The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-11-02
= -kHJuFuHt-O
Vide paragraph as, page 1873, G. II.

| Rum RArIoNs IN THE NAvv.-Rum is driven out of
the merchant serslce--but still finds refuge in the
Navy. Our government cannot be SO cruel and hard
hearted as to deprive the poor of his daily al
owance Of grog, which is the Of nearly all the
trouble, INSTRUMENTATION, and punishment that found
on board our ships Of war Even at this very moment
brig at the Charlestown Navy Yard is taking in car
go OF stores for our government vessels the South
American station and among the stores provided for the
comfort aud convenience Of on that coast
ale sir thousand gallons Of rum!
| The following is extract frem the " Ship and
| Shore by the Rev Walter Cotton Il contains some
home truths presented in forcible manner, and de-
serves the serious consideration of every interested
III promoting the happiness OF our seamen, and the
fitness Of the Navy:-Bosion Journal >...--
Would that the diversions and excitenents of the
sailor never carried him more widely the moral
pass from his true than he is borne when yield.
Ing to the vein OF song, making the part OF his sto
ry. But he is entirely the of impulse and
monentary feelings that he frequently finds himself SO
far out of his reckoning that costs him many trouble
some tacks and the most painfully close sailing to ena-
bic him to bring up the lee-way. No one thing con
tributes to this disastrous departure than the s
mulang bowl This is his daily sn--his prevailing
tempter-hs datlerng false lrerd-his associate in
Joy, his refuge IN greand the prime source OF all the
errors aud evils that beal him. Will 1t be credited
hereafter, that the governmen,hc kind, paternal GO
vernment which he serves-presens this poisoned cha
lice 10 his lips! Yet this is the fact IA fact that will
incredibly and amazement!
The evils TO the sailor OF which this vicious indul-
gence the source, of the most affecting character
There is not Shore where our canvass has
been spread that darkened with the graves Of
mariners There is not circle from which these bold
hearts have gone, that has not been filled with mourn
ing Tor those who are TO return no more, Gould the
that has been the winding sheet OF the sailor
speak could the lonely shore reveal the secrets of It's
frequent mounds there would be voices on the ocean,
and hones m strand To tell a tale death wild
and dark than any yet kneed its crrors through
the most tragic dream TITS not the tempest casting
the proud ship naked hulk the Deep the rock
strewn with the fragments OF It's persisted strength that
has wrought this scene of desolaon and filled many
hearts with unavaing sorrow. 1t is that cup of insdl-
GUS poison mingled and mxed-and still placed to his
lips by the government Yes, by the government
Nor were those who had, short time since, the hu
mainly to propose, in our National Legislature, dis
couutenance Of this criminal conduct able to shield
themselves even from insulting levity. The sense
less Jest reached them entrenched as they were. behind
this appalling mass OF misery and death :. Numbers,
with whose names will not dshonor this page, cast
upon the earnest, mpassoned appeal the mockery Of
their sneers, Such men might consistently trlfe with
the despair Of the dying aud sport among the bones Of
their ancestral dead They burlesque upon the
soemni,ies Of the legislative hall They unfit TO
Law their hands upon the ark Of power as bufoon to
administer incense upon the affairs OF the sanctuary.
But forhear. Let the invectve light only the
guilty II is the imperative duty of those who hold the
restraints of national law in their hands legislae
this suhlectto withdraw the countenance and sane
ton which they have given-to dash to the earth the
fatal cup which they are holding to the lips OF the sailor,
and TO cut up and branch this deep evil in the
val service IT, by any strange perversy, reckless
ness Of heart they fail do this they bctray the
confded themthey betray the interests OF the navy,
the interests OF tho country the great Of humani
y and the blood of thousands will be found on their
skirts in that day when men shall give to God
of their deeds y rs.