The Sun.
London, England, 1836-03-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 21, 1836,

Nov, for a specimen or two of the logical acutenes-, of

the Commissioners :
"We observe that, throughout the evidence, great doubt is
thrown upon the fact of flogging being considered by the sol-
diers, at all events, a degrading punishment, if applied in the
case of a military offence only. Almost the universal answer
to the question of whether a man who has been punished at the
halberds is considered by his comrades as degraded by that pu-
nishment, and consequently shunned by them, has b fen in the
negative, and that the nature of the crime led to degradation
and not the punishment. And with regard to its effect as
hardening, and not reforming the individual, it will be found,
upon looking at the evidence, that such is by no means the
universal consequence. Many instances are given of men who
have undergone this punishment having become good soldiers,
and having reached the rank of non-commissioned officers, and
even of officers in some instances."
From this statement it would appear, either that no
soldier is flogged save for an offence in its very nature
degrading,. or that a soldier may be flogged for certain
offences without incurring the odium of his comrades.
The first inference is contradicted by the next para-
graph in the Report ; and the second cannot be true
without admitting that the bystanders transfer the
odium from the victim of military torture to the system,
if not to the officers by whose orders it is inflicted. In
this case indifference is impossible, for no- soldier can
witness the flogging of a comrade without being
persuaded that he is punished justly or unjustly.
If he think the punishment deserved he will re-
gard the object of it as degraded ; if undeserved
he will imbibe a hatred of the service, and of
his officers. The Commissioners talk of instances
of soldiers who, having been flogged, subse-
quently rose to the rank of officers. They forgot,
however, to inform his MAJESTY whether they here
speak of the rule or the exception. We hardly believe
the former, as then flogging would be in greater repute
than it appears to be at present. What, then; does
the exception prove ? Why, this—that a flogged sol-
dier is not without a chance of promotion as well as a
murderer, a convicted thief, a swindler, or any other
description of villain. What would the Commis-
sioners think of us were we to tell, them, with the im-
posing gravity of a council appointed to advise his
MAJESTY, that murder could hardly be called dis-
graceful, inasmuch as many murderers had subsequently
risen to the rank of Judges, Ministers of State, Pre-
lates, Peers, and even Sovereign Princes ? -But to
proceed :
" It must be remembered, also, that it is frequently thought
necessary to inflict this punishment in a military body, when
the moral reformation of the individual is in no degree its ob-
ject; instances of insubordination which cannot be passed over
may, and very often do occur, where the offender is any thing
but an immoral or vicious person. The prompt infliction of
corporal pnnishment may be necessary in such a case, for the
sake of example, and to prevent the spreading of a disorderly
or mutinous spirit ; but it cannot be said that its object is the
moral reform of the individual; and we cannot help thinking
that this constitutes a great difference between offenders against
the military and the civil law."
How a man can be an offender against a law which
he voluntarily binds himself to observe without being
either vicious or immoral, is more than we can com-
prehend : but, with the exception of the Commis-
sioners,we question whether an equal number of gentle-
men, unconnected with the military service, would be
found in the three Kingdoms, having the assurance to
assert that the punishment of soldiers by flogging for
offences neither vicious nor immoral, is justifiable
under any circumstances. The monstrous doctrine
that an innocent man may be flogged as an example to
deter others from the commission of crime, is only fit
for the meridian of Upper Egypt. With ME-
HEMET ALI it might do very well ; but no
admirer of British liberty would dare to pro-
pound it in England. To suppose that a British
soldier could be made to respect and fear a law under
which an innocent comrade could be dragged before a
court-martial, tied up to a triangle, -and lacerated until
the victim of such cruelty could endure no more, or
expire on the spot, is to cast a moral stigma upon the
military service—to assume soldiers to be mere tools,
in whose breasts the fire of honest indignation never
burned. But the assumption is a gross and malignant
libel upon the character of the British army. The
only effect of a punishment intended merely as an
example, and for which no adequate cause existed,
would be to fill the hearts of private soldiers with an
inextinguishable hatred of their officers, and of the
whole military system.
The following extract is a fine commentary upon
those which have preceded it : --
" The next objection is, that it excites disgust and sympathy
in the bystanders in favour of the sufferer.
" It will undoubtedly be found by the evidence, that the
ight of corporal punishment has a great effect upon those
present, and that with the young soldier that effect is some-
times so powerful as to produce physical weakness and fainting.
It is aiijicult to say whether this is disgust or terror, but we
must observe that such circumstances cannot arise without a
very strong impression having been made upon the mind, and
that, from that impression, must be derived a confident hope of
the efficacy of the example presented to the eyes. But with
regard to the sympathy of the bystanders, we can collect no-
thing from the evidence to show that such a feeling is aroused
by this punishment in the minds of the comrades of the cul-
prit ; on the contrary, the feeling seems to be almost universal
among them that no man is punishedia that manner, in these
days, who has not deserved it."
If our readers will only turn to the first paragraph,
above quoted, they will find that it is possible for a
soldier to be flogged without degradation ; but, accord-
ing to the doctrine here laid down, the first position is
false, as the conviction on the part of soldiers that no
man is punished in the army undeservedly, is proof
positive that in all cases degradation is the necessary
consequence of punishment. This is sad blundering,
although the Commissioners do not appear to be at
all aware of
We should like to have heard the Commissioners
when deliberating upon the question—whether the
sickness of a soldier, produced by the sight of the
bloody and lacerated back of a comrade—was the effect
of fear or disgust. We regret that upon this point,
especially, their doubts were not removed by evidenye
as convincing as sometimes falls to the lot of soldieis
" neither vicious nor immoral." Had we been in at-
tendance, we should certainly have suggested-an effec:-
tual method for clearing up this metaphysical subtlety.
But suppose we were to admit that the soldier, acting
merely as a bye-stander, faints from terror, and not from
disgust, will it be contended that he is a better man
when he recovers than he was before witness-
ing so dreadful a spectacle ? Quite the reverse.
Such a man is henceforth virtually disqualified for
serving in the army ; for he can never again regard
the service in the light of an institution intended to
protect human liberty, and his continuance in the
ranks will not be the result of volition on his part,
but of stern necessity. We may again return to this
subject.

