Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-11-29
VOLUME IS
arton, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 1870.
Hanging Still Popular.

Carpenter called up House bill 292
-abolishing capital punishment-and
proceeded to state his reasons for fa-
voring the bill, which were:
lst He could not vote to retain on our
statute books, legal murderer in other
words a law compelling the sheriff to take
the life of human being.
I'd. He believed imprisonment for life
with portion of the time in solitary con-
fnement to be more effectual in preventing
crime than the death penalty, and jurors
will be less likely to screen the guilty.
Sd. The death penalty has failed to pre-
vent murder. 1t is a relic of barbarism
and should give place to the advance of
Christian civilization.
4th. 1t is often the case that the inno-
cent are convicted of murder. If the |
crime is punished with Imprisonment for
life, restitution can be made when the in |
nocence of the convicted person is discov-
cred. This consideration was alone suf- |
ficient to satisfy him that the bill should |
pass.
The only point we can see in thr |
senator's list Of reasons is in his claim !
that the innocent are sometimes made |
to suffer for the guilty. We admit
the soundness Of the reasoning. H.
nocent persons hare been executed for
murder, while the real criminals have
gone free. It is fact to be lament
ed but does it prove that none should
suffer death That rule applied in
all the transactions Of life would make
a queer world of ours-the theory be-
ing correct, but requiring more than
human wisdom to apply it. Innocent
people have been hung, yet we think
they are not so frequent By any means
as "angels visits which are said TO
be "few and far between" a case
Of this kind might occur once in ten
thousand times. 1t is also terrible to
contemplate the letting loose upon So
ciety-which is the case in countless
instances-of remorseless Williams to
murder other innocent persons. Could
a murderer be sentenced to perpetual
Imprisonment, and always be made to
stay there, we should fee more rec.
onciled to adopt the senator's views.
But all know that many murderers
are pardoned through the adroit geri
Wandering Of well paid attorneys,
tender hearted officials or venal gov.
errors, and who come forth to wreak
their long harbored vengeance upon
community for its iancied wrongs
We arc also opposed to the solitary
confinement of criminals, as having
the worst possible effect upon them.
No person can for a great length Of
time be 50 confined without destruc.
ton, either partial or total, of reason.
When one emerges from years in soil
tary cell it is almost always as a mani
&C or driveling imbecie,a punishment
that does the world no good and is
q curse to the criminal, which is not
the design of the law or the agents OF
the law. Solitary confinement of the
criminal is advocated by the oppo-
nents Of capital punishment, which we
oppose because of its outrageous bar.
barity. The opposers Of capital pun.
ishment say that confinement for life
in prison has more terrors for the
criminal than hanging, therefore the
latter is the most humane of the two.
Granted-but what if an innocent per.
son is so sentenced Would it not be
more mercifnl to hang him?
"The death penalty has failed to
prevent murder" says the senator.
1t may be true as to its effect on 9TH
ers, but it cannot be denied that it has
prevented the one that has received
it, from committing more Of them
Society is at least safely rid of all
such as thus meet the reward of their
crimes. Thus much is certain. at
is relic Of barbarism," says the sen.
ator. Then is the Almighty barba-
rian, for he has declared in his Word
that "Whoso shedeth mans blood, by
man shall his blood be she'd" We
know not what this means if it is not
that he who takes human life shall
lose his own as forfeit. While we
do not always square our own life
and actions by the strict letter and
spirit Of the gospel, We yet have the
greatest respect for its statements
We know there is class of men who
are wise far above what is written
who claim this nineteenth century to
be long ways in advance of any, OF
all, Of its predecessors. In all such
it is q rare condescension that they
allow themselves ever to agree witt
the apostles or the carpenters radi
ant Son. They can explain away the
direct assertions of God as easily a,
they can behcad chicken. The bes
way to combat men of this stamp il
not to combat them at all.
In conclusion, the bill for abolish
ing capital punishment, called up by
Senator Carpenter, was put upon it,
third reading, and refused by the de
cisive vote of 90 to 6. SO hangin.
will be 10 force for the next two year,
and Welcome WILL have to meet hi
fate.
The Little Cornoral Mara,;no 10