The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-01-16
PUBLIC EXECUTIONS.

- The 6taunton. SPfcsat0r,l Ia an article upon
the recent execution of TTrayer in that place,
sand the heartless levity manifested by many
On the occasion, thelarger part Of the crowd
seeming to regard the occasion as mere fro
.Is' urges upon the Legislature the, prerFie
sty OF abohsling public executions, Several
efforts have been made at former sessions of
the Legislature to, enact a law with that OBJ
.ject.a. These efforts failed, bat we should be
most happyto see such measure revived and
carried through. What earthly benefits aci
complished by public exeeutionsle Does the
Spectacle elevate the moral Sense of those
swho witness it, or deter them from the com!
mission Of crime! We have never seen any
1iproofof this. In fact. the whole history ofpub7
lie executions, both IN England and this eoun7
TRY, proves. Just the contrary. The ttheartless
.levityr exhibited at the Stanton executions
almost universally displayed at similar scenes
everywhere. The yilest oaths and the most
disgusting ribaldry are heard at the very foot
,ofthe ,gallows. The multitude is drawn to
the hideous sight by a depraved taste for the
horrible, and not by any desire or expecta-
ltion Of being benefited in any way. The death
Of a fellow creature is, made the occasion of
"a frolic, and the chprit himselfis often, led to
seonsider himself heroor amartyr, and feels
pride in.,drawmg a large crowd and ma
king dying Grafton, instead of humility aud
penitence for his crimel So far from deterria o
linen FROM similar deeds, robbery and murder
ehase often been committed in sight of the
seaffold, and drunkenness and profanity pre-
vail TO as great an extent as is ever witness
ed in tlargescrowdss en,sny other OCCASION
iIhe Proper moral inHaenHe Of the execution
ais greatly impaired, By its publicity, and an
the settlement froli and sssiry ofthe Scene
-anea altogethsr forget the eaarnaisy of es;gae
and the fearlessness of its punishment. Sal
Private exceptions would answer all the
ends justice and avoid all the evils which
iby$riabls accompany and follow the publ,
texhibition efthe dsathpenal,y - Those who d,
mot go now to- witness such scenes, are, I.
say the least of H. quite as likely tosibe goo,
bcifizens and obey the laws as those who n,
ssaffe sxssntigns ana turn tbsfp ntdits i. Telic
vAgd. il all setaid away, the kno~ledge stlsa
.ecrme was sese isingq It's papisliIasn.s1 sso1a
bsss influential HRoa 81, rs it's now rpol
the great majority who voluntarily -abstri
..sa5on ef9xdiinag around a,isgallpss, b,yitaes
!, the fast paags of dying erlnfnals ests' es Z:
sss.s ,saassss.a.j .---,----r-7 --rrsxsssd .sssa>
;. }yAMAAos sreAaSHIrts ssrAfsys-AiA ernp4s
sswia thp ,sh,e hss been orzalizaa n New York VI
der the general steamship jay, ofstha Sta'e, win
. capital 81 So COO Tic ateaniLaas peaebseos ha
-jbcen pafthssef ID Adopted 10 fhe ylsrs and kul
posss Il die .eonpals, 1tis dpis sas pafl
sssuIscd froanths tats snpIOrEion Of the Asnazo
ibt Ideutepanf Hsfhdonr and IBID lyebeu 1t5ts Ica
tpacltps fsrira2s sSd Sotyasercs, add ~ ssssr
.-ftstsss isssipepAJ ~ :, :
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