The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-03-29
Sailors Home. :. .[coMMuN1cArEp.l

Every thing in the condition of the sailor, is
well fitted to move the best and warmest sympa-
thies Of our nature. Their migratory life, going
to every port and every part of the world-their
tolls and dangers while upon the ocean-their
many and sore temptations while on shore-their
artless, confiding characterize vile extortions
practiced on them-the faithful and important ser
vice they perform for our country, especially for
our commercial cities-all enttle them to pecu-
liar place in our remembrance.
They were not forgotten by the Saviour. He
often went to the seaside, and more than once,
seated on vessel, taught the multitude. The in
terest he took in this class of is strkingly man
iest from the fact that four of his disciples were
selected from men of maratime pursuits. The fire.
quency with which he visited the seaside suggests
to us the duty we owe to seamen.
They are a very numerous class. In this coun-
try and England alone, there are half million of
seamen-embracing those on our inland waters,
the number cannot be less than a million. There
are at least $4,000 who annually visit this port
and shipmasters pronounce this to be the most dan
gerous city for them in Christendom. The sailor
boarding houses in this city are retailing dram-shops,
which of itself is enough to make them the nurse
ries of every form of vice. The scenes which they
often present of gambling, drunkenness, profanity,
and obscene conversation, beggar all description.
In such houses the sailor is brutalized with liquor,
feeced of his money, ruined in his habits and
constitution, and helpless prey to the ruthless
horde of bandtt that ever providing about these
loathsome embryoes of the neither world. Yes, in
very few days after he on shore, he is rob-
bed of all his hard earnings-shipped pennyless
and purseless for another VOYAGE and in debt to the
ship for months wages, which was paid him in
advance, and seized by the landsharks about him.
Scores and hundreds of them die in this city every
year-they die poor, friendess, destitute, wretchsd
and with none around them to pity or care for their
souls.
Their situation in this city is now such, as not
only precludes all hope of reforming those already
vicious and degraded, but it is also poluting and
those who are coming in to take their
places. The young and inexperienced are sure to
become prey to the systematized means of corrup-
ton which destroyed their predecessors. Evil COM
corrupt good manners. Let anQgoung
of good habits coming to this city be situated
as the sailor is-shut out from intercourse with
good and virtuous society-exilsd from all that is
pure and elevating-daily surrounded by vicious
let him feel that those he meets
regard him as an inferior being, whose only bust
ness to toll like machine for the benefit of others
would not his condition be perilous one J!
Vice j. monster of 90 frightful misn,
Bat'sesn too Of. familiar with her face
We fnt endure. then pity, then embrace"
Justice and humanity call upon us to do some
thing for those who have done SO much for us.
What do we not owe to sailors What class OF
men in this city are not debtors to them. What
would New Orleans have been without them? We
have obtained our wealth by their labor, and our
Injuries by their privations. And what returns
have we mades What must the system of wrongs
and oppression from which they have long suffered
in this city, be continued forever! Must the poor
sailor thus live, and thus die! emo, no." is the
response which comes from many hearts,
feel grateful that the attention of the public has
been drawn to this subject ! hope that the wrongs
Of the sailor are soon to be redressed 3y circu-
lar which has recently come into my hands, l see
that twenty-five men, among them many Of our
most intelligent, active, and influential merchants,
have already purchased lot of ground, upon which
hey propose to erect what is called :" Sailors
Home.'' This is taking hold of the rope, as the
sailors say, at the right end. In interesting ar
licle, published few days since in the Picayune,
he author very appropriately says" We should
inst srive to meliorate the sailors moral and social
position there would then be something solid on
which to build up his spiritual concerns"
Most of the pulpits have already spoken in loud
and earnest tones in behalf of this subject. And
I'm rejoced to see some of our daily papers begin
ming to speak out plainly and urgently on the i'm
portance of such an institution. l hope and trust
that all our papers will give the subject the notice
which it justly deserves; and that our business
men, and ladies too, will take hold Of it in earnest
and not cease their efforts till such a building is
erected a. will be an honor TO city and noble
of our henevolence to that class of men
who are 20 important to our country, and Especially
. the prosperity Of this city,