We have seen a letter from Plymouth in which it is
stated that His MAJESTY'S Steamer, Phenix, sailed
on Saturday morning for the North of Spain, with
150 marines, intended to aid the cause of the Queen of
Spain, and that other vessels are to follow for the same
destination.

It is believed that these men are sent by the Engish
Government with the object to garrison San Sebastian,
Bilboa, and other important places on the coast.

We have received the whole of the Paris Journals
of Friday and Saturday. They bring some advices
from the North of Spain, which are, however, of no
political importance On the 10th, MINA left Barce-
lona to scour Catalonia, and expel from it every Car-
list bearing arms. Previous to his settingout he
levied 500,000 francs on the inhabitants of Barce-
lona to defray the expense of this campaign.
CABRERA, the Carlist chief, whose mother was
shot by command of NOGLTERAS, has carried his
vow of vengeance into effect, by the slaughter of
eighteen women, the wives, mothers, and daughters of
officers in the QUEEN'S service.
In the Sitting of Friday, the Chamber of Deputies
passed a Bill granting an additional sum of 500,000
francs for the support of the Polish refugees now re-
sident in France.
PARIS, MARCII 19.—There is nothing in the letters and
journals of Bayonne received to-day to confirm the news of the
action at Salvatierra mentioned in a telegraphic despatch three
days ago. This will turn out like the affair of Orduna.
Marshal Clauzel is expected in the first fortnight of next
month. The object of his return is to defend the Budget of
Algiers, which was so warmly attacked in the sub-Committee
of the Chamber of Deputies. Another object is to fulfil the
engagements into which he entered with the Electors of
Rhetel at the last elections.
Lieut.-General Count Marbot, aid-de-camp to the Duke of
Orleans, and Marquis Maison, son of the Minister of War, are
expected at Rocroy, to make out a camp for 21,000 men and
3,000 horses.
It is said that the Ministers, in private conversation, seem
more inclined to the reduction of the interest of the debt

