Middletown transcript., 1870-12-17

TnE WHIPPING PosT.-The semi-an-
nual hagelation of criminals in Delaware,
is the occasion for renewed outcry against
this peculiar institution. The Winding
ton Commercial usually utters the key
note of distress, and other snivelling,
dwelling subjects of mock philanthro-
py, join in the chorus. Its sympathies
appear to be as kecnly awakened by the
strokes of the cat upon the quivering
shoulders of these vile robbers Of hem
roosts, pig-pcns. and corn-cribs, as if its
editor were one of the illustrious brother
hood. Is it not, in truth, ga fellow feel
ing which makes him wondrous kind" to-
wards those miserable varlets who prefer
to prey upon society and take the conse-
quences of their crimes, rather than earn
IN honest living by labor. Drawing his
daily bread from the people of Delaware,
he is nevertheless an alien towards them,
inthought, sentiment and feeling, and
Doses no opportunity to hold up their in
stitutions to public odium, SO far as he is
capable Of doing SO. That he has not
met with more success in his labor of
love. is because sensible people have esti-
mated his twaddle at its real worth as of
little value. 1t says:
"Such modes of punishment are barbarous
and antagonistic to the teachings of the Cos
pei"
The teachings of the Gospelp Who
made him an expounder of the Gospel ?
What does he know about it, that he
shOald presume to say that any law Of
this State is antagonistic to it! Was the
lash ae~er used under the Gospel dispen-
satiout Did not the all-merciful Word,
made flesh, scourge the money changers
cut Of She Temple, when they had made
1t '',den Of thieves" and shall the thieves
of the present day go unwhipt of justice
merely to stay the flowing lachryma of a
morbid sympathy? 1t is about time that
these sympathetic wailings over the whip.
ping post were ended. But they arc the
chief stock in trade of certain mock
Lists and namby -pamby fniken Miss Nan.
cys Of both sexes, who are equally dis.
tressed at the paaishment of a culprit OIL
the illness Of a poodle.
In this connection we subjoin the follow.
ing extract from the NeW York Erpres
which Journal, ii will be seen, in som,
very sensible remarks, defends the pecu
liar institution of Delaware.
There are two sides to this question Outsid,
of Delaware the pillory, as a place of exposure
and the whipping post as place of punishment
We believe, do not exist as State institutions bu
in place of the pillory and the whipping pos
there are burglars without number, little ant
great thieves without much check or hindranc,
TO their depredatons, while minor offences a
bound. Ia Delaware the same thief never ap
pears twice in the State. Once caught he Il
sure of punishment, which is not merely whip
ping and pllory exposure but a collar to b,
worn for six months, on which the word THEl
Is branded. If he should be found within 81,
months with his collar of, he is again arrested
and punished. The consequence is that tn
thieves give Delaware big lee-way, and it il
safe to go to bed without having your doors ant
windows barrcaded, or to lie down withou
dread of being robbed There is no State will
more good order, showing more respect for goot
government, nor people more moral ia all tn
Union. The thieves, burglars, and petty larcen,
men don't like the pillory and whipping post
aud they do not sound well in print, but as al
offset for the bad look and record, they are
Gnuch greater terror to evil-doers than all tn
j6ils and State prisons in the other States.