The Morning herald., 1877-01-05
cArIreL NsIalRnHng.

cAPIHeLlHIaHHx n
4 We have III iulshope ofimpl sing IT,
(udnd, Of a msiceftyS SNour people With oTg
sisvs upon tAIssubset. The baIlrity al
unchristian character Of this mode of pup
ishment, which W hold WAS -solemnly
abolished BY Christ himself, when he re-
fused his assent toits enforcement upon the
Adulteress, brought to him in the Temple,
for Judgment II does NOT lessen chime the
history Of English criminal jurisprudence,
ioudlyproclaims the fact that when thedeath
penalty, was the rule for larceny, coming,
and many Of the minor ielonies they were
much more frequently committed than now
when imprisonment Is the penalty. The
decrease Of such crimes was manifest after
the humauisiug modification ef1hs English
law was enacted. \ great English thinker
once said "every execution for the larceny
of guinea makes ten thieves" 1t is worth
remembering that there has not been an
execution for murder, in Philadelphia,
within generation, save one or two, that
the same crime was not committed, and
exactly in the same way. in short time
after the execution. Berger cut Mary
Watts throat, was tried, sentenced to death;
shortly after Williams cut Mrs. Muller's
throat tried and executed following
Iin horrid haste Winnimore cuts Mrs. Ma
| gillton's throat, the mode of killing, the
| veapon and the attendant Circumstances
| ,ere afrigh,iul rep.oduction-did hanging
deter? We state without fear of contra
diction that murders are less frequent in
those States where capital punishment has
been abolished. Unless in a case which
stirs up society to its marrow, it IL dificul'
TO procure capital conviction-if impris'
onment was the penalty for murder, there
are many free in our country who would
be now conyicts.
| We 60 a step farther-has society the
right to infict it? And, if it has, has il
also the right to accompany that inaiction
With unnecessary degradation and with
inhuman torture? Hanging means both
The death ,nroes of the unfou.unates who
are condemned SO to die will average sew.
srsl minutes, some quarter Of an houl
and even more. Just reflect Take eu'
your watch and observe how long the SEC
ond hand will be in making sixty beats
round the circle, or count the numbers
from one 10 sixty and you have only one
minute, that to go slowly on, on, on fifteer
times that long, whilst the dying wretch i:
slowly, de.pairingly, horribly choking
catching at film OF ar that makes its wa,
to his lungs. Oh! the crime Of society, il
forcing on this torture, is crime infinitely
greater than the greatest that wretcheC
victim ever did or ever could commit. Tht
public don't al all realize this enormoul
wrong, Fifteen minutes" We measur,
il Only by our perception of that time il
every day life. Alas alas! that is no
how i, is measured by the dying wretch
From one to sixty, slowly and distinct,
counted. That gives you one minute o
the horrible fifteen minute.
through which this wretched brother
OF ours is passing into the great eternity
But has society the right to take his life a
all? Has done right by him? Has
given him a fair chance to grow up and t.
be a good man? This man had physica
wants that were bcrl with him. Has 90
eiety afforded him an equitable opportun
lily Of supplying those wants. This maj
had natural capacities for wisdom, MOI
ality, refinement, and virtue. Was Al
honest chance given to him for their dc
velobmen,, This he was entitled to. II
!: was member, a child of society; did
, give him cAild's care and bringing uK
Did it surround him with healthful in
. fuences? Did it present to his heart ,h
t loyelines. Of truth, and honor, and indl
: try? Did it put telescope in his han
r and bid him look up to the far-otf giori'
; Of the universe? Did it teach him augl
. of the Divine love and power tnat all viii
D in that universe unfolds? Did j: make
8 man Of him latter the image Of God," {
did it ABANDON him to the life of the saya,
!. withou, even the hunting grounds of sa