Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-05-06

was plain. There was no bye path to the righ, or
I to the left by which he could escape. And he
trusts that, had the chief eulprit been Of his
blood, he would have faliered in the career Of
duty. :.
~ -
The case of the Somers may form an epoch in
naval history. Sould the courss Of the commando
or be approved by his Country, auniss in oul ships
ofwaf will probably hereafter be Of occurrence
But should this Court the high tribunal Of public
opinion, pronounce sentence ofscondemnation On
the he felt himself bound ito pursue, iii
spec.uly, yet solemnly submitted that the sentence
will be the signalor the general prevalence of nsub-
ordination in our navy.-The means and subjects
Of mutinou, excitement are always at hand Filled
with men of mixed national character; crowded
with spirits as turbulent as the element ON which
they dwell, the ships berth deck over abounds in
materials Of combustion, which a single spark may
ignite.
The commander must quench the fame, even il
it is sometimes done by the sacrifice of life. He
must suppress a mutiny in his little empire by the
application Of all needful force. No degree force
is superauous unlawful, that is necessary for the
suppression. Efectual suppression is the only point
at which no can rightfully stop. lie must move 10
that point with cautious, not with faltering step
He must employ gentle means, If they will reach
tho evil il not, he must resort 10 severe measures
and if need be even TO the soverest. lie may give
such time to mild expedients as the safety Of tho
ship will allow not a moment longer.
But if his country's reproach is to be the NEED
of his faithfulness, other commanders will take
warning from his example. They will suffer the
range Of mutiny tn pursue its fearful course, rather
than arrest it by the sacrifice of their char
acter. They risk tho chance Of being cloven down
at by tho weapons Of the mutlneers, leaving 10
them the choice oftims, place, and mode ofattack,
rather than incur the certain fate of perishng at
homo by the daggers of calumny. They love their
country; for their native land they would chez fuy
die but shey cannot even for that beloved country,
willingly LOSE forever their own most precious char
acter The love of character is not the least Of the
motives which have induced them to relinquish
their peaceful hearths, and make their home
the unquiet seas. And 20 sacrifice their good name
the INN sdiatc jewel of their souls'--even tho
altar Of public veal requires sublimity Of patri-
oilsm hey ond the flight OF ordinary men.
Discipline is the first and second and third vir
tue in The naval code. u was discipline, perhaps
more than even courage, which, during last
war with England, enabled our little navy TO work
its miracles tho lakes and upon the ocean. OF
these glorious achievements the commander OF the
Somers may speak without sg0tism, for he was not
then OF an age To participate in their dangers or
their fame. The electric shock then communica-
ted TO an astounded world can never be forgotten
for il has passed into the immorta.pages of history
no bicht VI uc ptescnk CcuiuIJ
speaks Of it in these glowing terms :-"When there
fore,n he says, "it was seen that in repeated IN
stances Of conbats Of single vessels Of tie same
class against each oSher, the ships OF the United
States had proved victorious, the English
nod as by the shock of an earthquake; the Ameri-
cans were immeasurably, and with good reason,
elatod; aud the other nations 10 Europe thought
they discerncd at last the small cloud arising ever
the ocean which was to involve the British mari-
time power in destruction" And the cause Of
those dicomhfures the saneIauhor more than hints
nj the ness page bss o,o.-Efo there says: "Ex- |
perience had now proved that long continued and
lnoxamped success had produced its wonton effect
in relaxing the hands of British naval preparations;
aad that they had much need to recolect that, in
the language Of the ancient eoaqusrsrs of the world
the word for an army was derived from the verb
to erereise" II was shen tho Spartan discipline of
our navy, no less than its Spartan valor, that an
Abled il 10 triumph tho proud mistress OF the
ocean. Let discipline forever be regarded as its
sheet anchor; and let il never be- forgotten that
subordinaton is the life, and mutiny the death of
discipline. In this view OF the subject, tho nomin-
al party here sinks into comparative unmporsance,
and the American nation rears its august form, en-
treating that her youngest her favorte offspring
may be saved from its worst enemy--that II may be
saved from the demoralizing, destructive principle
of characterization.
All which is respectfully submitted.
ALEXANDER SLIDEL MACKENZIE.