Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-18

L
tempt Is made To CO piect with the service and
Josephine a matter altogether personal in its
origin, ana to punish the inferior for not having
respected The Character aud rank of an iat,rior
La siperior,] which had lurkcd under tho ,I;s'
guise, and behind the mask, of an a,onymons
iineiter. THIS, slrs, 10 the case, as .ha world
VIII understand it. And what does the rooJ Of
'nc ssr'iGe, ana Inc discipline of the Navy de-
MANU-. l. - on thts matter presume to speak
IN what consists the discipline, SO much talk
cd OF, but SO little deiin>d Does it roou;re Of
inc INFERIOR uuhesitatng obeslience. absolute
SUBMISSION, uncomplaining ac3uiesccncc, en-
ure usieFcnce TO his superior, on all matters. i'm
ot! situations whatever, in all the relations of
me, whether connected with the service or ro,9
Does IT confer on the superior unres.raineJ an
thority; absoivc him from, all duties; make his
wiii hs caprice his passions, the rule ofhis own
guidance and the laws for the observance cf his
interiors, IN all matters and under all circum-
stances wiateyero
If this BIO discipline, il is certainly but ynl-
gar acquisition, requiring no high cxceI!enf,ios
10 attain 1t. 1t nee,ls only brutal passion, in
The superior, and plssivencss, more than brutal
in the inferior.
Ii this be discipline, then am stranger 10
it.. see in it absolute dcspatis:n OH one side.
AFFECT slavery on the other; but L sec NOTHING
more. Perish the navy, before this becomes
the relation between superior and subordinate!
But tins no more resembles discipline than
the frantic crnelties and capricious cxtrayagan-
cies OF an Eastern tyrant' resemble the mild
ana Paternal, though steady rule, by which pow
er, guided by wisdom, attans the best possible
results OF public utility and glory from the COM
binatlons ofhuman agents.
In human establishments, two things are es-
sential to their perfection: Wisdom in concep-
t'on--Powcr in execution. 1t is the province
OF former to conceive the end to be attained;
to devise the means by which it is to be effected:
to distribute their respective duties among the
agents who are to be employed; to define the
limits within which they are to operate. To
The latter belongs the execution of the duties
prescribed, in the manner, and that manner on
y, which wisdom liasordained. Discipline con-
sistsin Keeping each agent within his aopropri-
de sphere and obtaining from each the exact
performance of his peculiar duty. Discipline
becomes perfect, when habit comes in aid of du
ty, and service is punctually performed from the
combined influences Of custom and principle.
II tins !;lca OF discipline be correct it nccessa-
ri!y results, that, should inferisrs (whose s,le
province II is to execute what their superiors
have ordered, to think only within their
permitted sphere, ofthc means of CARRYING COM
mands into efec0 become critics, on their Or
ders, and qnestioners of their Supporters, all the
order ana harmony of the establishment must
be disturbed, its efficacy weakened, and its op-
eratlons destroyed. 1t is the prov ince of disci-
p!:ne TO watch over this too natural tendency of
the human mind to ciide its hardness: re-
strain its alterations; punish its disobedience.
But he dctracts from the high merit Of a true
aisciphnaTian, who believes that the highest
command draws along with it no restraint. and
imposes no responsibility. The man who me-
rts that nigh distinction, never forgets that on
him, the perfection of the whole machine de-
ponds. That he has a double responsibility to
control others, and still more difficulty to con-
.IJl himself.
If these opinions be just, it is obvious that dis
cipiine is exposed to two foes, coming from on
pasitc quarters, and assailing it at different
2oints. INSTRUMENTATION, which, founded on mans
natural imPaticnce of control, often leads the in
ieriGr to resist necessary authority. Tyranny,
which, generated by the aptitude of the human
heart to extend authority, causes the superior to
transcend the limits prescribed fos. his own con-
troll, and exercise power beyond the sphere, or
the measure of his jurisdiction.
Which of these foes is the most danrerons To
The d!cIpline, (which IS nothing more than the
preservation of rightful power, in all its suprc
macy, tits not for ne to determine
But history has taught instructive lessons. If
INSTRUMENTATION, in its restiessness, has some.
tunes raised its arm against rigtful authority.
tyranny has, more frequently, in its wantonness.
provoked resistance.
Wisdom, with firrnness, will restrain the rest
'essness of INSTRUMENTATION, ami repress the wan
tonness OF tyranny. For, by either, true disci.
pline dies.
Man, sirs, may be converted into a machine.
and into an useful one but it should never be
forgotten that he is nso,-al machine. Howe
YER dciorned by vice, and brutifed hy climate,
~ manners, By government, and the long CONT
Lea ana combined operation Of moral and phy-
'ical causes, his nature cannot be entirely
changed, nor can the spark of divine inteIl;
scncc be utterly extinguished in him. To some
ittle recess OF his heart, some hidden corner of
MS nature, the feelings of humanity will retire.
Fiat recess is sacred and inviolable. Power
nust not assail--despoiisin itselfis compelled 10
reopcct it. Ifthat be invaded, trust me. sirs. il
'snot in the compass of human authority TO en-
'oFce obedience, or maintain subsection.
Captain Porter attempted to invade and pro-
ane IT. In matter entirely foreign to service.
IN which there was no pretext of professional
authority, on ono hand, professional tIufy ON
ne other--iH sacred recosses of my private life
&c has assailed INC, causelessiy and cruelty. He
has icttme no alternative but dishonor or resis-
lance. MyTcsistancc he has attempted to con-
vert INTO professional crime, and to crush me
by the forms OF Official prosecution. If he sue
ccedS; ifajunior officer may not defend his re-
putati0n and his feelings against an anonyrnous
libel, because that libelIcr is his superior officer.
what is there left to us secure from invasion
Dn me has the experiment first been made, and
shall hold myself accessory to the ruin and re-
prodch X must bring upon the service, if tame
ly yied TO the usurpation.
To present this panciple, if possible, in still
clearer light, let me Imagine stronger case.
Theoifence Of striking, and Intentionally wound