Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-02-04
The Death Penalty-Tho Committee to res
port . Bill Abolishing.

hearing on the question of the abolition OF
Capital punishment, was held yesterday afternoon
before the Judiciary Committee in the hall of the
House of Representatives, beginning at O'Clock,
other business delaying the committee until that
hour.
The venerable Joseph Taylor of Belgrade, who
heads the petition of six hundred or more Of
Friends, opened the discussion. IIo said he felt
incompetent to present his Important bject in It's
just light. He regarded the meas of substi-
tuting imprisonment for lite for the death penalty
as righteous, merctui, and in accordance with the
spirit of God. The Gospel of peace aad good will
prohibits the taking Of human life. The end, OF
justice are also better subserved by the sCbstltu-
ton. Hang a man and he has no chance to
amend; you shut HIM Oft entirely from the pale
of mercy or punishment. In behalf of the Society
of Friends, in whose membership were found
who sustained the gallows, he asked that this
cruel law be repealed These members are good
and 10y al citizens, who do not attempt to contro-
vene the general law of the land lie believed
that the criminal ought TO be punished, but we
should rot punish for the sake of revenge; let
him live long the Almighty designed he
should live. Under the teachings of the New
Testament, on which he based his argument, we
had no right to take human life. Shall we be IN
human because the offender is nhuman, lie
argued also, that for the purposes of punishment,
Imprisonment for life greater than death On
the gallows.
j. VIM. Jacob Of China, was the next speaker,
in opposition to the death penalty. The Friends
held 10 uncertain position on this question; their
cry is clown with the gallows, and up wi h the
cross" The death penalty is opposed to the law
Of God, as revealed in the New Testament. The
New Testament is the last will and testament Of
our blessed Lord. We no longer hear the thun-
ders of Sinia but listen to the gentle utteranccs
of Him "who spake as never man spake." On
the mount Of TRANSPORTATION God the Father in
reference to his Son, had said Hear ye Him
We are not told to hang our enemies, but to love
our enemies. Paul had said, clearly beloved.
avenGe not yourselves; vengence is Gods and he
will repay Christ has said, Overcome evil with
good" The State has set up law against the
will Of God In the defence Of Capital punish
me Mt, the principle of Christianity is put out Of
the question; and the same arguments in its de-
fence that are employed now might have been
used by Hottentot or pagan. lie spoke OF some
of the best lawyers in England founding their
principles Of law upon the Bible among them
Lord Bacon.
He claimed that where the gallows had been
swept away, crime of every kind had lesseued
He made appeal for the poor victims, and that
they be not shut out from the power and ministra-
lions Of the Gospel. If we were dealt with ac
coiding to strict justice. we should never see
salvation. He asked the committee to show the
same mercy to others that they hoped TO receive
themselves, and closed with effective quotation
from Shakespeare showing the power and beauty
of mercy.
Iev. Dr. lyulnDy OF ms CITY, spoke upon the same
side. He SAID it had been his design not to ap-
pc before the committee this subject, as he
had often expressed himself on the subject before
similar committees. Believed a large majority of
the people in Maine were in favor of substitution
of Imprisonment for life for the death penalty.
The law that had been framed provided against
abuses of the pardoning power. Cergymen Of
all denominations are feeling great interest upon
this subject, and he trusted that the committee
would take the matter into serious consideration.
Should like have the law tested for four years.
He thought it would be good time at the Centen
NAL to sweep away the gallows. He cited
merous instances where persons hung for
trivial offences. He would have the criminal not
only punished, but improved.
Chief Justice Appleton, Dir. Quinby said
was now in favor of the abolition OF capital pun
though he formerly in favor of it.
and he read letter from the Chief Justice to that
effect. He thought by it punishment would be
more certain. DR.. Quinby claimed that in the
States Of the Union where the galows had been
abolished, crime had decreased and scarcely
he az o. murder being committed in these laces.
on Kill a man, that has murdered, and you repeat
just what he has done. Human life should be
dren never to take human life He asked that
the experiment be tried in Maine, and he was
confident that the result would be salutary.
AT the close of the remarks the committee
voted 10 report bill abolshing capital punish
ment. Several OF the committee thus voting are
understood TO be in favor of retaining the law,
but were williGg that the matter should come be-
fore the legislature.