New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-14

and the adult Migrants; and Mr.. Senator Sauis-
bury himself, in defending the whlppng-pos's
of his small but Spartan commonwealth might
argue for the ply steal discipline OF men ana
women, as Mr.. Beecher argues for the physical
discipline of ignorant boys and girls. This, in
deed, was the morality of the plantation The
negroes were but beasts the overseer literally
drove his trembling gang afcld the sharp
crack of the lash was the even-sOng OF the
quarter house the cOwhidc furnished the mis-
tress of the great mansion with neycr-fallIng
persuasive. Why was not this all ngIf
These sable children of a larger growth,
incapable, as they were held to be, of any other
than tutelage OF stripcs-dd they lie, or steal,
or fail to accomplish the allotted task, how
absurd would have been the attempt to lead
them in the paths of rcctitude and industry by
that "skcn cord of love" at which Mr.. Bcecher
snecrs with SO much relish. So, too, with the
seamen of the navy. The whole quarterback
was unanimous in the opinion that the simple
mariners were mere children, incapable OF so
briefly and obedience except as these were IN
culcated by the cat with the nine singing ana
blistcring and bloody tails. So, too, the Duke
of Wellington was, no doubt, honest IN the
belief that his soldiers were infants III wisdom,
needing nothing so much as an occasional visit
to the tIiangles. SO, too, the masters OF many
prisons now think that torture alone
can keep in order those committed to their
care and Mr.. Bcecher since his studies have
been somewhat in the way of ecclesiastical
history. may remember certain institution III
Spain which subjected to a similar treatment
the hayward children of the Church. The
theory of fagellation is the less dcfcnsbe
when confined to the nursery or the school
room, because the natures of children are still
plastic, their affections warm, and their love of
approbation and particularly of parental APP
probation, is keen and full of the best intiu-
cnces and so it happens that the argument for
floggng brutal and degraded men and women
is nine times stronger than the argument for
fogging infants. Yet, if anybody (Outside OF
Dclaware) should propose to restore the whip
png-pOst for the correction OF adults convicted
of the smaller crimes, we arc inclined to be-
lieve that Mr.. Beecher would preach one of his
incest sermons against such belated barbara
ty. 1t is only the tender and the helpless who
are to be bruised and pummeled cuticles which
would he proof against the lash are to be
spared, and the dignity of human nature Is
pleaded to save the tough and stolid from such
a disgusting brutality.
Perhaps, however, we give Mr.. Bcecher
credit which he neither desires nor deserves.
He may be of the same mind with tiOgging
captains at sea and with fogging majors on
shore. He asks, perhaps seriously, although it
is hard to tell when he is serious and when he
is jesting) whether physical motives are not
4" laid aside too earlyi" This is doubt which
did not at all embanass a wcl-known patriarch
in q wel-known book-the philosophical gen
tlcnan, we mean, who fOggcd poor Uncle
" Tom" to death. But we are happy for once
to agree with Mr. Bccchcr Our own idea is
that it is just as wise and as Christian to fog
a man as to fog boy We are with the
pastor of the Plymouth Church in this nor
must either of us be astonished to find him
self in company with the late amented Pres
ton Brooks. He thought, with Mr.. Beecher,
that can adult might be greatly benefited
by corporal punishment. He also held what
Mr.. Beccher calls "my wholesome theory" lie
thought if Senator could be soundly whipped
that &" 1t would be worth thousand speeches; :
and there is no lack Of wicked people who hold
that the excellent pastor whose doctrines we
are examining would himself be not at all the
worse for a sound rib-rOastiDg. We can well
remember when the physical discplinarians of
Alabama OF Mississippi yearned to paddle him,
to pickle him, to tar and feather him, and
even to hang him. These were but rcprehcn-
sible aspirations on their part; nor can we sup
pose that their operations, had the opportunity
been afforded them, would have been marked
by that light elegance which doubtless, charac-
terizes the fustigations in Mr. Beechcr's par
sonage /; but, bloody minded and brutally muir
derous though the planter patriarchs may have
been, it is but justice to say OF them that their
idea of any soul in the human constitution was
limited and indefinite; nor did they quote
Scripture very often, (uness they happened to
be Cumberland Presbyterans), in defense OF
their coarse morality. They were, indeed, |
sheer animals. Let us in charity. and somewhat |
TO their credit, admit that they did not pretend |
to be anything better
THE NEW ENGLISH MEASURES.
The character and features of the new |
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