The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-07-03

Eight or nine murderers have been
hanged in North Carolina during the past
three months, and in every instance the par
ties died game" died with "a hannv
hope" died ''torgivlng the world" died
with much pretence of penitence. Soon. the
scaffold will be considered quite an auxiliary
to the church converting by force, the hard
cases who wouldn't listen to moral suasion.
OF course it is possible that these late re-
pentances, and glibness in the use of pious
phrases, may be, a genuine, and not merely a
fraudulent conversion, resulting from cum
ming, or fear, or the too great zeal of the at
tending ChapiainS- Certainly if we all knew
the exact date of our approaching death, we
should give much more thought to repen-
lance, and the "cOnsolations OF religion
than most of us ordinarily do. But there Is
apt to be a cynical suspicion that the gailows
plety comes too late, too soon after a career
OF crime, to be sincere.
At all events, the u~nctious goody-good-
ness OF many OF the last speeches OF the
condemned, particularly the negroes, as
suredly demands the abolition Of puJlic exc
c%utions Men are hanged. not So much IN
IcNCH0t tIlC pIOhCh Jaw, SS W iCIIcSS OtIei
men from following their example. But Of
what repressive effect is an execution whereat
the victim figures as a dying christian =
a brave fellow whom one halt the multi
tude regard with admiration, and whom a
large number deem innocent! 1t is a mel
ancholy fact that some OF the finest qualities
Of human nature are exhibited by the worst
OF mankind courage, patience, fidelity 10
accomplices, affection for friends, fortitude
under all manner of misery, and teariessness
when called to the fearful .fnate!
No Military hero faces certain death with
more calmness and manlinesS than the gener-
ality of the %hangmans victims. Nor is it
always a religious sentiment which upholds
them. The best men morally are often the
weakest men physically. A long career of
crime and watchfulness lmpartsa firnness
under misfortune, and a Stoclsm in confront
ing inevitable doom, which the MODEST of
men might envy. This species of strength
is about the only one of which the average
criminal is proud. To be able "die like a
man." is their boast and from this mock
heroic display o. courage on the scatfold
many a wretch has acquired a post-mortem
| reputation for innocence. 1t IS historically
related that the victims of sNew-Gate HILL =
| and ''TyburnTree, fairly wed with ole ano-
ther in chatting gaily, tossing kisses to the
women as they rode IN the Death-cart, and
Boosting of their exploits, on the scaflold.
No such display should be allowed. AL
religious services should be held in the
felon's cell. The jury which convicted the
prisoner should be required to serve as wit
nesses of his execution, and they, in addition
othe Sheriff 5 assistants, and W physicians,
should be the sole spectators at the hna
hour. Let the preachers, the reporters, the
family and friends. take leave OF the doomed
creature in his cell. Let him march out.
drapel from head to feet in black let ne
word be spoken; let the drop silently launch
him into Eternity! Aud let HIM be burlec
under the gallows.