Hkuotcit to IDoIitics, ftitttatwxt, Agriculture, Schwa, MXoxal anil ntcral StatclHgtnck
VOL 18.
STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY, PA. FEBRUARY 24, 1859.
NO. J).
Published by Theodore SchoeL
terms. Two doiiars per annum in advance Two
'Jo'llarS and a quarter, half yearly mid if not paid be -
fore the end ofthc rear, Two dollars and iilmir.
Nit nancrs discontinued until all arrcaraccs aic paid.
fexceplai the option of the Editor.
.IH7 Advertisements of one square (ten lines) or less,
6ne or three insertions, SI 00. Each additional inser
tion, 25 cents. Longer ones in proportion.
JOB PRINTING.
ifavinc a general assortment of larce, plain and or
KriptSo?110'" arcPrci"rcd to execute cvcrj'Uci origill in a semi-barbaric people, and was
gSTOI? m.'R'SSWK'm, J instituted because of its necessity in or-
frirds, Circulars, Hill Heads, Notes, ninnk Receipts, der to Compel obedience to the ordinan
jlusticcs, Legal and other lllanks, Pamphlets, fee, prin- r
ted with neatness and despatch, on roasoiuhlc terms " CCS or laWS of that people. But that ne-
I his nfiir :r r r
- i
jTJRY LIST, for February Term, 1859.
GRAND JURY.
Chcsnuthill John Gregory, John Green, relics of Barbarism, which, by common
Jflmaon-Chrislopher Sfltcnbender, jrMConsent in B08t countries and Stat
XouUO i.uaioii U Willi UlUIClli
Jackson Andrew J. Detrick.
T J.- Lnc Flanrif Tncnnli Prr.
j t www,;
Joseph i J ones. . 1
Polk George W. Krosge, Daniel Ivresge. j
Pnrnnn Peter Tranue !
locono i cier i raiutit.. .
Price Jeremiah Postens, Simon N.
o,ri,rjlt i
J&w-Barnet Flvlc, Samuel Altemn.se.
SmuhjcldWmam Brodhead, John V.
"Bush, Uorare Brodhcad.
SlnudAwrff.mucl Mehck, Davis
Tunkhannock Wm. D. Christman.
Tobyhanna Washington Winters.
rrrriT JURORS.
Chcsnutliill Joseph Dorsheimer, Henry
-11. Weiss. :law, whether it does not tend to produce Li L- t -t i mi t
CnolbuvsrhCUns. Ilebard, Simon Gruber. ! . ., . . , , v , : the sense m which it is used. The above
Eldrcd-.U&CVh Tehr, Adam Brotzman, . thecnl lfc was tended to eradicate: and howbverj in connection with the "proph
Reuben Stever i whether indeed it is not perversive of the j fc reference to the
uamwon ueorfre iv. amuer, josepn vcr y aatare 0f
roan. " , i tv i t i
Ivellcr, John Mansfield, Rtidolnh Siorm. , , . prophecies and Decalogue ; for, when he
Jackson Samuel Singer.
Paradise Ja mes 1 1 el ler.
Polk D-inio! Kerciincr.
Price William Price.
Ross Jacob Nevliart.
Smilltficltl Henry Bilcnbercr,
Isaac
Treible, Joseph Fenner, Samnei Detrick,
fitnriTf Kintnrr. Tlemaniin lavuir. !
Stroud John Utisti. John Huston, Uharles
' .' J .y
Brake, Daniel Bovs, Edward Brown, Samuel
-pne t..i,.. v"mi.-imt
ETh, .fh e n-.,. r,,
Edinger, Philip S. Brown, Edward L. Wolf, '
wiiuam vanacc.
Tunkh nvrock Abraham Butz.
Tobyhanna John White, jr.
TEIAL LIST, for February. Term, 1859.! spirit of his teachings, has to our mind,
Jacob T. Smith vs. George Bou-e. 'clearly repealed that part of the law of
Nicholas Altemose vs. Jacob Hufsmith. j MosM sanotioM tho tabi of hu.
