Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-19


land Harbor; an act to make valid the doings
of the town of Dalton an act to amend an
act to incorporate the city of Bangor passed
Feb. IL, 1884; an act to authorize David
Rodck to construct fish weir in French
mans Bay in Eden an act to authorize Rich
mond l.. Williams to navigate Moose Pond I;
an act to amend an act to amend an act en-
titled an act to incorporate the city of Calais.
An act to amend an act to supply the people
of Bangor with pure water, on its passage to
be enacted, was tabled on motion of Mr..
VosE.
Finally passed-Resolve in aid of the In
sane Hospital.
Passed to be engrossed-An net to incorpor-
ate the Sebec Lake Slate Company; an act to
amend chap PA of the laws of 1856, relating
to the charter of the State Agricultural Soci-
ETY.; an act to incorporate the Sagadahoc Ice
Company of Richmond; an act relating to the
extension of the wharf of Joshua and Benz c.
Adams in Camden; an act to extend the char
ter of the Rockland Fire and Marine Insur-
ance Company; an act to incorporate the
Mayfield Slate Company; an act to incorpor-
ate the Casco Bay Steamboat Company an
act to authorize the extension of the Somerset
railroad to Bingham Village; an act to incor-
porate the Bangor Milling Company; an act
to establish the Ridge School District from
the towns of Dexter and Corinna; an act to
incorporate the st. John Agricultural Soci-
city.
Resolve in favor of Chas. w. Cobb, was
read a second time, rules being suspended,
and passed to be engrossed.
On motion of Mr.. SpAULDING, bill an act to
abolish capital punishment was taken from
the table, the question being on the motion Of
Mr.. VosE to indefinitely postpone.
Mr.. SPAuLpING of Richmond said:
m lntpn-
ton when this bill was reported to the
House by my self, to assume any guardian
ship over it. had not been identified with
the introduction of its subject matter to
the attention of either the House or Com
mittee, and IN reporting the bill | was
simply performing II duty assigned me by
the Committee. / regard this as one OF
the matters which should receive the can
did consideration of this and all subse-
ouent Legislatures until those scenes
which our State dares not to have wit
messed by any of her citizens, save the
official instrument of her wrath or power,
are forever abolished from our limits.
Entertaining this view could not sit quiet
" in nv seat, however distasteful it might
be to adopt different course, and see this
bill summarily disposed of OH the motion to
luucHIlitCIy PooePoaSS tsAAN AoS
raised in its support.
II is serious question. 1t has been
freely discussed by our constituents and
the Dress of the State during the past
year and half, and can but entertain
grave doubts as to having performed my
whole duty to my State and people as
legislator, when l refuse even to consider
a matter which has received so great
share of the peoples attention, and which,
if to-day it could be passed upon by them,
l fully believe, would be settled by such
a vote and in such way as would finally
settle the question in this State, and for
ever remove from our midst those scenes
which are so revolving even to contemplate.
Twas once the member of tribunal,
which, for six days in succession, as find
by my memoranda,-and l had no occa-
sion to refer to that, for the recollection of
those events can never be blotted from
nv memory,-tried, convicted. and SEN
fenced to death, members of the human
family at the average rate of three a day.
Gentlemen, do not let us in effect repeat
that history here and now. The forcible
and violent separation by man though I'M
der the authority of government of an
immortal spirit from its mortal home
where it has been placed by its Creator
and ours, can but inspire within us feel
ings of horror and make us fairly wish to
escape our responsibility by throwing it
upon our predecessors as we might posi-
Div hatter ourselves, had been done by IN
immediate endorsement of the gentle
man from Winterport to indefinitely post
pone the bill before US.
But it is claimed by many of the adyo-
ooxo. &c n,,,;tol y,npich that If iG a
Divine law which we as human law max
ers can only re-enact and preserve upon
our statute books to carry out the will Of
God. And in reading the argument of a
christian gentleman who entertained this
view, must confess my surprise in find
ing this doctrine laid down-the "civil
of Cod This argument was interspersed
with biblical quotations:
"whoso sheddeth mans blood by man shall his
HE that smiteth man so that he die shall be
put to DEATH" &c.-lNum. 5:so)
1t is far from my intention to interpose
single doubt as to the divine origin of these
laws which were unquestionably (for we cannot
doubt the wisdom Of God,) peculiarly adapted
to the people in those Mosaic times, 10 whom
they were given. And l will acknowledge
that the doctrine of capital punishment has
greater antiquity, that in the post-diluvian
code retribution by the hand of man is clearly
laid down Gen. 8: 500 And while none can
be found who doubt that these laws were
binding upon the people to whom they were
given, it was with extreme difficulty that you
can conceive of a person honestly invoking
them as of any binding force for our guidance
as law makers of the present day. For have
yet to hear of that person at the present day
who advocates the imposition of the death
penalty for any of the following offenses:
Striking or reviling parent, (Ex. 2l:l5, I'D
Blasphemy (Lev. "a: IA, l6, 23.) Sabbath
breaking, (Num. Is 1926; Elk. 81 IA, also
IS :2.) Witchcraft eek. %: 49, and the
many other offenses which are enumerated in
the sacred law as punishable by death. And
yet these laws are as plainly laid down
as are any of those quoted by the advo-
Gates of capital punishment. And still
less do you find men in these days willing to
advocate the particular mode of the execution
of the criminal laid down in the Mosaic law.
An execution by stoning, which was the or
binary mode, (Ex. II a Luke 20 e; John 10 {:
81; Acts IA :5,) and the requirement that the
tha 4 no ~ al cbol