(EDITORIAL.) ARTICLE CLVIII. Meeting on the Treatment of Criminals. MORNING SESSION. ONE of the most interesting meetings ever held in Boston, took place in the Melodeon, June 1. That large, spacious hall was filled, and the most intense interest was manifested, undoubtedly heightened much by the late awful scenes connected with the execution of Washington Goode. Rev. S. J. MAY was chosen Moderator. S. P. HANSCOM, Secretary. Several resolutions were drawn up. Among them were the following: Resolved that the precepts of Christianity, and the spirit of the age, recognise the abolition of the Death Penalty. Resolved, that the late debate in the British Parliament on the death penalty affords another strong indication that that penalty will soon come to an end. Resolved, that we express more distinctly our sympathy with our friends in London, France, and elsewhere in their efforts to remove this hideous monster, the gallows, from society. Resolved that the plan suggested by the Editor of the Prisoners' Friend, of again celebrating for the second time in the world, the Birth-day of John Howard meets our cordial approbation. Resolved, that as it comes on Sunday this year, a Circular be addressed to the Clergy generally, inviting them to make it a theme for that day. Resolved that we enlist our efforts in furthering the Fair that is to follow during the week following the celebration of the Birth-day of Howard. Resolved that the Prisoners' Friend, a monthly publication, claims a more generous support from the friends of the cause. The speakers were John M. Spear, Rev. S. J. May, Rev. Wm. H. Channing, Wendell Phillips, Esq., Rev. John Pierpont, Charles Spear, Rev. Thomas Whittemore, Hon. Edward L. Keyes, William Lloyd Garrison, Abby K. Foster, George Bradburn, Rev. Dexter S. King, John Augustus, and Charles Remond. On the platform were placed the words of Lafayette: "I SHALL ASK FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE PENALTY OF DEATH UNTIL I HAVE THE INFALLIBILITY OF HUMAN JUDGMENT DEMONSTRATED TO ME." Rev. W. H. CHANNING. He gave his views on Penitentiaries and on Capital Punishment. He maintained that we had no right to cut off a human being from the earth; that it might be right to restrain him, but that everything should be done to restore him again to society. He thought labor should be given as a privilege. God's method of dealing was to withhold privileges. Society should imitate him. He maintained that society bred its own criminals. Wholesale murderers were exalted into the affections of the people, while retail murderers were hung upon the gallows! Mrs. ABBY KELLY FOSTER. She hoped that we should take up the fundamental principles of the Reform. We were all criminals, and CHAS. L. REMOND. He spoke in the severest terms of the prejudice against the blacks. There was no inducement for them to be virtuous. This was a prolific source of crime. WENDELL PHILLIPS. The gallows is the great test question. A great tragedy had been enacted during the past week. He refered to the 25000 who had asked to have the life of Goode spared. Gov. Briggs even left the State to preside over a Baptist Convention. How did he know what might happen? Some new facts might come out to show the innocency of Goode. We must begin this work by having the accused treated decently. Is this done when they are handcuffed and carried through the public streets. cent, he should be recompensed for his loss of time. When a man was pronounced inno'which he once defended. A poor woman was indicted for a crime upon A case occured the perjured testimony of one witness. She was acquited. But she left the Court room robbed of her time, money and reputation. It is an act of Royal injustice engrafted into our code that the State pays no costs. AFTERNOON SESSION. We made some remarks tending to show that there were some new facts which went to prove the innocence of Goode. were there that night who saw the blow inflicted, and they were within Two young men twenty feet of the man. They saw Harding fall; heard his groans; and they have declared that the one who inflicted the blow was a white man. Farther examination will undoubtedly reveal new facts. Rev. THOMAS WHITTEMORE. Capital Punishment. He then cited several cases of the execution of He said the Bible did not support the innocent. In regard to the case of Goode, no one saw him commit the deed. He alluded to the remarkable case of the Bournes in Vermont, one of whom confessed he was guilty, and yet the murdered man was alive, and was brought on to the ground just before the execution. He alluded to private executions. Then too, why were so many cards of invitation sent out? Why did the Sheriff do this work? Was he obliged to perform the work? Then again, was the man converted? If so, then he was just the man who ought to have been spared. If he was not converted, he was not fit to die! WM. L. GARRISON. I wish to put a question. If Mr. Whittemore should find a text in the Bible favoring the death-penalty, what would he do? Would he hang the text and save the man, or save the text and hang the man? Mr. WHITTEMORE. When I