Jacob Bossard vs. IJanford Bellis. ... . . TT lt ,
Henry Detrick iw. James Henry. maD llfo for crlme- IIcnC0 the 0Dbr
Abraham Grotzer vs. Charles Dailey. jcu-e we can plead, tor the taking of life
Robert Boys vs. Daniel Brittiau Bur- for crime, is the example set by Moses.
net. i Then let us briefly recount the history
William Storm vs. William S. White ' f mnrA.r nml th(1 nnnnitv nttacho.A in it
and Marinas Brakely, partners under the .
firm of William S. White & Co. '
Georiie L os vs. Charles Shafer, late I
Conslable of the Borough of Stroudihurg. '
George I.005 vs. Charles atiaier, Jate
Constable of the Borough of Stroudsburg.
Jeremiah Williams vs. Richard Po.-t-
-cns.
William Ocrfield vs Elijah Depuy.
Ja.-per J Roseukraus vs. Richard Pos- j
tens.
William Taylor & Co. vs. Sxith & 0
Terpeck. Push Decker vs. Robert Huston.
Argument List, February Term. 1859.
Jacob W. Williams vs. Jacob Rouse
J.E. HooJmachcr, use of John Mer-j
wine vs. Nathan Shupp
John Merwine, use of John Murphy
vs. Jacob Bu?kirk.
Charles Faherman, use of Jacob Van
Buskirk vs. John Murphy and Jacob Van king the life of a murderer.
Buskirk. But Moses subsequently established the
Hardy C. Levanway, u?e of R. S. Sta- death ,t for tfao pract;CQ of witch.
pies vs. Mo;es L. Noyse. 1 . . L ,
Henry Edinger vs. Joseph J. PoStcn8.icraft'8mU,n2ParDts disobeying parents,
Jonas R. Smith vs. Mathew Proctor, j Sabbath breaking, rebellion, Idolatry,
In the matter of a Road view in Price! adulatry, man-stealing, for endangering
township. tjife for murder &c.
In the matter of a Road view in Polk
fn irnuliin
- . . - . '
In the matter of the independant School
District of Stroud township.
.
License Applications.
ITCoiiroe Co nitty, ss.
I, JOHN EDINGER, Clerk 1
of the Court of Quarter Scss-
ious in and for said County, do
ertny that tuo loiiowiog namea persons
(ilA mbAU n a n n li-t y-k tAM.vi
.r . 1 fit 1 '
aave uiea wnn me. in my omce ineir re-
r i- j 1 1
8pective petitions for licenses, and paid 1
tho advertising fee, as follows, to wit :
Jerome S. Williams, of Hamilton town-
Bfain. for store Lieene to sell Linuor.
Jnhn Rnlrlwin r.f T SmifKfiM tn.
t- r rr T:
1HII1II. llll I H Vl'l II I ill'HIIM
nip, mr xavern license. j
Melchoir Depue, of M. Smithfield, for
WnLicenSeF ' I
Casper Mctzar, Hamilton, for License
to sell Liquor by the quart.
John Thomas, of Stroud township, for.g'
xavern ljicense.
James Postens, of Stroud township, fori
Tavern License.
Witness my hand and the 6eal of the !
said Court at Stroudsburg, this 7th day
of February, A. D. 1859.
Febraary 10, 1859.
EfiSPLOYftlEMT. "
50 a mouth, and all expenses
Paid.
An Agent is wanted in everv town and
county in the United States, to engage in aj 7or wjth what judgement ye judge, ye
For furthur particulars, address Dr. J.llEN-ietc, it shall bo measured to you a-
nv Warek, corner of Broome and Mercer 8a,D' r
Streets, New York City, enclosing one pos-1 Yo have heard that it hath been said,
tage stamp. Feb. 10, 185'J. Om. j An eye for au.eyo and. a tooth for c tootb:
AN ESSAY,
Read before the Stroudsburg Philomathe-
1 or, KnfMPT.v
1 dU ouwicbjr,
BY JACKSON LANT3!,
December 17, 1858.
"CAPITAL PUNISHMENT."
In ages far past was established tho
penalty of death for crime. It had its
ccslty wo tbirjk' has loDS "nee ceased,
and its infliction now appears to us to be
; an uniortunato adherence to one or tao
has been continued to the present time.