than might be supposed from their official declarations. If we
may believe their friends, what hinders them from proposing
the measure this session, is the fear, or rather the certainty
that it would be defeated by the opposition in the Chamber of
Peers?
It is affirmed that M. de Passy is to repeat, on Monday, in
the public sitting the explanation given in the Committee, and
the effect of which was sensibly weakened by the subsequent
declarations of M. Thiers, in the sitting of Monday last.-
Messager, March 19.
FRENCH FUNDS.-Pants, Mallen 18.
Five per Cents., 107 f. 30c.
Four and a Half ner Cents. 102 f. 75e.
Four per Cents., 101 f. 50e.
Three per Cents., 80f. 80c. 85c.
Bank Actions, 2,180 f. 2,185 f. 2,187 f. 50c. 2,190 f.
Rente de Naples, 100 f. 90c. 101 f.
Roman Five per Cents., 103% 104 803 X•
Spanish Actives, 4714 4633%.
Spanish Differes, 22Y4 22.
Spanish Passives, 15 u, 15 l5Si.
Royal Spanish Loan. 34.
Belgian Loan, Five per Cents, 101.
Portuguese Loan, Five per Cents., 791 x.
Portuguese Three per Cents. 49g.
Haytian Loan, 330 f. 332 f. 50c.
EXCHANGE ON LONDON.
One month, paper, 25c. 45e. ; money, 25f. 45c.
Three months, paper, 251. 32%c. ; money, 25f. 30c
- (burs Au/he/thane.
FRENCH FUNDS.-Pants, Miami 19.
Five per Cents., 107 f. 45c. stlc. 40c.
Four per Cents., 1011. 50c.
Three per Cents. 8)f. 90c 85c. 90c.
Bank Actions, 2,200 f. 2,202 f. 50c. 2,205 f.
Rente dejNaples, 101 f. 25c. 20c. 15c. 20c.
Roman Five per Cents., 104 1tt.3%.
Spanish Actives, 463,4%%.
Spanish Differes, 20%.
Spanish Passives,.ls
Rovai Spanish Loan, 34.
Belgian Loan, Five per Cents , :04 y 2.
Portuguese Loan, Five per Cents., 79
Portuguese Loan Three per Cents, 491,41,‘.
Dutch Two and a Half per Cents., 571
Haytian Loan, 3801.
EXCHANGE ON LONDON.
One month, paper, 25f. 45c. • money, 251 45c.
Three months, paper, 251.30 c. ; money, 25f. 30c.
-Coors Authentique.
BOURSE, THREE O'CLOCK.-There has been a complete
stagnation of business to-day. The Three per Cents. opened
at 81f., dropped to 80f. 92kc., and returned to 80f. 95c.
The Spanish stocks have not moved since yesterday.
QUARTER TO FOUR.-Five per Cents., 107 f. 50c. ; Three
per Cents., 80f. 95c. ; Five per Cents. Spanish, -; Three
per Cents. Spanish, -; Cortes, -; Coupons, -; Gueb-
hands, -; Differes, ; New Loan, -; Actives, 4613. ;
Passives, 154-; Ducats, 101 35 ; Romans, 1031; Pedros, 79 ;
Belgians, 104 ; Dutch, ---f. ; Haytians, 380 f, -c. ;
Miguels, -; Brabant Bank, -; Belgian Bank, 15; Con-
tinuation, -c. ; New Differes, 22k; Five per Cent. Perpe-
tuelles, -; Royal Loan, 34.

We have seen letters from Madrid of the 13th,
which do not add any news of importance to our last
arrival of the 11th, except that the Government had
made some remittances to London for the payment
of the dividends due on the Ist of May. We are in-
formed that about 250,0001. has been already received
in town for this purpose, and is now in the hands of an
eminent city capitalist.

DUBLIN ELECTION
DAY COMMITTEE
(THIS .)

The Committee met this morning at the usual hour.
Mr. AUSTIN, on the part of the sitting Members, ob-
jected to the names of certain raters being removed from
the poll, because of the non-payment of the pipe water tax.
The grounds of the Learned Gentleman's objection were
these :—First, that the pipe water was not a .municipal
tax ; secondly, that the assessment was invalid ; and thirdly,
that no demand of payment was made.
Mr. THESSIGER was speakinc, in support of the validity
of the rate when our reporter left.