find such a text I will answer. Rev. D. S. KING. He was chaplain to Goode. He did not rise to defend Capital Punishment, for he did not believe in it. He had been misrepresented. He attended Goode at the request of Father Taylor. He got no pay for it, and had never been thanked. The Hymn selected was by Goode himself. GEO. BRADBURN. The orthodoxy of the State ought to be thankful that a victim had been obtained. day, and have them performed by the holiest men. He would have executions on SunJOHN AUGUSTUS. He presented his long roll of names to show how much had been accomplished in the way of bailing men. his story in a simple manner, and the audience were deeply interested. He related 512 Executions by the Clergy. [July JOHN PIERPONT. He endeavored to show how much might be accomplished by individual effort, and by the power of love. WENDELL PHILLIPS. He alluded again to the scenes of the execation, and then showed the work to be accomplished. A better public sentiment must be formed. Those who voted had a work to perform. We must have a Governor who is not afraid of the seventh chapter of Genesis! Woman must be more active. She was the great corrector of public opinion. Hon. EDWARD L. KEYES. He had formerly been one of the Governor's Council. He was not in that office when Goode's case was presented. He said many had believed that the prisoner was hung because he was a negro. He did not believe that. Many asked why he could not have been spared as well as Dutee. The difference he said was that in Dutee's case, the jury agreed to bring him in guilty with the intention of asking for a commutation. He believed Dutee was never legally convicted. He thought that had the Judge known the circumstances, he would have discharged the case. Mr. GARRISON. How could he be sent to prison at all? Mr. KEYES. My opinion is that he is illegally convicted, and ought really to be set free!* Mrs. RIEDLAND from Providence. She said that Gov. Briggs could have but little sympathy for prisoners, that if she were under sentence of death, that she would ask him when he shed tears of sympathy to save her life. She would not believe him sincere if he did not. The death penalty was terrible. She thought of it on looking at her little boy at home, that if she believed he would ever come to that, that she would rather put him to death with her own hands. She thought woman had very much to do to enlighten and correct public sentiment. The meeting then adjourned, as the Hall could not be had in the evening, as it was engaged to the Associationists, who were to have a speech from Mr. Brisbane who had just returned from Paris. Executions by the Clergy. It will be remembered that some few years since it was proposed that those clergymen who were in favor of Capital Punishment should do the hanging. Many persons were shocked at the very idea. We hardly thought that the time would come when a clergyman would voluntarily do this work. Had it been proposed by some of the fanaties, that Goode should be hung by a clergyman, many would have scouted the idea. Yet a minister comes forward voluntarily and offers to put the rope around the neck of the culprit. His name is Jabez Pratt. He is a regularly licensed local preacher of the Methodist denomination. He must hereafter be known as the common hangman. Will our Methodist brethren allow him to officiate again at the altar? We shall see. It is singular that in one week a clergyman was hung for crime, and another actually hangs a culprit! ED. Since then, Mr. Keves has maintained the ground that there should be a new trial. We know that his sentence was commuted by the Governor and chiefly because the Jury brought in a verdict with that expectation. It is a singular alfair, taken altogether. ARTICLE CLIX. Anniversaries in New York, ANNIVERSARY OF THE N. Y. ANTI CAPITAL PUNISHMENT SOCIETY. A LARGE audience assembled, and after a few remarks by the President, the Rev. Mr. Balch was introduced, who gave the Report, which was unanimously accepted. Wendell Phillips, of Boston, was then introduced, and after the cheering which greeted his presentation, he went on to present his views on the subject in that masterly manner in which he so much excels. He alluded to the late execution in Massachusetts. He spoke of the fact that the gallows had been removed from the highway. He also refered to the hostility of the Evangelical church. Mr. Phillips showed the great duty of society was to educate the criminal rather than to hang him. L. F. A. Buckingham, Esq., was introduced to the audience. He maintained that so long as we had means to secure the criminal, we ought not to hang him. He admitted that the laws of God were once in favor of the death-penalty, but they were now done away. He read from Dr. Cheever's work in favor of the pun`ishment of death. He then explained the noted passage, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood by man shall his blood be shed." He said in comparing the Vulgate, the Septuagint, and the ancient Hebrew, the words by man were not found in it. He then commented on several passages which had been adduced in