Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-11-23
AFTERNOON
SENATE

D
| Rpous. From com. on railroads. II 2li, TO
enable certain towns in Washington county tonid
| ~ the construction Of the Barre branch Of the
Montpelier and Wells River railroad passed
From COM. on claims, ). IFS, to pay Lorenzo j.
Pierce the sum therein named 81 reading order
Cd
From com. on land taxes s. u repeating an
act laying tax ON Avery sand Bucls giies, with
substitute bill 81 reading ordered.
From judiciary com, ;. l2S, eXempting n
homestead from attachment in certain ct-es 81
reading ordered.
fnan Judiciary COM, against u. a0i, 10 amend
en- llS' z. - nl oucnsc. against the live. and
person, o' individuals Mr.. Carpenter moved that
enc h'il nc ordered ~ lic Nlr. N"rdntt moved an
amendment striking out all alter the cnacting
clause ana substituting new htll
lhe mutton To ne WAS renewed ana not agreed
t9i yeas ~ nays ID. Inc amendment proposed ly
Mr. Gardner was adopted, yeas H. nays D.. Mr.
carpenter renewed ms motion TINT the hill be- or
oefcu 70 nc. Al1er de~ultofl debate, IA which
se'efhi senators partcipticli the motion 10 Ice
Wi,1ileI
Pug Wl"""o'H HNa tgcHt"-
ny mr. Gardner relating I" the quinqnennai
Niuau!n ol the real estate m thc town oi Pow
hnl Tor l9'V' 10 com. On lana laNeS.
NP''iai ofdF'-N' i'i' g. audlton o. co. 22",
q - renting 70 SCHOOLS. MI ilcath pointed uut
what ne t'sruel %, some OF tne diihcultc.
% oe mei NOT provided Tor by tine bhl' ana moved
" " w '.'f '''''' ''' 49, ~ WV '''' "''
IN-'u.
NP'"@ Ordc,. u l7i' % commute the -en-
u.,e ol ienrS Nec'me;
At' btheuict mNtu tlht 10 ne "IdtftO % lie,
as he thought another nll involving Che general
primer plo 9i "Pimi punishment should hf~t Doe
con'"e'eu'
Opposed 10y Mr.. Carpenter, and Mr.. Benedict
Withdrew ms mo'oh
pom ihe tnlru reading MT Gardner demanded
UT. Gus N"N iA37'
ME-. carpenter called lot u statement OF iacts
rom t"v o3ihmi'ee' Responded 10 hy MI
lHI'Snoih' mat the 'n'y thlng tmt appeared De-
lore the committee was nearly repetition Of the
argument maue helure the House ny Mr. BHiiurd.
Mr' parHner stated iutther M bemli ol the
committee giving IA substance the circumstance,
%. ,he conly'~Iuh upon "hlcn W eieome WINS con-
Ncte1 without "hich Cohle-si'n no conviction
c"aid na'e hctn procured
Mt lnmp stated briefly the reason that would
govern hls vote 30 NJ case IT, Is a peculiar and
an I'nP'IaUt case ne i'loteI nus personal knoW
edge OF thc noN ana believed MN to be- rs 9trcwd
and STUART ana cunning as any boy he ever knew
ne thought he "1uid cut man throat Tor ten
/ u9ll"'s AS soon a. Tor thousand for That nnd
oth'r reasons be should vote 20 let The law take
u" G'"Tre,
MI t"dy said me question =, shall the sen
ience ne c'hiinu'ea Inc punishment ol impris-
"nment Tor liie Is one ul great severity ana con-
NNu.Ieu uS hmiN more severe than death ltSeli.
