The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-03-01

To the Editors DlSpdtca: x,
The eleven days between March lin aug
,sd we're cut out of the year by The brl.'sa
<ioyernmcn' about 1856 more thah '"en''
wars after G. Washington's birth.
The Russian Government SUN Keeps '"e
old style Of reckoning. th'nh.
r pan pop CH,aISALS.-The London
D,,,I,, Tc,poroph saws: Few sut9ccis OF
so..;si -efo,m have of late years attracted so
mich attention as the question no" 10 deai
-, the growing evil of crimes OF violence.
with a yieW to gather the opinions OF the
hrs, legal authorities on this matter the
Home Secretary. in October last, caused
circular 10 be addressed 10 all the prtncpai
judicial fupctionaries concerned in the ad'
r,iris.ration OF the criminal law in Great
Britain, to her Msjesty's judges. to chairmen
of Quarter Sessions, to recorders OF Dor
ougns having quarter sessions, TO stipen-
diary magistrates, to magistrates OF me-
tropolitan police courts, TO CHIEF con-
stables, and 10 sheriffs and sherih,' SUBJ
s;i,u.es Of counties in Scotland. Mr.. Secre'
tsrv Cross, in bis letter, put series OF hve III.
;errooatories. In the first place, he asked
whether the penal law against assaults c1
brutal violence is sufficiently stringent, and
If not. in what way should it be amended:
Secondly. are there any kinds of assault
yphirh NAV now be summarily punished,
hl, which should be declared trable only at
assizcs and quarter sessions? Thirdiy, ne
asked whether il was desirable to extend the
maximum fine or term OF Imprisonment Tor
assaults in summary cases? Fourthly, should
aorpinc be authorized for other kinds OF VI
oience than those punished at present, espe
cjslly in cases Of assault on women ana chill
dren: Last, it is asked if fl1gging has been
ef1icacous in putting down offences for
which it is administered. TO these lnqul'
rirs most Of the judicial and other officers
app!ied to gave categorical answers, Dut as
the question whether the punishment OF
f1ogging should be extended is that which
chcac interests the public. 1t may be we'll 10
examine the views Of the judges and mag's'
trates.moIe particularly on this head. !:
"Sir Alexander Cockburp, Lord chiel'
:I,s;jce of the Court of Queens Bench, is in
favor of Il very considerable extension OIL
This penalty He thinks it may well be au.
rDorized for brutal assaults where bodily in
iuries were Intended and inflicted. He would
not confnc it TO attacks on women and chill
dycu, but would visit it on savage assailants
OF the police and in cases of aggravated as
sa,,Its on individuals AS for the other
Judges Of the Queens Bench, Mr.. Jus
tice Blackburn believes it would be de-
sirablc to try the experiment not
onlv In aggravated assaults, but in
cases of malicious mischief; Mr.. Jus.
tjce Mcllor is also in favor Of logging, and
r,ould extend it 10 certain crimes OF an In
famous character agsinst women and cnll'
dfcu: Mr.. Justice Lush is Of much the same
opinion; Mir. Justice Quuin regards nogging
~ The only punishment, excepting that OF
. g:h. which retdUs any real deterrent
l,.er about il and Mr.. Justice Archibald
,,nuld give authority to judges of as>iZe and
justices OF sessions TO lE1lict this
,,nnlshlnept for brutal assaults causing
..r.rvous bodily harm. Their lord>hlpS
OF ih. Court Of Common PlyaS, on
the other hand, are rather against the
lj,n flhe lash than otherwise. LORD Chief
,,,,>tic, Coleridge answers the fourth ques-
ton, on the whole, in the negative; MIR.
. Iu,lic. Heating is very decidedly opposed TO
-;lr Practice Of whipping adults, and holds
!: 10 -" likely to produce the most pernlclous
r.s,:lls; Sir. Justice Brett Qualities his opm-
i0c. but is inclined 10 oppose an increase OF
severity ia the law in this direction; Nlr.
,In..ic. Grove sees great difficulty in so
fran irg :. statute Us TO meet exactly what APP
1.tar to him the cases where corporeal pun
iShruent j. advisable; while Mr.. Justice
Dcu,nan has grave doubts whether flOggiDg
s!lnuld be authorized in any case. When we
come ~ The Court of EXchequcr, however,
We find all The judges unanimous in favor OF
the Lash. The Lord Chief Baron, Baron
Br.mweIi. Baron Pigott, Baron Pollock,
Baron CcaShy, and Baron Amphlett, agree
tna, the law is not sufficiently stringent that
f3yging should be extended to crimes OF
brutal violcnce-tlough their lordships differ
,Ii. a,'y as 10 The eXtent-and that it has had
Il deterrent effect on the class Of criminals
upon whom 1t is at present administered
The Scotch judges answer the circular col.
l,cryely, and their opinion is that the power
q, ordering the punishment Of the Lash that
is-v"st,d in the higher Scottish courts should
,t increased"