Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-08-05
MODERN IMPROVEMENTS.

In all history and mythology the lash has been
considered an instrument of torture only submitted
to by the hel pless despair of the victim. One of
the greatest evidences of an improved sense of
human courtesy and gentlencsS is the disuse into
which the lash has fallen where the Caucasian is
the victim. When Dir. johnson was asked how he
became SO good classical scholar, he replied, "Sir
1t was iloggcd into me :; and the system of hoggng
and horsing in English schools only exhibited the
brutalitcs which rendered the fictons of Rodcrick
Random and Pcrcgrinc Pickle the reflex of simple
reality. 80, too, the unuterable cruelticS aboard
shipwerc evidences C. he intense barbarisms which
existed in Christian countries proving them in
terocious brutality not unworthy of Pagan rulers
OF late years, however, Il better sentiment has
prevailed in SaXondOm. Since an English soldier
died under the lashcs ordered by Col. White, army
reforms have taken place in England. The mar
tlnct brutatics, too, of service are cut down.
So in our Navy the lash has been abolished, and
our schools offer no parallel to Dotheboys Hall
There Is one lingering resource for barbarity left
IN this country, found in our chivalry, 'the mper-
sonation Of the high-born arstocrdt," sustaining
the system, and crying out for its extension and
perpetuity. The slave is beyond and beneath the
law which protects soldiers, sailors and pupils from
the crucltics which, until within few years, were
their portion. NOicCeSs lrcndlcss in council where
votes are concerned, trampled to the EARTH lashed
branded, bloodhound hunted, roasted alive, he
stands the marvel af this century and country of
II .
revelation, science exnediency fate, so will it, Such
is the chivalrc fiat. OF course when half his worth
is taken away, the lash must make up the deficit (;
and we are not surprised, therefore, to read the
following sentence in the Hon. II. L. MarshalPs
late speech on the Matt Ward murder trial lie
was seeking for Il reason to Justify Matt. for the
killing of Butler:
The strap, gentlemen, you are probably aware,
is an instrument of refined modern torture, ordin-
arily used in whipping slaves BY the old system
the cowhide--a severe punishment laceratcd
them so badly to almost spoil their sale when
brought to the lower markets. But this strap, |
am told is vast Improvement in the art of whip-
ping negroes; and it is said that of them may
be punished by it within one inch of his life, and
yet he will come out with no visible injury and his
skin will be as smooth and polished as IA peeled
onion ~
1t would seem from this declaration that the
chivalry Of save-brceding Virginia injured the
article by the old method of hogging, and that a
simple question of commercial profit caused them
to change the cowhidc to the strap. The impor-
sonation Of the high-bon aristocrat therefore de-
serves no credit for changing the superficial mode
of administering the lash for simply the effect on
the market price of his chattcs the motive of
the reform. a person who was asked what is the
difference between n barristcr and solicitor, an
swcrcd. the same difference there is between Il
crocodile and an alligator. The difference between
the cowhdo and the strap appears to he about the
same, and if there be any change siucC the good
old times, il is the cruelty of the latter which AN
iunquestioncd authority, as above, declares can
torture the negro within an inch of his life,
| 1t strikes that all those churches in the South
the majority of the whole country, say the pro
slavery mcn,-only prove that custom oycrrideS all
teachings aud oreCds, and that any cruelty may be
inflicted as easily under one religion as another.
That ii should he broadly stated, and not denied,
that baibartics such rs would make tcn'ls gihhcr
with ccgtacy, can he inflicted lay improved means
of torture on the slave, and that dough faced
wrctchcs can hc found to sustain and extend such
system, might even cause doubt US to the object
Of creation, and make tho thoughtful wonder what
! this panorama of life all means, What are the
end and aim Of existence, when even in this land
Of liberty can lie found 350O0oO human beings
ahnomaly subject to refined modern torture
without friend, a law, a prayer in their favor
Wrcl,hod farce 'o urpusc that thlt country can