New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-06


meDtsi Il does, indeed, seem strange, that Govern
ment should be constantly looking for virtue among the
people while her own shameful example destroystne
expectation of any such result
INT says sertun class of thinkers This Is all very
true still we desire evidence pointing out 70 Us
the practical working Of the anti-Csptal Punishment
theory. To this class we would say a rev WORDS
Three States of the Uni have abolished the Penalty
of Death for crme and what have been the results
Let ne see.
MICHIGAN abolished the Gallows In 1916, and what
has been the efecti Everything Il at was claimed for
the Repeal has been absolutely verified Letter after
letter from the several Secretaries Of State have been
addueed showing that there bas been 70 increase in
the crime Of murders and the recent Secretary OF that
State says, II would be almost impossible TO assem-
able Il gielature that would take the responsibility OF
" restoring the Gaows.'
RHODE ISLAND AZ olshed toe Death Penalty in 1852.
We herewith append letter from the Secretary of that
State in reply 10 note of inquiry:
sEcHSrApr's OyyrcE, PRovIprscE, r. l. Oct 20 lSss
ph bets relative to the law
,boshing The punishment OF death in Rhode lssud
would ssy n ssrRR .T n w'S s1ns o
my Office om which tie sissics you w.h fsn se % M
law rssed and the annual ports Of state ol inspector
d. net give desired Similar inquiries have been pat 20
msny persons here the result which f. that crime ha' "'f
,to;sd ne death psrisam ent vas aeosished
remain dear JOHN St 1" BAkTiETr Secretary of State
WISCONSIN, abolished the Death Penalty in 1853, and
az 10 s beneficial results can personally speak; fo
having taken an active part in that
legislative battle wbich resulted in the overthrow OF
the eallows we can bear testimony to the effect OF us
beneficial operations. While the public feeling is no
longer assaulted by the exhibition or knowledge Oh
Judicial MURDERS" il gratifying fact that there mas
Teen no increase in crime Of the fret degree tue sa
tstics showing quite the reverse The following letter
from the State Pr son Commissioner Of Wisconsin, Is
worthy of attention:
sr,TI PRISON CosnIssIosER's OFFICE,
H. BovsE-Dsar Sir Yours Of the 18th ult sskns me
give you tn. number of eonycs now confined ~ mi %
,raT their general conduct etc. yesterday recsyed
IN reply viii the hole number to be nineteen mere
have received during the present year. aud ous one
With he exception Of two who are insane lone Of whom
came that eopdoDl and oae other who hs maze Two
escape have had the least trouble WIN se
m words can Dsss more have
bsei perceptions, s1d are oseeen 81 NAV AK
bow The fact Of comparatively moral cSndOa T. IecS e
sDe WIN nm s In reply M state about q the
number committed Their crimes 1nde. h we Fees m IN nov
aher and returned to their normal condition. are pesceu and
welRtba,ed 1Ley originally end are now ss NORA sna
as good 10 ell respects tie average OF society now as
ond remain proof against the epsons which would ssi
them liberated indeed qne' n so IN . 81 .ne PASTOR
or Of supposed or real wrongs on5
four may be cal ed deliberate murderers'
You ssk ny opinion Of the effect Of the law soosans me
death psnuy wi.conn As have always been opposes
lr f., an eye sDd tooth s ,If 4 seem. csar 70 me
hat n u beneficial influence Lac all otIeI
stss Continuing sry quite million q peops, CONTRACTED
om all pats Of the old where life tAkSn to e' e b
ssid ia lived in that ,ime nor DO nnow o. any
sns s do not think any one o. so ae bs Ospsy
n ofe Ibis very often tn after the cre
has Sss sSao Is oRs 81 sas than that the adoption
lhrslsn system by the state Government must pr0auce
Tbsse are lse. together with ny own opinO9
you requested though written Ia haste Yours respect
fully, EDWD NJ. mcGRAw, State Prison Commissioner.
Here then, we find that, for nearly seUen gears,
the most gratifying reeult has marked the abolition
in Wi consn; and, though several attempts have been
made to restore the gsllows it has met with signal
failure At the last session Of the Legislature, bill
was introduced in the Senate prescribing the death
punishment In certain aggravated cases OF MURDER IL
passed that body by small majority, but was over
whelmingly defeated in the House, which refused II
even the courtesy Of scusson and any future attempt
10 restore Hanging In that State will be utterly unsuc-
cessful. As State, presents much farer record
than her sister Illinois, where hanging for crime IL still
tolerated. for is notorious fact that during the past
year there have been tice the number OF murders and
murder trials in Chicago alone, with its hu"dred thou
sand inhabitants than in the whole State Of Wisconsin
with It's million of ,ouls. Milwaukee, with its SIXTY
housand inhabitants has had occasion 10 try
single case Of murder-nor has there been sing'e
indictment for the crime before mentioned We do
not make this state ment with view TO disparage or
uDderate the morality of Chicago but as merely sug
gestive of the fact that the hanging Of fellow an
by process Of law is the beet incentive 10 the prc
tice and perpetuaton Of virtue.
BY an examination Of the criminal statistics Of Great
Britain for the psst fifty years. will at once be per
ceived that, as the English laws became less bloody,
apd the penalties for the minor oenses ess severe,
there was an absolute decrease in those very crimes
which had been punished so Vigorously and this ina
mense saving of life was certainly productive OF no
evil bat of ncalcuable good; hence we driven 10
the conclusion, which is absolutely irresistible, that
cruel laws ever incte that very spirit in which
frequently eulninate in crime while laws which mani
fest ibe mild spirit of Christianity viii infuse into
the minds Of the people benevOence, kindness, and
charity.
To the special champions Of the gaows In this State,
and to those individuals especially who stand ready
cehcunce zoe enoft 10 Tepedl tho poouy couc, ae
insiigated by sicky senimenalism, and who regard
every hesrt-throb for humanity maadttn we would
say one word. If love for Hamaniy--for your swn
brother manis siekly sentiment, morbid diSemper,
then indeed have of the first minds in the country
been thus diseased. Look vt the brilliant array of
names that may be marehaled before you, including
the most eminent jurs,s, divines, philosophers and
Statement thar ever TIE admiration of the world.
,aeks AZ Rna