Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-30
war, and find in every community men that are
not law.abiding, but who afrogate the rights of

war, and find in every community men that are
not law-abiding, but who arrogate the rights Of
others.
Now what punishment for wilful murder will
best protect the lives Of citizens We ale not deal
ing with the good and true, but with the debascd
and wicked. We deal with desperate men, who
instinctively fear death--the more so as they de-
scend in the scale of humanity; their sense Of duty
Is feeble, and the love of life an immense passion.
Satan, the arch fend, has truly said, Gail that a
man hath will he give in exchange for his life"
He argued that the death penalty was the strong
est motive that could be placed before these me n
to keep them from committing murder.
Statistics had doubtless been cited ON the other
side, but they are not applicable in the case Muir
der comes under the head Ct no fixed law, but
bSeaks out here and there, and no one can give
the reason. From the principle of human nature
ITSELF death can be the only Just penalty for wful
murder; and who knows how many, who have
murder in their hearts, have been detained from
committing the deed, by the penalty hanging over
them That might be the influence that would
dlsarm him and prevent the crime. If the severi-
ty of punishment does not deter men from COM
uniting crime, what do We mean by our laws, and
the graduation Of penalties affixed? Why do we
incrt ase the penalties in many casesi
lie spoke OF the necessity that at enc time
existed iii California and the western country Of
summary action with murderers, and it had an
effect to restore good order. When the situation
became most desperate then capital punishment
- iCuuu llOsl tHcCtlNe. Inc gentlemen on the
other side had admitted the right of the State to
take life in case the Warden or keeper of the pris
Gu Is murderer One thing is certain, the punish
mtnt inflicted on murderer deters him at least
from committing further murders. Murder begets
murder, and the man IS unsafe while living. He
nstanced cases where one individual had COM
mtted several murders. He wo uld not appoint
the punishment of death to murder indiscrimini-
naty, but only in cases of atTocous and unpro-
voked murders; the statutes should be made to dis
crmnatc. lie thought the delay too long be-
tween the condemnation and the execution; the
great crime becomes partially forgotten and out
lawed. He argued that there is no safe mode Of
punishment for great offences. save by the death
penalty, abundsntly and torcibly illustrated
this point, and closed BY the remaIk that it
was not the manner Of the death that brought dis
grace but the terrible deed that made the iniiic-
ton Of death ecossary. The cruclfed Saviour
cast halo over the ignominy Of the cross.
The closing argument, in favor Of adjustment
was made by L. +. PillsbuTy Esq, CT Augusta.
He said he had given good deal OF thought to
the subject, and his profession had furnished him
many sources of information on the subject. He
accorded perfect honesty to those who differed
from him. lie repealed the jnsinuation that those
who are opposed to capital punishment are also
opposed to all punishment 1t is unjust and
untrue charge Ills interest in the protection of
society was the same as theirs He did not be-
heve that capital punishment protected society or
lessened crime. He acknowledged that his sympathy
was Win the criminal out not with his crime hat
was humane. Capital punishment had been abol-
l-hed III many Of the States great progress has
been n AIDE. There are grades of humanity the
only difference between US and vile murderer
is difference in degree moral power i. Ii nited.
like physical poweI-we all tempted; and
he would say that his sympathes were
with the weak, the tempted and the fallen.
The weak, and not the strong, need our pro-
lection. Bat if death on the saows is good
enough for the murderer it is lasting disgrace to
hi family. He claimed that when the doors were
CLOSED on the murderer, and the safety of society
secured against his bloody hand, we have no right
10 90 farther lie claimed also, that the extreme
penalty, inflicted only in cases Of murder in the
first degree, did not deter the murderer for he
never takes into HI, reckoning the liability of be-
ing detected; and then there are many oopholes
OF escape. He rldiculed the present law, making
the Executive Council a count of review Elabo-
rating this and some other points, the speaker
closed with the added thought that the danger of
convicting innocent men was one of the strongest
objections TO the gallows. Mr. Pllsbury's remarks
were quite enthusiastically received
Father Taylor of Belgrade, Of the Society of
Friends, was called upon, and made q few remark ).
: This closes the hearing for the session ON this
question. 1t is understood that the committee is
evenly divided the question.