Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-06-17

I The question then taken on Mr.. ScHEscKs amend
ment and il tejeced
Mr.. DUER (who offered amendment, and who fire.
quenty called to order during his remarks for eeyanc said
ne appreciated the difficulties which in the way OF abo
lshng corporal punishment in the navy and yet he hope4
that be eeinay treated like brutes
There might be difficulties, but impossible TO dispense
with whipping Were forever TO continue this practice
seamen had been degraded class, that why
they should be forever whpped and evident the
practice must be abolished he why they should
not begin When they treated sailors like men they
would have them higher class than they now Why
could not other punishments be substituted Gentlemen
laughed the idea of starving but he thought they might
be put short allowance punishment, which would
make them feel that Of degradation which was
quent on whipping. There class Of that made
such good sailors and soldiers the Americans and the rea
because they feemen who exercised their
reason and the necessity of things Hence they would
submit discipline Abolish degrading punshmens and the
character of sailors would improve. Whipping was the
punishment of slaves and not Of eemen They might sub
due mans spirit by putting him short allowance butihey
would sink him into degradation and not subdue his spirit by
whipping Whip him, and he becomes stubborn than
before Such the character of the He thought naval
officers We're not the from whom counsel should be taken
on this subject How many lawyers there to be found
IN favor Of reforming the practice Of the courts and how many
doctors to change medical practice
The allotted five minutes EXPIRED and the gentleman with
drew his amendment
Mr.. MORSE, of Louisiana, offered amendment provi-
ding that sailors shall be repmanded by the commander Of
the ship for offences committed
He said seemed the discipline Of the navy WINS to be set
aside without discussion consideration and hence be had
submitted an amendment which he thought requisite no
substitute for the punishment to be abolished having been
suggested hitherto He objected the scky sentmentaty
which had been exhibited here to-day by gentlemen who knew
nothing Of the discipline Of the navy, but who nevertheless
undertook to make laws for its government If true
that the punishment Of foggng ought be abolished LEI
be referred to committee, and be considered by who
had devoted time to the consideration of that subject
and who would be able to report proper effect
the purpose contemplated without injury the service He
said he had lived the seaboad and knew something of the
SUBJECT and he knew experienced who on So
Der second thought did say such punishment neces
sary and even the sailors submitted it with conscious
ness that was the only way by which discipline could be
preserved He went show that ships could only go
vened by despotsm, and that dsobedence with
prompt punishment and then be withdrew his amendment
Mr.. MURPHY offered the following amendment
Prou ded however, before foggng shall be abolished
commission OF three competent shall
pointed by the Secretary of the Navy the
acts and report the with their opinion for the further
action OF Congress"
Mr.. STEPHENS to question of order and main
tanned that the amendment irrelevant.
The CHAIR sustained the point of order and the amend
not received.
Mr.. BROWN, of Pennsy lvania offered the following
amendment:
And that the Secretary the Navy with the appreciation
of the President of the United States hereby required to
establish lieu thereof of rules and regulations
for the punishment OF offences committed by the
navy, shall be likely proper discipline
enlightened humanity and legislation that the same be
published to every ships crew monthly"
MIR. VINTON said this amendment liable to the same
objection as the last
Some conversation ensued its relevancy but the Chair
man decided that it was in order.
Mr.. BROWN in advocating his amendment said the seq
men should be much under the protection of laws
on land, and that should not be left any officer say
what kind of punishment should be inflicted and what
offences He hoped they should get rid Of the punishment
OF whipping and he had doubt that then they should OBJ
tain higher class of men for the naval Whipping
had been abolished in the land and there good
reason why should be continued at had been abol
ished in many of the States punishment for crime, and
it was not tolerated in many district schools.
Mr.. LEVIN moved that the committee rise
Mr.. VlNTON hoped the committee would not rise. He
hoped they would stay here until morning. if they
could not pass this bill in less time.
The committee refused rise, and then rejected the
amendment Of the gentleman from Pennsy vania.
Mr.. CATHCARr offered an amendment TO obtain OPP
porluniiy that he trusted in God the committee would
up to the spirit of the age and abolish the degrading
punishment Of whipping lie spoke during his five minutes
in the expression Of his opposition the punishment Of
whipping and then withdrew his amendment.
1hequestion recurring the amendment amended
On motion Of Mr.. RUMSEY, il was further amended by
inserting except for medicinal purposes"
Mr.. MCKAY moved TO strike out the word " Marines"
because they were different footing and under different
regulations from the sailo they constituting in fact but
portion OF the army serving shipboard And If the
rines were allowed SIX cents commuiaon Congress would
have to make similar regulation throughout the army.
Mr. McKAr's motion agreed to.
Several motions amend having been ruled of order
the question loudly demanded.
The vote on the amendment amended was decided on
count by tellers, in the negative Ayes 81, 70.