TP it- : tl. t .1 11 ! . II 1... !( !i
xt . i,ul iuuu ia wen, uui u it is
wrong then its infliction is a crime against j
fe. . fa
humanity, the enormity of which can '
ji j
scarcely be conceived.
T . J .
A ,s admttcd bJ a fi"at majority off
those who have considered it in all its j
bearings to be, to say the least of it. of '
doubtful right and expediency. It there-'
fore becomesour imperative duty to re-
'examine this matter and to keep well to
'first principles and endeavor to discover!
whether it is not contrary to the moral '
""us - Ul W03"!',uai0U3 luu said, "I come not to destroy the law, or
taking of human life for crime, is notbe pPO?hew he meaut evidently that
; guaranty of its propriety or orpedioncy ,he oaine to verif the predict;orj3 of tho
iat tue present time, no more so tuan tnc
stoning to death for various offences au-!
thorizod bv h
ni... rv:: i i i:t. ii. - i I
iiuu iaw, uuu uunuu mc uuuiau
Uw in some respedfs, is, or was, modified
'and varied according to the necessities of
the case, and the necessity which gave
rige to the taXincr ot human lite, it it ever
u
! existed, ceased when Christ came upon
! earth : as he both by the letter and
, . ,,,,.-,!.,
from the creatl0D of thc wor,d to Chrlst-
ana se whether it has neen uniform, ana
whether Christ has not taught that after
..him it should not be inflicted.
Cain, the first born on earth, murder
ed Abel bis younger brother because of
.jealously. The Lord directly took this
case in hand, as we are taught, and meted
out to Cain what was undoubtedly his juet
punishment, in making him a fugitive and
vagabond in the earth, (Gen. 14.) God
1 cursed him and Cain discovering what a
1
wretch he had rendered himself, was
afraid
that hii fellow men would kill
him, and the Lord comforted him by
saying that whosoever should kill Cain
vengeance should be upon him seven fold.
TW tljis is aD express prohibition of ta
The penalty of death for these crimeB
woe infliAtn frrm itc ncrn kTicliniAnf r
1 "a VL" " v"3l"u,1DU"Jtuu "v
j Christ, without any inttrruption. But
'Christ taught another law than that of
revenge. Ho taught charity, mercy and
mutual forbearance, and his teachings,
wc luink bave expressly repealed the law
of revenge as inculcated by the law of
'Moses, as the followiag passages pretty
c,ea, indicBte .
w w
,
1 hen came I eter t
T " , jt 1 , ,
L?rd' how oUA h?U ?
ga,DSt, mo' and Vrgn
my brother sin a-
ivo him 7 till seven
l,,UU8 ' ,;e8UitauD UQl UIU1' 1 baJ D0C
9 T ...!iL 1 T i
Utjt lbCG UDt, 6CVCn times :
kut' un,'iof
. 1,.1
seventy times seven. Matt, loo
. ... '
1,or lf ve forgive men tbeir trespasses,'
your heavenly Father will also forcive ,
JO" i Vut if ye forgive not men theirjtbat the law and the prophets, (that is,
trespasses, neither will your Father for-i
Jour trespasses. Matt. G c 14,'tne d;rcot signification of which is, that
.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves,
I but rathe, sivo place unto wrath : for it is I
written, Vengeance is mine ; I will repay '
saith the Lord. Rom. 12 c. 19 v.
A new commandment I give unto you,
That ye love ono another; as I have lov-fiD(i
you wm ye aiso love one another.- God f tbe taki of b(JIUan ,.f h
John 13 c 34 v. ' , 4 r fa. .. . . ' J
T , , , . , . 'are compelled to nod it in tho New Tes-
"Judge not that yo be not judged;' c . , , n .
condemn not and ve shall not he con' I tameut. as Promulgated by Christ. This,
demned ; forcivo and ve eball be fortriven. '
But I say unto you, That yo resist not o
vil : but whosopver shall smite thee on
thy right cheek, turn to him the other al
so. Matt. 5 c. 38, 39 v.
We then that aro strong ought to bear
the infirmities of tho woak, and not to
please ourselves. Bom. 15 o.-l v.
