New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-10-02
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE STEAM-GUHLOTINE AGAIN.
Il

To "a. ESissy Of The n. T. Dsxas
SIR: The question Of capital punishment for pol'ti'
cal oenses beipg that Of Ito be not TO be for
individuals as well for governments, you will allow
me one more reply TO Mr.. Sanders. The population
Of Europe being five times as large as thst of the
United States on a space far smaller, the popular
passions are regulated there by quite different raes,
more or less difficult TO be appreciated by an American.
Hode tib eras mhi is, however, the general result
OF political executors thus verifying the motto OF the
HOLY Scripture: "Wbo sins by the sword shall perish
"by the sword" The builders of scSffolds never
know for whom they erect them. For my own part,
should not hesitate in applying capital punishment to
execuiorers, their victims the worst men Of the
word-robbers Of public freedom.
| dreamed Yesterday thai the French people tr-
umphed az ain their y rants; that Napoleon was
drawn, rope around his neck. over mountains of
corpses, TO a lamp POST, in order to be hanged.
raised my voice-not unknown TO Partisan Democrats
al spoke thus: Don't let bin die the death Of the
Saviour--,he death of Andre Ch6nier and Danton-
the death of our msrtyrs, Don't allow him 10 SOL
the sallows!' AID the great nation let him go.
He went 20 America, wretched and ruined man, aud
Mr. Sanders himself offered the charitable assistance
of some food. II Santa Anna Is not wanted 10 Mexico,
he shall never retarn there; but if he is wished for,
there viii be mary Santa Anpas for thrones dicts
torisl seats never remain vacant The idea of the
guilo,n ne is not rev one: twas practced on large
scale in France, and has proved itself unsuccess-
full. let US 10 longer speak of its establishment.
q y
death by ID ID completely in support of it. Well,
could write bigger against il. So the author
ssys that if the Saviour allowed hmselfo be executed,
il is proof that we can execute too. IL Is rather
strange argunep and would be wiser TO sustain the
contrary.
Robespierre fent Anarcbis Klootz 10 death, simply
saving that he did not believe in the patriotism of
Plussian Count and in the democracy of a man hay.
ing 100 coo francs year. Wei, history has justified
Klootz and the principle of cosno cosm, OF brother
hood of nations, which be represented, Is now the
grestes' principle of our day.
Mr.. Sanders would execute me, too, as Russian
prince; and yet read in letter OF Victor Hugo ad
dressed to noe: No one Sir, is allowed TO ignore the
services you have rendered TO the cause OF progress
When Robesperre was sentenced in his turn he fell
hack in BIS seat ia despair, and bis enemies cried:
"Dantons blood chokes him. II we don't wish for
acts Of vengeance, must not set the example.
TWAS pure and glorious gir-Charotte Corday.
the graz laughter of Coneie-who, struck with hor-
ror az the political massacres of Ma;a stabbed him in
his bath thus ei wing 10 men lessOn of manliness.
After such deed must be mad to recO nmend the
guilotire worked by steam as way TO revolutionary
success.
Az 10 the other exertiOns of Mr.. Sanderss
brain, | am not prepared TO discuss Russian
matters with him. If Red RopubhcaDism means
the guillotire worked by steam, have nothing in
common with it. | thought that the leisure which
Europs an reaction has created for US could not
be better emooy ed than in discussing the faults we
committed, in order TO avoid similar ones. deal
with principles not with men-with men who have
lost revolutions end have 10 futurevho mix CUES
tiops togetber-vbo rose like rockets and fell like
"sticks Kossuthl, or who have been neither
Hhzep). took the initiative of the present discus
sion, though Russian, because capital punishment
is abolished in Russia; but Mr. Sanders, beaten OF
that question sets forth accusations against me that
do no honor to bis perspicacity. He knows very wei
that nearly all refugees are in the present struggle
for Russia against Napoleon, and particularly the
French Refugees. | want 10 raise Democracy and
not TO lower il, and think that little diplomacy and
delicscy can do no harm TO it.
Brooklyn, Sept. 50. IVAN UOLOViN.