The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1855-09-30

Sup]eCG OF CapllaI punishment. Ii tHeTe
were no other argument to use against
it, than its well known effect upon the
motely mass of mankind. it were suffi-
cient for its entire abolition from all
persuade christian land. The eager
ness with which men, women and
children, crowd together the low and
vulgar scenes of brutality that take
place on the ground, have a pernicious
aud demoralizipg tendency on society,
It is high time these beastly and dis
gusting spectacles we're at an end
Indeed, by act of the Legislature of
this State the first step has been taken
in this matter, by providing that exc
cutions shall take place within enclo-
sures. But we see from the city pa
pers, that a negro was hanged the 9th
er day. on the levee of the Jefferson
city stock market. The Picayune's
reporter says:
When we reached the spot selected
for the execution, about IL O'Clock,
we found the levee covered with a
motely pile of huma gity, consisting
principally Of women snd children
The sun was intensely hot, SO great
that we were obliged almost instantly
to seek shade, while these women
and children had been setting exposed
to its fervid rays more than an hour,
without the slig ghtest shelter, and re-
mained there until the execution was
over, more than an hour afterwards.
Most of the male sex present had um-
brellas, but the females generally dis
dained even parasol, and the ther-
mometer was at least 1000 in the
shade Wlo calls them the weaker
sex! 1t was with considerable diff
Guilty we found shady spot, nearly
every nook and corner being filed
with the crowd who had assembled
from all quarters Of the neighboring
country. A sight of this kind is rath-
er a novelty so far up the river, and
the large majority of the assemblage
was from the Fourth District and the
neighboring villages. Brown appear
ed to be the prevailing color, although
there was pretty fair sprinkling of
black and white, aud the German and
Gascon dialects had the call in speak
ing.
About 12 o'clock the appearance Of
Capt. Mehaffy's company Of the Ma
tional Guards announced the approach
of the criminal. The soldiers took
up position around the scaffold, driv-
ing back the crowd, and shortly after
close carriage was seen driving up,
which it was said contained the doom.
ed negro. Public expectation was
now on the qui vive, the carriages,
cabs, carts, &c, drove up as near to
the gallows as the crowd would allow,
and there was general cry Of down
with the umbrellas which was almost
universally complied with. There
were three of us sheltered under one,
however. and as we informed the NAL
contents that we had each pledged our
lives, fortunes, and honors, to stand by
it, we were allowed to retain our shade
showing the effect of firmness even on
an excited and curious crowd.
There were several little episodes
through the day, which added some
what to the amusement of the large
crowd in waiting, (which could not
have numbered less than six thousand).
among which were two or three fights,
mock ard real, and the passage Of sew
eral unruly bulls, who speedily cleared
roads for themselves The whole af-
fair was strong commentary upon
the impolicy and demoralizing tenden-
cy Of public executions.
- -
o o. The editor of Phoenix Ledger,
wants to bet $500, that Mr.. Wicklif,,
will be elected Governor of the State I
of Louisiana. We hope there is not
a Know Nothing in this neigbborhood,
SO entirely ope, to coauiction, as to 60
up, and close with the Ledger, until t
he says "whea." Wicklif mag be ,