Smyrna times., 1868-12-16

sing the Seminary closing exercises, and the
Que from this town criticIsing the action of the
Trustees of the Methodist Church can not ap-
pear because the authors names are net given.
We get tired of speaking of the rule on this
subject, and 80 does every other newspaper in
the country.
THE Whipping Posi- We notice that those
OF our State exchanges that are advocates of
che whipping post are very sensitive on the
subject, and some of them manifest considera- !
bic irritation because accounts OF the foggngs
are published in the Northern papers, and try
to reflect upon the character of the reporters
We do not see the impropriety of reports be-
ing published in the Northern papers about
whipping posts any more than anything else
or that the men who furnish the reports are
necessarily persons of bad character. At all
events, they can't be much worse than the ed
itor who tries to injure their character merely
because they attack one of his pet institutions
1t may seem to us like great deal of trouble
for those papers..to take, particularly if we are
sensitive on the subject, but we must rcmem-
Der that this mode of punishment is unknown
10 these Northern readers. They do not know
what whipping post or a pillory looks like.
Both were abolished in their section with
witchcraft and the old Puritan blue laws"
and they can't understand why the people Of
Delaware, many of whom regard anything Pu-
ritanic as next thing to Satanic, should cling
20 one Of :hcir " relics of barbarism" with such
tenacity.
These reporters may color their articles tho
those we have read are not to any extent. Since
there has been such moral sentiment against
che institution that sheriffs are ashamed to
perform their duty and people of refined taste
ere ashamed to see them perform it, the pun
ishment is more barbarc in appearance than
in reality. Within the last few years the pun
ishment has always been light, but in former
years, when every town in the State had its
post-when men were branded and had their
ears cropped-when women, white and black,
we're stripped to the waist and lascerated in
the presence Of vulgar crowd-the scourgings
were barbarous to an extent that would now
be intolerable. The sentiment that has modi-
fed the institution to what it is now will work
its abolition finally, in all probability. 1t is a
knowledge Of this fact that makes its advocates
So sensitive.
The worst feature Of the institution is its de-
grading influence, to say nothing Of its cruelty,
which is bad enough, notwithstanding there
may be an ovcr-drawn philanthropy in this re.
spect. 1t degrades a criminal in his own esti-
nation, as well as in the eyes Of the public
In regular prison discipline man may be re-
formed and his offence be forgotten; he is still
made to feel that he is human being. But
II he is brought to the whipping post he is
treated as brute. There is no appeal to his
human nature. The stigma has no equal the
crime may be forgotten, but the punishment
never. To hear this argument fully set forth
let some advocate Of the institution have
friend sentenced to twenty lashes. Nearly
every Que in this community remembers the
case Of the man sentenced to sixty lashes fol
killing negro a few years since. Through
this argument the petition to remit that por
tiOn of his sentence was numerously signed
and there was hardly man in town that wa!
not in favor Of abolishng the post and pillory
-~~~~~-
With the President Message to Congress
were handed in the usual reports of the head
Of Departments, synopsis Of each OF which
wc giye as follows;
SECRETARY OF WAR
General SchOfeld reports the strength O
the army at 48,08l men, which will be reduc
ed some 5000 by the first of January. Thu
cavalry service only is being sustained by re
cruts A gradual reduction Of the army is re
commended BY process of expiration of term
of service, casualties, desertion, &c. Th,
Veteran Reserves are no longer needed. Tn,
serIn of enlistment should be uniformly increas
cd to five years.
The expenses proper of the department fol
the last fiscal year were 100000, 600, for tn
Freedmens Bureau, 81, SOC, 900, and for boun
ties, $25, 000,000, making total Of $87 500.
900 Estimated expenses for the next wear
a5i $50. 8j. This, however, it is thought
eau be made to cover deficiencies of last yea
10 the amount of $l3,975, 900. The Secretar
is in accord with Generals Grant, Sherman
and Sheridan as to the unprovoked characte
OF the wars with the Indians.
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
Dir. Welles communicates lengthy report
from which it appears that the total number G
vessels borne upon the rolls Of the navy is 2O1
carrying l,I42 guns.
SECRETARY OF INTERIOR.
Mr.. Browning opens his report by saying
.hat of tho two Revolutionary soldiers pension
ed in 1867, Que has died and the other is re
ported living. The names of SSS widows {
Revolutionary soldiers, and ,3O3 widows an
children of soldiers who served in wars subsG
auent to the Revolution and prior to the rebe
lion are borne upon the pension rolls
TREAsURERs.
Dr., Spinner indicates the extent Of busine
that has passed through his hands during th
wear thus: Total OF all receipts 81 ,O49, 1873
057.45; balance from last year $40, ,S6S,sl4
~; payments and repayments $25, ,440 9S9
IS; footing as per books 81 ,246, 1872, SCI 2
Actual payments 81, ,O89, ,023, 81 |. %; unavaili
bic transf TO Register 1898, 922 22; cash ba
anse jn Treasury $3.50, 1874 437. 90; footing
per books 81 ,246, 1872, ,S61 20.
The business transacted at the Treasury b;
decreased in amount each year since the wa
Expenditures for the payment OF the publ
LII and Navv lenartment have fallen az