Therefore all things whatsoever ye
would that men should do to you, do yo
even so to them : for this is the law and
the prophets. Matt. 7 0. 12 v.
This teaches us unmistakoably that it
is our duty to be charitable and merciful :
'd tbafc the ,aw and thJ prophets so far
they relato t0 us arc redaced to
a .
IU1J .
That we should do to others as
we would have them to do unto us.
Then everything in tho law and the
Lronhpt9 not cor,a;stont with this is re-
r r
peaied or superceded.
m c u t l r
I he following verses I behevo are gen-
n . i j 1 i j
erally strongly and mainly relied upon
, V , . e . . ,
by the advocates of capital punishment.
Think DQt that T am come tQ destroy
the law or the prophets : I am not come
to destroy, but to fulfill. For verilv I sav
Vto you, Till heaven and earth pass,
lone jot or one tittle shall in no wise
flio Inrrr 111 nil Va fit lfiiio
5latt 5 c 17 18 v
xr " it ; well knnw tht h t-rm
law" has different meanings, owing to
nronhets and to confirm tho decalocme.
. . , . fl ,7,
i iiii ii hi: iiiiu nun i.imhit nit: in wiinri.n iiir1
I . lt , , , , ,
nnj ,,nn ..u i,.n ilon AnatnnA
. , 4. , , e i
And that nothing should pass from the
nU,r?fi, nnAnnVttaA ,
h f to the commandments, and
not to the law of Mose3, as many suppose.
The following passages prove that thc
Mosaic code is repealed :
For sin shall not have dominion over
you : for ye are not wider thclaiv but un
der grace. Rom. 6 o. 14 v.
Grace is defined to mean the free favor
of God bestowed upon men without any seminate intelligence and virtuo among
merit or claim on their part. The New their fellow-men, is their greatest enjoy
Tostament reveals the plan by which this ( ment and satisfaction of mind,
grace is bestowed consistently with the Tuc secotfd class, includes that portion
divine attributes tho atonoment, medi- . of mankind whose propensities are gen-
ation, and intercession ot Uhnst. This
shows clearly that wo are not under the
law of Moses, as the word "law" in this tnat tbere 18 no occiuea predominance
case has reference to, but that we are un-' 00 either side. Hence they are vacilla
der the teachings of the New Testament tin because influenced by transient and
as explaiued or promulgated by Christ. external causes. Education and mor
We admit that tho Law of God or tho al culture bias them to tho side of virtue,
Commandments, were established or con- ; and by frequent recurrence to tho prin
firmed by Christ. But where can the j oiPlcs of religion, and under tho influ
advocates of Capital puni&bmont find any ,enco of good examples, continuo good
thing in the Decalogue, that can pos- j citizens. Reverses of fortune, however,
sibly be interpreted to sanction tho taking I often prove fatal to their virtue. But
of human life; but on the contrary, we when persons of this organization of mind
are strictly forbidden to take human life: ! are born in the less fortunate conditions of
God says : " Thou shedt not kill." Who ;
shall not kill ? Why, man shall not kill
his fellow-man. Is it not remarkable
that the advocates of oapital punishment,
will quoto this same commandment to
justify them in murdering an unfortunate,
to say the least of it, fellow being 7 Has a
Commonwealth a better right to murder
than a private individual 7 We think
that the individual is much more excuse
able than the Commonwealth, for tho in
dividual is often void of education; of a
low intellect and imperfectly developed
moral perceptions ; whereas the Com
monwealth has the benefit of all theae ad
vantages. Ouo more passage whioh to us
is conclusive that the Mosaic code is su
perceded :
Tho law and the prophets were until
John : since that time tho kingdom of
God is preached, and man presscth into
it. Luke 1G c. 10 y.
The kingdom of God, denotes tho gos
ncl disnensation under thc government
the Messiah in distinction from the
. . - ... T. A
typical kingdom of tho Jews.
fr . 0 ... ...
Ghnst dtuctly ad unequivocally
licit;
states
Moses and tho Prophets,) were until John;
after John, there was a new dispensation
csconsoeu, wnicu superceuea luoses and
..l1't I 11 UT
the prophets.
ibis is not only signified
but distinctly stated. Then, in order for
tho advocates of capital punishment to
authority according, to the law of
as uas Deen shown, they cannot do, for
the letter and spirit of bis teachings do
j man jifo for orime
. . . .
