Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-02-04
rs THE LASH A SIcCE,.s,

Years ago, the whipping post aud pillory
were common methods Of punishmens, eve
rywhere. The rack, the thumbscrews, the
wheel, and others of the horrible engncry
of torture, had gone out OF use, but the pub
lie flashing and pilorying fingered later.
They were of the same brood OF barbarous
punishmcnis, similar in kind, but less in de-
gree. So long ago MS 1926 of all the States
North and East Of Virginia only two con
tinued to whip. THESE were Delaware and
Rhode Island. In the former it was for a
great number Of offences; in the latter it APP
piled to but one. Since 1876, every State in
the Union has abolished bpih the pllury and
the lash--save one. That exception is this
State
Now we affirm that this action on the part
of all the other communities in the Union
should be enough to convince us of the
proprieiy OF abolition. We cannot think
that our little State, comprising the two
hundred and fiftieth part of the American
people, better understands the true methods
of punishment, than all Of the other tive
hundred andforty nine One standing against
such odds, should surely pause and inquire.
The one juror who thought the eleven so
stubborn had a large possibility OF being
right, compared with this case. But, fur
ther, we should consider that for more than
| fifty years, in Pennsylvania; for nearly fifty
In New York and Massachusetts, societies
Of the most intelligent and thoughtful cti-
zens have given the subject of punishments
their careful study. They have examined
the origin of crime, traced the career Of
criminals, watched the effects of the various
penalties. Till within year, Delaware has
had no such society, at ALL No one has
studied, with any care or persistcncy, thi,
most important matter of Criminal Reform
Is it reasonable to suppose that we, igno
rant us we must be in the premises, cal
know better than these other States!
1t is conceded, we think, that the lash in
jures the culprit 1t hardens him, hurts hi
selfrespect, dcgrades him publicly. Til
sole argument remaining is that il 'protect
Society,"" But does it? We believe, on tn
contrary, that OF all the legacies left us b,
the Slave system, now remaining imbede
| in our laws and customs, this whipping am
, pillorying, does most to injure the commul
Q ty. The laws Of State are the embodiment
of its highest wisdom, its purest virtues, ii
F, most thorough methods. But this law
y brutal, barbarous, and degrading. Ever
: maR-cven its fiiends-fcel this. The
1 may defend its utility, but they kno y pei
h fectly its bad features. While ii remains t
It be law, it not only fixes stigma, just r,
g proach, upon us, in the eyes Of others, but
II positively affects and Injuries the Christia
Il character of our people. More whisky
l. drunk, more oaths are sworn, more vice
IS engendered, more crimes are committee
J. more characters are lowered from nobil
i into vulgarity, this day, in Delaware, b
e cause of the laws inflcting punishment |
re the pilory and the lash
es L. the lash a success? Was slavery a su
In ccsss Was the cropping of ears, the slitil
C. of noses, the branding with irons, success
s. No, gentlemen, the lash is useless; it
es not only disgrace, hut failure. The tla
n of the plantation sconrge are gone by;
to are the days of this sconrging by law.
lis does not repIess crime, lii develops I
n sources whence criminals come 1t dc
not train men to higher and holiel living, b
I'd degrades their natures, whips their manhoo
IS pillories their souls With all our heart ,
he pray for such light shed upon Delaware, fro
do the divinity of Christian mercy, justice, a
on purity,as shall sweep into oblivion this re
Of brutal and barbarous times,