The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-04-26
From Berlin Cross Roads.
J. W. Mccormick,
M. G.. elect 18th Dist

Your reply to DIR. White, relative
to the moral, religious and political
right to hang man for murder, be-
ing published in the Standard, makes
it public property; so shall take the
liberty to say that I heartily endorse
your sentiments There is sound
sense and logic in every word. Let
the criminal suffer the extreme pen
atty of the law. If he had killed a
ruffian like himself, there might have
been some apology for sympathy; but
the man whose life he took in cold
blood, was worth more to society than
all the villains Of Jackson County.
Again, no moral or religious benefit
would accrue to the criminal by life
incarceration; he would only become
more hardened sinner; there would
be nothing in his associations or sur
roundings to inspire either religion or
morality. Further, society is risking
the probability of his return within a
few years, a graduate in vice; then op-
erations will be resumed in a more
scientific and destructive form. |
am opposed to hanging man on
circumstantial evidence; if there is
doubt, give the prisoner the benefit of
it; but when the act is proven beyond
doubt, let the law take its course. |
will ask some Of our sympathetic
friends if they have ever considered
how different would have been their
feelings, had the murdered man been
a near kinsman of theirs? Would it
be likely that son, brother Or cousin
of the murdered man would ask for
communication Of the sentence in the
interest of the murderer? This is the
only way that we can intelligently
dispose Of this question, 4. e., let con-
sistency guide our emotions. When
ever something better and more effect
i've than capital punishment is given
for the prevention of crime, we should
hastily dispense with the latter; but
until that better mode is presented,
we should use the most effective means
we have for the determination OF
murderers, and the prevention of
crime generally. The power vested in
the Executive to issue pardons and
commute sentences, is much abused,
and should be restricted. This power
in one individual ignores the intelli-
gence of the court of conviction, and
disregards the action of the, Supreme
Court in the premises. 1t gives the
malefactor hope, and encourages the
viciously inclined to go one step fur
ther.
In conclusion I will say that we
have too many men and boys of leis-
ure. Idleness begets vice. No man
or boy should be allowed to loaf who
has not an honorable and honest
income sufficient for his support.
Those who do not work, and complain
that no work can be found, should be
furnished work by the county, in the
form Of repairing roads, and raising
produce to sustain the pauper portion
of the community. Intelligence Of
fees should be established in all the
townships, and each Office in charge
of man whose duty it should be to
know every man in his respective
township who wanted hand, or had
jobs to let, or ore to dig, SC. Every
tramp should be taken to this Office,
and disposed of by the intelligence
officer. A whipping post should also
be erected in each township, and
should also be in charge of the Intel
ligence Officer. All small crimes,
such as petit larceny, drunkenness and
disturbing Of the peace, or tresspassing
on the premises of others, should be
punished by castigation. The whip
ping post should be constructed with
equal-rights timber, SO that the Negro,
Irishman, German, Welshman, Mon
golian or any other man would have
fair show. l will vote for a law
establishing the above systems when
ever the chance is presented, and [
hope that will not be long coming.
You would then witness an exodus
from your county, and it would not be
composed of your most valued citizens
either. J. W. JACKSON,
(Not the Murderer.