NAY u not nc uus that tuS young man is des-
utu'e "l tle Weht1 power th"t renders hitn NOR
MY lt-ppnsiMe' inquiries iemt'e u ms alter
ana present nppeainuce hau vd MN no least To- give
a coloiing ." d1uht 10 mental condition TINT cN-
ideuced responsibility. lie should be called upon
win me hsnt he had now before MN o. vote yes
I upon u,s nhl
MI bAiey N"d theN haa hothng before the
COMMITTEE, There was nothing bo'ure this body,
that w"uId nave the slightest tendency To- prove
that Henry Welcome was MT legally convicted OF
murder without the slightest testimony bclure
/ ~ we are asked 10 commute ms sentence. Are
we To presume upon runprH that he was not le-
VNly convicted, provided We put It upon that
GROUND Inc argument that he would not have
necn convicted hau II not heen Tor ms Confession,
loses IT. iorce M Tie lact that the Supreme Cuatt
derided That ne WIS legally convicted. His ngo
nnd ms moral responsibility, which have boon all
lnded To- were reviewed lie unprecedented that
he was mentally caw!hle TO- commit the decd. and
the TACT OF his dung It IN the m inner IN which he
I did, WIS sufficient answer % the eXtenuating ar
sument OF age.
II he Is mentally OF morally deficient we -huuld
have s'ne evidence besides mere ruuurs before
we commute ms sentence.
Mr.. Gardner favored his Communication for the
very reason that his moral Status was such that
| ne Would nave murdered man lur dollar from
his youth up, os has been stated The statement
that was made 10y the Hon. senator from lAmnlle
WAS enough u satisfy hm that there wis some
thing morally or mentally wrong about that boy.
lie thought medical examination should have
been Instituted b aid IN determining his rc~pOu-
-hiliy. Other reasons were urged in favor Of
computation
Il Mr.. Eddy continued the argument IN favor ol
communication, referring to the effort which he
made to appear rs An honest boy, by going abroad
and committing murder Ia procure money 10 pas
his attorney, ~ he had agreed. lie thought KIM
was additional evidence OF hl- insanity, or iSent,
llltu-pnps~
4 Alr. blckernan was one pl those that th5aglt
he ought 10 pay slme attention 10 his duties [.
che State as well ~ individuals From all that
he had been able To learn about this hoy, he is a
/ hardened criminal, ana Tor tins reason shall
! vote agninst cOinmumtiOn. Mr.. Dickermnn fur
Their reviewed the argument in favor of clmmuta-
ton. There is no evidence that lac Is not per
son OF ordinary capacity. lie - morally wrong
! on he would not have committed the act, but lac
was morally responsible, and for this reason Ice
] should vote against the hll,
Mr.. Benedict alluded 10 the trial, and did not
attach all the Importance which had been attached
10 the cinlosslvn' la his opinion there was >ul-
hccnt evidence without the confession for mora
conviction.
MIR. Carpenter said he ielt better FOR the discus
SION, rs he WIS not willing that matter OF 81
grave Importance should be passed upon without
due consideration. lie proceeded TO give the rea-
sons that would influence his vote. and related
MS personal business contact with The boy az
states Attorney IN certain cases, lie took M
exception 10 the trial he was fairly tried and
/ lalrly convicted.
THIS Is not rev question. II did not become
him to say this was not bad by he WIS bad
boy. lie was not willing to take the responsible
ity and the reflection for tie balance of his lie
! that he had sent TINS boy tu the galluws. ilC
should vote for this bill in consequence OF lii- ex-
treme youth as one reason.
MIR, Eddy briefly replied to the argument OF
No f.a.a q.
the bill, making allusOn TO the fact that but one
person younger than this had ever been executed
Tor murder IN the United State.
Mr.. SAKE had been satisfied that this young
man having come 10 the age ur accountability had
sufficient mental capacity to be momlly response
Bile. For this and other reasons which he gave
he should vote against this bill.
Mr., llrtshjrn gave as his reasons for the vote
c,nyersati,n viii Tho yo"n,, man hialoir n,
related IN substance two conversations he had
with him and the admission from In, own lips
that he murdered this old man for which he VA.