St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-03-09

PROFESSIONAL speculation and lucrative
branch of business, and that the office
was created for the exclusive benefit OF
the OfficehOlder, nor did they know
any better than to suppose that they
were really the servants of the people
whose behests they were bound to
obey. Well, this is truly progressive
age, and who will presume to say that,
IN regard to desirable things, that the
movement is backwards? That peculiar
kind of legislation, for which Vermont
was so celebrated during it's early his
tory as state, was a commendable
model for the imitation of other states
and other times. The Vermonters had
remarkable good natural endowments,
AID were very intelligent. They were
plain and simple, but very practical in
9. their public and private affairs, and
labOred to secure the most needed and
useful results, while they abhorred
shams and supertiuities. Therefore,
their laws were few, useful, plain, and
easily understood. The criminal laws
of Vermont at that early period were
by necessity adapted to their then ex-
listing circumstances therefore Grim
inal did not pay the penalty for violat-
ing the laws by spending several years
in a state prison, because that institu-
ton did not exist in that state.
But gentlemen of a certain distin-
guished order were not entirely forgot
ten and neglected in those good old
times, but promptly and summarily re-
ceived the just reward of their works
in that good, old-fashioned and sensi-
BILE way, by publicly standing in the
pillOry and at the whipping-pos The
pillOry consisted of a platform about
five feet high, with an upright post in
its center, at the top of the post being
Il horizontal plank having holes
through it to fit close about the neck
and wrists, as the culprit stood erect
Will dI HIS CAItHutu. nave SeeH JWU
men at the same time, who were stand
ing there side by side, and giving a
free exhibition to the surrounding
crowd, which manifested its high ap-
probation of that novel entertainment
by jokes, jeers, SCOTS and insults, while
the small boys (for whom there was nc
law were active in using unsavOry
missiles. That corrective institution
was located ON the ground since Occu-
pied by the store of w. B. Palmer
The time occupied by the first act OF
that grand drama was just one hour, al
the end of which time the principal
actors i'll that scene, accompanied by
their audience, repaired to the south
side of the public square, where the
second act was performed in a very
satisfactory manner, as follows: There
was a perpendicular post, on the top OF
which was a crOss-bar extending each
way, and when the culprit's arms were
extended to the right and left, his
wrists were firmly bound to the ends
of that bar. Then he received thirty
nine strokes of the "cat-o'- nine tails
Tor lashes), which were honestly and
vigorously applied to his naked back
| have seen men pass through that try
ing ordeal with much apparent forti-
I -hn
as he was released from his bonds, fel
to the ground completely exhausted
and thus was borne away. In early
times some of the New England states
practiced branding with hot iron, and
cropping of the ears, but l never saw
that done in Vermont. 1t must not b'
inferred from this, that the above i'm
perfectly-depicted scenes occurred very
frequently. Nearly all the offenders
were horse thieves or cOunterfeiters
Now, in these degenerate times, wheI
there is such rapid and startling in
crease of crime, and the whole of Ou
fair land is deluged with every specie
of enormous iniquity, our national ant
state governments should at once adOp
more certain and severe penalties t,
avert this alarming state of things. /
nothing else will save our believe,
country, then let us return to the neg
lected gallOws, pillOry, whipping post
branding iron, and cut off both ears,
that will cure the wretch.
1t is not probable that this memora
BILE legislature of 1905 was character
lied by long debates and needles
speeches by the members, who wer
celebrated in those times for the rapi'
manner in which they transacted thei
business, which, being completed, the.
went home with clear conscience
Nothing at that time made as deep an
lasting impression on my mind as til
farewell address of one of its member:
because | was directly and PERSONAL
interested. That gentleman, whe
about to take his leave of our house
said that, for, because, and in consid
Grafton of sundry Obliglng and accepta
BILE services performed by me, tha
Brother Bailey and himself had sue
ceeded i'll raising a sum of money whic
he had been delegated to deliver to III
as a testimonial of their high apprecia
ton of my considerate attentions
them and then, o wondrous delight
my hand received a bright silver col
, of the value of six and One-fOurt
; cents. l regret to say that | was +
l overcome by that affecting scene thi
l was wholly unable to offer a becon
ing reSDOnse.