The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-02
r,,.sf;ab. e,,iynir,ai p]|roceedsngs.

srrha increase 81 crime, viii, alarming
features OF brutalistn, Ia Great Britain has
led 10 serious inquiry amongst British J!
statesmen. It has heen deemed ex pedient
that more severe treattnentof transgress-
ors should be provided. Eminent phill'a.nrr
Ithropists--arnong them the Baroness BUR-
pET.CoUTrs herself finally advised o return
to the yhipping-post. 1t Is therefore asl-
thorized for certain crimes Of very brutal
character. It has been found to work ,Well.
The most callous. and brutal OF criminals
NAV be stout aud defiant for awhile, but
thew never fail 70 howl, and, like an ele-
plant, trumpet their own defeat.
We extract sketch Of one OF the scenes
OF punishment. which we lind in the Gin
cinnati Commercial:
t.Two OF the convicts who received the
| punishment in London were boys OF six
teen and eighteen. They had robbed
woman, Knocked her down. and then
kicked her, and were to receive logging
AZ part OF their sentence-the Younger boy
twenty strokes with birch rod, the other
the same number OF blows with q CATO
/ njue-tails, oil the bare back. The prison.
ers, legs were fastened In 4 sort OF black
box. while their arms were plloried at the
wrists The governor OF the. prison, the
sheriff, and the Jail physician were pres.
ept, while the attendance OF number OF
other officials added impressiveness to the
scene. The punishment was inflicted by
two robust prison-wardens, who relieved
each other in regular turn. The sixteen
year-old boy was whipped first. He began
to whimper at sight OF the rods, ana
each stroke was attended with ROW.
and an entreaty OF ooh, don't slr!>
| The second convict was an oyergroWn
bully, who looked bold enough to endure
anything, but he, too, began to Whimper
before he bad been struck. Ihe thlrd haa
! evidently made up his mind TO bear II
oamely, and utter no cry, but at the fourth
blow OF the cat he broke down, and bel
lowed like calf. YeIls and cries for mercy
rent the air during the whipping OF the
whole five, and at the end Of the punish.
ment each was led away trembling, pale,
and breathless. It was not an agreeable
scene, but, then, neither was garroting
gentleman. robbing him, knocking him
| down, and kicking him in the head till DC
was nearly kiled-the crime for when the
last three OF the five were hoSSed-an
agreeable scene"
Society has gone off upon craze with
regard to the proper treatment OF criminals
The "penitential" system $50 called has
proved to be great delusion, and this
country is learning that any punishment Of
outlaws that does not inflct pain seldom
exerts any influence upon them. The penl
tentiaries in the United States are mere
schools in which villains are matured ano
hardened for the more successful pursuit OF
their trade. The punishment OF whipping
was abolished under sentimental feeling
greatly stimulated by sympathy with the
slave. The world begins to see that OF al
forms of punishment that is the one tina
will do more to deter men from crime thar
any other. The sooner it is revived in the
States OF this country the better. Crime
in its more brutal phases is increasing
The demoralizing effect Of war, and tn:
necessities which forced so many persons
unwilling to work either to do that or steal
have multiplied crime to an amazing extent
and the means Of punishment should bt
strengthened. One argument against the
whipping-post is that it will break dowr
the spirit and pride OF the criminal ano
| leave him incurable. A good reason fol
its adoption If man can be deferred from
crime By pride that is good. Ii he cannot
there is no reason left why he should not bt
| whipped. 1t may deter him from repeating
the crime, and no other punishment is likely
To do So