Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-01-31
The Punishment Of Death.

| As your readers have been furnished with
the opinions of Benlhum and Edward Liv-
! ingsion on this subject, IL may be well TO
send you that OF Bcccaria, of whom Livings-
ton observes, that "if the argument were TO
| he carried by the authority of name, that OF
Beccnria. were there no other, would ensure
the victory"
"The useless profusion Of punshments,"
! ht remarks, "which has never made mon
better, induces INC to inquire whether the
punishment Of death he really Just or useful
! Ia well governed state? What, right, |
| ask have men to cut the throat of their fell
| low creatnresf Certainly not that on which
the sovereignty aud laws ure founded. The
! laws, MS have said before, are only the sum
of the smallest portions of the private liberty
of Gach individual, aud represent the general
will, which is the aggregate of thut OF each
individual.
"Did any one ever give TO others the right
of taking away his life lfit were so, how
shall il he roconcied To the maxim which
tells us, that II man has no right to kill him
self? Which he certainly must have, it hc
could give it away to another.
But the punishment of death is not nu-
thorIzed by any right; for have demonsira-
ted tiiut no such right exists. II is therefore
war of u whole nation against citizen,
whose destruction they consider MS necessary,
er useful To the general good. But it ! can
further demonstrate, that il in neither necessn-
ry oi useful, shall have gained the cause
of humanity.
"I'be death of citizen cannot he neccs-
sary, bot in one case. When, though de-
prived Of his liberty, lie lius such power and
connexions as may endnnger the security of
the nations; when his existence mny produce
a dangerous revolution in the established
form OF government. But, even in this cnse
it will be only necessary when nation is on
the verge of recovering or losing lis liberty
or in ,iuirs of absolute anarchy, when the
disorders themselves hold the place of the
laws. But, in n reign Of tranquility in II
form of government approved by the united
wishes OF the nation; in n state well fortified
from enemies without, aud supported by
strength within, aud opinion, perhaps more
efiicncious when all power is lodged III the
bands of u true sovereign; when riches can
purchase pleasures, and not authority, there
can he no necessity for taking away the life
Of u subject.
"lfIhe experiences of all nations be not
sufficient to prove, that the punishment of
/ death has never prevented determined men
! llbHi NlulltlH EONltlN " lilt W. illN
! Romans-if twenty years reign of Elizabeth,
/ Empress of Rusin, ia which she gave the
/ fathers of their country mn example more
| illusirious than many conquesis bought with
! blood il, say, all this he not sufficient to
persuade mankind, who always suspect the
voice of reason, and who choose rather TO he
led by authority, let us consult human nature
| in proof Of my assertion.
"it is not the lntcnseness Of the pnin that
has the greatest effect on the mind but its
continuance ior our sensihility is more
easily, and more powerfully affected by
weak, but repeated impressions, than by d
violent, hut nomentary impulse. The pow
! or Of habit is universal over every sensible
being. As it is by that we learn to speak
10 walk und TO satisfy our necesslties so the
ideas OF morality are stamped on our mind'
10y repeated impressions.
"1he execution of n criminal is, 10 thC
multitude, spectacle, which in some excie'
compassion mixed with indignation. Thest
sentiments occupy the mind much more
than that salutary terror which the laws en-
deavor TO inspire hut the continued exam
pie of man deprived of his liberty, con
demned, us u beast of burthen, 10 repair, by
his labor, the injury he has done 10 society
is much more powerful preventative than
The fear Of denlh, which ineu always behold
in this obscurity."