, 1875-12-24
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT,

10 Tie Elaer a The Chicago Tribune:
OSHKOSH, Wis, Dec. 21.-Tho regent exccu-
tions Of criminals hayo brought the subject OF
punishment for crime bofore tho public, and
tho question. Is capital punishment in accord
anco with Justice, has arisen In many miuds,
With your refn,lsaton wish to aay fow words
! on tho subject, through tho columns Of your
paper.
Tho crinte which, In tho Cnitot1 Etatca, iB run-
iehnbEs by death, il murder. Murder ig tho aot
Of Intentionally killing human bolng. Wherein
docs the authorized sct OF tLo hoatlsulau differ
from tho unauthorized act Of tho ciIizcu? Quo
is donc without tho cousont Of hia ioliow-men !;
tho other. with that consent, but docs tue
opinion OF fow mon mako an net jnat or un-
Just il community agtee to regard robbery,
uuder certain clrcumstauceA OF 1lght, duoa
IT mako 1t right In tint community?
or nre right and wrong, Justice and injustice,
Fundamental principles, racoKuzst int,littvoly
by knen. and ouly couIouuiod after long ar4l-
ments and by fa'ao roasoaing2
: inau commits murder ailtl Ia hung for IL
In other Words wo punish crime by committing
similar ones tho ouly ltrsronco being. that,
iu tho ilrst instance. Tho criminal il an i,li-
yidual.-in tho second. nation. Whore is tic
tnAtico In that !? 1s what IL wrong i,I m in.
aIsldual. right IN . nation2 No; and II the
taking OF human life, not In self -aofeuae, is
wrong In one case, 1t ia wrong in al Cases, ind
Charles DfAdlauEh stated, in lecture dolty-
aFnd Inst wntor, that when tho poilalty attached
TO ortMo bocau0 death. IL ceased to 10 nut
lshnent, and became revenge. Arc NO rcady 10
say thSt II u revenge that We. az nation. suck:
III a!l nations, tho good OF tho fow must DO
sacrificed to tho good OF the mAny hence, whom
my person, by hIs deods, has proved hi,usslf uu-
worthy 10 live with his toll0u-ncn,-haH endAr-
sorel their e1latance by Ais prcsouro.-they
should bo protected by tue powers which they
have organized fur tho purpose, aud he should
bs restrainod from tniur.us them, by lnpriaon-
mcnt for llfc, it Ills cnn,o mcriss It Otherwise,
for shorter period.
Il IL urged that very tow OF our pslsops aso
ael9.supporsinH; that tho expense OF maintain,
tng them IL heavy tax upou tns community,
IorhAnH it's; but Should the saving OF money
be Bullcient oxcuge for tho commission OF .
crime' II 10, thon tho nat,ou is "a Lasi AZ tho
criminals It Furnishes; for they kill men to ohain
nunoyi the nation k,!ls then! TO sopt money
1lo1coyeE, docs any ono ever object to pay!,ig
tho tax for keeping. tho rosds in tupar.
that ho and hia goods suay pass
, oyer them safely. And how many VI
heavy yearly tux to tho insurance companies tu
inaure their fortunes against loss By fsra! Sine
this 10 the case, ouRht sAB cizaHH 10 gfutnbta Ut
slight TAI to laauro tho safely nf their lives?
Tho hsadslnen s1e busy. aad the laws coucern-
ins capital punshment IL tall forca; yos cri,uo
prevent Il aro poworless then why not try othor
How many men, do you think, woull not in.
dnltely prefer doAth 10 y louf lifo OF solitary
1t scens to 1nu TINT u crujul
to 1.-Two apart froua all companions,
thoughts, must 10 Tue uost utterly wrelcled OF
human b0inGs.
There II 10 suffering 70 terrible ~ mental suf-
lGlagi nq punishment III all thla worIt DO H4- |