Which is more humane: capital punishment or
life imprisonment? 2 paragraphs explaining why.

In my opinion, capital punishment is much more humane. When you sentence someone to life in prison, that is far worse than ending their suffering with a quick execution.

That person is forced to live the rest of their life in a tiny, uncomfortable prison cell. Everyday they repeat the same tasks over and over. It is tourture to whoever is sentenced to it, but on the other hand, if they get the electric chair, it's over like that. Much faster, less suffering.

"Living to ideal ends without any mixture of self-indulgence lowers the value of benevolent and thoughtful men we know" 
"Refusing luxuries, simply as unfit for his habit; quiet and gentle as a child in the house"
-These lines are an attempt by Emerson to portray Brown as an everyman, that slaves can associate to. Brown has been exposed to the perils that slaves are subjected to when he saw their harsh realities as a child. This positions Brown as a relatable fellow amidst of being convicted for the violence behind his anti-slavery movement.
Emerson is a supporter of non-violence and is a surprising supporter of Brown. There is an aspect of Brown that he tries to bring to the surface. Emerson wants Brown's good intentions and motives so as to remove the spotlight on the main point of the movement.