Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-03-03
OUR DIES MONIES LETTER.
The Gibbee? Maybe Not! Interest,"
ing Debate Their MA short, but
Evontful Legislative Rub.



1t might be expected, perhaps, III
he absence of Legislative news for
he early part of the week, that l
should expatiate OIL the suicide in
his city, and the Warren county
vendetta, about ten miles south of
capital. If the telegraph has not
sent enough of that it would be a
wonder. l might add, that young
man, of respectable family, but who
had not been taught practically self
government, and who had not learn
ed to act from correct moral princi-
pies, tell quite naturally into an OK
cess of lndulgences, and, in despair,
put an end to his existence. His
name Ishould not give, as that would
be, perhaps, stimulating to others to
become noted and sympathized with
in the newspapers. That is my view.
If l printed a thousand papers, l
would never do honor to suicide by
publishing his name. I would let it
be understood that such are unworthy
of mention. And IN regard to the
Vendetta. 1 should say that in keep
ing with the habits and customs OF a
large portion of the people, an old
family teud had been kept up-that
frequent battles, both of words and
blows, had occurred, and a grand
effort for supremacy had acciden-
tally, perhaps, resulted fatally. And
on account of the fatal result. and
not because of the practice and act,
which, had not the result been fatal,
would have never attracted attention
this quarrel has become the COM
ment and wonder and honor of the
world! Now, why not give this the
true heading:
"The fruit of neglected and faulty
family training! The schoolmaster
abroad! What saloons bring forth"
l think there is not an hour during
which equal guilt is not perpetrated
in this and other States; but by some
kind Providence not resulting fatally,
and hence as all's well that ends
WE'LL" is never heard of. Can not
the guns be turned on the real enc
mics?
But, says one, erect the gibbet.-
Call on Judge Lynch. SO, no doubt,
SAID the participants in the Warren
county vendetta. One or more of
them is said to be a member of the
oigiluntcs, who, of all classes, are re-
garded the surest IN preventing crime.
Then why were these not deferred?
No doubt they acknowledged and
subscribed to the bloody code-even
the lynching clause, and expected it
to be applied to them, and yet were
not restrained. These are some Of
the questions that to a greater or less
extent influence the people and the
Legislature on the question Of Capt.
tai Punishment.
And this brings me to the work of
the last week in the Legislature, and
Capital Punishment has been the
principal topic. Both Senate and
House have been engrossed upon it,
and on one afternoon both branches
were putting forth, at the same time,
their highest efforts of logic and
oratory. 1t was scene long to be
remembered. Though there had been
comparatively thoughtless remarks in
the papers and i'll conversation about
the restoration of the death penalty,
and though about the first bill intro
duced into each house was to restore
Capital Punishment, yet the real i'm
port of the question had not been
appreciated. The members, as was
last week developed in their remarks,
had been thinking, and some very
deeply; and the more deeply, the
more did they appreciate the respon-
sibility placed upon them. In several
instances these reflection caused a
complete change of opinion, or
rather firm settlement Of opinion,
before rather undecided, and these
persons were among the first to enter
upon the discussion in the House,
urging the continuance of the present
law. And | may say truly that, after
several days of able discussion, there
is even more than doubt about
passing a bill to restore the death
penalty.
The Senate discussion was entered
upon without much preliminary talk,
as there was a carefully prepared bill
reported by the Committee. Senator
Jesup made the leading argument
against the restoration, not only dis
cnssing the general principles under
lying the question, but presenting
statistics from the State records show
ing that while under last four years
of the capital punishment regime,
there were convictions for murder in
the first degree of one for an average
of 900 people, there had been only
one to over a million during the past
four years without the death penalty.
1t is a common remark, that there is
great increase of crime. But these
figures show that it is not of murder
in the first degree. The Senate Or
dcred the bill engrossed, but on
motion to reconsider, it comes up
again on Thursday.
The House got at the question with
The original bill brought
in was not acceptable, as it lacked
provisions for carrying out the eXecu-
ton. Mr.. Gibbons offered the Senate
bill as a substitute, and It was agreed
to. Mr.. Dixon attempted, by resolu-
ton, to Obtain an expression of the
House on the question before going
to work to prepare a bill. This was
changed to motion to strike out all
after the enacting clause, and on this
motion the debate commenced on
the merits. Mr.. Hobbs, Of Lee, made
the principal speech against the bill
1t was able and effective. He was
by Mossrs. Stone, Glover,
Madden, Robinson, and others. Mr..
Clark, of Johnson, made the strong
est argument fer the restoration, and
the same side was taken by Mcssrs.
Glendenning, Gibbons, Stuckey, Ben
ton, and Brown. Avotc was reached
on the motion to strike out, and lost
Az to 40, showing 0 preference for