conspire together in the propo-
sal Of n law for murder without an adequate penal
y in the estimation OF nineteen wentieths orman-
kind and so lead the way for the Introduction Of
law without penalty, such as thirty out of thirty
one Of the States the Union heret ofore had
and still adhere to. Iowa excepted.
1t is still more surprising that the Legislature
should hastily pass such law, especially, when 1t
is to so into effect from and after the 4th Of July
next pte it is notorious fact that the State Prison
Of io,ra and the discipline Of ae state prison hitler
to has rendered the confinement Of euprtss for less
crimes ,rhoiy insecure and unsafe.
But the usual arguments have carried the ques-
ton in hurry, that after errng haste to have
to repent at leisure, may be applicable proverb
in this case; since nobody has asked this change
Of the penal code. Petitioner of the people
Of Iowa has made the request, far as the writer
knows.
The example of Michigan, also, is cited in favor
Of abolishng the penalty Of death for death, in the
case of murder. In regard 10 which. it should be
said, that this movement had well nigh the de-
mocracy an overthrow, the legislature OF that State
being barely able to resist the petitions Of the PEG.
pie the next year for the repeal Of the law Of abo
others, constituted about tie laM Rex Of certain
S,r
State and migrated further west. or course, by
democracy here is meant, not so much a party, Is
state and tendency of many minds TO try every
novel, snew-fansled" thing, as destined to amelio-
rate the administration OF criminal justice; since
hanging, it is urged does no. reform any body. tal-
belt. it may have made many rcntent before death,
such as Gree ne, OF Troy, ". y, who poisoned his
young bride, and whom Governor Wright refused
to pardon; and also Or Webster. who cut Or Park.
man to pieces, after all hope OF reprieve was goae,
is said to have turned a peniten,;) and so since,
with certain class, reformation is the end Of all pun
iea., (;he writer holds il To ha part Of il. the
murderer must have a long time to reform under
punishment.
And still, urged that, at the west, is impossible
to got "an honest verdict in OF murder where he
penalty death, f the osin al has money and friends
Now, this humiliains argument. II is reflection
on the integrity OF Judges and nrss in our State so to
reason. ons might just well that is impossible
to get Justice done in civ suit, here in Iowa, where
man has money. Indeed. some 9 good and be.
heve too, so little is the administration of justice,
yet sysema,zed and established in State jus,
ganzed and not yet hardened into the bone and snew
ofase and maturity. Thi, arguing would lead to the all
clifton Of all laws, and the dissolution Of all civil society;
and because thinks Justice not done and
therefore, change is demanded in tho code, there
would be end to the down ward tendency ofusce till
come again to state nature ,wher every takes
the law into his hands, and does "what /, pleasing
in his eyes, URANUS.