The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-02-13

tApA than live stated. II is folly to say that
men at ssch "a age are capable Of commanding
man wondered brilliant military services, thou
sand have failed for the want Of energy, though
(!artng in their younger days, The law Of neIare
hat enfeebles man by ago, and lamentably rapid IN
kussed here, or denied elewhere. The youthful
Enterprise of Napoleon was more effective than
III the combined wisdom Of the old generals Of
Europe, and the oaly man that ever made re-
4pectable stand against him in his younger days,
Vas the young Arch Duke Charles. Would
a old maH Of eghty-aye, sixty, have acted the
part of Perry on Lake Erie T! When his ship
could NO longer contend with the enemy, he jumped
With few men into little boat, while cannen
Etarsd and balls showered, boarded q fresh ship,
brought her into action, and won the victory. NO
old maa could have done it. Men that have achieved
the most brilliant actions and were the boldest ma,
w{vering in age. Ills no ones fault. IT'S eonsti-
tHienal with man: and the very few exception: to
q rsls, 10 no reason we should no, guard against
III The efficiency Of the navy calls for q remedy,
AID Congress- Justice to the country, should hear.
ere is no consideration to justify Us for imposing
fties upon old heroes, that age has disqualified
flem to perform. Let an age be fxsd uPsn-:av
3lkty-at which all officers Of the line shall retire
4 Pn the service on half their sea pay. Age 10
z lnorabie and this would be an honorable retired
ut, effected without hardness, Partially, or poll
yical influence. II would not be extracting all the
1sod from faithful servant, and throwing him upon
r. world In his old age; bat fairly providing for
him when he can no longer serve with his wented
ability. Such an arrangement can scarcely meet
An objection from Congress, or the officers. With
out it, the officers will be on full pay, and, at that
ass, nearly all Oft duty BY general con,sn but sub
Of snditurbed quletud. at age that their consti
tntions are lily tit to contend with maritime expo
sure. or their nerves with ocean dangers. At that
age they should wish to retire to rest and comfort
from turmoil and hardship; and the government
should wish to have men in the full vigor OF life to
perform the arduous duties unavoidably devoving
upon a naval commander. To such retired list
should be added all that are physically or mentally
disqualified to perform their duties. This retired
list would be Of incacu!abe advantage to the whole
service in accelerating promotions-the idol of
military men-the soul that animates them in every
enterprise: Then the superior grades would be
reached when all the powers Of man are most able
to serve with distinction.
The supply, care, and encouragement Of sailors
will now be considered. Such means should be
adopted to furnish men when required, that our
men Of war should not be subject to unreasonable
several months for crew, when otherwise ready.
An erroneous policy of keeping but few places
open for enlistment, has been the principle cause
Of it, The rendezvous for shipping men have
the wants of an Increased fstilla. We have now
about ten stations for the purpose, which could be
extended with advantage to twenty. Portland,
Portsmouth, Boston, Nantucket, New Bedford,
new 1Ork, TnLaoeIpna, DaAtluOIc, AleXanOIlas
Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, New Or.
leans, st. Louis Louisville, Cincinnati, Buffalo,
Cleveland and Detroit, could supply men useful in
different capacities; though not more than half Of
those stations are at this time put in requsition
Those cities that would not supply sailors, could
furnish steamboat men, landsmen, and boys, not
less necessary in their way, and in time would be.
come sailors.
As 500. as lapdsmen are shipped, and sent on
board receiving ship. they should be put into
,,,.kk ii
ropes, strap blocks, bend, reef, AID furl sails
deck, then perform the same aloft; learned the
names and use Of the ropes, practice at the great
guns and small arms, and in one month they may be
a seaman, than they are now when discharged from
q three years cruise All other trades and profes-
sions are taught with care, but men In our Navy
have always been left to learn without instruction
and only when they choose II he 10 satisfied with
being lubber, no care is taken to learn him-if
anxious to learn, who will take the trouble to
show him unless oblged1 A landsman, being ia.
miliarized with some Of the duties of a sailor be-
riety of duties, in what 10 to him new world, he
will take pride in making himself a sailor az soon
as he gets to But send him on board without
previous or future instruction, and he never will be
sailor There are men that have been ten years
on board man Of war without learning the duties
OF a sailor, simply because they have not been
taught while the merchant ship qualify them in
two or three years, that they may profit by their
knowledge. With proper care and attention, our
men of war could teach them even sooner than the
merchant ships; and it is a serious loss and wrong,
that il is net done. Instead Of Constantly drawing
from the merchant service we might assist in sup.
plyingthem.
This systsm efinstru citing land men in the duties
Of seaman, joined to the apprentice system Of
boys, which should be enlarged, would create a
numerous class Of seamen, always preferring the
man of war service. Sailors, once accustomed to
the wholesome restraint, and regularity Of the
vice, always pre- fer it. With attention and encou.
ragcment. Americans soon become sailors, and that
ional Characteristic makes our in per-
sonsI, insxhaustible as il is admitted we in
materei Every man of war in commission should
take, as part OF her crew, four andsmen and twoap
prentice boys for each gum drilled proposed and
in few years we would not be under the necessi
ty Of having a single foreigner on board ships
with doube our force. Besides the four lands men,
two boys and one marine to each gun, three able
seamen for the same, would make an efficient crew
for any man Of war. At this rate, fifty such SHIPS
as the Delaware, ninety gun liner, would require
but thirteen ihou:and and five hundred seams n,
and we have eighty thousand employed in csmmis.
merce, one half OF whom would be forced out OF
that service in the event Of war, and supply all the
wants of a navy that could cope with the British
fleets. With a considerable policy, there will never
be any necessity 10 submltte injustice, or suffer
foreign power TO land upon our soil, or even APP
proach our shores in belligerent attitude.
The greatest injustice practiced upon or man Of
war sailors, is that Of high and uncalled for tax
upon all they wear and their tea, coffee, sugsr and
tobacco. BY this means, our government obiges
them to pay the dsbursing officers Of the ships,
and save the Treasury the salaries ofthose officers
a poor compensation for the injustice done the
sailor; and poor remuneration for the long de-
lays Of our ships, which so often occurs for the
want of men; who are restrained from enteriag q
service where they are so heavily taxed. While
all other American sailors and citz ms parcha.
sing nearly all their groceries free Of duties the
men, of-warsmen are compelled 10 pay the pursers
fifty per cent on all they use. by whom they must
necessarily be supplied and twenty hye per cent
instead Of making them salaried officers, as every
honest Purser desires Pursers are furnished with
money to meet all the demands Of the ships, with
permission to much a. necessary to purchase
articles for the crew. which are served to them
the commander may deem necessary, instead Of
money; and il is such articles, and under these
that the crews of our slips obi
ged to pay such high duties. Should purse have
their own interests more at heart than the sailors
they would choose to purchase every thing for the
sailors at the highest prices which would enhance