The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-04-07
4 Heat Axe speech.


sooO after the commencement Of The pres.
eDt session Of the Legislature. the Hon. Nor
row B. Lowry introduced resolution in the
Senate, s,V the abolision Of capital puAish
ment. On the 6rsI Of March he appeared
before the judiciary Committee Of that
body, to whom the resolution had been re-
ferred, and made a lengthy argument in
favor Of the proposition. We would most
willingly publish his original and vigorous
assault on the death penalty if we could afford
the space. but as that ia impossible, we will
content ourselves by laying before cur read
era two brief extracts, which will serve as
correct indication of his rough and original
stJ lie of defamation. There is nothing abb
solutely new or striking in the matter of
bir. Lowry's remarks. but there is some
something rich. rare and racy in the style
and language in which he clothes his argu-
ments. lie goes straight at his subject and
despises all circnmlocuiion. Speaking Of the
Judicial murder Of Mrs. Surratt, he says:
"As an atopement for the wrongs of the
South, the great men of the North at Wash
ington put TO death bv srrangulation an old
respectable, religious Catholic mother who
will go down in history a victim of Injustice
i his womah's execution was monstrosity
that history will point at as judicial murder
She WAS tried by II military tribunal when she
was not subject TO military duty. and executed
with Indecent haste nv the order of ANDY John
son. (and his cabinet did not attempt to stay
his hand } in violation Of all law and all con-
science. wash my hands of her blood, for I
appealed for her life ard declared 'she was not
SUBJECT to milirary duty, she had no epaulets
upon her shoulders. ehe had no spurs upon her
boots. and she could be tried legally only by
civil court and / helicY ed. spd 40 express
myseif. that no civil tribunal would convict her
nPon such testimony. and hang her. nv any
court where the Lords prayer was read"
1t is somewhat difficult to imagine pre-
cisely what relation exists between the vexed
/ question of the use of the Bible in the COM
mon schools and the abrogation of capital
punishment. yet we find Il very pointed re-
ference to that subject towards the conclusion
of the address. Of course it is one Of many
digressions from the main subject. but we
give 1t in the speakers own trenchaHs and
home-spun language:
Il am by no means Biblical or any other
| kind OF scholar, yet have studied the p se.
of sacred history. Before was ten years of
age / had twice read with care the Old Testa.
ment and committed and recited to nv mother
every verse in the New Testament. just here
let me venture to say that the Book of Books
never was a common school book in this
State or any other, so far as / know in the
legal ncceptation of the term it always was
too holy for Peter Funk Christians or one
horse school teachers to interpret its contents
to children. and the practice now should not
be egalized for it will mamiestly split the
common school system in twain. like the driv-
ing home of more than a million of wedges,
, each with the DEVILS sledge hammer, in the
seam Of rock"
This is wha: might be called knock doun
, argument. or at least very forci6le illustra-
| tion. Much as we sympathise with Mr..
Lowry's bold and manly effort to wi pc the
| death penalty from the statute book. the
time bss not yet arrived for the consumma-
tion Of that grea: reform in our criminal
code. 1t will only take place when the peo-
pie will elect men to the Legislature who
will seriously take into consideration ques-
tions Of great public concern, standing on
their own merits and stripped of the aid and
appliances of noneyed or other corrupt
consideration.