New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-09

Increase those O srn evidence OF guilt tended larger
with de.h' Inc very severity OF the law in nnnsdaEs
que crime OF petty larceny rendered H. a
OF thai anortlve and thus indirectly gave IN 80
n aegree the fullest license for ts c9mmissc crime
crime Il sae are established for the represo a
the comny and most certainly enforced viii sa Be
the laxy adm,r crime where the uncertain penaIfv a.
when found one Of th law will not And it Just here
be unformlv ass.errent Of crime viz the law csnao
Of the people 70 ~ The repggnance in the minds
co SSVGs 70 great that ares are 'e an%,, has
execute and with eye sentence sentence, and sheris
between the nere element on on comes the struggle
save the life Of the On ,ne other the people capsa
Jury. the fountain Of mercy Se sne action OF the
ney a OF in the Jury box their irx ana wnss
Broagham's observations q Ssy assured Lord
the law Of capital punishment in Epy sa%nsration q
mark: at is most discreda,hS,es following re,
intrusted with the power, wnen The Sov. any inen
around upon their governors and say: .yvetred tnsa
so cruel, foolish that cannot ana a laws are
force them" Prof 7. c. Upham Of Bowdoln nov en-
Maine seemed TO entertain similar view he ss
I" The difficulty OF procuring capital conyctons sls
creasiRg and 1t is confidently anticipated thar sa IN
punishments must cease In this country for no 5tbs
because they cannot be carried into eectD ~
An elaboration OF the many arguments which mishth
urged against the farther retention Of the "bruts
cannot at this time, be induged viii allotted snso
permit the introduction OF the necessary proofs nov 4,
hand, from State Prison Commissioners, clearly estah
afat..
which many years since abolished capital punislmsn,'
there is found marked decrease the number on faa
crimes termed capital future communication viii
embrace these facts.
During the Winter ofIs6O had the honor Of canyas.a
large portion Of the State OF New.York in behafo
movement then pending in the Legislature 10 abolish ia
punishment of death Toward the close OF the session
the Select Committee of the Assembly to whom re-
ferred the many petitions on THIS question reported bill
and unanimously recommended its passage, tieondlo
ally abrogatiDg the penalty OF death. Under
the Leadership of the Hon. Burt Van Horn.
speedily pressed TO vote, and carried by triumphant
majority The advocates OF the gaows fearing and with
compromise bill, which accepted In spirit Of mag
nanimity by the friends Of repeal" Mr. Van Horn the
of the vote by which the bill had passed the Assembly
and proposed the substitute bill which passed both
Houses and become law Inc provislohs OF ths Law
which sends the criInnr, when convicted Of
capital oense. TO the state Prison for one year prior
execution then to be hanged whenever the Governor
see lit 10 warrant for the execution the issuing Of
the warrant being entirely optional with the Executive
For two or three years this law was IN force IN New
York during which time no execution took place under
its provisions but the factious opposition which met
nc the hands OF the capal.punishment Judges Of the
State who alleged certain defective properties ID sen
actment together with the surgngs OF popular passions
in connection with our civil waf eu 10 the reenactnen
During the past month have been honored with pres
ing invitations from prominent and influential citizens Of
yor state asking my cooperation In behalf Of the move
ment about to be naugurated, whlcn cohtenpates me
repeal Of the brutal law" TO these solicitations ya
cheerful acquiescence and, during the intervening
months from this period until the final adjournmentd
the Legislature, pledge the cause whatever OF energy
or ability may possess
Let no feelings timidty doubt possess the mindi
OF our friends fears be entertained OF the preocu
papcy OF the public mind by other and graver subjects
FOR question snail be promptly carried TO the s
and thai consideration which its merits demand slA BE
fully accorded by the Legislature now in session ~
petitions be circulated throughout the ana pren
Of the State and be at forwarded 10 the LeEat
ture calling upon the law-making power 10 yieIu " sS
demands Of the people. Various Influences VIII cohsfn
10 retard the progress OF the dntIcdpitdt puHiWho
movement; but these must be resisted ana ostf
borne The elements which cluster around the TN
ring" and kindred institutions will be found arrayea
OF mans nature the gallows stands unrlyalled I1s
proportion perhaps majority OF those cnurches W
Evangelical" WILL judging from the past ciainoI M
the retention Of the statute OF blood for BLOOD anah
must be admitted that punishment ever tnnleVedw
human tribunals is 80 well calculated 70 minister 70 E
reribtirs element so fondly nurtured by many OF ns
so-called Christian Churches as the lhnlcuon VI 90
penalty OF death. 81, ,.,,o. -
the demands of Christian civilization uDledly can M
the abrogaon Of the barbarous law OF capital punn
ment. The strength Of our cause rests LOT IL ~
Masac Code" but In the precepts anu teachings Wu
Christian religion The success OF the proposed move
ments depends upon the energy and determlDatlon0M
friends who t is believed, will adopt the Necessary
means TO secure the triumph OF the measure
Invitations to lecture In the cities ana larger v,fe.
accessible by railroad may at once be addressed 70
Albany n Y Responses TO such invitations VIII
made on and after the 10th inst II particularly uae
stood that the ectureroom will be free 20 ALL the ndyd
ual expenses being betrayed By the voluntary confirms
tons OF the friends OF the cause. MARVIN II. BoFEk
chicago, Jan. IA, 1852