Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-11-22


will do right in this respect. The !
verdict Of the Legislature is to be !
whether or not this boy shall be hung,
and there are but two votes to be
given, and by those votes is to be de-
cided whether the barbarity of the
darker ages shall be inflicted upon
him, or whether equal protection to
the State shall be secured by confne
ment for life. Mr.. B. then urged the
age of the boy-only II years Of age
AS further reason why the SEN
tence should be committed. He said
that there was but one instance upon
record when a boy so young had
been hung, and that was in Louisiana,
a State whose record should not be
initiated by the State Of Vermont.
He then appealed to the members Of
the House to vote as though this was
their own boy, and as they would
wish :hey had done hereafter.
Mr.. Bull of Hancock said that he
yesterday visited the State Prison
and saw Henry Welcome, and saw
the galIows looming up to receive him.
He thought 20 one could vote to cut
the rope that should end bis life lie
hoped this bill would be passed with
out dissenting vote.
Mr.. Hinckley of Chelsea, said the
arguments OF Mr., Ballard were all
very good, but not quite so flowing
as to-day. fthe bill to abolish ca
pital punishment was under considera-
ton, the arguments would be very
appropriate; but he had thrown no
new light upon the case of Henry
Welcome to satisfy him that his sen
tence should be COMMITTED. He
thought the arguments showed con
clusiyely that Welcome was sharp,
shrewd boy-so stoEd that even his
lawyers could not draw anything
from him. Mr.. Hinckley then gave a
briet history Of the boy previous 10
the crime of murder, and argued from
his course that he was a fl subject
upon whom the justice OF the law
should be executed. H. thought the
/ oil ought not to be passed.
Mr.. Skiff Of Monkton, said he hop
| ed we should make the case our own
and vote as though it was our OWL
aged father that was striker down
He hoped the bill would not he pass
4 Cd.
/ Mr.. Wood OF Fairhaveu said h,
had failed to discover. from the re
marks Of Mr.. Ballard, any reason
that should induce him to vote toI
the bill. He had given US nothing
to prove that this was not cold
blooded murder, and he could not vot,
to commute the sentence.
Mr.. Ballard of Fairfax. said ne be
lieved, and every one of the commit
tee believed. that inducements wer,
held out to Henry Welcome Oy Du
mas in jail to induce hlp to make
confession before it was made, an,
that Dumas lied on the stand whe
he testified that such was not til
fact; and that if that fact could hav
been certainly known to the cour
and the jury, he never could hay
been convicted. would never hav
been admitted in Court. He ba.
seen Henry Welcome il prison bu
Yesterday. and he could not help tn
belief that there was something NOR
than ordinary in him. He appeare
, to have no sense of feeling in regar
to his situation. was very diiieren
, from other BOYS OF the same age. Ii
believed it our duty to extend t
, him the hand of mercy, aud give hiI
the poor privilege OF working OF
, miserable existence within the wal
Of the prison. He should do 50, a
: ter hearing all the evidence produce
before the committee, and he hope
tie bill would be passed.
Mr.. GrOut of Barton thought
hardly right for US to say by our &C
here that the Court erred in regar
10 the testimony of Dumas, and |
could not cast such a seeming ce
sure upon the Court. He preierre
to let this question rest upon u
broad ground adduced by the lear
cd gentleman this afternoon, and tht
the death penalty ought to be aOolis
ed, and therefore this bill ought
be passed. He had some doubts
to what should be done in this cas-,
but until some general rule should
{ adopted in regard to the question
capital punishment, he moved th
the bill be ordered to lie on the t
n bic.
o Mr.. Drake OF Royalton, said
hoped the bill will be ordered to Ii
e We have had an appeal to our syr
o pathies this afternoon and we Dug
0 not to be swayed by sympathieS
n this case. Let the bill lie until '
Y have taken some action in regard
e the general question of capital pu
4 ishment.
Q Mr.. Slade of Middlebury, oppost
q the motion to lie on the table, as '
!. are better prepared to act now TIL
q at any future time.
o Mr.. Wood of Fairhaven. favor
. the motion to lie. that members hi
II have an opportunity to further inv,
j. tigate the facts in regard to the cas-
!. Mr.. Hinckley Of Chelsea, favor
g the motion to lie on the table, as Y
" ought first to decide the fate Of t
# bill to abolish the death penalty. |
@ should act in this case as should
= decided in regard to the general que
ton. If we abolish capital puni>
# ment, then he should vote for Il
y bill; if not, he should oppose t
W bill.
: Mr.. Ballard of Fairfax, oppos
II the kind Of tactics resorted to
!. this matter. We are just as rea
e, to vote on the question to-day as
,e any future time.
Mr.. Grout of Barton, urged del,
le as he was not prepared to act on t
le matter at the present time.
ID Mr.. Ballard again appealed to
of House to regard the feelings of t
i. father and mother, brothers and S
ID ters Of Henry Welcome, and not loI
re er keep them in suspense on this gu,
10 | ton.
NJ InnaS Of Dnrnr donnnndnd I