New-York daily tribune., 1843-02-01
VOL. HI. no. 25a.
For The Tibane.
Discipline In the Navy.
zndi oltecen. parfe

your paper, which has surprised and panied me-
surprised that paper, usually SO correct, should
be SO widely mistaken, and panied that you should
| have been induced TO condemn that which, if vel
understood, you would have been most jealous tc
protect and foster. And yet you are excusable
for the discipline of the Navy is a subject which
| to those unversed in its details, is inconprehens
bic in its process, however perceptibe in its re-
suits.
have been very nearly one.fourth of century
in the service; have passed through the successive
gradations of obedience to the responsibilities Of
command, and have served in every class Of YES.
sci, from the schooner of forty tons to the
heard of Midshipman being empowered to pun
ish in aay manner any individual of ships COM
pany.
1t has. ever been the practice of the service,
when one man has complaint to make against
another whether seaman vs. seaman, rnidshipman
vs.. seaman, or seaman vs. midshipEan, that it be
made in a respectful manner to the officer Of the
deck, who is for the time being the representative
sf the Commander. For all bat serious cases the
officer OF the deck had for many years ample uris-
diction, and could punish the man, or suspend the
officer, upon his own responsibility Since the
PRONUNCIATION Of the order prohibiting punishment
save by the Captain alone, the practice has been
different. It is the custom for the Captain
to attend in person, and many, with great prepr-
ETY., give all possible solemniy to the occasion, by
summouing the whole crew, and while all stand
uncovered read the articles of war that have been
infringsd, and award The punishment which those
articles prescribe. The law permits twelve lashes
and no more a number which cannot, bat with the
greatest peril. be transcended, ard which is fre-
quently very frequently, lessened by the humanity
OF the Captain, or the mitigating circumstances so
otten attendant on the commission Of crime.
Ii in civilized community, it be necessary tha,
The eye OF justice should never sleep, and that ts
kecH-edged sword be swayed by an arm whose
nerves never relax nor falter surely when not
alone the lives Of hundreds, but the preservation
of the national honor, is entrusted TO single man.
hat man should be clothed with powers proper
toned TO his responsibility. On shore, the doors
OF justice are ever open, and its multldudinons
agents within the call of the weakest and mos. de.
tenceless. On the bosom of the painless sea floats
solitary vessel. The heavens are lowering and
the sea darkenea with the gathering wrath OF the
tempest. Unless within tha; vessel there be skill
10 direct and obedience to sustain that skill, save
in the mercies of Providence for that vessel there
can be no hope.
1t is by constant trials that skill is acquired; tits
by ceaseless efforts that proficiency is nttained-
BY often confronting danger, the nerves are firmly
strung, and the crimson tide flows with its wonted
equanimity under circumstances when the ipexpe-
rieneed would shrink appalled, and terrified -
. Practice makes perfect is copper-plate maxim
br
naturcr years. By the enforcement of obedience
in small matters, those subject authority
quire habit which may be relied upon in the mo-
ment of danger. The obedient springs to
the voice Of authority, and the ponderoua yards
are swayed or the beilying canvass furlea, while
the urdisciplinea gather in tunuituous panic,
and are only awakened to the necessity of exer-
ZION when the crash of the falling mast the rash
of the overwhelming sea tells that the hour of ex
ertion is past
The disciplined crew will, in time of action,
load with care and fire with deliberation will re-
pair at the word from the guns to the braces, and
return with alacrity from the braces to the guns.
The disobedient crew, regardless of the voice
Of authority, viii lead with haste and FIRE at ran
dom, and, scofing at interruption, will scarcely
hear the summons to board and, as in the case
of the Chesapeake, the ship may be carried by a
small! body of their opponents
As Acestes' arrows caught are as they flew, so,
as write, reason upon reason suggests itself in
support of an efficient discipline. But a, am
anxious TO record possible u protest.
against the tenor of your article, ! have 10 time
ao'o to enter into any argument, but request that
as preliminary, you will publish this communities
tion. AN OFFICER OF THE NAVY.
3,.o af Canl
in Lenox Mass, together with the principal part OF
its furniture, and the wood and carriage house ad
joining, with two wagons, were entirely consumed
by fire on Sunday afternoon about O'Clock. Los'
$500 TO $4,000
The dwelling house owned by Louis Dwight, in
Stockbridge, was destroyed by tire on Sunday al
,ernoon about two o'clock Loss about $500 or
$500.
The Touring mill near Cleveland, O., known as
Wright's mill, was burned a few days since. Ihe
contents Of the mill also destroyed. Loss about
$4,000 Fire supposed to be the work OF an In
cendary.
The clothing mill belonging TO overfeid, ster-
ling s. Holenback, Washington, Wyoming Co.,
Pa, was consumed Sn the ist instant. Loss about
$500. NJ insurance.
On Friday night, the e0.h inst. saw-ra on
Marsh Greek, Monroe township, Luzetne Co, Ia.
belonging TO Geo. NJ. Holleaback, was totally con.
sumed Less abou, $1,000. No insurance.
The Cleveland 20 Herald, says that E severe
fire occurred on Monday night, a. Albion in that
county. II reported thai several buildings were
destroyed.
The dwelling of Mr.. Isaac G. Magruder, in the