Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-11-03
0uniess they think proper to pardon The convict,

Unless they think proper to pardon the convict,
OF commute The sentence, the Governor sh7H,
upon lhc expiration 81 one year alter The sentencei
iesuc las warrant, Is provided in sections nine
aut Ten oi th!, cnapter
Sections nine and ten relate TO proceed
iHss under ,he warrant for execution.
Ia plain lelms the laws OF the State
declare that The punishment for The crime
OF murder ia the first degree shall be
dcoth. aud compel the Governor to issue
his warrant tor execution Oi sentence IN
less The council shall advise and consent
TO = communication OF the sentence alter q
review" OF the whole case, which IRE
view The law requires in every instance,
although the principles upon which il l.
10 be conducted are not defined.
The application OF this law in the Wag
ner case was simply this: the Governor
laid before his council the evidence and
proceedings in the ease, and asked that
body II they would consent TO and advise
4 Communication OF the sentence to imprls
oumcnt for lite, adding that the executive
would concur with the council II they
should advise Communication. The cOun
ell refused TO consent 10 communication
The law then compelled the Governor TO
issue his warrant Tor the execution oil
Wagner, however painful that duty might
be; aud Friday the 29-h Ct January WAS
fixed rs the day Tor the execution oi the
sentence Il Is but Justice 10 the GOV.
ernur to make this statement and CNplana'
tion, rs some, through imperfect Suowl
edge OF the law, may suppose That his
action is within his own discretion.
The action of the Council and the
Governor on the case OF Wagner, The
convicted murderer in the first degree,
arrests the attention OF the community on
the question OF capital punishment. As
Will DE seen by the foregoing statement
the Governor and the Council have simply
obcyed the laws OF the State The Coy
eruor has no choice in issuing the warrant
for execution. Ita majority of the Coun
ell DO no, consent to q commutalion OF
the sentence OF advise il on review
the warrant must be issued according To
Law. Whether the Council or The EXccu'
tive Department should be allowed to
review" eases OF this sort and exercise
any opinion concerning them may be
RICH, or wrong according to the ten thou
sand different shades OF opinion on the
whole question. The language OF the
law is, the Governor "Shail upon the cN
pira,ion OF one year alter the sentence.
issue his warrant This should settle
all minds rs to the action of the Executive
But why are some fellow citizens so
disturbed a, The execution of the laws
when the question of punishment for The
highes. crime comes mp lor consideration
and final action Why DO their bosoms
swell with sympathy and call aloud tor
reformation, mercy and compassion ?
Why 10 they. in defision, .Ae moment
The Executive Department complies win
is legal duty, cry out, "ano,her Csc OF
,iransulatiJu," another great moral
spectacle The community mus; have IN
other yiciiml !" Can this De thc true way
10 settle lbis gieAt--perhaps greatest 0I
al.--human questions
In looking at this question Of pun.sh-
mcnt Of a man for the highest crime. d is
but rational to allow the thoughts TO roam
back to the criminals victim. \ lille
wholesome consideration OF biz or her
sudden ",aking Oh might mellow our
m.nd,. 50 that at least We would not de-
ride The laws .. we hnd them at lhe
present moment. even il they arc a ll,,le
behind the loremos, ideal OF The loremos.
enthusiast. That poor sou. had aspnn
iiuas. hapcs. dcs.gcs-hal lIiends. yc.a.
lives. neiL Llors-ousht 10 lave pyo'ec
lion OF life. liberty and tht palsusi OF
happluess;' out the mau whose li,c has
become 50 precious after long Iei1! at
the expense Of the State, stole into hSr Pgi
yate sanctuary. in the darkness oi nigh.
and without note OF warning, severed oil
these sacred relations; aud passed her
beyond Tue reach OF retogA or mortal
care. Justice aud Humanity nigh, hest
tate and !iuser here for Nltlo space,
and contemplate this picture as we'll as
that ol State and legal oAgJAri.y.
This question "TAat 10 DO with Grim
iuals~ OF the highest grade is still an open
one. Is magnitude is sueAltat 40 theory
or law OF practice has settled The most
mode and much less ,he ALSO
lulely tigA, one. There IS now anxious
enquiry about some change. some rclolm
1t this enquiry can be pro noted Oy a
resort wholly 10 tenderness. love. sym
palhy aal mercy, .et Us have them in
their Culiuess Il Likewise ;hcse elements
can bc tempered with justice, reason aud
the conclusion may 1e 81
permanent and beneficial, Tno cDnsc .
queuccs to the community. which may
result from further inye,usal Oh aad new
.aHs will receive OF ough. 10 receive
some attention as weltas lie probation
and reformation oil he criminal. MAKE
haste slowly should be tlc motto in
arranging these changes.
The L. =. !SendtOrNbip.