Christ sought in many cases not to do
'.away with tho sinful practices of tho peri--
plo to whom he was sent, by directly re
pealing their laws. But ho did seek to
establish such principles as would in their
legitimate workings subvert all their in
stituttons,which were contrary to the prin
ciples which he taught. The friends of
capital punishment, hence are compelled
to seek for the right to take human life,
out side of the New Testament.
Wc will follow them next, in tho exam
ination of the organization of man and
endeavor to discover whether the inclina
tion to crime of certain men is not owing
to their peculiar organization over
they have little or no control.
Although all men are born freo and
independant so far as natural rights are
concerned ; yet there is a decided differ
ence in their organization and susceptibil
ity to intellectual and moral attainments.
It is sufficient for the present purpose,
to observe that all tho animal propensi
ties and manifestations of mind, depend
upon organization. All men are natur
ally influenced either by a preponderence
of their intellectual and moral faculties
or of their animal propensities, except
when they are so equally balanced that
there is no decided preponderance on ei
ther side.
This difference naturally divides men
into three classes, as follows :
The first class, embraces all those who
have adecided predominanccof intcllectu-
j tual and moral feeling. In these the an
. imalpropensitiosareproportionately weak,
vet Riiffieinnt.lv strnncr fnr their lewitimntp
. ... .
ends the propagation of tho species and
.
cannot gain the ascendency over the high-
"
ni nnn nnnmr1 iinmnna r r rnn tv inn vnnr
degree, sufficient to impel them to the
. . e rn.
commission of crimes. They naturally
shrink from it, and having the law writ
ten, as it werp, in their hearts, are a law
unto themselves. They being aotuated
by high-minded and honorable motives
, in their intercourse among men, govern
ment nor individuals have no fear of
' acts of violence from them. They
are benevolent and charitable; and to dis-
uuai.j(aw i ouu-
terbalarice the intellect and moral feeling
me,uneducated and exposed to the numer-
ous deceitful allurements of the world, from
the path of rectitude, they in turn often bo
come vicious and oriminal. In order to re
form and bold in check thpso morbid pas
sions,lusts and appetites, tbe external cau
usca of vice must be withdrawn; or they
must be counteracted by good example
and good advice.
Thc third class, are thoso for whom
criminal legislation is mainly intended,
and they aro those whose animal appe
tites, or propensities aro so powerfully
developed as to overbalance the restrain
ing force of their moral and intellectual
faculties; and they consequently reject
whatever rcoral influence may be thrown
about them. Beings of this constitution
of mind aro under thc dominion of strong
lusts, violent passions and extreme selfish
ness. Their moral restraint is so weak
that it affords no barrier to tho gratifica
tion of their passions or selfishness, atany
cost of life or property to thoso who may
stand in their way. Such persons have
extreme confidence in their power of con
cealment and escape; and have a 6x9 d
rejection in their own case, of all idea of
retribution. There is a persuation exist
ing in their minds that the restraint im
posed on them is simply that of power,
and is, therefore, of no avail in control
ling their passions, oven when they do
see the results of yielding to their grati
fication. Any better endowment of intel
lect in this class, is generally perverted to
purposes of crime; and hence they make
the most expert thieves, pickpockets,
swindlers, forgers, and the most formida
ble robbers and murderers.
Now, men of this organization of mind
aro truly unfortunate without any fault
of their -own; and to inflict -upon such
punishments which the. safety and good
of society do not rcquiro, is to punish j
them more for their misfortuno than foj
their faults. Such persons under all cir
cumstances are truly pitiable and fit sub
jects for our warmest and most con
siderate charity ; as it is the imperative
duty of the strong in all oaseB to bear the
infirmities of the weak, and to inflict no
punishment that our self-preservation
does not require.
It is the duty of all intelligent and mor
al men to seek rather to reform than to
exterminate our unfortunate fellow men.
Wo should endeavor by proper educa-
j (ion to dovelope their moral faculties, and
thereby hold in check their propensities.
If they are morally educated and good
examples constantly set beforo them, they
will prove more of a restraint than the
gallows.
