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Capital Punishment

Capital Punishment image
Parent Issue
Day
1
Month
April
Year
1844
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

In New York and Massachusetts, considerable interest has arisen fronj the discussions on this subject. TheTribun contains an account of a large meetin held in New York, at which a permanent society for the collection and diffusion of information on this subject was organized. Among the officers are W. C. Brva Horace Greely, W. II. Channing and Parke Goodwin. A memorial to the Lep. islature was put in circulation prayin them to substituto solitary imprisonment at hard labor, for life, beyoad the reach of the pardoning power, except fOr the purpose of granting a new trial on the discovery of further evidence. We know it may appear to others, böt sofar ashurnanity is concerned, a solitary imprison. ment for life, in a stone sepulclire, is a sentence far worse than death. etter hangup the culprit at once, than bury him nlive! As many of our readers ar& not familiar with the arguments on this subject, they will doubtless be interested with a brief enumeration of the reasons fortheabolition of the Gallows, as set forth in this memorial. It is asked, 1. Because the decisive preponderance of Scripture argument is for it. 2rUecause the certainty of punishment is a more effectual security agoinst crime than its severity. 3. Because the fear of a possible chance of death has little effect in deterring men from acting out the promptingsof any violent passion. Men daily risk their lives for different objecis in the most ventursome manner. Certain death is undoubtedly appalling: but the risk oí incurring it is comparatively powerless, and is readily incurred. 4. Because every execution jeopardizes the eternal destiny of a human soul, which might have been saved in the natural term of life. 5. Because it is not necessary to hang a murderer to prevent future murders We do not hang lunatics who commit homicide. 6. Because nothing shortof its necessity can justify its maintenance. That necessity has not been demonstrated.7. Because it brutalizes society and muhiplies the very crime it punishes by imitating and suggesting it. It is the opinión of many that the hangman hitnself is the direct or indirect cause of more murders than he ever punishes or avenges. 8. Because it is founded on and eustained by the vicious moral principie of Vengeance. The sole objects of punishment shouJd be the prevention of crime, and the reformation of the criminal.- One of these ends is defeated by every execution. s 9. Because it hardens the heart, and familiarizes the mind with murder Out of 167 malefactors under sentencé of death,visited by Rev. T. Roberts, of Bris? tol, 164 had witnessed public execufions. This tendency is dimihished only in d(s gree by private executions. 10. Because executions are often followed by suicides, suggested to the mind from a principie of insane iraitativeness. 11. Because we cannot teil where insanity causes moral respoñsibility to cease; and whilesome real lunatics are executed, many crimináis, not insane, continually escape under that plea. 12. Because many innocent persons have suffered death through mistake. 13. Èecause the privacy of executions shows that it is already condemned by public sentiment. 14. Because the experience of othor countries demonstrates that it is neither necessary nor advantageous.OjT Anexchange paper has aorne facts on the officers of the navy. It appears thai the captains or commandera average nearly three to every 6hip; the ]ieutenont6, five; the midshipmen, nearly eight; all with salaries varr ing from $4000 to $600. The whole number of officers, including the marines, is 1558 for 68 ships; an average of about 23 officers to each sbip. Is there, in a time of peace, or even of war, any real need of eo many officers? Are not the offices in fact created for incumbenrs? More than iwtnty officers to direct the operations of a small ship whih qncJtored at one of our navy-yards. The estímate for the pay of officers on leave of absence, or waiting orders, is a quarter of a milüon, via: 80 captains at $2,500 per annum, $75,000; 36 commanders at $1,800 per nnnum, $64,800; 50 lieutenaBts at $1,200 $60,000; 5 surgeons at an average of $1,400, $7,000; 10 superannuated masters at $750,, $7,500. It ia proposed to employ all thO vessels that are afloat. There are on the stocks twelve, viz: four ships of the line, tvro, frigates, five sloops, and two .carriers. 056" From a statement in the Albany Evening Journal, it appears that the Junius Tracts are sold at $2,50 per hundred, and the copy right forbids their pblioa tion in Whig newspapers. The Journal offers to print any quantity fbr $1,00 hundred. Thus the writer makes $1,50 clear profit on every hundred tracts.- The Albany Patriot, (Liberty,) offers to. publish the original tract ou Political Ab? olitionism for 50 cents a hundred, as tb,P Editor says he knotos it has made some Liberty men, and believes it will make more. " ft?A bundie of tracts is at this office for Dr. J.-W. King.

Article

Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News