Montgomery County sentinel., 1877-12-21
HENRY C. HALLOwELL
Corporal Punishment.

GREENwoop, Dec. II, 1877.
Mr.. Editor IL have read with interest the
communication o. Mr.. Henry Halowel, and
your comments on the subject of restoring the
whipping post as place OF punishment in our
criminal Jurisprudence. While have very
great respect for the opinions of so intelligent
and exemplary correspondent as Mr.. Halo
well, and view with unfeigned satisfaction the
courteous tone and temper with which the
controversy is conducted on both sides, am
forced to dissent from Mr. Eallowell's position
and in the main agree with you.
Sooman is universally looked upon as one
of the wisest men that ever lived, and he has
left upon record the admonition, ''Spare the
rod and spoil the child, " aud again, Train
up child in the way he should go and when
he is old he will cot depart therefromp The
converse of this may be accepted as equally
,rue-neglect TO train up a child in the way he
should go, aud when he is old he will depart
rom the way in which he should go. This
being So and crimes and misdemeanors null
tiplying with such fearful rapidily, what is
the remedy Jais aud penitentiares ,are full
TO overhowing. To many they are no terror
or disgrace, and more comfortable and bet
ter than they elsewhere find. Indeed 1t is a
notorious fact that petty larceny and small
crimes are often committed, particularly in the
winter season, to obtain food fire and shelter
in our jnils at the public expense. If this be
so, as it universally is it proves that our jails
aud penitentiaries as reformatory institutions
are faiure The records of our Courts show
that many former inmates return to them ''as
the SOW to her wallowng in the mire." The
expressions, "he is an old Jail bird, or tan
old convict will be readily recognized by
those who read the records of the police re-
ports If we then wish to lessen crime and re-
1 tl.,k l.. IL.
vicious, punishment must be swift, sharp aud
certain.
There are two leading motives which oper-
ate upon mankind-the hope of reward, or the
fear of punishment When these fail to infu-
ence, the case is callous and hopeless.
Now, we fail to find in our jiils and pen-
tentlares any system of reward to inspire
much hope of reformation, nor have we found
there terror TO evil dqers. What then is left ?
This question can best be answered by the re-
mark of an old criminal who had several
times been an inmate of both jails and peni-
ientiaries, namely, "Tbat there was but one
State in the Union in which he was afraid to
do as he pleased, and that was in the little
State of Delaware. lie did not like the
looks OF the pillory and whipping post still in
use in that autiquated State"
think If we follow the example Of our lit
tie sister State, two or three things would cer-
taiuly follow:
lst If we did not hold out system Of re-
wards, we certainly should establish punish.
ment Of which criminals would be afraid.
End. We would greatly lessen the business
of our Courts, and consequently the expenses
of the county,.
3rG. Dimin lsh the number securing shelter
in our jails, Alms houses and peniienlaries
aud then il VIZ would adopt system for the
Improvement @f our county roads, how easily
and eheaply cduld we give the idle employ.
ment aud thus enable them to support them.
selves, and at lhe same time contribute 10 the
general WELFARE and improvement of the
county, A. B. DAVIS.
The postofiice at Berlia, Nd. was robbed
one night last wdek of twelve thousand stamps
and $500 In MONEY.