We understand that Captain Tidball, the Provost Marshal and Bureau Agent, here, protested against theis punishment as barbarous, and stated that he had forwarded a report of the circumstances (so far as the negroes are concerned) to his superior officer. He also stated in his report that at the same time a white man was sentenced to similar punishment.

We suppose from this that it is proposed to prescribe a code of criminal law to the Southern States. If Massachusetts abolishes capital punishement and a negro man is hung in Virginia, the agent of the Freedmen's Bureau will at once communicate the fact to General Howard. If Massachusetts fixes three months imprisonment as the punishment for rape, Virginia is, on grounds of humanity, to do the same thing. When they decide in New England that "taking is no stealing," Virginia must trim her sails in conformity.

"Barbarous!" Who made Massachusetts a judge of "barbarity?"

Here they have given us a Civil Rights bill of the most outrageous character compelling us to mete out the same punishment to the black man that we do to the white--and now when we do it, we are met by the cry of "barbarity"--twenty or thirty stripes administered to a thief "barbarity!"

If the punishment was hanging, drawing, and quartering, it is no concern of Captain Tidball's, or any man not a resident of Virginia--and it is no concern of his except to remonstrate with the Legislature of Virginia.

Where is this devilish persecution to stop?

We hope that the sentence of the court will be promptly executed. It is a matter with which Captain Tidball has nothing to do by any law, human or divine, or congressional.--Charlottesville Chronicle