The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-11-03
TUESDAY. NOVEMBER 3.
THE WHIPPING-PO>T.

We believe that if the question OF
establishing the whipping post Tor
the punishment of ~wife-beaters,
thieves and some other classes OF
criminals were left 10 the vote OF the
people of our state it would be en-
dorsed by a very large majority Few
outside of those who feared return TO
this mode of punishment would OPP
pose the proposition. AS high an au-
thority as Judge James c. RacRae.
now dean of the State University law
school. advocates the fOrty-less-one
lashes for thieves and pickpockets.
The Raleigh Posts Chapel Hill CORE
saving the old whipping-pOst method
was the very best for that class of
gentry who follow crowds and steal
all THEN light fingers can reach in the
pockets of their victims. Commenting
upon this The Post saEs
But upon this subject and Judge
MacRae'S suggestion, a distinguished
citizen "a lawyer who won distinc-
tiOn at the bar and on the bench.
writes the editor of The Post that the
legislature has the power to prescribe
the lash for such offenders. We
thought it required an amendment to
the constitution to permit such pun
ishment. We quote this part of the
letter for the good it may, or should
do, by way of calling public
to the Importance of such legisla-
ton:
"It has come to be Il great evil, that
our good people can not meet together
In their state and county fairs with
out being troubled by these gangs of
thieves dressed like respectable people
coming to each others help when by
chance they are caught in the act by
some brave. strong man n seized
by him.
IF any one of them has been
tried. convicted and sentenced to the
roads. and the authorities would keep
him there to serve his term, they must
take such extra precautions that it
will cost more to punish him than he
is worth.
How simple the remedy: Upon
conviction to be whipped and released
on payment Of costs There is no
need of a constitutional amednment.
An act Of assembly WOuld be Suffi-
Cient. There is not even in this case
the opportunity to invoke the everlast-
ing race prejudice against it. for he
is, nine time out of ten, n white
man. and 4 stranger.
ga long time ago. two handsome.
well dressed Young White men were
arrested on Il train near Wilmington.
In the act of picking a pocket They
were tried at the next term of the
court. convicted and. without unneces-
sary delay. whipped and discharged.
They went away very indignant at
this instance of southern barbarism.
and never returned: neither was the
ofenSe ever repeated on that road
Great abuses call FOR drastic RENE
dies"
We were of the same opinion as
The Post regarding the necessity for
an amendment to the constitution be-
fore the whipping-post could be re-
instated as a mode of punishment.
We hope we are wrong in this sup
position. We would like to see the
next legislature pass an act re-estab-
fishing this mode of punishment if 1T
coul do so without violating the pro-
visions of the constitution. If it can
not do so, then it should pass the
amendment by the requisite three
ifths vote and submit 1t to the peo-
pie for ratification.
as " NLAO VI SN>AA
an act of the legislature without a
constitutional amendment we would
like to hear what that distinguished
citizen who has won distinction at
the bar and upon the bench" has to
say abOut the provisions of the state
constitution contained IN Article XI.
Section l. which says:
THE following punishments only
shall be known to the laws of this
state viz: Death. imprisonment with
or without hard labor. fines. removal
rom office. and disqualification TO
trust or profit under this state"
We do not mean to take issue with
this lawyer correspondent of The
Post or to criticise his position, but
ask for information. We thought the
above clause of the constitution pro-
hibited whipping as a punishment for
crime. If there is any constitutional
provision by which this inhibition
against the whipping-pOst can be got
ten round we would like to have il
pointed out for the information OF
the public as we'll as ourselves. We
believe the people would rejoice tC
know that such could be done. fol
the public generally. we think IS .:
the same opinion - The Post and
The Messenger on this subject.
We are indebted to the ennis Pub.