The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-03-18
Religion on the Scafold.

{ he doctrine of future state OF rewards and
nnishmcnts, that the scatfold is an approptl-
ate and Legitimate starting point for the can
tli,lates of future glory. 1t would seem to
rold and rationaistic philosophy, that life of
vi1tle and consistent piety, after years well
spent in noble and Charitable efforts for tn. re-
lief and ameliaration of fellow human suffer-
-rs, let the sphere and opportunities of the la
borer be ever sd humble, would be the best
guarantee OF eternal safety, and the surest
passpors to the realms OF bliss. II, however, we
credit the fleril and ex!,.lberant ontgushings
OF the two convcts executed in Belair and Tai
bot county. Maryland, these efforts of anti
mortem, scafold eloqucnce, we are to lose all
our preconceved notions of the Importance of
virtuous living as a condition of salvation and
become converts to the idea that well achiev-
ed murder accompanied by duly horrible Incl
dents, followed by full confession and Jail re-
pentance, is the speediest means of escaping
the lust condemnation of the divine law. We
never pick mp a paper in these queer days
wherein is contained the details of some cxccu-
ton, without being overwhelmed by the rcpsr-
ter's graphic and feeling narration OF the ''rc-
iigious sentiments OF the condemned; his per-
feet acquiescence in the business OF his punish
ment. Then follows the stereotyped final
speech, full of sublime confidence in the future
.,lessedness that awaits him, with touching al
lusions to his purity and werthiness, and with
many affcctlonate iniunctions to tho gaping
crowd TO try and meet him on that ssheavenly
Shore and generally sort of dignificd and
lofty commiseration for them because they
havn't likewise killed and carved and burned
some friend and benefactor. and thus have en-
titled themselves to the glorious privilege OF be-
ing clloked into the rest that remaineth for the
tired and prosecuted ones of earth. The mod
ern day execution is getting to be one in which
the malefactor makes positively his last APP
pearance" in The role of preacher. His ten
denotes crop out in didactic fashion, just then.
and he entertains the mass of spectators, or
rather auditors, not with confession OF his
crime and warning Of its consequences, but
with highly colored dissertation upon the
christian character as exemplified by himsci.,
and the rich fruits it has borne him in the shape
of the confident expectation of an immediate
translation to the joys of his we'll earned inner
itarce. We don't assume to Know anything OF
theology, Or to be well vcrsed iii tile metapliys-
ical intrcacies OF the theory of redeensing grace
and saving faith, but we don t think that man,
who having committed the follest and most
brutal of murders, and whose whole career lras
probably been replete with everything that is
repulsive and forbidden by the laws OF God and
man, is hardly fitted by practice and expert
ence to stand in the shoes of the apostles, and
II some active and Independent myrmidon OF
the law would take it upon himself to c.y
t'time'' on the enthusiastic orator, and kick
the props from under the central section of his
public rostrum, during these self laudatory and
p-ofanely cgotistic excursions of fancy, he
would save the public much tedious waiting,
and relieve the press OF much that is painful to
the minds Of many conscientious and sober
thinking people.
The late executions in Maryland were but
tepetitions of all the balderdash, with the added
attractions of vehement shouting and triumph
ant singing on the part OF the leading charac-
tiers in the drama. The apprehension OF the
truth or genuinencss of these scafod theories
about the future opens mp to the rejecting
mind some unpleasant misgivings as to the
character of celestial society, for capital often
res have been numerous, and tire exodus of this
type of latter day saints has been widely com
prehensise and frequently repeated.
One of the negroes asseverated that he would
step at once to the arms of Jesus. andtke othea,
while equally assured Of the divine favor, was
modest enough to admit that whskey ''had
brought him TO what he was,'' when every dis
corning individual present knew tiat it Was
Ills demons nature and the haMgimzn's cart,
that had achieved for him his present elevation.
They, however, enjoy sensations ia amy shape,
and would prefer to swing off tire scaffold to
the shouts of Tosanna and Halta1u5ahs, than
TO die in quiet and unobserved way In bed.
Not only has the scaffold become the sancti-
fled stage from which tie criminal, rocking
with the blood of ms yictini passes from the
wicked scenes and associations Of life into the
effulgcnt glory of the celestial world, according
to the professions of the central actors. but a
recent instance has aspired to wider latitude
and assumed to educate the youth in the beltl-
ties of this method Of stopping the sluggish
current of life and discovering the slender chord
that holds in chains the emancirated soul. In
the c.se of Griffin, executed at Bclair, the
Sheriff had arranged the scafold several miles
from any frequcnted place, upon an elevated
plateau, reached by a rough. broken and al
most impossible read, and with considerate
regard to the solemnity of the occasion, ha(
constructed board fence eighteen feet high
enclosing thirty-two square feet, into which
sacred limits none but invited guests were tt
be admitted After, however, all the necessa
~ preparations had been consumnatcd for thu
tragic transaction, the officer in command
;;.1g the dminutive asseniblage that hat
xcntured to the forbidden spot through over
slowing creeks, and over billy, crooked
passways, and moved doubtless hs the mora
lesson that was about to be given, gave order
to admit within the enclosure the three hun
Tired spectators. Among the crowd was on
lean, cudaverous looking old man, with Ions
gray hair, WHO entered, carrying a large piec
pf fence post under his arm. He stalked acres
the area: laid the post against the boards o
tae fence, pulled UP the skirts of his long whit
coat, and sitter squirting mouthfnl OF tebacc'
juice over all unlucky colsred youth who stool
near by, sat down with satisfied air to view
the interesting sport soon to commence