Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-11-10
On motion of Mr.. Grout, Of Barton, adjoume,
SENATE.

1900
Prayer by the Chaplain,
journal Of yesterday read and approved,
Biiis introduced and refTred. By Mr.. Camp,
to incorporate the International Telegraph Co,
to general committee.
By MIR. Indd, to amend sec. of an act approved
Nov. 10, 1865 to amend an act to incorporate the
the city of Burlington, approved November %
1864. (Iakng away the salary OF city judge
to general committee.
Gy Mr.. Earnhom, abllishing the solitary con
Gnemcnt of criminals sentenced 10 death 10 com
mttee on printing
A communication was received from the Gov
ernOr recommending the Increase Of the sum APP
proprmted annually for the education Of the blind
OF the State referred TO committee on education.
Joint rcs0hai0A.-By Mr.. Benedict, inviting
Secretary Rankin, of the Board OF Education, to
address the Legislature, in the Hall Of the House
of Representatives, Thursday evening, NOV. III;
adopted on the purt Of the Senate.
| Spfcidi orders. If, 10 abolish capital pun
ishment, tie question pending being upon the
third reading.
MIR Hutchinson urged the passage of the bill
The responsibility lthe petitioners at least called
for a careful consideration of the subject. In all
| places whore the new system has been tried it
has been entirely satisfactory. The security nj
/ iurded by punishment depends upon its certainty
not upon its severity, All history shows us that
there has been u growing dislike to the death
penalty. 1t was once more general than now
All the greater crimes were punished by death
There is to-day the same demand for the abolition
Of capital punishment in cases OF murder as for
merly for robbery. We have just been asked to
commute the sentence of murderer, when no
new facts have been ndduced since his trial, and
the request comes from an entire county. Was
this man any better than other murderers? The
object Of penalties is not cruelty but severity It
often operates TO destroy innocent men, and never
deters man from crime, 1t is said that the BIZ
Bile demands the shedding Of blood for blood but
the Bible also teaches mercy, and many OF the
best ministers demand the abolition Of the death
: penalty. Jle called upon the Senate TO do away
with this relic Of superstition
Mr., Heath thought gentlemen were in danger
OF being carried away by their sympathies. lie
denied the assertion that the death penalty does
not restrain from crime, We have never heard
OF a criminal sentenced TO Imprisonment for life
b asking to have his sentence committed to hang.
ing-hence we may conclude that life is the last
thing which will be relinqushei By a man. Stone
! walls are NOT sufficient security against the
crime Of murder.
The bill was lost BY a decided vote.
ResoiufioR.-By Mr., Jones, instructing the
committee on the judiciary to inquire into the
> ezpediency of changing the law relating to pri-
Yate corporations changes OF names and adoption
OF minors adopted.
/ IL. 40, to annex part of Wilmington 10 Dover.
On motion of Mr. Heath, recommitted, together
with the petitions aui circumstances to general
committee
5. 4, in amendment Of act Incorporating New
! bury Seminary.
Mr.. Hutchinson of Orange moved to reconsider