Montgomery County sentinel., 1877-12-14
THE WHIPPING POST.


It is with pleasure that we submit TO our
readers in another column communication
upon the above subject. 1t deserves their care
full consideration and attention rs much be-
cause of the signature which accompanies it,
ms from the able manner in which the subject
ia handled. Mr.. Halowel is renowned
throughout the county as an able reasoner and
n cultivated scholar, and whatever emanates
from him iscacuated to instruct and please.
And in entering upon this discussion with him
we shall conduct it, IL not with the ability,
at least with the courtesy which SO gentle
manly IN opponent deserves.
We agree with him that II is a matter Of
pre-eminent importance, and should not be
adopted except after q mcst elaborate analysis
and the most careful deiberation. We have
given some time and study to the subject and
have only arrived at our opinion after mature
consideration In discussing the subject Mr..
HaIlowell confines himself almost exclusively
10 interrogative arguments, proponnding sew
eral questions tending to show the inefficiency
anu VI iS7SSlooilsuinB NV
the whipping post.
His first question asks, "If it will accom-
pish the desired result without bringing with
il greater evils? ?" Wethink there can be little
doubt but that it will be as efIicacious in the
correction of crime as any plan that human
wisdom can devise. Man has a natural terror
OF corporal punishment. Anything that is
calculated 10 inhct injury or pain upon the
body IS avoided by him with inherent fright /;
chaslisement is associated in his mind almost
from earliest childhood as the fitting and al
most necessary punishment for disobedience.
lie ia taught from his very infancy TO shun
evil because IL brings corporal punishment. -
Those impressions formed then remain upon the
mind through life, always carrying with them
terror that shrinks from chastisement. We
are not discussing now the wisdom of remedy
ing infantle faults through what may be termed
the domestic whipping post, but are regarding
IN eristing fdct that sucb is the method used
in almost every family for the correction of
children. Now, il it he so tina; these early as
sociations with chastsemeni impress an inef-
ftceable horror of corporal punishment upon
the heart. what mode of correction for the
crimes which mature discretion commits could
he more effective than an increased severity OF
the same punishment which they underwent
when children?
We cannot perceive any greater evils ac-
csmpanying il than those which are connected
with any class Of necessary punishment. Law
does not desire the punishment Of any man,
and its penalties are inflicted rather for exem-
plary than punitive purposes. Hence, If an
evil ia done thereby II is an evil for the ac-
complishment of good end, viz, for the ex-
iirpaton Of crime. Now, unless it secures
that end, then il becomes an evil without any
subsequent remedial qualities and if the law
imposes punishment which does not act as
mn example to deter others from the commits
sion of like offences, it has done greater evil
than if il had imposed penalty more severe in
its inficiion which did accomplish the desired
result. Hence We conclude that any punish
ment however light, which is not etficacious as
"a corrective, is u grosser injustice than one
much severer and apparently more cruel, which
serves The purpose for which it is intended -
However shocking such things may be TO so
eiety, it must then endure them for its owr
protection. just as we would justifably and
without hesitation, however revolving it nigh
be, take the life Of man who was seeking oul
own
The plan suggested by Mr. TIaloweIl, recon
menlng the establishment Of Work House
IN each of the counties or congressional dis
iricis, would scarcely serve the purpose. Their
would be no difference in subjecting crimi
nal to confinement and daily labor in Worl
House in The different counties than in Balti
more city. The method pursued in the Stat
p-niieniiary is substantially the same as tha
suggested by Mr.. Gallowell, and it has bee,
found ineffective for the correction Of crime a
is illustrated by the yearly increase of appli
cants for admission to it. II is only the sam
method now in operation brought closer home
10 conclusion we are sorry TO say, and GU
sorrow is increased because we feel compele,
10 differ With one so much wiser and more ex
perenced than ourselves, that we consider cor
poral punishment the surest corrective 70
crime. The hardest kind of labor has bee
tried In the State Of New York and il has sig
nally failed. Once more establish a whipping
post and crime will not only decrease, bu
when II is advertised abroad it will be as dill
hcult 10 fnd n scab Of this promenading pesti
lence called 'tramps" 10 the State ofSNary
land as it was the day after the deluge
finr hh rin.r h. hrilli nj rt ~ Aolrr