The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-04-21

| PRIVATE AND PUBLIC EXECUTIoNs.-An
able and interesting debate occurred in the
Senate, yesterday, Oh the subject of public and
private executions. We only heard portion
! of the argument. The bill from the House,
I abolishing public executions, was under con-
| sideraton. MIR. Campbell, of Nottoway, OPP
posed the bill. We shall only aim to give the
substance of his remarks. He did not believe
public executions had an immoral tendency
He had, in the course ofhis life, witnessed two
executions. and hejudged by his own feelings
that such exhibitions could influence no one
to commit crime. There was small class
of persons upon whose moral character moth
ing, perhaps, would have an effect. For the
benefit of such persons it was needless to pass
the bill. With the great majority of persons, and
with all who possessed the ordinary feelings of
humanity, he believed such exhibitions of the
penalties of crime would have a most benef-
cial tendency. More good than evil, he ar
gued, was the effect. The awful spectacle of
taking life for crime, made an impression upon
the moral feelings which could not be equalled
by the Imagination alone. He also referred to
various diffc ultes which he apprehended
would arise in the execution ofthe law in this
State-the door which it opened to corrupt
Sherifs-and to the sudden revolution which
the present feelings of the community, in re-
gard to the pirates, was about to create in an
old law of this Commonwealth. The change
was suggested for a special purpose, while the
law was to be general. The hext step, he pre-
dicted, would be the adjustment of capital
punishment, to which he was also and still
more strongly opposed.
Messrs. Shefey and Watson advocated the
passage of the bill. They believed more harm
than good resulted from such disgusting ex-
hibitions. They were looked upon with no
more solemnty than animal shows by the
multitude who hocked to see them. 1t was
day of sport with those who turned out to see
them, and numerous instances could be cited
of crime committed under the gallows. The
experience ofEngland, and examples at home,
had attested the propriety and utility ofpryare
executions. The effect of the ilnagination in
regard to private execution, was more benef.
cial than the effect of Witnessing the practical
operations of those in public. Persons who
imagined that il vas an awful thing 10 under.
go the punishment of the taking of life, would
turn away from the gellows with very different,
feelings, and declare that il was very EASY
thing to die. The bill was sufficiently guard
ed to protect it against corrupt Sherffs. Ii
provided that twelve reputable citizens should
be in attendance at an execution, besides va.
rous other persons. and if those persons
should refuse to attend, no Sheriff would as
sumo the responsibility of the act alone.
Such was the substance of the argument.
We have not pretended to follow the language
of the able speakers.
AT the close of the discussion, it being sug-
gested that many Senators were absent, and
that it was desirable to have fall vote on the
bill, motion was nude TO lay it, for the pre-
sent, on the table, which was agreed to. Ayes
Is, noes 10.