Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-01-03
Capital Punishment.


state the death penalty in Iowa, lay
great stress upon the assumed fact
that since the abolition of hanging
murders have been more frequent
than before. Assuming this to be
true, it is not by any means an ar
gument for the gallows. The good
or i'll effects of the abolition of
hanging are not to be determined
by an experiment of one year, there
fore, in default of q more extended
trial of the new order of things, we
are warranted in regarding the in
crease of crime in our State not an
effect, but coincidence. But, for
tunately, we are not left to conject-
ure as to the effect of doing away
with the death penalty. Other
States have discarded the gallows,
as an agency for the prevention of
murder, one of them, Michigan,
over quarter of century ago,
and others long enough since to
give the experiment fair trial. 1t
is a significant fact that in none of
these States has there been for a
long time an organized effort to re-
instate capital punishment. The
Dubuque Times has taken the pains
to hunt up the testimony given by
official documents and eminent citi-
xens of those States regarding the
effect of the humane policy. We
take the liberty to avail ourselves of
the fruits of our cotemporary's
search.
Michigan was the pioneer in
abolishing the death penalty, which
she did in 1916, 26 years since. No
life was eyer taken as a penalty for
crime within her borders, and yet
from the first, murders have been
and are now less frequent than in
adjoining States of equnl popula
fion. The report of a committee of
the State Senate in 1869, to whom
the subject of capital punishment
was referred, says:
1--WE cannot persuade ourselves to
think that the mass of our community,
especially the more enlightened, the hu
name and Christian portion. are prepared
or DESTROYS to return to the old retalato
ry and barberous law, and erect in every
county gallows, and make hangmcn of
all our Sherills."
The report OF. II. ii. BinghsAs>s,,-
State Prison Agent, dated May,
1865, says:
From the best data and information
to be had / am well satisfied that crime
has not increased since the adoption of
the new law. The new law must certainly
meet the approval of Il large majority Of
the people of the State. The question of
repeal has been reciced by some Of oar &C.
clesiastical bodies, but seems to gain no
favor from the laiety Or their denomna
tions. Our people show no disposition
ito return to the gallows."
Again we have the testimony of
S. 3. McCracken, a well-known and
intelligent business man Of Detroit,
formerly member of the State
Senate, who in letter to the editor
Of the Times, presumably of a late
date, says:
II do know this, however, that there is
no popular demand in Michigan for Il res
toration of the death penalty. The sub
ject is occasionally agitated by some
newspaper, or forms the theme of SER
mon, and occasionally member of the
Legislature, ambitious of distinction, and
despairing Of winning it in any other
way, makes a motion in favor Of hang
ing. These efforts, however, meet with
no popular response"
Maine practically abolished the
death penalty more than thirty
years ago, but one case of its infiic
ton having occurred during that
length of time. Her laws do not
positively forbid it, but operate in
such manner as to apply it only in
rare eases. OF the operation of the
non-retaliatory code Il. c. Upham,
of Bowdoin College, says:
II think there is good reason for saying
ing that life and property are as safe
here as III any other of the States Pop
ular sentiment favors the reform law,
and Maine has no disposition to 60 back
to the barbarous death penalty"
Rhode Island abandoned capital
punishment in 1852. The following
extracts from the reports of State
officials show the results:
"Thc fact is that crime has not increas-
Ell since the death penalty was abolish
ed.-Hon. Mr. Bartlett, Secretary Of
State"
Considering the increase of popula-
ton since 1852, crime has diminished-
Nelson Vail, Warden Of the State Prison."
This testimony from States which
have had opportunity for extended
and thorough test of the good or i'll
effects Of the abolition of the death
penalty, coupled with the fact that
there is no popular demand in those
communities for return to the re.
taliative code, constitutes very
sufficient warrant for our law ma
kers to 60 slow on the subject Of the
repeal of the Legislation of last win
ter. We have no idea that the
Legislature will consent to render
itself ridiculous by hasty action up
on this subject in response to the
concerted clamor of q religious Or
ganization, or, indeed, before time
has been had for an intelligent dem
onstration of the effects of the ex-
pertinent to eliminate the hangman's
rope from the list of civilizing agen-
cics.