Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1864-01-15

l,Ss- The cmbarrassment In this matter
afiscs not so much from any difficulties IN
the law. A. from the tact Of ~ non-enforoe-
ment for twenty wears
Danng tins period the number OF felons
convicted Of capital Offences has most dis
lProPortiOnafely increased over the two pre-
tious dcrados. there beng AZ this time m
loe Staie irisOn. uader sent ace Of death.
n" less than twelve convicted fnur,lerers.
ione OF those has been imprisoned about -
Frsrs. and The others tor shorter terms. In
an these eases. the omission % commute
Their Puuishnent leaves the criminals sub
lcct % the extreme penalty Of the law. De-
serslng. a. they doubtless were. OF ifs IN
Fiction. a. this late day 90 require the Chef
Magistrate Of the State 10 issue the war
rants for their execution would be rc-ar,led
a. Little short OF cold-blOoded. vindictive
murder. What then shal b. doac?
The argument most relied on by the ad-
Nocates OF the abolition Of capital punish
meat. thst the safety OF society wsuld be a.
we'll assured by the imprisoament as bv
TIE death of the criminal. in consequences
Of the increased certainty OF conviction and
punishncnt resulting from its abolition. has
been sisnaliy negAtived by the statistics of
crime IA this State.
The following j. an ex tract from a COM
nlunicAiion made 70 me Uy the Attorney
General of the State:
- Murder j. alarrnin,iv on the Increase
Du-ing the past year there have been
three death sentences two verylicts of guilty
OF murder IN the trst degree. IN additioa.
Which have not conc 20 sentence one in
dieteG for murder. died before trial one in
dicic'i TO- rnarsi~r IN the scond degree. ad-
mried % bal; one found guilty of man
daughter on an Indictment Tor murder. ozs
other trial for MURDER (which IL was admitf-
. sizs~ D7s hai committed). but the Jury
disagreed aud two IN jail for murder, not
indicted g.
Oac oi these convictions furnishes melan-
choiv evidence thet those 70 whose custody
- committed the criminals condemned 20
death. are not safe from homicidal assault.
A warden OF the State Prison has fallen q
victim % brutal violsn-c and thoach his
hie vas not taken ~ a criminal af.the time
condemmed % death. u equally illustrate.
the fact. thar were imprisonment the ex-
trrme penalty. the lives OF the officers
wolid have no protection in the law. for IL
has already indicted IT, utmost vengeance.
] submit gcntlemau. that this Is a fearful re-
cord IL - time that the cOmplication.
which perpicx this subject should be m
ravelled. and that the measure Of the pun
ishrasnt for the crime OF m1rder should be
made certain.
VITA regard % those Who have been con-
Nicted an former wears. and arr now IN pris-
on. their year Of grace having expired.
commutaiion OF their punishment % impris-
o1mcnt for hie. would dispose of the en-
barrassment growing out of their numbers.
and The delay % execute the law upon them
When the knowledse Of ih-ir crime was fresh
In The public mind. AMI the iustioe of the
= lrrHaarfF urr..ri a h.r.. I'll
nizcd. This much would devolve upon the
Executive. For other cases. let the Le.is-
lainre hxed a day certain. after the eNpira-
ton ~ the year Of grace. on which execu-
ton shall be done done upon the criminal
capitsiiy convicted. leaving no discretion
In the Chief Magistrate. BAT % issue the
the warrant for execution. unless circun-
stances should demand be iuterfersnos A.
a. act of justice and mercy.
soLDTEHs VOTING.
Ihe justice Of extending o. our soldiers
in thr hcld an opportunity fcr ,.xrrcisinr
the night II suffrage in our elections has been
considerably discussed and generally con
crticd- TIE sXfr-Tlen~e ol other States coes
ilit Co r.ta..,..h 3D. Oh. fact that the votes Of
thc soldier. ia1y D. So taken a. o. preclude
either fraud or abusc upon the elective fran
thIec. Eccause a man f1r the time being
becomes a soldier in the defence Of al that
BE- dear % the citizen. his interest for the
welfare oi the STATE and nation b. neither
changed Dor diminished but rather augment
mrnfcl and intensified bv BIS s,onsecration
oi himself AZ The peril If his Efe o. their ser
ure- Why. thcn. -hould BE- not b. permit
20. wherever De- may b.. upon the Happen
in- "a an eicctton AZ his home. 90 ENJOY the
c"r-ldcrati0n cd a citizen. ard cas' his bal
N.Ha AHN 81 .N...srI.N l.. d. n u
puulegs 81 helping o. shape the policy Of
The Govcrumcnf in winch hi. interest d GER
talnly not less than thar of those remaining
securely a. tle.r frrsiiesY O1 fhr return
of fh" sol4irr o. h.- ho.ne he 6uds himself in
l''-s' --l9n "a al tlIe political nghts b. ever
cnIutci These Do not become changed
even nF a tsrcl Years aisence
To srrure to hIm during this absence the
cN-r.i>e of the highest Of these rights. was
tne sanIeri of ias0rat.lc rrcoupcni,tion m
the annual message Of nv pre1ccrssor Ia
aId not come up for action in the Legisla-
turc until a later day. Wien it failed not
for want of friends o. tle ohiccf. boa be-
cause 0t ob ection 20 tbe particular form IN
which 90 vas presented and in the great
bury lnldcnt Co The closing dsvs II tho
session. tlere vas nos time o. u,afurr fhe
rrI 4isitc oi.i. and rcsoiaiions o. accomplish
b.
- to the precise mode. b. vhich the
eni D. o. o. attained. the iarge amount q
egai leaning which yoar several bodies
comprise al d0lbticss enable you %
frame andalopt sueh rrsointions and bill a.
viA extend folly fbe rieht Of tie snHrage
o. The soldicr in che held. a. viu guard
thc clcctit, .r4a,hisc from abuse. and a.
tle sarse tiaic meet al consultations al require
menfs - many thousands a orr fellou-
citizens volantccnng % leave home and
trends and tbc comforts 81 peaceful lfe D.
defend our common righfs. ! cannot d0uht