The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-02-09
The Whipping-Post

The Whipping-Post
The Committee on the Judiciary. OF the
House of Delegates, has reported back the
resolutions referred to it for the repeal of
the whipping-post and chain-gang laws, with
IA recommendation that they do not pass.
We do not know who constitute that
Committee, nor the exact party relations of
its members. The presumption is that a
majority OF the committee is composed of
Re-adjusters and Republicans, and that the
report reflects the views of the Bourbons
on it and one or two Re adinsters. We are
well satisfied that no Republican will be
found among the friends of this report. The
action of the committee, however, is It
the conclusion of the whole matter. The
House of Delegates may reverse its deter
mination. and this it will do unless there is
the most barefaced treachery shown by
some members of the Legislature. There
wasnothng more distinctly understood than
that the defeat of the Bourbons in the recent
election would be followed by the repeal of
the capitation tax restriction upon the bal
lot and the whippng-post and chain-gang
laws. So far as the Legislature can go, the
first has been accomplished, both branches
of that body having passed a bill to that
end. which must be ratified by the people
before it becomes law. The whipping
post is even more obnoxious and detestable
than the restriction upon the ballot. 1t is
disgrace to the State and stigma upon
its Civilizations relic of the dark ages
when the thong and the gibbet. the thumb
screw and the rack, were the instruments
of torture. IL is not only a barbarous and
savage method of inflicting punishment for
trivial otfeIses upon actual offenders, but
| it entails ineffaceable degradation upon in
nocent olfsprings and sends them out into
| the world with mark as indellible as that
which Cain carried. twas designed to add
| to the ignorance OF the negro a lasting
degradation, and to thus debar him from
the ballot which the Constitution of the
country gives him, and at the same time in
| fict upon his children the stain of a crime
they never committed. To make it effec-
tive, the law could not discriminate against
| the negro. But the trainers of it calculated
upon the nature of the negro's education
during chattel slavery. Neither his intel
! lectual nor moral character was cared for,
and it was not supposed that he possessed
that inherent moral power to resist tempta-
ton that should pertain to the white man,
reared under different and more favorable
auspices and associations. And while the
| law might now and then bring under its
condemnation one offending white person.
| the presumption was that it would effect
| the punishment and disfranchisement of
twenty cOlored men to one white man.
For this reason it was adopted. 1t was
more for political purposes than punish
ment for petit larceny that it was enacted.
| But whatever the motive of its enactment
| it is an infamous statute and should be eX-
plunged from the code without moment s
unnecessary delay. And we assume that
this will be the result, inasmucl as the ma
| jority of the Legislature was elected with
this understanding. Not to do so would
be palpable and glaring act of bad faith,
and fraught with fatal consequences to the
dominant organization.
1t is the duty of the Republicans in the
Legislature to guard well their rights and
see to it that their power and influence are
not frittered away under specious promises
and delusive trust. The report of the COM
| rottt to h rafa
them of the essential Importance of con-
certed action. as the result of conference
and consultation, and the necessity of Wig
lance in ali the proceedings of their respec-
tive bodies We believe it is the purpose of
the party in power to effect every reform
that was promised, and consequently do
not take the isolated action of this COM
mittee as evidence of the intention of
the majority. But when matter OF
SO much Importance as this Infamous law
is to be considered. and the first outgivings
are adverse to its repeal, it becomes neces-
sary that every Republican should enquire
into the reason for it. and regulate his vote
I aud action accordingly
We pity the conscience and comm iserate
the moral obtusity of the member of the
Legislature who would deliberately vote to
retain this abhorrent and brutal law upon
the statute book, and hope for the sake of
| humanity and the civilization of the State
that it will be expunged by the united ac-
ton of that body. Certainly the Republi-
cans in that body should sternly and ag-
gressively demand its repeal and exercise
their power to effect it, let what other in
terest suffer that may.