By the infliction of oapital punishment,
those who have rendered themselves un
fit to associate with their fellow men, are
often permitted to run at largo, simply
because the taking of human life is so re
volting to human nature, that men are
loth to testify in such cases, and juries
are unwilling to take the fearful respon
sibility of pronouncing a man guilty of
murder in the first degree. They will
therefore, acquit him altogether or con
vict him of a crime of which he is not
guilty, but which will not require a sac
rifice of life.
The punishments for crime ought to be
made sure, and Bhould invariably be in
proportion to thc offence. From the fact
that there are bo many persons acquitted
who are most probably guilty of murder,
the terror of death to a great extent, is
destroyed; and the criminals flatter them
selves, that if they are suspected and oven
arraigned, that tho chances are, that they
will be acquitted. Hence tho death pen
alty increases rather than decreases crime.
Farther, in evidence of the demoralizing
effects of tbe infliction of death for crime,
let us cite a few recorded facts, and then
we will be better able to discover the le
gitimate results flowing from this inhu
man practice, and to also see that it tends
to increase murder as well as all grades
of crime.
In Blackstone's time, about 1750, no
less than 1G0 different species of crimes
were punishable with death, in England.
Henry the 8th, of England, reigned
38 years (from 1509 1547) and during
tb it time it is reported, on respcciablc
authority, that 72,000 persons were exe
cuted. This ia at the rate of 2,000 eve
ry year of his reign. But it does not ap
pear that this immense human slaughter
afforded any restraint to crime, There
are no persons who have less regard for
life, than those who witness tho sacrifice
of it. The effect of executions is to render
the destruction of life familiar to those on
whom they aro intended to operate as ex
amples of terror. This familiarity takes
away the terror, and teaches them to
place less value on life, and conse
quently diminishes tho repugnance they
otherwise would have to take it by person
al violence.
Tbe Rev. Mr. Roberts of Bristol, Eng
land, states that ho conversed with 1G7
convicts under scntenco of death, and
found that 164 of them had witnessed ex.
ecutions. . Here all but three had wit
nessed tbe taking of human life.
Men who aro guilty of murder are gen
erally of the lower class of intellect, and
hence of the most feeble moral percep
tions; and ministers, who have attended
them in thoir last hours, have declared
that ono of tho chief difficulties was
to bring them to connect the punishment
they were about to suffer with their crimes.
Is it to be wondered at, then, that men of
this organization of mind should be im
pelled to murdor, by talking about, think
ing of, or witnessing the sacrifice of hum
man life 7
In Bombay, British India, under the
recordership of Sir James Macintosh, cap
ital punishment was abolished for 7 years,
and the number of murdeis committed
during that period was six, whereas du'.
riug the preceding 7 years there had been
18 convicted of murder. Then thc abol
ishment of capital punishment reduced
murder iu Bombay to ono third.
In Tuscany, wero murder was not
punished with death, only five murders
wore committed in 25 years' while in
Romo where the punishment of death was
inflicted with great pomp and parado GO
murders wero committed in one year. It
will then be seen that in Tuscany thcro
was but one-fifth of a murder a year, !
while in Home, mere wore ou m tae same
period.
When we reflect that the manners and
religion of Tuscany and Romo aro pre
cisely alike, we think that this is evidence
conclusive that capital punishment tends
io produce the evil it was, and is, dosigncd
by its friends to erndicate. The Empresses
Elizabeth' and Cariiarrno of Russia abol
ished oapital fubisbtneut, and, wero
r ' well pleased with the results flowing from
! it.
j The laws of Maine formerly inflicted
J death for the crimes of rape, burglary, and
: robery with intent to kill. Io 1837:, this
law wa9 abolished or repealed, and tinea
! that tiuio the crimes of fspc, robery with
intent to kill, and burglary, havo dimin
f ished to 5-13, being less than half what
T they formerly were,
i In Denmark, executions are very seldom
known. The women of that Kingdom
atone time murdered their childrenquite
i often. Thc authorities finally abolished
1 the death penalty and condemned them
t to the spin-house for life, and since this
. Jaw b?3 been in force, this crime has sel
dom been committed. , ,
I Michigan aboiidhed capital prfnishment
in 1846, and it took effect in 1847; and
; during the six years preceding the aboli
tion of the death penalty, thcro was on an
average, one indictment for murder for
every 70,500 inhabitants. But for fbd
first four years after it was abolished
there has been but one indictment -for
murder annually for every 75,200 inhabi
tants; and for all grades of orirr.es for 'tho
6 years before it was abolished, tbero
was one indictment for every 13,959; bu5
for the 4 years since it has been abolished,
there has been but one indictment for ev
ery 18,431.
