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

To the Friends Of Penal Reform in the state orSe,c- York.
The law of Capital Punishment is to be
placed upon trial before the Legislature of your state
during m present session That the statute Of blood for
blood has long enjoyed respectable old age Is evil
dence OF its continued usefulness That 1t is the offspring
OF cruel and barbarous age and has long been os
tered by ambitious tyrant and cunning priest" is
reason why II should become the adopted child OF
Christian civilization. In rude and uncivilzed condi
ton OF society when the OF civilization such
now have at command were entirely wanting when
men dwelt In tents and led nomadic lives, and des
tue OF the necessary Of restraining the liberty Of
the criminals such reformatores and prisons
Afford that may have been q necessity for the
death penalty It is not my present purpose discuss
That 1t is longer needed in age and generation
can be successfully established and by the most ndubita
BILE proof.
When the advocates OF lthe gaows urge its retention
grounds Of "pubc policy" ii would be well that the
reasons which go to make up this public policy should
be severaly presented. Does tho gallows inculcate
respect for human lief Is tho hangmans rope potent
lever depressing crime and in promoting virtue among
the peopei Does the experience OF the past point to
any such beneficial resuts History. facts experience
all say nay. When Christian State, Boosting high
civilization protesting intelligence and wisdom. and inn
bued with the spirit Of charity and benevolence, under
takes punish crime by mitangt 1t sinks to the erel OF
the criminal has given abundant proof that has not
entirely above barbarsm When society undertakes
illustrate the sacredness OF human life by Judicialy
numbering the criminal 1t is guilty Of strange inconss
tency As well undertake TO illustrate the value Of
property by burning everything combustble Govern |
ment il an educator. when 1t shall stand upon the |
broad principle that human life isl sacred creation OF
Deity and that the commandment Thou shalt not KILL"
as binding upon human Governments upon the ndi
ydua man, then may look for decrease OF crimes
against human life. on this point the subjoned letter
from John Bright will be found very interesting:
CHDALE, Jan. 8. 1868.
DEAR SIR do not think the punishment OF death is
necessary 10 the security and webeng OF society," aud
believe its abolition would not tend to increase those
crimes which II Is now supposed by many TO prevent
the severity OF punshments Barbarism in the law pro
NOTES barbarian among those subject 70 te law ana aes
OF cruelty under tho law, becomes examples OF similar
The real security for human life is to be found in
then the people would begin also soolregard it, deep
reverence for human life Is worth more than thousand
executions in the prevention OF murder and Is In fact
the great security for human life. The law OF capital
punishment whilst pretending TO support this reverence
II the death penalty Of any force in any
security against it, for il proeaims the fact that kings
parliament, judges and luries may determine when and
how men may be put 10 death by VIOLENCE and familiarity
with this idea cannot strengthen the reyerance for uman
life
give proof OF rather than strength and Of bar
barsn rather than Christian civilization
II the United States could get rid OF the gaows It
would not stand long here One by one we American
iIe our institutions and hope, In all that is good,
may not unwilling TO follow you. am very truly
yours. JOHN BRIGHT
OF the many popular faacies which have entered |
largely into the composition OF human laws that OF at
trbuting TO the penalty Of death peculiar efficacy In
repressng crime stands chief and foremost That the
menace OF death prevented the commission OF crime
in many instances may be admitted that mlder pen
atty would have been OF equaf not OF
which for many years have been rid OF the gbbet |
The fear OF death is but lightly impressed upon |
tho human mind. Men fear death only when |
It is impending, Its menace by human law inspires |
mas decreed that all shall die. LORD Bacon on
this point the following language: There Is NO
passion In tire mind OF man so weak put u mates ana
masters the fear OF DEATH" Men rarely rear aeath eh
of our recent clearly illustrate how little men rear
the King OF Terrors" million more OF men volun-
tary entering the army TO face death upon the battle
aeldenstDg shoot and to be shot atthe consdera-
OF promotion pecuniary gain, or whatever influences
conspre 10 direct human action, but ali tendhg 10 |
establish the important fact that death Is not reared
except when 10 is absolutely impending Inc Well |
that there a least sayen suicides 70 one
homicide substantates this point
The value Of penalty depends manly upon tine uni |
formty with which it Ia enforced. The thorough |
enforcement OF all laws Is the best test OF their efficacy
In their nature they must DO adapted TO the condition.
the wants and the temper OF the people who are to see
them enforced; for II they are dsapproyed by the
people, and public sentiment so affects judges and Jures
as 10 their enforcement imperative the deterrent
force which they have formerly possessed so Tar
lessened really TO afford 20 crime an Immunity from
capitay the crime OF petty larceny The laxtty with
which the law administered tho repugnance with
which il was regarded by the people, and the manifest
determination Of turtles to acqut the criminal 10 the race