Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-07-11
Capital Punishment,
SILE SwAMPToN.
NUMBER II.

in favor of abolishmg the punishment
Of death. If capital punishment were
abolished, and confinement to hard
labor for life substituted, those in
favor of reforming the code of Grim
inal law, believe that society would be,
safe; the punishment would be
sufficient terror and check to the evil
minded, and the criminal at the same
time have an opportunity for repen-
lance and reformation. 1t is admit
ted that the State prisons now are
strong enough to prevent all escape,
and it is admitted by most that the
fear of confinement to hard labor for
life will prove as severe and powerful o
PRIMITIVE of crime as the punishment
Of death. And surely with every man,
something is due, with the benevolent,
much is due, to the consideration OF
giving poor miserable sinner time
to reflect, to repent, and become pre-
pared for heaven. AS the state prisons
are now generally regulated AID con-
structed, / believe they they afford an
opportunity for reformation and do
often effect that most desirable OBJ
iect. 1t is true that the principal
design and purpose Of human govern
ment is to punish for the violation Of
law, for the welfare and protection OF
it's subj ect, and heretofore this has
been the only design. The spirit Of
this enlightened age, chastened and
guided by the spirit Of Christianity
has suggested the penitentiary system
bv which the criminal may have ar
opportunity to reform at the same
time that he is subjected to the re
strqint or punishment, inflicted by
society, for its safety; and man!
benevolent and pious individuals are
seeking for the accomplishment of thl
, object.
! ] sec not how the plan can be. op
+ posed by any enlightened phlian
C thropist. No objection to it wi
o satisfy the human and benevolent
which does not go to show either tina
e confinement in a state prison will nc
n be safe and efuctual restraining
o the criminal from further mischief; 9
a that this punishment will prove IL
Y less preventive Of crime with the ba
e who are abroad, in society, than I'll
G ga.lows and will therefore not be
o great terror to the wicked as ca
0 ital punishment. 1t is not necessal
IS to 90 again into the argument on tn
r. point for it is believed that it h;
/
e been already shown that with Il
e most abandoned and deprayed co
" inement to hard labor for life will |
more dreaded than sudden deaf
and that while capital punishment
the penalty Of crime, there IS gre
reason to expect most who are gull
10 will escape all punishment throus
:, the influence of public opinion al
no the humane feelings Of the jurors.
is believe we are far more sure
lis having the guilty detected, conviett
1t and punished, if capital punishme
ut should be abolished, and continents
he to hard labor for life in the st;
er prison substituted in all cases whe
off now the statute requires the penalty
cir death but there is another objec Ii
We to the penitehtiary system, and
punishment in the state prison inste
ID of hanging. 1t is said that the crimil
as through the influence Of friends a
ID. of The Chaplain, who may possibly
nd deceived by the professions Of the P
MS oner as to his sincere penitence, n
,ut be discharge and let loose on soci
as while his passions and dispos'til
if are unsubdued. Such case is ?
"a, sible and the consideration deser
inc attention, but it ought not to opar
cir to prevent the penitentiary sysl
bed Of punishment, but to induce
out keeper and officers one and all, as
ext as the supreme Executive of the st
md to be OH their guard against all $
are deception and the pardonlng po
lie, might by law be rendered more q
hat mite and in some cases, perhaps,
it's permitted to be eXcensed. Their
,rk, reason to believe that mistakes of
tell kind have been made, though
lear seldom.