Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-11-18

Remarks Of Hon. James Hutchin.
son, Jr., Of Orange County. ON
senate Bill No. ~, relating TO :
Capital Punfshment.
! Mr.. EseSident I am unwilling thai
this subject of ths abolition of capita
epunishment should be passed by withou
a most careful and earnest examination
of its merits. believe that as body O
Legislators, we are not relieved of respon
sibility or the necessity of laboring t.
effect the reform which this bill contem
plates, by an unfavorable report from tht
committee to which it was referred.
No momber Of this Senate has higher
| opinion Of the honorable Senators who
compose he oonI.ittea thaa have, and
were not the subject one upon which
have thought much aud deeply, and the
importance of which, TO my mind
cannot be overestimated, ] should hesitate
! to advocate bill which they think the
public gooa ace .cea not require. Because ]
believe the law which lnflcls I've ...@ death
| penalty upon the unfortunate criminal
| who is convicted oT murder IS :, barbarous
and cruel law, and ought to be repealed, l
do not offer it as good reason why
others should believe it; but do claim
that in view Of the vast number of intel
hgent, rejecting and humane people who
hold the same views and petition you for
a repaal of the law. it is entitled to your
best consideration. All who advocate The
abolition OF capital punishment, do so be-
cause they believe that il fails to accom-
plish its ayowed purpose, and that life is
H.,
on account of the law. An examination
of the effect in some of our own States,
and in the countries of Europe, where it
has been abolished, affords ample proof in
its favor. The statistics are ample and
conclusive have no doubt but the GER
tainty Of conviction and punishment is a
greater preventive Of crime than the se-
verify aud that with imprisonment for
life substituted for hanging, there would
be more Just convictions and sentences
than now.
L4w-m4kers must move with the de-
tnaud~ II tho sge 1t hegets no reverence
feslingss = Il Saiinnuhity con shrink from exc
cutting, and which theY will, if possible,
eyada Before t;e laws wate repealed IN +.
flictius the death peuatty ior such q
stealing, highway robbery aud forgery,
soaie.y htd very little protection against
thc-e crimes. Thieves walked undisturb-
cd ia open day through populous cities,
and, Robert Rantoul said man Was in as
much danger OF being struck by lightning
as of being hung for robbery.
One thousand bankers of London petit
toned the Ii w-making power Of England
fos repeal Of the law that forgers might
be brought to trial.
And is it not, Mr.. President, good evil
dence, when our Legislai ure is yearly
importuned by thousands Of petitions to
commute the sentence OF some poor un-
fortunate victim who has been legally and
fairly tried, and under the law sentenced
to death that for this last and only crime
for which it has been retained, some more
humane and humapizing law be enacted
in It's stead
Much time has been consumed the
present session, as you know Mr.. Presi-
dent, and Senator's, III considering the case
of one poor man who is under sentence of
death, and who must, if the law il exc
cuted, soon be hung.
No new facts have been made. known, no
new evidence brought to light since his
trial and sentence, and yet we'are told that
a large majority of the best people
of the county in which he COM
mitted the murder wish to have his
sentence commuted to imprisonment for
life. Is this mans life more valuable to
himself or his friends than that of any
other mans under like sentence ? And |
if not, why not SO amend the law as to
prevent so much special legi station
Let US provide for the sal ty of society
against further acts of vi ,lence by the
by ely restra ming them in
prison, and in our treatment of them in
their confinement, let US so temper justice
with mercy, that repentance and reforma-
ton, if possible, shall follow. Let US
make the law as severe as the necessity
demands, and SO just that in every case it
shall be faithfully executed. In the light
If observation and experience we can
clearly see that neither the safety nor the
good of society requires capital punish
nent The truth is the death penalty has
outlived its usefulness, and should be
by law more in accordance
with the purer and nobler sentiments Of
IN advancing civilization. I am aware
hat this purer sentiment is not universal,
Ind that we are accused by our opponents
If attempting to contravene the law of
he Almighty as written in the Mosaic
,ode, and that ever on their lips is the
quotation "Whoso sheddeth mans blood
~ man.shall his blood be she'd" i
Now / have no disposition to discuss
his question with Bible texts, nor do /
reed to tell you, Mr.. President, that it is
.bsurd for us to make pretence Of being
yuided by that command, since under it
We could have no degree Of murder, and
ve must kill by taking blood and not by
ranging. Besides, the command to slay
or the crime of murder, is no more bind
ng on US to-day than that we put to death
or very many lesser offences which mo-
,ody could be persuaded into the duty of
beying. Why single out this one COM !
nand for our observance? Is 1t because
here is 30 much vengeance and retalia-
ion in the hearts of men that we must
i've vent to the feelings by allowing
he State the right to take human life 4
do not believe it is. It has been taught 4
rom sacred places, hence the tenacity /,
nth which it is held. Yet il is pleas-
re that we are able to count among the
est friends OF, and most efficient workers
Or the abolition Of capital punishment, q
be names sf . long list Of educated in
slligent and highly respected ministars.
)octors disagres In moral, . we'll ~ phys-I !
~ teaching. r
Tho old argument that By the aet of
angling We make an example 70 tserify
he evil disposed and dstsr thsm ifomE
EinsG, we pR0ve or want q falfb r bg11
lsking sEss.1ieas - peivaes - pel1 h