The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-03-18
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

CAFll AL PUNlSHMENI.
WESTON, March IS.
To he Editor Of The Democrat:
My Chenille friend appears to be
afraid of preparing my readers for
what is to come" do not object to
going into the gist Of the argument at
once but would have preferred first to
build up a proper foundation, Still,
inasmuch as he Tor they, for | am left
in doubt by his letter as to the number
| am to fight seem to desire immedi-
ate hoslililiGs, | am content.
The FIRST reason would offer for
the adjustment Of the Death Penalty
is, II is founded ina pirit Of retdlid-
ton. HiI rork Of rnJednesl
We profess TO be a Christian people,
Retaliation and vengeance are incOr-
sistent with Christianity, Lynch law
sometimes prevails in some portions Ct
our country. A man commits gross
outrage, which exasperntes the public
mind, VongeancCl Vengeance is
now the cry. The culprit is seized,
and either hung up aud strunglcd, or
tied to stake and burned. Nothing
but rerengc will satisfy the enraged
multitude.
Now, in this act, you perceive The
spirit which first prompted the taking
Of human life for crime, and which does
much towards sustaining the gallows at
tho present time. How many do We
find in every community who advocate
the existence Of tho Death Penalty on
this very ground? Tho miserable
offender Of the law" say they, "has
outraged society-he isn't Ct to live
be has no claims on society for life
his brothers blood should DO avenged =
String him up, we say-s,ring him up"
Bills for the adjustment Ofthe Death
Penalty have boon rejected in the Leg.
islaturrs Of New York, Pennsylvania
aud Ohio, at different times, mainly
from the influence of the argument
drawn from what was called the Justice
Of capital punishment. 1t was argued
that linen who would murder ought to
be killed" -they.,"d eSerredthis punish
mcnt damaging vas just good
enough for them;" while tho speakers
actually ridiculcd the "msck sympa.
thy" that would institute miliGr pun.
ishment for mnn guilty Of death.
When a magistrate Of eminOnce, 10
conversation With Mr.. Livingston, the
philanthrOpist, on this subject, was
driven from every other argument, he
said very frankly, 81 must confess that
there is some little feeling Of rereage at
the bottom ofmy opinion on the sub.
ject," IF all other rsasODerS," adds
Mr.. livingston, were equally candid,
there would be less difficulty in cstab.
fishing true doctrines" passion first
made revengCful laws, and revenge
once incorporated with tho system Of
justice, reproduced its own image, after
passion had expired"
When Colt was expected to be OK.
ccuted in New York, some years since,
aud the people had assembled in
thousands to witness the act, and it was
found that portion Of the prison was
on tirc--a writer, describing the scene,
said:
1.-THE hearts Of men were filed with
murder; they gloated over the thoughts
Of vengeance, aud were rabid to witness
fellow.creaturo's agony. They com.
planned loudly that hc was not 10 be
hung high enough for the crowd to see
him. What a pity" exclaimed a
woman who stood near me, gazing at
the burning tower, 'thty lcW hare 10
yire him t'rO hours more 10 lire ?"
And when a man, charged with u di.
Lnro Lo,h mn, "nJ womon ..,.. ="
,,i.s TSri.,;an VI" i,ai" UHVn I cLon @'
Han h;m - us,riDs hi saV,a I Nc
an" do.o,.o, ~ hdS,o mn ~; up,
.,.,.,,oJ ~ H., lad, "'V us {, NECK
msmhor If mo. t d., .'G Ste ueIou'
,"on, So r,r ~ ~ V Joo,,ro 'Va y SHnren I
w., %vn a.. ~ 'h" 10 uSI h,n n'r Wta.h
t t i" S 1911 " ~, lug y H's >. 'ogs'
;n"Ios ~ ,So no ,"a' ~ MY, masus I'o ~
~. .nS" ,~o.o;r,I Wv SV'"'H'H H'V'H'u pcihg
wv ''''
NOW, ,h's Is The spirit which prompts
lne NoFS S, o. death! but 1t Is not the
spirit o. ohfist' lts tue spirit which
naiieu nm 10 the cross, 6ut'not the