Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-03-26
REMARKS OF
HON. w. w. BOLSTER, OF OXFORD
IN SENATE, FEB. lGth 1859, on
CAPITAL PUNISH MENT.

Of vital interest to the people of Maine. Its pas
sage or defeat viii have effect for good or for
evil. The subject of the bill has been discussed
for ages by all nations and people. The principle
OF capital punishment has in all past ages, by all
nations ard people, been adopted in some form
defence to the welfare and security OF individuals
| and society.
In some countries In the earlier ages the world,
| il was adopted as punishment for all offences,
and no doubt abused, made cruel, and thereby be-
| came odious instead Of commanding respect. In
nearly all states countries aud nations where IL II
now retained, il is confined mainly 30 tho punish
mcnt of the crime OF fwilfu and deliberate murder.
One Of the questions OF the bill now before us is--
| "shall murder, committed by premeditated de-
| sign, and without provocation, be deemed murder
of the first degree, and be punished with deathT'
Mr.. President:-I hope to be able TO discuss,
carefully consider, frankly and impassionately ex
press nv views and sentiments upon the questions
before US regard the action of this Legislature
upon this question, fraught with consequences
of the highest Importance to the people Of the
state especially when murders OF the most dia-
| bolical character are so common among II u
startling fact, that since the change OF the law OF
capital punishment in 1885, when, for four years,
and up to the present time, il has been by the poo
pic considered as virtually abolished, and also
while portion OF the people have been petitoning
! the Legislature, and succeeded in ls5 in getting
report in favor Of abolition; and from 1875 TO the
present, have claimed that the Governor Of the
State was no: Obliged 10 order execution; and
while the sentence for murder after murder has
been commuicd murder has been alarmingly on
the increase in all parts of the State; with the i'm
preston fixed in the minds Of the people, which l.
tantImount 81 fact 81 far a. II has any influence
| on their action, that capital punishment was the
| same abolished. From len TO lS3S,-siXtcen
years, two murders only IN the state with tile pen
atty cf death free OF doubt. From lsbj 10 the pre-
sent time-thirty-two years, twenty murders within
my recollection have been committed in the state,
with the death penalty regarded and treated rs
abolished. The question now ~, shall We abolish
the death penalty, which for 50 long has been in
! doubt: on shall we enact the bill before us aud
put the penalty OF death for murder beyond all
doubt? The Divine Injunction H. "Whoso shed
dcth man blood by man shall his blood be shed"
| ! believe and many OF best thcologans la
| all times agree land 20 me il l. common sense
| conclusion that "whOsor in the passage quoted.
! refers tu persons. Those who oppose capital
/ punishment, rs We heard the other day from the
( Senator from keuncbcc, claim that IL refers {,
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vent '''e criminal "O ,,,s Co.,
INJURY 70 a'' 60, s