New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-23
From Our Own RspOrier
ALBAsr, Saturday. Jan. 81. 1860

From Our Own Reporter.
ALBAsr, Saturday, Jan. 81, 1860.
ABOLITION or CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
Dir. Powell Of Ontario has introduced bill into the
Assembly for the abolition of capital punishment OF
rather bill TO alter the law in regard to capital
.Oft nses Mr. Powells bill lie substantially that OF the
a atufe of the Statesof Maine the subject 1t
provides tbs, person convicted of capital oilense
shall be executed until the expiration of one year from
lifetime of such conviction, and NOT then uIit the
Governor shall issue his warrant ordering such execu,
ton. In the meantime the cOnvicss 70 DO subjected
10 solitary confinement and hard sor uutil the day of
his execution. The bill pas kee2 siALedte the judo.
iary Committee of which the Hon Anon Bingham OF
Rens elaer, one of the most sound and cear-headed
lawyers of the Assembly, is Chairman. am inclined
10 think that the COMMITTEES VIII report il favor OF the
Hll As 10 It's probable fate in the House ! have no
means Of Judging at present. This is a subject which
ought to receive the careful candid, aeeus consider
alton Of the Legislature, and iteah be demonstrated
that the taking Of human life by the State snbserves
no good purpose, the hdeous gallowe Tree should be
uprooed at once and forever The advocates Of capi
tai punslmeIt. in this> State Surrendered their
strongett sfgfment-hat Of example TO deter others
from doing murder-wben they abolished public
executions. and enacted that their hateful scat
fold should he erected in the jai-yard, or
n JAIL hidden from the gaze OF that public for whose
benefit they make example OF their trembling VIC
tim III il be good TO take the life of the murderer az
an example and timely warning Of the fate which
l.
will be melted out TO ether murderers, then manesuy
the more public and imposing executions are made,
and the people who may be gathered to wltoess
them the better for society. To those who urge CAPT.
tai punisl ment az a Divine command founded on the
Mosaic Code il ought to be sufficient reply TO say
that not ore Of these gentlemen wOult be willing 10
accept that coGe in Its entirety Yet 1t were OF d.
vine origin and intended for all time and all conditions
of society and civilzaOnas the advocates Of the gal
lows must contend in order TO give il any force as an
authority OF aTgumeut-who shall presume TO accept
portion and reject another portion Of that Divine law
II we must enforce capital punishment for murder be
cause Moses did, are equally bound TO enforce the
same penalty against those guilty OF idolatry, encing
TO idoatry ntermarrage with idoatry, false prophecy,
witeheraft the consulting OF witches violation Of the
Sabbath the Jewish Sabbath, remember), curslng
father or mother eating of blood &c 1t is commended
by another class that society would be endangered by
the abolition Of the galOws; that the crime OF murder
would be greatly increased; IN snort, tnat
people generally would devote considerable portion
of their valuable time TO the business of cutting the
tbroats and breaking the skulls of their fellow men
This class in their blind zeal for retaining the gaows
as q means for Chrisan civilization and advancement,
ignore the fact that number of sister States have
ceased put murdereIs to DEATH and that the horr
bic consequences which they predict have not followed
They do not, think, duly consider the facts IN me
case For instance. Maine practically abolished the
death penalty in l8i4siXteen years ago. by the adop'
ton of the set already referred to- Since that time no
execution has taken place in Maine under State law
| believe some pirates were hanged IN Inc STATE not
eminent. There are now Six prisoners IN the state
Prison Of Maine, committed under the law referred TO-
Six murders in sixteen years IN state WIN inIee-
quarters of million of inhabitants, does not LOOK IKE
a fearful increase of the crime of murder The Dep
uty Secretary of State of Maine expresses the opinion
that the law in question has made perceptble der-
ence in the increase or dmlnuton OF the crime
of murder, and that large majority OF the Peor
ple are in favor Of the present system, ate
having tested it for sixteen years. In Vermont
the Governor has the power of granting repneves IN
cases where the sentence of death has been pro-
nounced and it has been abont AZ years, says the
Deputy Secretary Of State since there has been an exc
cuton In that State and the people are well SATISFIED
with this practical abolition Of the gallows According
to the theory of the advocates OF the death penalty inc
Green Mountain State should be oveTun WIN muir
derers while the fact IL notoncpsly otherNl-y'
Rhode Island and Wisconsin have both aboi-
ished capital punishment, and the highest au-
thority Of those States unite IN the state
ment that the crime Of murder has not increased as
consequence of such abolition. In view OF these prac,
ticsl facts where the great danger TO be apprehended
from the experiment of little humane ana CHRISTIAN
legislation on this subject There are members OF the
Assembly-prominent among whom is Mr. Van Horn
If Niacara-who prefer bill for IN unconditional alb
clifton of the death penalty to the one 9troducea ny
MI Powell and it is possible that the Judiciary Com
mittee may report such a blli' ,... -
The session Of the Assembly to-day was very brei,
and there was nothing Of special Importance IN lts pro-
ceedngs. c,.,, -.
The following notices of bills were given:
Mr. Cooper-To regulate the mode OF admlnls'erihg
assignments III trust for the benefit OF credtoIsi
AIso, 10 exempt certain persons from jury duty;
Also 70 authorize the construction OF railroad IN tue
city of New-York
Mr.. Law-To amend the Excise law
Also, for the preservation OF deer, BIRDS, ana nsn
during breeding season. .. o,,5
Mr. Colins-To incorporate the Southwestern aud
Land Company. -, r,;..r;o,
Mr. Bridgs.To define fire limits in Eastern District,
Mr Varian-For railroads N certain streets in New
Mr. Hubbell-To increase compensation OF Prison
Offcers. ,,.,