The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-02-23
Interesting Debate,

before the students and a large number of
spectators. The question was resolged
"that Capital punishment should be abol-
ished." Messrs. Alfred B. McYey and
Harvey W. Ewing on the affirmative, and
Messrs W. r. Huston, and II. Greeley
Knowles on the negative. Mr.. McVey
opened the debate in behalf of the affima-
tive. "The question that Is before us To-
day, is by no means new one. 1t has
agitated the minds of law makers and
statesmen since the writing of the first
human law; nay, longer, since the fist
attempt to explain that command Thou
shalt not kill, and though never settled
there have always been some in favor of
doing away with this barbarous method
OF punishment: while there are others
like our opponents, who cannot imagine
anything possible or endurable which is
not the actual practice of the time, place
and society to whi,h they happen to
belong" He said capital punishment was
wrong from the beginning, and that We
living in civilized age should not adhere
to lie customs of uncivilized nations
Capital punishment is gradually dying
out, and ere long it will breathe its last
breath. I'VE do not advocate the prin-
ciple that the guilty should go free and
unpublished. But, in tho place of killing
which is nothing but cruel revenge, we
would substitute imprisonment and hard
labor" lie maintained that most men
would rather meet the gallows than to
work. Hanging does not prevent crime,
and no punishment of such short dura-
ton can. He nsed the Bridge of Signs"
as an argument against the negative.
The death penalty often moves iuries
and judges through compassion to vio-
late their oaths. During the reigns of
Elizabeth and Catherine II Of Russia
Capital punishment was abolished, and
these two great empresseswer at the head
of glorious administrations. He con-
cluded his arguments by stating that we
should give murderers time for repen-
lance, and then to save their souls from
eternal damnation. Mr.. McVey's argu-
ment was forcible throughout, and IL was
plain to be seen that he had strong
belief as well as knowledge in regard to
his side.
MIR. Huston opened the negative as fol-
lows: 81 know well the disadvantage
under which | appear to-day in meeting
my silver-tongued opponents upon this
question. | come boldly, nevertheless,
trusting in the eternal principles of right
and justice. No doubt every thing
which fnished rhetoric, and oratorical
effect can accomplish, will be done by
the other side to disguise the real ques-
ton and mislead the audience, 1t is to
their advantage to take you away from
the realms of logic and fact, into the |
mlsly.vale of imagination and fancy. |
They present 10 you specious arguments
and fallacies in the vain hope that you
will be beguiled. Aye? they would have
you believe that they stand as the defen-
ders of the wronged, the spokesman of
justice and of mercy" He conclusively
proved from the bible mans authority to
infiict the death penalty, but, said, 1--WE
do not teach that Capital punishment
should be inflicted for light or trifing
offenses, that is hostile alike to nature and
revealed religion. Is it expedient to
slaughter thousands of of our fellow-men
on the field of battle for the sake of lib
erty and life, and not expedient 10 take
the life of one who coyertly attacks the
same? Are not liberty and life as pre-
cious in peace as in war ?" The doctrine
of criminal reformation is absurd. We
will always have wickedness, vice and
crime among us, and no human punish
ment can prevent it entirely. Capital
punishment is the most terrible punish |
ment that can be inflicted. He cited |
scenes and incidents at and during theList
trial. imprisonment for life, which if |
it were carried out would be entombing |
alive, is an impossibility. When time
has blunted the keen edge of our remem.
brance, and the horrors of the crime arc |
quite forgotten, we turn the prisoner out,
and cheat justice of her due" Whenever
Capital punishment has been abolished,
there murder and its kindred crime in
creased, property became unsafe and life
insecure. Capital punishment has been,
in some states and countries, abolished,
but, in all cases the law has been repeal
ed, restoring the death penalty, and in
conclusion he said, Eat what cost this
experience has been gained, let those who
weep over untimely graves, and deserted
hearth-stones answer. Ask the mother
bending above the lifcless body of her
son, ask the gray haired sire from whose
heart life's jewel has been plucked away,
and they will curse the hand that broke
down the barriers of the law, loossning
the flood gates of death upon them.
Widowhood and orphanage but echo this
refrain, and the cry of outraged inno-
cence, and justice unavengsd, ascending
higher and higher has driven those states
TO acknowledge and retract their error"
Mr.. Huston's argument was impressive
in the least, and well might his speech be
said to be model of rhetorical and ora
torical excellence.
Mr.. Ewing in closing the affirmative,
said: "Society is bound together by
laws which either necessity CT pleasure
bids it create. They are necessary in
order that men may be restrained in their
evil inclinations and tendencies. Law is
of Divine origin. 1t was first given to
man in the Garden OF Eden. Moses had
it directly from God. Laws are enacted
for the benefit of all citizens; laws of free
dom for the unripht and laws of MN