In Feb. 1852, Rhode Island abolished
capital punishment, aud they are well
pleased with the results flowing from
it. This we have a right to infer from
the fact that in 1855 or '56, they enacted
a supplement to tbeir penal code, making
murders committed in state Prison, pun
ishable as other murders are in that State.
In Pennsylvania murder in the first de
gree is the only offence punishable with
death; in New Hampshire, treason, and
murder; in Massachusetts, treasonj mur
der, arson, burglary, robbery and rape.
Yet in tbe two former crimes are less fre
quent than in the latter. Such arc tho
facts within our reach, and which show
conclusively that the death penalty cre
ates crime. If this be so, then common
safety to society, aside from humanity,
calls in imperative tones for the abolition
of the death penalty.
There surely is no reparation to thc
injured party in the infliction of the death
penaly; and if this is a matter of import
ance, it can only be accomplished by im
prisoning the criminal at labor.
But the reformation of the criminal is
the great object of punishments in gener
al; and if he is imprisoned he will be'sup
plicd with moral teachings, and if it is
possible to reform him, it will in most ca
ses be accomplished.
Governments nor individuals havo no
moral right to take human life, except'in
self-defence or eelf-prcservation.
If a person becomes abandoned to crime,
he, as a mater of course, forfeits bis fight
to mingle in society, and ought to bo
securely confined, until he becomes un
mistakibly reformed, if ever, so that he
cannot exercise a contaminating influence
over his fellow men. A
Circumstances have Keen, and will un
doubtedly be again, such as to convict
innocent persons of the horrid crimp of
murder; and who can conceive of. a mqro
pitiable and wretched circumstance for a
person to be placed in 7 All his carlhly
prospeots; all his happiness, present and
anticipated, inhumanly and barbarously
snatched from him, by snapping the vital
cord of life and ushering his spirit into tho
presence of Him who gave it.
Is it possible for us to conceive the un
just, burning and galling shame,- tbe'rel
ativea and friends of this truly unfortu
nate man would suffer 7
So long as this barbarous punishment
is inflicted, who oan tell when his turu
will come to experience bnd of thc above
conditions? dud for this reason, ifno
other, tho death penalty ought to be.-abolished,
and imprisonment for life substitu
ted ; and then, if circumstances should
prove that a person was wrongfully convic
ted, he would then be restored to his rela
tives and friends, and have all possible
restitution made him.
Then we arrive at the conclusion,. that
tho only proper and safe security to.soci
ety and individuals; depends upon meet
ing out to orirui6als humane and civiliz
ed, rather than barbarous and cruel pun
ishments. The former, as has been
shown, modifies and restrains, while, vthe
latter hardens and impels to crime. .
A resident of Znncsville, Ohio,, says
fh6 Cincinnati Gazette, rcceutly bought
a' sorrel horse of Pennsylvania
which was twenty hands high, and" weigh
ed 2,400 lbs. I The price paid was Sl,
100; that is, not quite fifty cents a pound
on the hoof. j.
A philosopher being asked wbatwas
the firsfthipg necessary to win the lovo;
of a woman 'answered, opportunitv?
m
Longevity of the Horse A tti.ig
hamptou paper records the death , 6ffta
borso aged 37 years, He had feSfihjown
cd by Mr. Franklin Whitney for 2Yyeer
fc Georgo Sanderson, Eq., editorMf tho
Ldhbaster"I,ttelligenccr1 has been t'jecled
by ho Demoorats, Mayor of Lancastec.
oity. :
'O : . ' h
A Yankee doctor hasgQl up aWmcdy
for hard times. It oousista-of tt,n hours1
labor, well worked in. "