Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-02-05
Corporeal Punishments.
To ii. Editor ofthe Belmont ehronicas ,

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The various systems of corpereal punish
meDt .eem based almost entirely upon the
principles of ceersion, and retribution, or
retaliation. To the former aamely coersicn,
animal instincts are opposed; and to i; the
human in.eileet demurs andrevolts. When
il is applied TO individuals i, leads to hatred
and insuSordination, and when to masses
10 insurrection and revo 'ution; because the
human mind, by the Law OF Nature, is free,
and loves 10 exercise and enjoy the freedom
with which it has been endowed by wise
and beneicenG Creator.
This doctrine se think is beautifully set
forth in the Declaration of American inde-
pendence, that "All men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator " tn
certain unalienabls rights; that among these
are lie, liberty, and the pursuit Of happi-
ness; that to secure these rights govern
menrs are instituted, &C." Thus we see
that the principles upnn which corprreal
punis hments are based. are not recognized
in the fundamental principles OF our gov
ernment. for in no instance is man re-
strained in the exercise of his liberty, ex
cept in such respects as would violate the
tights. OF jeopardise the person or property
OF his fellows. Corporeal punishment has
been abolished in the Army and Navy of
the u. s., and we may now traverse the
length and bresdth of this, our happy land.
and wed not witness any thing revolving
To the human sense, excerpt as We see II in
fiictcd bv the cruel master upon his cbsttel
slave, and even there we look upon the in
s.itVtion and the mode of punishment As
"twin relics Of DarbarouS ages" and it
fails in that case as it does in all others to
effec, the object for which it is adminisie ed
<,he reformation of the recipienD. 1t may
possibly in some instances slightly deter the
cul lprit, but it never changes his moral ten
tencies.
Equally unfavorable in it effects would
be the general application of the Law OF re-
taliation, and our Legislators have wisely
enacted laws which throw an impregnable
bulwark around our persona! rights, there
by .uperceding the necessity Of mans re-
sorting to retaliation for redress of wrongs
sustained at the hands of his fellow man.
These principles are well understood And
very generally concurred in,in this country,
s.much so indeed thai the youth sre instruct
ed in them in our common schools. The
old system of Furnishing corporeally for Of
fences committed in school is here looked
upon as cruel and nonproductIve of good
and has been forced TO give place TO the
more enlightened policy of moral suasion
and emulation and we do not hesitate to
add that we believe the results will greatly
favor the education Of the rising generation.
And here let me address a question TO
Teachers es well as TO all who have been
taught in schools: no, ask Of all your ac-
quantance did fiogging ever make a scholar
of But on the contrary how many have
be n discouraged, aud d5gusted with books,
by foggings for juvenile inapplication, and
as consequence, have gruwn up in gno-
rance and privation, who might otherwise
have been ornaments to society; but as We
design brevity we will conclude this subject
for the present, by al!udng to an incident
which occurred not 'ng since, in one Of
our Country school houses, not many miles
from this place. where the Teacher who Was
a young msn and quite a ealian:-we are
told, spared not the backs OF couple 70
Young ladies' who were his pupils, and with
whom as was soriably familiar, but pliei
the rod (for some trivial fare.) in a spirited
manner; indeed We were told by the ladies'
them ives that the welts were upon their
persons for days after it. This, Mr.. Ed,
Either takes down anything of the kind that
ue have any reco lection Of even in the
days Of yore, hen bundle Of rods and
large feru!e were cons dered articles indis-
pensd lie to the proper government Of school.
Hpwtver, charitable presumption is that
after the Young mans passion had cooled
and 9 h d token second sober thought, he
rrpented the rash act which characterized
MIN tor the time being devoid of common
sansioiity, and willing TO violate tIuse sa.
cred immunities which should under every
circumstance in life shield the weaker sex
from such infictions We alude to this
circumstance in the present nrticle not in
wantonness to censure; We have eudeavured
in few words TO set forth ahat enlightened
public opinion is upon corporesl punish
ments, in schools, and thereby guard our
trends, the Teachers, against risking tier
Popularity by resorting To such means in the
government OF tn ir respective schools. We
cay to all Teachers rely entirely upon NOR
al suasion, ASST st each scholar with en-
cuuraging words to excel, emulation will
prompt to efforts TO which the rod could not
gnad; lay aside everything which is calcu-
lated to engendcr fear in The pupil, make
him feel that you are his true friend and you
can control such even beyond your presence
and the sparkling bright eyes, cheerful
ceuntenances, and rapid advancement Of
of children thus governed will bring an
abundant reward to The Teacher for his er-
forts thus bestowed. Yours Truly,