Grover Cleveland hanged people.
First, to bring us up to speed, Grover Cleveland was an American politician and lawyer. He then became the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Grover, thus far, is the only president in American history to serve two non-consecutive terms in office (1885–1889 and 1893–1897). Hopefully, Donald Trump will not join him.
But, before he was president, he was an executioner. Cleveland served as the sheriff of Erie County, NY, from 1871-1874. And. While he was the sheriff in town, one of his duties was executing those people who got the death penalty. Cleveland could have delegated that particular duty, but instead, he insisted on doing it himself.
First, he hanged a young Irishman convicted of killing his mother. Cleveland also executed one other man during his tenure as sheriff. Some praised Cleveland for his honor, saying he did the job so no one else had to. On the other side of the aisle, his political opponents tried to use the executions to label him as “bloodthirsty.” Either way, he was slipping the noose over the neck and pulling the lever for the trap door. Cleveland was thereafter known as the “Hangman of Buffalo.”
Oh, the death penalty.
People do bad things. Bad, bad things at times. And when they are found guilty by the court of law, they are sometimes sentenced to the punishment of death.
The death penalty, also known as capital punishment, has been a topic of debate for many years. According to most polls, about 60% of Americans support the death penalty. Personally and truthfully, I have teetered on the fence over the years.
Those in favor often argue a couple of key points, the first being “deterrence.” No explanation is needed for this one. Once you are dead, you won’t be committing any further crimes. In any way, shape, or form. But the other part of this, for supporters, is that they believe that potential criminals will think twice before committing heinous acts if they know they could face the ultimate punishment.
Another argument is “justice and retribution.” Advocates contend that the death penalty provides a sense of “justice and retribution” for the victims and their families. They believe certain crimes are so horrible that the only appropriate punishment is the perpetrator’s death.
And then, of course, are the practical supports of capital punishment. The money saved. Some argue that the death penalty is more cost-effective than long-term incarceration. A single execution costs less than decades of imprisonment.
On the other side of the lethal injection, many people oppose the death penalty.
First and foremost, there is the risk of executing innocent people. Despite advances in forensic science and legal procedures, there is always a risk of wrongful convictions. Especially in racially slanted police districts. And once the execution is carried out, there is no way to reverse it.
And. Since I mentioned skin color. Critics argue that the death penalty is often applied inconsistently. There are a lot of influential factors, such as race and socio-economic status. A lot of rich people can buy better quality legal representation. Their boots were made for walking. Walking right out of incarceration, that is. Poor people, not so much.
Then, we have the right to life argument. Opponents of the death penalty contend that it violates the right to life, which is a fundamental human right recognized internationally. They believe that even the most reprehensible criminals should not be deprived of their right to life. (As an interesting observation on my part: Many people who support “Right to Life” when it comes to abortion also support capital punishment. I find this highly hypocritical. Highly.
There are many other things that come into play. Many other factors to consider on both sides of the argument.
These days, I have trouble killing a pesky fly who is badgering me non-stop when I’m trying to mind my own business. I can’t imagine being responsible for killing a human being. But it happens every day. People killing other people.
And in some cases, it happens with the occurrence of the death penalty.
One thing I know for absolute certain.
Life is precious. And so we go.
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“There is a certain right by which we many deprive a man of life, but none by which we may deprive him of death; this is mere cruelty.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche, Human, All Too Human: A Book for Free Spirits
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“The death penalty is not about whether people deserve to die for the crimes they commit. The real question of capital punishment in this country is, Do we deserve to kill?”
― Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
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“Criminals do not die by the hands of the law. They die by the hands of other men.”
― George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman
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Grover killed. Not the blue guy, but the president guy.
