, 1874-03-02

OF courage, pntcnce, mud fortit.1tie woro greatly
strengthened by TINT war; but tho noblor ones Of
cl,arty, love. and forglyoltoss-for long time
noarly foryottcn--ovon now aro almost wholly
mud many othor like uonatdcratlnnB, will bp
weighed moro inpartfnliy by those who will como
nftor ,s. md WHO will dotormfo I'll tho light Of
accumulated experience, wllethor our Into sne.
iwlolo, ourHo whIoh might ana ought to havo
been Ryoidotl.
Much l,nB boon done during tho lust decatle
to discourage tt'e war spirit. md Hay, All praise
ever litt,o, III tint Encouragement, and thus
tho 6ro Of ssoro rsspSes os
universal among men, tho killing Of l,nu,an be-
tllo aasasBln's Knife, or tic l.angn,una ropo.
RESPECT TOR LIFE
Of such respect for lifo'B nanct.ty
isn cca Y yo soeo H5ss!vss e to axn ssssss @
supre'na ien-tl,o eafcty Of tue people Is the
ta[e q human llfo whonoyor b'lch tasing be-
COMBS necessary tor tho safoty Of society. AB l
know Of 1lo powor ubovo tho forces Of naturo
will, whom n,an Gun communicate. or on wholn
ho can roly foy guidance, conclude tint tho
right to tako lilo muBt bo determined by man
alono. Every n'ombor Of tho stnto,
sg tn Of tue orsszoa ter us sn9saaS hoda ~h
liB lifo md property subject to such aBca and
disposition Us tho state n,ay find necessary to
protect Its poaco, preserve 1t from dissolution.
In timo OF war tho gerviccs and, IN u certain
sonse Tho 1fo OF tho citixou III ut the disposal Of
the State. 10 IL. time Of peace the stato is on-
titled to tho services OF tho cstizon whom nocos-
sary to arrost crimina. to stay Q coniiaErasion,
or to disporsc n riotous nsso!nbage., Keeping
wlthn the @ r. yew Of tug WI
rights, howevor dear 10 tho citizon, Of
Which lo may not ho deprived whouever
tho peaco or saiety Of society require It. nm
am aware that another Wow ia hold md dofend-
cd with much enrneatnosB, by many who agroo
with me In tho conclusion which havo undorta-
ken to deauco III this papor, viz; thnt
TIE DEATH rEEALTY
in this part Of tho world is no longer necessary
or advisable NJ q punishment for cri1ne. That
OF God, which Ho may recall whon it boat ploaa-
eli Him; but tllat mat has no right to thrust 1t
back into Ills face nj M unworthy gift. Thnso is
a great divergence Of opinion aa to whether whnt
nany people still Gull the Word Of God, sns-
taking OF hun'an life as d punishment. Tho lazy
Of God, as expoundcd by tho "ma,i Of sorrows,"
would seem to be against such right, whilo Tho
law, as given by God to Moses, rs clearly anilc-
tlonB IT,: If wo are to bolieyo Moses, God onco
punishment for the offenBc Of picking up sticks
on Sunday. 80, If ono Is disposed to discuss
ahHtructy tho question Of tho right to tako life,
and relies upon tic Scriptures. talon ts whole,
question can be sustained. All arguments de-
fuccl by this notllud scen to mo to
and the ideal, aud havo no foundation
III tho realm Of tho real nElu practical. There III
A GROWING uHEAslhEss
In nll civilized communities regarding the acRth
penalty. by tho advocates of TINT mode Of pun,
lshmont this ia looked upon as the outgrowth of
sckly sympathy for tho criminal while itb op-
pononts think they see III it tho evidehGes Of IN
expanding public conscience, which rcalizcs TINT
no maj, ID wholly brute, alld TINT society ought
not to expect peaceful fruitH as tho results Of
brusal punishlnentH. No thoughtful person now
justiiles (openly ut loast) this mode OF punish
iue,lt us i retaliating mcasure, md few. II auy,
imagine thnt it rossossos apy efficacy IL aa-
sr,aging tho angor Of an offended dolly.