favor of this form of punishment. Dr. Elder, of Philadelphia, made a very forcible address. He said that when society had chained a man, it was revolting beyond measure to put him to death. Horace Greely also addressed the meeting. The officers for the ensuing year were then chosen. THE AMERICAN ANTI CAPITAL PUNISHMENT SOCIETY, held its anniversary same week in May. A letter was received from Hon. George M. Dallas, regretting his absence. The officers for the ensuing year were then chosen. Anniversaries in Boston. A more interesting week probably never occured in our city, than the last anniversary gathering. We attended several of the meetings. Among the most interesting was that of the Unitarians at Assembly Hall, where about 1000 persons partook of a collation. Hon. Josiah Quincy presided. Addresses were delivered by Father Taylor, Rev. Mr. Bellows, of New York, Rev. John Pierpont, of Troy, Rev. Mr. Mussey, of Cambridgeport, and several others. THE UNIVERSALIST REFORM ASSOCIATION also held a meetsng, and partook of a bountiful dinner. Rev. Henry Bacon made an able Report. Addresses were delivered at the table by the venerable Hosea Ballou, Rev. Thomas Whittemore, Rev. A. A. Miner, P. H. Sweetser, of Reading, Rev. Mr. Forman, of Bridgewater. 514 Anniversaries. [July PEACE MEETING. Charles Sumner, Esq., delivered a very able address on the subject. The audience was very large. Many stood up for two hours. He maintained that the sword might be the servant of justice, but never its arbiter. The address is being printed. THE ASSOCIATIONISTS held a meeting at Washingtonian Hall. Addresses were delivered by Mr. Brisbane, Wm. A. White, and Wm. H. Channing. Mr. Brisbane gave a view of things in Paris, and it was decided that he should again address a large meeting. Accordingly the Melodeon was engaged, and he spoke to a large assembly on the Friday following. ANTI SLAVERY MEETING. The meeting was addressed by W. L. Garrison, Wendell Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. Foster, Parker Pillsbury, C. C. Burleigh, Edmund Quincy, Frederick Douglass. The closing meeting was held in Fanueil Hall. One of the most interesting scenes at the Convention was the recital of the narrative of Henry Fox Brown, or as some called him, Henry Box Brown. He was actually nailed in a box, and marked for Philadelphia," this side up with care." For 127 hours he was nailed up, in a box, 3 feet 1 inch long, 2 feet 6 inches high, 2 feet wide. Sometimes on his head, then covered with Baggage, so that when he arrived, the friend to whom he was directed, feared that he might be a corpse. He finally knocked on the box, exclaiming, "Is all right?" 66 "Yes," "exclaimed a voice within, and out jumped the piece of merchandize, and sung an Anthem, commencing, "I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry." THE LEAGUE OF UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD also held a meeting, but we were not present. We believe it has been proposed to send a delegate to the World's Convention, in Paris. Many other meetings were held. Nearly every Evangelical Sect had its meeting. The Prison Discipline Society had a meeting. About a dozen were present. It chose its officers, and voted to hold no public meeting. CLOSING OF THE VOLUME.-Our next number closes the present volume. From various quarters, we have heard that the present form of our publication is just what was wanted. We feared that the transition from a weekly to a monthly might not meet with general approbation But that point is now settled. We have now several improvements in prospect for the coming volume. We have heard objections to our small type. We shall, if possible, purchase a new font for the coming volume. We shall also make such arrangements as will secure an engraving for each number. Such have been the difficulties attending the is sue of our first volume, that we have not been able to procure such engravings as were appropriate for a work of this character. In consequence of our large expense in preparing for the next volume, we have omitted an engraving in the present number. In the meantime, we trust our friends who may be indebted to us will send in their dues, and they may rest assured that every thing will be done to insure them an elegant and valuable publication. THE FAIR-A deep interest has been expressed in our approaching celebration of the Birth-day of John Howard. A lady in Cambridgeport is now making preparations. Another in Providence. The ladies in Dorchester will furnish one table. It will be held in Washingtonian Hall, commencing on Monday. It is hoped that many clergy men will preach on the character of Howard on the previous Sabbath. Word has also come from Canton. Our friend and brother, Rev. C. W. Mellen, writes, "We intend to furnish another vase of wax flowers, worth, at least, ten dollars for your Fair, on the third of September." Waltham, as usual, is already awake on the subject. Several ladies in Boston have already promised their aid. On the Sunday evening previous there will be a meeting in Boston. An address on the character of Howard will be delivered. |