, 1875-12-24
CAPITAL PuNtSAEENT,

To the EIi0r n 1A< chicago TRIBUNE:
OSHKOSH, Wis, Dec. 2l.--Tllo rccont exccu-
lions Of criminals havo brought the subj oct Of
punishment for crlno before tho public aud
tho question: II capital punishtneut in accorl-
anco with Justice hha arisen iii many minds.
With your permission. wish to any fow words
on tho subject, through the columns OF your
paper.
Tho crin,o which, In tho Unitot ssatcs, IL pun
isllhbie by death, il murder. Murder is tho aot
Of Intentionally killing q human being. Wherein
docs the authorized not OF tho l1oadaman diaor
from tho unauthorized oct of tho clifton? Oao
ia lonc without tho couRont OF his fo!low-mon;
tue other, with that consent. But docs tho
opinion OF foT mon mnio an net 1tat or u1.
islstf II community Agree TO regard robbory.
uuder Certain circumstances, as right, dooa
it mako it right In that community?
Or hro right and wrong, tuhttco and Injustice.
by tnst,. and only copiounaod aftor long arsu-
nients and bY false rcasoning?
, A man comnlita murder, nlnl Is hung for II:
In other words, we punish crime by oinnlts'ng
similar ono; tho only difference being. that,
in tho first instance. the csisnina! IL III inti-
yidual,-in tho second, nation. Whero IL tho
Justice in that? lH .s!.at IL wrong in an in-
lisidua!. right In nation? Go'. aud II the
taking OF human life, not III Ac!f-tlofooBe, ia
WRONG In Que cnso, 1t IL wrong III HI cases, and
no amount Of legislation ran mako it right
Charles HradlauGh atat1l in 3 lecturo do1lv-
eFel last Wintor, that when the penalty attached
to artnie bocamo doatb. Il ceascd to be pun.
ishsnent, and becan,o rnyenRO. Arc NO ready 70
say that it III repea.ge that ~e a. nation. seckf
In all nhlions. tic good Of tho few must bo
sacrificed to the good OF tho manyi honco when
auy persob, by hls dpeds, has proved hilpself un-
worthy to live with l!iB follow has endau-
gegod THAR existence by his prescnco.--the
should be pr0teoted by tbe powers which they
have organized tor the purpose and ha should
10 restrained from ln1ur'nE tllon,- by lHpsison-
cmt for lIfe. If his crln,o merits IL; otAcraisc,
tor shorter period.
i. IL urged that very fow Of our prisons nso
selt~auppottiuG; that tho expense Of maintain
Ing then, IL heavy ta1 upon lhe community.
psshans it's; but Should tue saving Of money
ba sufficient excuse Tor tho cunlaission Of .
criu,e? II 70. thou tho nation 10 81 bad as tho
criminals 1t punishes for they kill me" to Obtain
money; tho nation k,!ls {te7l to 6dct money.
Moreover, docs any QUO over object to paying
tho ta1 for Keeping tho roads in ropair.
over them safe1yl And how many Of
tho ctizons nf tho tuited Ssstes voluntarily pay
a heavy yearly tax 10 tho insurance comranies to
insure tier fortunes against loss by fro! Hi,Iro
this II the case. ought chs cltl1abS to g1umbH vt
= slight tax to insuEo tho safoiy nf thelK lives
Ing capital punishment u full fo1ca; yet crime
IL on tho increase, aud tls pEesont means to
prevent It arc powc1leaa then why not try other
methodist
How many nien, do You think, would not ill.,
flpltely prefer death to u iong llfo OF bali1rv
condemned to liyo apart iroua oil rompan1ul.A
SHUT IN with nothing but hin oAn guilty
thoughts. nsuss 10 tue l1ost Itte!ly wre4ched u
human polnGs. ...
Tnpra II 10 suffering 10 terrible ~ mental suf-
lafiugi no punishment in VII this worll so BY