Tneso two modes Of justification were
onco regarded us complete. and uil-
nnswerabio. Tho position which ia now
| continuance OF tho death ponalty il it's
BurrosED DETERRENT EFFECT.
But why deprive tho moro vicious aud criminal
portion Of society Of The privilege Of Witnessing
tile writings Of the criminal while undergoing
punishment, If Tic merit Of such punishment
IL III its terrifying cflcct2 Docs any o,lc doubt
that the announcement OF public execution
would draw together almost this eutire cass to
witness it, III certainly aB tho puncclMl and Inv
| Eh1utllE 1Qftl1n WDAlu 6Lh1 ANHt IL ~ 10 " u2
That tic intliction Of this soscro. penalty 60
operates upon tho fears Of men that nnlly are
lotcrrod from tho commission Of great crimes,
would not great additional effect DO given
in that direction by. permitting the publo
generally to witness the dying struggles of tho
Victim? Undor tile low OF this Stnse u limited
number only may 10 prosent at all execution
and no porson under tho ago OF u
years, unless he he relative OF the criminal
may witness the awful doath-sceno. Thus the
|
dron around tho scafrold, aud inpressins upoE
their tender minds tho LESSONS intended by lhis
awful spectacle, and which would probably
mover be wholly efraced. Why waa It that pub
it was found that such u spccsnco tended to Do
yeIop contempt or loosen tho respect for TN
value Of life? Docs lie fear death 1noet who ha
seen most Of deatft,. or ltaard most OF it
own hand tcnd to iiaHuado others from imltatin,
his example? IL doatll lie groAteBt If torro1s
Do not usgn fly to death III relief from eyol
liro's cares md troubles? Do they over seo
, juils aud pcnito,ltiaries Az relu6e from any q
lilo ills Of lifo2 DO meu onlenvor to p.sl.at
thoir mistortnnoB Or EXCUSE their crimes by ii,
yitlng public opprobri,lm? Do they welcome u
soluco fo, any guilt the contempt of thoir to
low men? While eacli Of us reaIixcB how it'll
, he coutrols, al,l by how m'lch ho = controiiet
trely natter Of self-rognlation. We AZ
ready tu look back to the fatl,ol
grandfather, or Great-grandfathor, TINT wo lna
learn tho catise Of tho Baunt-oyo or tho crooAo
, back WI,oro do we LOOK for tho ca,lseB Of las
untruthfulncss, and cruelty, boyoud tho Poss
SCISSOR? We nro confident we have Tho romod
fur suc!,,-puushinout. We neither know. III
, SOON 10 caro- to know, tho causes which lay
, gono before, nud Of which they arc sl!o logt
, ma.o aud inevitable protlncts Docs no shat {
! responsibility for crime beloug to society itself
= Arc tho criminal aud yicio,ln Or tho ,peucofl
,, nnl abiding in tho najorlty7 IL all y.rtt
= Outside Of penltontialy wn!is 7
/ RETALIATION.
The time waa, n,ld thai Time was long afte
:. tho commencement Of civilization, when tho d
Yiro iur rataliation waB Aloue doomed sulliciol
iustitIcation for Tho taking Of life by way
n punishment. And it is d question deserving
t !. 1noro thorough examination thnn eau be glvu
= 10 It in tlis papor, whether ut tho Irenont day,
y tho State Of 1!inos, tho zeal groundwork of I'll
:. domalld Of lifo Tor lifo iB not tho spirit {
il retaliation. Where, after criminal laas bee
sentoncel to suffer dcnth and for any rcasol. ii
0 execution OF the Bente.co has boon postpo1lc
o beyond tho tinlo originally ilxcd by the court,
# laa boon found necessary to appeal to til