The New York herald., 1844-12-24

SCARCITY OF AMERICAN SAILoRs.-lt mas peeh
satisfactorily ascertained, that OF all the sailors
whs navigate our ships, one fourth only are Amer-
cans. According to the laws that govern the mer-
camille marine OF this country, the crew OF each
ship must be composed of two thirds natives; the
other third to be filled up as it may best suit the
captain or owner. We do not hesitate IN asserting
that in the last twenty-five years, not single ship
has left America for foreign port, with crew
Of even one half American.
In times Of tranquility, this arrangement is pro-
badly well enough but in the event of war, II
would be dreadful for our commerce. Our ships
are now navigated with skill, ii is true, and they
take high rank throughout the world; not, how
ever, by aid Of the foreign sailors, but because the
captains and mates are Americans, with their full
share of energy, enterprise, and skill This energy,
however mixed as il is in equal parts, with indom-
table courage, will be OF no use IN time ot war un-
less sailors are found TO throw in their assistance. In
all wars between this and any other country, the
scene of operations will principally be on the ocean
With the powerful navies OF England or France,
manned by sailors drilled from early lite at Ma
nonal Naval Schools, what can we do? Can we
cope with them? Can we even do as much as we
did in the last war? England has more sailors
than she can employ in times Of peace; France can
raise in day more seamen than we can IN
month Sweden, on an average, has, at least, one
sailor on board OF every American vessel; while
America, with a population Of 10000. 900, and
commerce standing second in the world, has less
than 10 900 seamen whom she can call her own.
These facts are capable OF an easy demonstra-
ton, and they almost as startling as they are
true. Now Is there remedyl Have we the
raw material for sailors
In this country we have the elements in farmers
and mechanics sonsto make thousands OF as noble
seamen as ever reefed sail. These boys are
longing for the sea, but, unfortunately, they have
no means OF getting there. Most OF them being
poor they cannot enter the Navy as Mdshipmen,
for il is notorious fact that wealth and influence
al the polls keep that list full. Neither can they
enter into the merchant service, except by family
influence, so long as experienced sailors of some
nation can be obtained. Thus, at least, seventy
five thousand brave fellows shut out from the
service Of this country for want of means. Now
the remedy for this evil is to be found in Naval
Schoo-such, for instance, as the one that was or
gansed here four or five years ago, and which was
abolished in two years afterwards, because it turn
ed out too many sailors. Some of the "appren
tices," as they were called Of this school,
petty officers in our Navy, and one in particular,
though yet boy, is Of great value in the Engi-
neering Department at Washington. THIS useful
school was established by Thomas Com Of This
city, whose intercourse with sailors has been life
long, and il was until after years of toll that ne
succeeded in impressing upon the government its
absolute necessity 1t has now, however, only
aomina existence, and the line Of battle ship North
Carolina, used for Receiving Ship, which an
chors of the Battery every summer, is but flag
end Of the system.
1t is to be hoped that Congress will take up this
matter the present session and see what can be
done for the seventy five thousand boys who are
now SO eager to become sailors Let something, at
all events be done tospreserve the purity OF the
laws, passed by Congress, affecting our seanen.
Let the sstwo thirds" rule be enforced, II no more.
Let il be borne in mind, however, that a Naval
School is the great desideratum in this business.