Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-02-09
Capital Punishment for Crime.


State having existed some City I've years
aud having iudicialy executed but two
criminals ought TO be considered 4 ender
hearted corporation. But The prospect
OF third execution under the laws. and
its temporary postponemen; i5~March
next by the Legislature. has ra'oPened
the Whale question OF punishmca for
ciime-and more especially fUf murder
in the fi;st degree.
rhe fl1Odgates OF controversy, secular
aud divine, are again distracliHs AMI eN
creisiug The old aud young in ihe news
papers; and the thinkers and polcmics
are rehearsiug and repeating The old
arguments and statistics or this subject.
With all these implements OF thought and
Judgment, OF fact and argumenl-with
all this ingenuity of statement and
expression, unauimity OF conclusion is
Just as remote as il was bali century
ago. Ca ono side. the radical ultimatum,
"heavon inspired and heaven Lurn,' 1t
is maintained: Thou shalt noi &ill. 5"
On the other, il is maintained lhnt the
command to drive out the Hi,u.cs AMI
the Invites had an origin equally mighty
and divine: You may kill &c Sat all
this settles nothing, anil simply loaves
tho controversy where it began.
Statistics are relied upon to show that
imprisonment for life secures society
from crime more than the gallows The
result. rs found by comparing different
periods of the same State within Itself
under both methods, aud By comparing
one state with another or one country with
another, fails to show any marked ad
vantage of the one method over the other
Il is q mistake to suppose that statistics Of
this kind can give any satisfactory deter
minalion OF such complicated question.
al the present time, with nations and
States varying so much in age, popula
ton aud other conditions.
In another respect il is claimed thst
punishment during life is greater and
more severe than the gallows. and there
fore deters the criminal IN greSter
degree. The statistics on this point at
this time show the average duration OF
those criminals sentenced for life in this
country 10 be only traction over seven
years II murderer can calculate with
such certainty, that through the influence
Of friends and the pardoning power. he
can be relieved from confinement in
seven Yeas. his temptation or passion
or proyocation. or whatever else may
lead him to crime, nigh, not be oyerruled
by the contemplation OF 50 brief period
Of confinement.
The safety Of society is the only reason
tor the punishm Mt Of crime-even the
crime OF murder 10 the hrsi degree. For
this reason the State Furnishes To make
this punishment a. rational IS possible,
under the light which is vouchsafed to
the present age, should be The aim OF all
true legislation. Such IS the aim of all
the wisest. Oldest and most civilized com.
munities. Tue punishment however in
these communities differs Ia some, like
Massachusetts aud New York. they ex.
ecu,e. In others, like Michigan aud
Maine, they % MOI Which, Ia the sight
OF justice, right, truth aud expcdiency is
The bclters The tendency o! the average
iadgmeu, OF she people OF Maine or OF It's
newspapers and esssyis,s Is In favor o.!
imprisonment Tor lie. When man Is
likely 10 be right as wrong and wrong a.
right. ii is not very difficult matter to
acquiesce in a decision either way. He
will be sure TO have able, sincere and
jealous supporters, whichever way his
suffrage may be given. II on expert
ment. OF even theory, it should be found
that safety TO the community could be
secured as well by one method as the
other. il would be rational and desirable
to dispense with the gallows. With
proper modification Of the pardoning
power rs well as that of Communication,
this object may be attained; and Maine
may continue 10 temper justice with
mercy in the future as in the past without
mourning the charge OF cruelty, or
unnecessary rigor.
The law needs amendment as It now
stands. The responsibility aud the result
are now too scattered and too uncertain.
Let the Legislature prescribe. in explicit
terms the mode OF punishment which
shall be employed by the Judiciary and
the Executive; aud which shall guide
and govern in ell these cases. Either
punishment made certain. may be effeciual
1t the pardonlns power is wisely re.
siricled.
Speech Of Hon. Roscoe Conkiing.
The speech of Senator Conkliug of y.