The Express.
London, England, 1868-03-27 00:00:00

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LONDON, FRIDAY, MARCH 27.

FLOGGING IN THE A.l:Af Y.

Tux reformed Parliament of 1869 is casting not
its shadow but its light before, if we are not mis-
taken in our interpretation of the division last even-
ing on Mr. Ovv.sY's amendment to clause 32 of the
Mutiny Act.

That the Mutiny Bill should bo debated in com-
mittee would have been considered two or three
three years since a monstrous interference with the
prerogatives of a Department which has been accus-
tomed to consider itself as above and beyond parlia-
mentary discussion and control. Even this unre-
formed Parliament, however, has sanctioned an
exception which in the Hous.: of the new consti-
tuencies may, perhaps, become a rule. But for
the obstinacy of the authorities in maintaining oar-
poral punishment in the army, against the clearly-
expressed will of the public, who pay so dearly
for tho worst managed military administration in
the world, it is probable enough that the Committee
on the Mutiny Bill would be a purely formal
proceeding. It is in a great degree to the punish-
ment clauses of the Act that we owe the novel and
salutary custom of treating the Mutiny Act ea
something not too sacred to be touched by the re-
presentatives of the people. Last evening the
member for Chatham, Whlue generous persistency
is worthy of all praise, moved an amendment on
the clause which provides for the infliction of
corporal punishment in certain cases in time of
peace, to the effect that " No court-martial shall,
" for any offence whatever, conmitted under this
" Act during the time of peace, within the QUILEN'ti
" dominions, have power to sentence any soldier to
" corporal punishment." The M:nisrea for WAR
met the amendment in his usual fashion, com-
mitting himself to no opinion on its merits
one way or the other, I-it requesting that
it might be handed over to tie Royal Commission
which is now inquiring into the whole subject of
courts-martial and military punishments. Mr.
07WAY declined to relieve the Executive of its re-
sponsibility, or to entrust the quest-on to • Royal
Commiasion, of which all but two members have
spoken or voted in favour of corporal punishment.
This judicious firmness was rewarded by a majority
of 37 abolishing the punishment of flogging in the
army in time of peace. It will be difficult for the
Government to repeat the niuno..uvre of last year,
and to take Mr. Orwav and the u'oolitionists "in
" reverse" by a counter amendment. The ques-
tion has made noteworthy propels in Parliament
since last year. Ont of dot.: sit has long ceased
to be a "question." Let 1.4 see how the case
stood • year ago. Mr. 01 WAN then, as now,
moved the abolition of Hogging in the army in
time of peace, and carried his motion in a thin
house by a majority of one. The? eepon Sir JOHN
PARINOTON (who had just transfcrred himself from
the Admiralty to the War-efice, respectfully de-
clined to accept so small a majority as the genes of
Parliament, and proposed am uniehded punishment
clause to the effect that flogging should henceforth
be inflicted for the two offencesonly (which, as Major
Jeave, observed, were in substance one and the
same), of mutiny and insubordination with violence,
and only inflicted upon soldiers of the second class,
that is, the soldiers degraded from the first-deem,
to which all recruits belonged according to
the system introduced by Lord liaassar. Since
the "second class" comprised no more than nine
per cent. of the whole army, this concession was
acknowledged even by the total abolitionists to
be worth acceptance as a pis aNer, though Mr.
Omer gallantly stood to his rr:nciple, and
divided against it. Such as it was, it was carried,
and was felt on all aides to be a deeded advance
towards total abolition. What happened 1 Why,
a week later, down came Sir Joint Paetworox to
the House again, armed with an amended
amendment conceding the favour of capital punish-
ment
to the soldiers of the first-clams also, for fear,
it should seem, of diseouragin; the nine-tenths of
the army by depriving them of the boon which the
remaining tenth enjoyed, and virtually cancelling
Lord Haasser's disincion o: (laves of merit ao
far as the punishment of flogging was omen:reel.
Honour to whom honour is dna. II was not