The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-09-22

ed? Plainly where penalty is most Sc
we're, and a mistake the most irremediable
A jury might carelessly sentence the ac
cused to imprisonment. trusting to some
fortunate discovery to clear him if h'
were guiltless, when, if the penalty mus
be death. every step of the evidence vii
be sifted till the last doubt is solved. And
in all the history of this penalty the in.
stances of discovered mistakes are SO few
that the argument loses all Its weight.
! V. 1t is urged, again, that this penalty
sends the guilty soul at once into the pres.
ence of the Judge. If it he meant that il
cuts him off without warning, il is moi
true. He is always allowed between tic
sentence and its execution, time sufficient,
If it be rightly improved, to prepare for
eternal scenes. If he misimproveS this
interval the fearful responsibility is his.
But (apart from such professcd beliet) il
there is any act OF 4 human government
upon hardened offender which will bc
most likely to overcome his obduracy with
the terrors of future state. ii is to place
him ut the very portal OF that state with
the absolute certainty that he must enter
it. With such dread certainty staring
him in the face, he will dream of safety
and long life no more. then if ever will
he call upon God with the last prevailing
urgency of one who has not a moment to
waste. 1t is infinitely more likely 10 be
for the salvation of his soul than TO give
him the prospect of many years before him
in this period OF probation.
vi. And Vet once more. it is argued
that this penalty can he wisely and safely
suspended hy the substitution of impris-
onmcnt for life Sometimes il Is said this
Is more dreaded and so 4 more etiectual
penalty than the other Then what be
comes of the charge oi inhumanltv against
the death-penalty. Ii must be transferred
to the substitute Bat there Is no truth
in this Ii can no. lie made 10 restrain
human tr;lns-rcSsion Ike the terror of dy-
ing. Its iniiiction. though certain. does
not cut oil all hope. ANY one of a thou
sand possible chances may rclea>" the pris-
oner In any view OF This penalty there
Is at no one point of ii such q concentra-
ton of terror rs there Is al that mortal
stroke that sends the criminal into another
world 1t draws all It's ic;iriuine>s from
the power Of 4 human justice. The other
arrays before the mind the colossal dread
of the hereafter.
Abolish capital punishment. and you
abolish that grand prc-eminence which
murder is thus made 10 hold above all
other crimes. Ii l. no more now 10 bur-
den the sou! with this guilt than with
many another OF lighter hue Aboii. h
capital punishment. and vou hid prcmi-
um for murder. lie who rolS will xii!
also To suppress testimony. He will bc
punished ;!ll the same whether hc Kills or
not. He who is imprisoned will kill IL
effect lii escape; he i suffering now the
worst he can suffer: if he add the crime
of murder. his penalty is moi changed.
! That great dread. 80 diStinrrlishable from
all Others, that contronts Il man Ill his
rage OF pa~sion-in the ticrcrnesS OF his
rcvenGe-in the surprise OF discovered
rohbcrv-in the struggle with officers OF
jus,ice-the dread that ii he kill he blaids
the rope ior his OWN neck would no more
lit itS awful finger OF warning between
the soul and crime.
Abolish capital punishment. and YOU
shall see another tulfiliment of the statute
gIven bv Moses. Nv ho>o shctlleth man
blood. 10y man shall his blood be shed
/ This cry OF the human conscience of blood
Tor blood. life for lie. will BE- heard Ev-
crv man will he his own avcnger On the
heels of every murderer will hound tn,
fierce, hot pursuit OF private vengeance.
The son viii avcnge the murdered sire
brother. brother: friend. friend Le
Government lav down the sword. and each
of us should be an I,hmael. Whoever
saw the experiment of imprisonment iol
lite tried Tor Il generation would see Iii,
statute reas-crting itself in terrible tragc
dies. The Action of the courts would h,
anticipated by the dagger or the drug
The criminal, on his WAY 10 prison, woul,
be torn 10 peiceS 10y reSis.lc,s mob, who's,
sense OF justice would not lie 50 outraged
and amid scenes of anarchy AMI carna.
men woll be compelled 10 acknowlcdg,
that they could not amend the legislation
=. of jehovah