The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1880-02-06
STAMFORD, Ky.

Danville Adr0cutes doubts IN regard
to the propriety Of re-establishing the
whipping-post, an awkward sentence
nearly hid the idea we intended 10
convey. The true intent was that a
doubling Thomas, or rather Mars,
who could doubt necessity so patent
as the whipping-post, was in state Of
mind to doubt anything from the d.
vinity Of our Savior down. So much
explanatory. This week the advocate.
taking our paragraph for a text, en-
braces the occasion to give its reasons
for its objections to the Hogging process
and, singularly enough, uses the same
argument against it as is always ad-
vanced for the bill, that a majority of
the offenders would rather be whipped
than to go to the Jail or work-house.
Now, il it will take the trouble 10 in.
vestigate the matter, it will find that
this assertion is far from being the
real state Of the case. Not one in ten
Of the scamps who commit theft care
for a term in the Jail or work-house;
in fact, they seem to enjoy, as they
term it. ch ance to beat the county
out Of board and lodging, especially
If the weather is bad, and those nee
essaries are hard to obtain outside.
The idea of having his back barred aud
thirty-nine lashes applied to it is more
repulsive to the average thief than
term in the penitentiary, and the fear
Of punishment, certain to be inflict-
ed, is the only thing with which the
law can hope to prevent crime. As
an example Of this. inherent fear of a
flogging, we mention the fact that a
few days ago some ten or fifteen little
negroes were arranged before our Po-
lice Judge for some misdemeanor,
when his honor remarked, 81 expect
the best plan would be to have the
whole party threshed," to which one
little fellow, not twelve years of age,
replied; II had heap rather go to
all than get a whipping" And that
little negro expressed the feeling of
lis entire race. Not one Of them will
prefer the lash to confinement in Jail.
But there are cases, says the Advocate,
Il which il is most concerned, that the
nhiction Of corporal punishment will
ave the effect Of making the recipient
more reckless than ever and more pre-
disposed to outlawry. We can't i'm
Igine what cases that paper is more
Oncerned in, unless, as a matter of
'olicy, it fears for the safety of some {
f its patrons. Experience proves
hat one faithful administration Of
ine-and-thirty hardly ever fails to
emedy the evil, and it is the excep-
ion to the rule If second applica-
ion is necessary. Then it not unfre- '
uently happens that the whipped, O
Of the disgrace that he has
rought upon himself, seeks other
'enes, and the locality Of his theft
nows him no more forever. As a
Iatter Of economy, and in justice to a
lie taxpayers, we are for cutting !
own the tremendous expense incur
ID annually by supporting thieves at
lie rate OF sixty cents a day. The ),
dcOedte, seeing the miserable man.
sr in which its own work.house has 8,
zen managed, where it is optiOnary v
it'll the offender whether to remain Ia
ere or walk off at pleasure, ought to "
the last to urge that kind of so call. p.
punishment. We want a punish @
ent that is at once inexpensive, tc
hich cannot he eyaded. and one p
hich will act as strong preventive of
ime. Such we regard the whipping =
st, and we are confident that within !;
( months after its establishment h,
e class of crimes punished by it wilr
we so perceptably decreased that cl
e sentimental. who now harp about az
as relic of the baroarous ages, =
u he forced to admit its efficacy
d its excellency as a law. pa
Tue Greensboro Messenger and Er- ia
liner of last week has an article ON pa
course Of the Courier-JOurlal in the ~
ant matter, which states its posi-
n to a letter, and although the ex
-reat Democratic Organ" endeavors as
wiggle out of the charges, we thu
see no Misrepresentation in the ing
and Els assertions. Grants most ~
Iatrous Radical worshipers, have IN,
lauded him more extravagantly ger
d has the Courier-Jomnal. IL has baC
ised him in every form of Ian fro
&c and attributed to him almost oy
y conceivable virtue 1t has call. .,.,
him a great man, the most dis aet
uished citizen Of America, the SON
ltest soldier living, and, in short, sion
picked the strongest words and sine
st phrases it could command to =,
ify and honor him. II has even I 1ll
the circumstances Of his being lion az
by foreign aunkies as an argu- and
It to prove that he deserved TO be Tn,
ed by his own people. II has in are
a terms acquitted him Of all blame