Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1912-09-05
As TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Editor The Gazette:

niUSclt AOoy Is 10 &c COnEIdtu-
lated upon 1.-THE sensible stand he
takes with regard TO capital punish
ment. altho he is probably too Sc
we're in his denuEciation OF those OF
our friends who maintain themselves
through the practice of law. Law
yers. like doctors. preachers. and
other good citizens represented in
the varied walks OF life. are 4 pres
ent necessity. The time may come
when society will DC able to dispense .
with the services Of those who rep
resent the law. out that will not be
until civilized Cd people become
sufficiently advanced morally and
mentally TO conform 70 the principles
OF law without coersion. The whole
thing is merely a mater of evolution,
and when men have evolved sutfi-
GENTLY to realize the personal re
/ sponsibility which rests upon each
and every one OF them. then. and
not TIL then. shall We be able to
dispense with laws which are
/ present necessity for the regulation
of society. and the harsh punish
ments which are now inflicted upon
violstors OF the law.
The question OF capital punish
ment is one that will sooner OF later
be settled through the process of
gradual evolution in popular opinion.
Thinking people have already ar
rived at the conclusion that the
2 death penalty is not only a relic or
oarbsrism but a deliberate crime
:, against humanity. Executions 10
the name of the law cannot be con-
:. suued in any other light than that OF
b. murder, and twelve men certainly
; have 20 more right 70 commit q
;, murder than has an individual. and
-. in our humble opinion such penalties
!, for crime constitute a crime sgains
= the divine law of justice. Organized
e society has no more right to com
: nit CRIME than has any individual
member of that society.
- Those individuals chosen by soci
g ETY. to enforce its laws and TO inflic
/ penalties such as are prescribed TO
the violation OF its laws. are. o
~ themselves. unable to change thi
: laws and are. therefore. not resPon
~ sible for existing conditions. The
only fault we find with them is ID,
fact that they are willing 70 accep
'l such offices. In all ages the hang
is man" has been an object Of publi'
j. execrauon. His office has usually
% been recruited from the lowest dreg
IT, of society. and he has ever been re
garded as a monster unfit be asso
ciated with decent people. Tai
very fact proves that most men ar
{ averse to the killing Of unfortunat
U human beings who violate the law.
The question of capital punish
81 ment IS only one OF the many which
-, remain for society u solve. and vi
>. have no doubt that It will sooner o
90 later DC solved in the right way
- The time IS rapidly approaching
:, when society Will cease 10 cOmprc
mise with the various evils whic
., affhct it. and the changes that ar
taking place in popular senumer
are keeping pace with the growt
81 and spread of education. Educai
;, the people 70 higher ideals OF though
-. and living and most OF the evils c
- society viii gradually disappear
-. Education. Brother Toby. will solv
- al our problems. By education v
do not mean merely the teaching c
- people to read and write. but teac
them to think. TO use Intelligent
which the Lord has given them.
some purpose. and not bury the
nus talent 10 the ground; as did the Vi
70 fruitful servant.
on The writer would be glad to {
into a deeper discussion of Il