The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-12

| punishment. for the offender has al
ready lost HIS sef-esteem. II appears
| TO me the worst kind OF sickly sentiment
taiity-if you will pardon the expression
to refrain from INJECTING the most salu-
tary punishment, for fear. forsooth, that
| the offender may be lowered In tnat
| self-esteem, the entire want OF which he
has shown by the commission of the
crime. or in the esteem OF others. which
he has already forfeited. is man
more degraded by the infiiction OF stripes
in the privacy OF the jail than by con-
slant intercourse with criminals of every
stamp while retained I'm confinement?
ca Is the application OF punishment by
stripes to white men so preposterous?
From the Revolution down to the Civil
war. there was no class OF men more
chivalrous, more refined. more jealous OF
their rights and liberties. and with
nicer sense of honor. than the white
citizens OF Virginia; and yet there then
stood upon our statute-books "a law SINH
lar 10 that now under discussion, and with
out its more humane provisions. which i'm
posed the penalty of stripes upon white
men guilty Of petit larceny, and this. too.
during a period when the lash was the
recognized punishment for the slave and
this law was not repealed until May !,
1Ss2. Were our ancestors and all or
prior 20 1852. lacking In spirit and
proper sense OF what due their
birth. lineage. and liberties. that they al
lowed such a statute to continue part
of our criminal code? Why. then, should
The Times shudder at the idea of making
the law applicable 10 whites as well as
blacksg NJ 10 attains the object desired
in it's application to the negro. IT will
prove none the less effective when APP
piled 20 his white companion I'm crime
Undoubtedly they should both be put
upon the same footing, when guilty Of
the same offence.
have attempted TO show that the
grounds on which your objection to this
bill are based have not been well taken.
but the strongest argument in favor OF
this change in our method of Furnishing
this, the largest class OF criminals yet
remains:
IN rho first piacs punishment by stripes
would deter a. larger proportion OF the
class addicted to petit larceny than would
punishment by imprisonment About 90
per cent. OF this class OF offenders are
negroes. uneducated. with little or no
moral sensibility. aud largely depend
ent for support upon their manual labor
and what they can steal. In the ma
iority OF cases they are good-hearted
cheerful iaborcrs. bus wholly wanting
in the power 10 discriminate between
meum and tuum.
TO such a one. the fear Of sharp bodily
pain is more Of deterrant than any
other form Of punishment, and least OF
all does he dread confinement in jail. IT
is well-known fact that there is al
ways an increase in the number OF petit
crimes committed as the cold blasts of
winter begin to warn those badly housed
and fed Of what they may expect during
the succeeding months. The jais afford
warmth. and food as good If not better.
than that 10 which they are accustomed.
No disgrace or loss of prestige among
their fellows attends imprisonment, and
the natural inclination 70 pill
Ter soon gains them the warmth
and food OF Jail for the win
ter. Punishment by stripes would soon
change this state Of affairs for fewer
thefts would be committed. and when
committed the offenders would be re-
stored ut Cnce 20 tie community as
wage oarners. with q sharp remembrance
OF the effects OF their transgressi0n.
I'm the second place vast sum OF
money would be annually saved 20 the
State. Tn 1sU when petit larceny was
punished by stripes. our criminal ex-
peuscs were less than Si0S00J. In lsl5.
when the punishment for petit larceny
was by confinement i'm Jail. our criminal
expenses were more than $4,000.
Making all due allowance for increase
OF population. there is a difference of
over $4,000 which the State is paying
for the privilege OF confirming its petit
thieves in jail. instead Of Furnishing them
by stripes When 20 this largo amour,
H. added the wage-earning capacity OF
those who would Doe released from our
jalis and AT work supporting themselves
and their families. we wonder that the
State can survive such a burden, and
should not hesitate an instant 10 avail
ourselves of this opportunity 10 be re-
lievcd from this terrible incubus.
VIII not The Times then unite i'm at
tempting 10 bring about this great re-
lief 20 the state? Mr.. Murphy deserves
an praise for the Introduction OF this
measure. which not only tends 80 prevent
crime. but at the same time will work !
such an immense saving In the criminal |
expenses Of the State.
JOHN y. MINOR.
Richmond. Va. February 10 1896