Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-07-15

and the formation and development ut ideas
From the fall ola apple, Newton's r-sdiia-
i've mind detected the principle of gravilation,
aud exposed tn mortal eye the secret coun-
sells at the Most high, when he launched into
'he so'u Immense, the countless worlds, which
wheei In harmonious CONCORD round his
throne. Possibly, your instructed intelligence
"n matters of dsri pline. wi not refuse to- hear
the crude ideas of AN obscure subat-rn.
Sirs, the case before YOU can, and will, be
viewed by the common sense of mankind
I'D no o'her light but one. A captain in the
ma. y''hrow'nS OF all the insignia OF his rank, ,
anu cnntemning all the regulations Of the ser
VICE, mas put ON the mask Of an anonymous
"or'lsr' anu wanton'y, grossly, uujuslly, as
sailed the Character Of his inferior. When
convinced oi his injustice, he has aggravated
'ne wrong by c"niumeiiuus temper, which
deemed Inc injured party too low Tor rerara-
''onIioo humble for redress. The inferior
cou'd not challenge, without a violation of the
laws OF the service, and establishing a prece-
dent dangerous 10 discipline. lie could moi
appear 10 court martial, because he had no
such evidence as would prove his authurshin :
ana u he had, there WAS too much reason.
rom past events, 10 f.ar he might not oh, ain
the redress he sought In this situation. far
the v.ndicaiion Of his own fame, he meets hi,
assailant ON his selected ground, and ius,i6.,
h'mseii IN The public prints, in terms which all
VIII AUNT are much more moderate aud ciias-
.eneu' uan miSht be expected from private
Individual to another. This leads TO one ont
rage after anuther until at last. his suo.rior
throws OF partially his disguise, arrests MIN
at the most critical moment of his profession
al career, ana against his own express iudg-
Inent of ihe transaction, brings him to a caurt
martial, Tor having dared to complain. Aud
mus an attempt Is made tU Connect with The
service and discipline IA matter altogether per
sonal IN IFS origin, and To punish The infero,
Tor not having respected the character and
rams OF a" inferior, la SUPERIOR which had
'ufKeu under the Disguise, and behind the
mask, OF an anonymous libeller. This. S;rs. i
the casr, as the world will understand n. And
what does the good of the service, aud thr
discipline Of the Navy demand: 1t is ON ti,
matter presume Ia speak.
IN what cunsists the discipline, so much talk,
rd Oi, but so little defined , Does il reuuir. ,,f
the interior unhesltatinS obedience, ab.cIute
submission, accomplishing acgui, sceDce, en-
tire difference To his superior, on all matf,rs
IN az situations whatever, IN all the relations
Oh HE, whether connected with the service or
not Dues IL confer on tae superior unres'rain-
ed authority a5sol.e him rom all duties
make nus VIII, his caprice, his passivas, thu
rule oil his own guiiance, and The law c,r TN,
under all ciI cunlstanc.s whatpy.r3
II TINS be discipline, II is crrla,pI, but a vii
gar acquisition, requiring no high excr,encies
I'd attainit. III needs Only brutal passious la
the superior, aud pass' euesS IN. 4 than brutal
Ia the inferior.
II tins be discipline, then am a stranger To
II. see IN II absolute despulism on onr s,d,.
aoJ'ct Slavery ON the other buI see noih-
ha more Perish the Navy, before this be
Oslf Han. l.
c"nes Tue relation between superior aud sab
ordinate
But ms no more resembles Discipline than
the frantic crueliies and raprictous rxtraya-
gdncies Of Eastern tyraDt res.mbI. I'M.
ul'iu anu P"irrnai, though steudy rule, by
which power. guided by wisdom, attAi, the
best possible results of public utility and gIo-
ry. hom the combinations of human agents.
In all human establishments, two Thugs are
essential 10 their perfection: Wisdom in CON
cep'ioh-fower In execution. Ii is the pro-
'iuce oi the ioflner to conceive the end To br
a''a'hed 10 devise the means by winch il is
10 De elected TO distribute their respective
uu'es among the agents who are 10 be employ
ed 10 define the limits within " hich they ar.
TO operate. To the latter belongs The ex.cu-
tIon OF tile dates prescribed, Ia the mapn.,
and That manner only, which isdon has or
ua'ned' discipline consists in keeping each
agent within Ills appropriate sphere: aud OBJ
td'ninS rom each The exact performance Of his
peculiar duty. Discipline becomes perfect.
when habit comes in aid of duty, and ser
wee IS punctually pc, formed from the com
bined influences of custom aud principle.
IL 'hs idea of discipline be correct, il neces
sally RESULTS that, should interiors (whose sole
province u IS 10 execute what their superior.
nave ordered, or 10 think only within their
permitted sphere, Of the means of carving
commands into eifect) become critics. ON ih.iI
ORDERS, and qucstioners Of their sup-riurs. all
the order and harmony Of the establishment
uii'sf De disturbed, its efficacy weakened, and
US US operations destroyed. Ills the province of
a'sc'piine TO watch over this too natural ten
uency OF the human mind 10 Glide its tardi-
obedience.
But ne detracfs from The high merit of -
true discipinarian, who believes thai th,. biyb.
est command draws along " ith il ms restrain,
and imposes no responsibility. The man who
merits that high distinction, never forg4ts thai.
on MN, the perfection Of the whole machine
depends. That he has double responsib;lifv
~ control others, and still more difficult f1
control himself -
:. IL 'nese opinions he just, it is obvious that
discipline Is exposed to two foes, coming from
opposite quarters, and asssilng it at diIfereu,
pomts. INSTRUMENTATION, which, founded on
mans natural Impotence of control, sfiep
'eaus Tue inferior to resist necessary autho
rity., tyranny, which, generass sby the an
utude OF the human heart to exfend authority.
causes the superiors to transcend ire Limits
prescribed for his own control, and exercise
power beyond the sphere, or the measure ofl
Which Of these foes is the nd edapserov,