The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-04

| FOR THE MADlSoNlAN.
THE wHIsKEY RATION OF THE u s.
| ~ NAVY.
Mr.. EDITOR
noticed in your paper Of Saturday last, an article
from the North American upon the whiskey
ration Too mach cannet be SAID upon this destruc-
tive and inquitous indulgence and the legal sanction
given to it by the United States Government. There
| was a time when any proposition TO annul the wins
key ration secuted at by too many officers, as an
emanalion Of bgotry, cant and fanaticism but for
tunately this time has gone by Spirits were once
thought essential to sustain those exposed to hardship
and privaon, and grog was thought to be as neces-
sary an article of nautical diet, tarpaulin is of
sailors dress, but it is, almost universally known
that the excitement of spirits only facilitates exerton
by contributing temporary excitement of mind and
body, incompatible with cool, steady and judicious
labor and finally leading to exhaustion and enfeebled
energies If the excitement of spirits did contribute
to exertion this would in reality be far more than
countcrbalanced by the fruitful disability and disease
resulting from their USE to say nothing of the inso
lence rioting revels and INSTRUMENTATION which may
be traced to the whskey ration; but when to
terbalance all this evil good effect results the
periodic, three times day, legal distribution of NOR
bid excitement and fuel TO animal passions highly
| senseess and censurable practice.
| Drunkenness is crime visited with severe punish
ment by Naval law, and the experience of every one
who has served on board man-ofwar, will evidence
that it is the offence for which punishment is most
| frequently incurred independent of the many other
offences of which it is the origin 1t isan established
fact of melancholy experience that very few even Of
disciplined minds, and who are under the control of
great obligations to society, can be habtual drinkers
without rushing into the whirlpool of intoxcation.
| What then, can be expected Of men, who, not pro-
tected by the pride of station, terate, and accus-
toned to WELD TO the impulses of nature, when they
see habual drinking sanctioned and dlgnifed by
law What Inconsistency to make drunken
ness, by he same law, crime TO push men over the
piecipce and punish them for clineing by lis
brink for, tempted and INDUCED in this way they
inevitably become drunkards, and the law and the
lash but small check upon vice, which in those
OF higher station rlumphs the appeals OF pride,
the most sacred ties and every affection of the heart
| The few sailors who might refuse TO enter the Str
vice if deprived Of their grog, could very well be
| spared for the many who would he induced to enter
it, flom the higher character which would be given to
the service but believe that many, very many, of
| those who have become habuated to its destructive
excitement and familiar with its bad consequences,
would willingly place themselves in service which
would deprive them of an indulgence they could not
refuse themselves. The Government Systematically
throws nsurmountable impedments in the way of
voluntary reformation for the boatswains piIe
which calls TO the grog tub whistles triumph over
many an old tan good resolutions
Putting out of view the great return the Govern
ment would receive from he increased efficiency and
character Of its scanen, by doing away with the
whiskey ration, and substituting increased pay as a
matter ofdoars and cents, the Communication would I've
favorable to the Government; for the cost of the
whiskey is small consideration compared with the
hospital expenses growing out of this ration, The
increased comforts and safety of ships would be in
calcuIable In consequence Of the great bulk of the
whiskey ration, large portion Of the ship is occu-
pied as the ''spirit-room." The whole ship is nuis
ancc when it is being pumped in, the danger Of
fire is greatly increased, and three times day when
the spin, is opened the surrounding lights are
necessarily extinguishcd'
The whiskey ration has single advantage TO
justify its continuance; it is nuisance shpboard
source of crime, unworthy the Government and lis
discontinuance would facilitate the efficiency, health
and subordlnation Of every ships company.
w.
The lower apartments Of officers lighted by
candles in the day time.
GOSSIP