The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-06-22
Gallows Conversions.

9dA4OWS SOufSGS4V0Ss
The Rev. DR.. James NJ. Pullman,
a Universalist clergyman of New
York, preached sermon recently,
in which he reviewed the act OF
Gov. Cornell in reprieving two
criminals for 30 days, in order to al
low them time for religious prepa-
ration. Among other things he
said:
When the executive of a great
state postpones an execution for 80
days on the ground of giving a
criminal time for religious prepara-
ton, it would seem at first sight
that only the most captious could
complain of his action. But sober
second thought will show how poor
an excuse this for setting aside,
even temporarily, the strict law OF
retribution. Truth and morality
have their claims, and these. forced
the speaker to declare that in these
gallows conversions, brought about
by the fear of death, there is a
great and dangerous delusion. To
mediate heaven at the end of his
rope is not mercy. 1t is a cruel
raising of false hopes in a wretched
man, and brings both religion and
justice into common disrepute
Gods law of retribution cannot be
changed, and to teach a criminal
that it can be is inexcusable. That
the governor in his reprieVes in
tended. to be merciful, DR.. Pullman
admitted, but his action was vul-
nerable in many points. To begin
with, it proceeds on the assump-
tion that the state is responsible for
the future condition of the souls
of its executed criminals This
tends to bring back the associa-
tion of church and state, which has
happily been eliminated from our
constitution. The constitution rec
Ognizes no. church, and our officers
are thus cut off from determining
what proper religious condition
for hanging is. They can only de
pend on the report of some minis
ter, and when the question arises
what minister shall decide, the
point the old condition of a union
of church and state, which cost so
much blood and treasure to put out
of sight, is renewed.
Reprieves for religious prepara-
ton form a dangerous precedent:
they are no demonstratiYe mercy to
the condemned man, either before
or after death, and they may be un-
merciful. A minister of any form of
faith who undertakes the religious
preparation finds only victim cast
into his hands by the strong arm of
the law. 1t is unfair to the crimi-
nal to submit him to possible con
fusions under such circumstances.
He has right to be protected from
all such religious interference. Re
prieves granted for religious pur-
poses also tend to encourage that
unhealthy sentimentality towards
criminals which the governor him
self deprecrates in his veto of the bill
giving to the defense the right to
the last word before the jury. 1t
tends to encourage the dangerous
classes and rob the law of retribu-
tion of half its terrors. 1t seems to
commit the state to the theory
that a dying hour repentance can
cancel the bad acts of life time
and condone the crime for which
the murderer is hanged-a theory
of the divine government which is
false and confusing. The criminal
is told that he will swing from the
gallows into the arms of the saints.
Such teaching is distinctly immor-
al and a reprieve granted to allow
of its inculcation seems to commit
the state to this immortal doctrine
By the reprieve to Leighton the
governor practically said: 'If 1
leave this man to DIR. Morgan for
80 days longer he may save him,
but if / hang him now his soul will
go to God, and he's lost forever"
"Does the governor, asked DR..
Pullman, ''mean to commit this
state to the idea that a man can do
what God cannot? Do you think
that it is true that DIR. Morgan's
efforts will transcend those which
the Holy Spirit will make to re
claim lost sinner The state is
not charged with the administra-
tion of pardon for sinners. Pardon
with punishment is the divine law,
and God, while He forgives the re
pentant sinner, does not cancel the
retributive pehalty. 1 protest, as
citizen, against all theological in
reference with the administration
of justice; it seems like an attempt to
save theology at the expense of
morality"