The New York Herald

Flogging—The Senate of the United States.—This body of "most potent, grave and reverend seignors" are engaged in debating whether the law abolishing flogging in the naval and merchant service shall stand or shall be repealed. Commodore Stockton led off the debate, some days ago, in a speech that was telegraphed to the associated press of this city, at a cost to it of about $200, which speech was not thought worth publishing by but one or two of the papers. We published it, with an intimation that it was not worth, by $190, what it cost. If Congressional spouters want their orations for Buncombe published in the New York papers, they ought to telegraph them at their own proper costs and charges. The telegraphing a speech is quite expensive to the papers here, and few speeches are worth it. It cannot be expected that the papers of this city will publish a speech in extenso, unless it is sent by telegraph, as, when received by mail through the Washington papers, or in pamphlet, it is an old story, and of little interest to those who read the city papers. An epitome of a few lines is all that should be expected of a speech from Congress for the New York daily press, unless it is one of a remarkable character, either for folly or wisdom; and then it may well be given as a curiosity.

Mr. Badger, of North Carolina, opposed Commodore Stockton's views, and in a made and manner which induced the gallant Commodore to complain of him as having ridiculed his speech. Dr. Gwin, of California, next intimated his intention to speak, but said he was not quite prepared, as he had not had the necessary documents from the Navy Department in time. Mr. Mallory, of Florida, next takes the floor, and he has already consumed part of two days, and threatens to occupy a third day. He is a new member, and a lawyer, and should be indulged a little; but three bouts is rather too many. John P. Hale, of New Hampshire, has announced that he intends to hold forth in aid of Commodore Stockton—all the three other speakers being opposed to him. A village debating society of youths preparing for Congress, could discuss it as well as any of them.

All this debate is, perhaps, about as harmless and innocent an amusement as the Senate of the United States could be employed in just now; but if they would contrive some way to "flog" the Indians in California, New Mexico, and Texas, and (we believe Billy Bowlegs yet holds out) in Florida, it would be doing "the State some service." We learn the law of Russia authorizes the flogging in the navy of that empire of all hands, from the admiral down to the loblolly boy, and that the punishment is inflicted for venial offences not deserving imprisonment or death. The knout is a favorite punishment in Russia—the people "like it." If the law of the United States is altered, it would be as well to adopt the Russian law; and if its principles could be extended to other public servants—such as secretaries, comptrollers, auditors, commissioners, clerks, Senators, and Representatives—it would be all the better. We are certain the people would "like" that. Whenever any one of them was detected in Galphinism, particularly, forty, save one, would do a power of good, well laid on. Laziness, or drunkenness, or other small vices, electioneering for the Presidency, making speeches for Buncombe, or, to use the new phrase "Kossuthing," should be punished by a round dozen.

We are against flogging, unless all the public servants at Washington are included. It is to be hoped, particularly, that the Senate rules be altered, so that if any Senator of six weeks' standing speaks more than twice on the same subject, and more than one hour each time, he shall be brought to the gangway by the Sergeant at Arms, stripped to the buff, and have his catastrophe tickled with the cat-o'-nine tails; and for a second offence, have his grog stopped in addition. This would stop what Jack Tar calls, we believe, "extra lip," of which there is a superabundance in Congress. Some discipline should be adopted for both houses. Nothing has been done as yet in either, except intriguing about the Presidency, and "Kossuthing."