Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-01-07
Capital Punishment.
ny BILLY BLuFFUM

n Ohc ol tDe most cruel ana lnhuman pena'-
ties, that can be inflicted, by nation, upon
the ,iolator Of its laws. is that of Capital Pun
shment. Although the common plea Of the
vindicator of that law, that Furnishes with
death its offenders, is, that he who vi.
o.tcs them does it voluntarily, and knowing
that IL detected he must suffer the consequent
c,s This is feeble one; for many, in
deed most murders are committed without
the slightest thought Of the punishment con-
scquent upon the commission of such an act
unit the murderous deed is done.
But still, If the individual staying his fellow,
had considered before he performed the nfa-
nous act that he WIS about to loose his life
il detected, it is no reason why his life should
be taken, so long as there are other punish
ments that might be devised and inflicted,
which would not only be more beneficial to
the criminal, but would seem more betting
a civilized community.
To kill the man, who, in an unguarded mo-
menl has committed an infamous crime, after
the deed has been performed can, certainly,
be Of no advantage to the unfortunate being
who was his victim, mol can it be Of any ben
eft to society; unless his absence from the
world, instead of from community and the bit
ter pangs Of sorrow which continually harass
the minds of his friends, be an advantage tC
it; and, what is more, il affords no means o
reformation to the criminal whereas, if some
punishment were instituted, which would no
destroy the life of the individual upon whom
it was to be inflicted, there might be som
chance of his ref :cting upon the inqnltou
business in which he had been engaged, ant
could be be broaght to see the wickedness o
| his act, he might repent Of it, and, afterward
prove the sincerity of his repentance by lead
ing an upright and irreproacable life; Wills
now, he is hurried from the sunny shores o
time from the happiness ofthe domestic fire
side, from ficnds and all that he holds dear
upon the billowy tide Of Eternity; there t
plcai his Infamous cause before the dreaded
bar Of his Maker, with the blood Of his mur
deted victim still fresh upon his hands. MOI
is this all; the thoughts, that must rush wit
electric speed across his mind, even for on
hour before the fatal moment that is to ter
inmate his earthly journey, must be more Sc
we're than dying ten thousand deaths.
To think, that in one more short hour, mus
be severed the brittle thread Of his existence
and he must be suspended between Heaver
and Earth by the murderous halter-writhin,
in the agonies of death-an awful spectacl
for gazing multitude too destitute of human
ity and OF sympathy to feel any pain at tn
sight, must be punishm, mt enough for tn,
whole world at once.
But. notwithstanding all these bite
thoughts and cruel pangs Of grief that continu
ally food the hearts of his friends-notwith
slandiug their petitions and entreaties for hi
safety, the cruel vindicaor of this unrighteou
law, drags his wretched victim forth to tn
scatfold prepared for his execution, and in tn
hearing of an admiring world concentrated i
that place to behold An unfortunate human be
ing handed into eternity, he pronunces the aw
full words to him, that the time has come 70
him to bid adieu to the busy scenes of life, an,
prepare for his journey to the spiri! world.
Then the fatal signal is given, the weigh
drops, and that wretched mana spectacle to
horrible for human eyes 10 wtness-suspcnd
ed over the murderous scaffod struggling Wit
death, brealhes his last; and his spirit wing
its way TO eternity where iron hearte
men and Capital punishment are unknown.
But his body, ala, conrot ascend wit
the spirit. but must remain in the hand
Of its inhuman punisher, by whom it is convey
ed to some lonely spot; apart from the commo
burial place of man. and there deposited i
the cold rth; and NJ splendid tombstone t
herald his memory to future eyes; no fren
to shed the sympathetic tear, or strew on
flower upon his loney grave; he hes ther
unmourned; uncarcd for, and soon forgotten.