Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-11-16
tlJatuhman s. Journal.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER l6, 1870.
TeRys-s2.No per year strictly in advance or $3.50
ifuot paid within three months.
announcement 20 Crlme.

% POSITIVE influence 10 ldNpf OF VlliHt' ~
fails to teach those very moral principles
which guard men from vice and wrongs, and
often throws the halo Of a practical godlncss
around che last life scenes Of the worst crimi-
nails SO as to give men the impression that
thc worst crimes are easily compounded by
little repentance aud little faith We re-
member instances whore the last days Of o
murderer have been published by a clergy
man SO as TO present him IN the -orb of a
saint and martyr His very repentance
aa. perverted into reason for relaxing the
penalty Of the law and diyesting the terrible
oTcn.c which he had committed Of is real
mdicu,ty Mos, certainly wo rejoice ia the
repentance and faith of the murderer, and the
ugishcr whose lust hasiryon him 90 murder
blt we cam Gud no reason 10 that to repuiiate
wise and beucGccut laws, nor cxalt the wrong
dosr into saint We think enthusiastic and
warm hearted ministers, by their indis,rcet
communications, by their parade Of the pri-
waite religious experiences Of condemned cou-
v.ts, have Justified the charge made against
them Of encouraging crime. We have yet to
learn that repentance or faith justidcs the
murderer or the robher, or makes bis exam
oflollowiug, or is "a good reason for
the penalties Of law. Let that
be understood aud each murderer. cell would
be occupied with a pcuiteut. And we should
need an ecclesiastical commission to sit upon
the case to determine that impossible thing.
the sincerity OF the convict But granting
Che sincerity of the repentance in the case Of
a murderer throwing over the last cvpcrieu-
eos Of condemned man the widest veil of
eaarity rejoicing in it as I'll preparation for
the awful scene before him; we DO not see
how it can oo made an equivalent or sub
stiutg FOR the penalty Of law without direct
Is lending encouragement to all sorts Of crime.
IL repentance is valid reason why the muir
dcror should not be punished according to
law, il is an equally valid reason why the
heartless ravisher or the convicted thief or
the deliberate iorger should escape legal pun.
isamcut Law becomes a farce, the worst
ubettor Of crime, when certificate of pcni-
tcnce can clear man from It's penalty. LAW
provide, am interval between sentence and
death in order to secure repentance but never
in order to make repentance coudone the Of
icuse.
Bat it the pulpit has sometimes had the
effect OF encouraging crime by the wide spread
publicity 1t gives to the sa'ntIlncss Of penl-
tent Offenders we think the Press is not
wholly guiltless in this matter. There is al
ways floating on the surface Of society nu-
merous class of persons OF questionable moral
character ripe aud ready for every kind oil
wee and eager to seize hold OF any excuse ior
the commission OF grave oiienses against the
person and property. To such persons the
published particulars OF crime are dangerous
l7 suggestive Many eminent statesmen and
philosophers have complained bitterly OF the
effect OF the Press m increasing the cases OF
crime. \ murderer OF his wiiein New York
stated on m' trial that ne had no particular
wish to get md OF her buta former case il
The court had directed his attention to stryeh
nine and produced in him an intense desire tC
try 1t on has wife and this Is but specimen
OF thousands The particulars constantly re
'a'ed IN the papers are the strongest induce
ment' to many vicious persons to take the
same means oil gratifying passion securing
property taking life, or wreaking revenge
And then the Legislature sometimes gives
and and comfort to crime by the uncertainty
and IN many eases the INSURGENCY OF pun
Ishment There have been eases when grea
o'''''"a's nave zee" urea a'u convicted oy
Jury o. '"eF peers a''er 'ong ana pa''en
4 MDIMnluu OIL all the IucfS IN the case. Kftn thu