The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-10-26

October, the subject Of noggng IN the navy mas oeen
part 10 inquiry into the origin OF the law which has
governed the navy since the administration OF the elder
In September we have an extended and temperate agu-
ment 10 show the insufciency OF the objections urged
against Its repeal and October various substitutes for
the existing means OF discipline are suggested and ex-
planned.
The candid and unpreudiced reader Of these articles
must admit that our naval laws far behind the en-,
lighened ideas OF government which now prevail, and
especially that they inconsistent with our republican
institutions Originating in the reign OF Charles H. when
The voice Of freedom was slsnced by the recent triumph
OF the astocrac classes, and servley copied by the
federal rulers OF 1900 into our code, they have con-
tnued there for half century without material altera-
ton
Vigorous efforts will doubtless be made by the friends
OF seamen, during the approaching session OF Congress- to
have the lash abolished The people, wherever their at
tenon has been called to the subject have spoken IN de-
cded reprobaon of the longer continuance OF this bar
barty Their democratic representatives VIII cheeruiy
acquiesce in their wishes From the wings our expecta
tons less natteing Whatever may be the senti-
ments OF individual MEMBERS the party generally II d.
rected by its well known principles OF contempt Tor popu-
lar rights and ondness ior 80 prysgss WI &C.
over, the adminsrationor at least the Premersands
committed in favor OF retaining the scourge Mr. Clay
toms last oratocal effort in Congress endeavor
to convince the Senate that we ought to whip sailors,
because the British Parliament and the English Admiral
ty approved Of whipping theirs. His last recorded vote
repeal all laws which authorized hoggng in the navy
thus tax have gene 2 prove Una. ne ,sa "a
his colleagues What the Presidents-or rather Gen
eral TayloPs-opnions upon navy discipline are, the
public have no means Of knowing; nor are they
norty, when the caba allows him to vote The iegs.
lave of the Secretary Of the Navy was too OBJ.
scure TO have developed his views upon this subject
himself to sustain his friend OF the State Department in
the doctrines espouscd by the latter in his farewell speech
to the Senate that the lash should be retained because
lhe English Board OF Admiralty tell us that this mode
Of punishment cannot be dispensed with that the Amer
lean citizen should be scouged, because in "the British
Parliament this practice has been the subject OF extended
consideration, and the punishment has not been mlti-
gated the system changed" although as cruel pun
ishments have been administered board Of English
sh il hs other but tns
should be remarked that he has not adhered TO the facts
very strictly, the extended consideration of the Brit
II Mr. Claytons arguments should prevail the authority
to fog soldiers for anything or nothing must be confer
red upon the officers OF the army.
Heretofore the difficulty has been to find substitute
for stripes The writer OF the Review shows that this d
fculty has its origin in the arsecrac and odous notion
OF retaining sailors in their present state treat
sary policy of England for where mpessment is oler-
aed in order to the navy the victims oil such inus
tice cannot be kept in subsection otherwise than 6y
system of terror, which could not be employed unless
they degraded The effect OF our barbarous code
has been exclude from the naval service American
outcass OF other nations. Is not this humating
suit In democratic country, the patriotism OF its de-
tenders should be unquestionabe, should discipline
annihiate he free spring of the faculties 10 promote
this object rewards should attend merit and incentives
for good actions be not less conspicuous than punish
mcnis for wilful misconduct. Yet these punishments
should be in accordance with the civilization of the age,
and so regulated that while the criminal could not
escape the consequences Of violating the law, the in
nocent may be protected in the enjoyment OF his
rights. With this view, all arbitrary powers not alb
solutely necessary for proper and useful efficiency
must be withheld, and clear responsibility imposed
upon those who appointed to carry the will OF the
people into effect There unavoidaby must be in the
navy some command, and TO be commanded; but
this does not necessate the condition incident to the
present law Of afordng security to one party to yran-
nize with impunity and of making the other liable to
suffer without remedy" In legislang for the navy.
therefore, cannot stop with the simple declaration
that the ogging of sailors shall be DISCONTINUED but the
entire system of marine police ought TO be carefully re-
modelled without reference to the English presidents oil
the seventeenth century, when political Offenders as well
as common maefactors, were bound to carts tail.
naked. and publicly hogged from Newgate to Tybun,
1t will be said that any change must impair the efcien-
cy of the service This is absurd even II the navy
were 80 efficient to be unsusceptbe OF improvement
which il certainly is not But, really, ii there existed
Just grounds Of alarm on this account we do not know
that the public interest would sustain great an injury
from such loss the national reputation suffers by ad
herring to this relic OF monarchy How 1t may be ask.
ed has the efficiency OF the navy been manifested under
the regency! The reply the coast OF Italy in CIV
ing fees 10 the enemies OF freedom; along our own
shores in doggng those suspected Of sympathzing with
the down trodden masses oil Cuba the OF Brazil
in interfering with American commerce. under the pre-
tence of breaking up the African slave trades and IN the
Pacific in converting national vessels into prisons for
the manacled employees Of commercial monopoly.
The subject oil hoggng in the navy will be hereafter
resumed in order TO show that in lis abolition discipline
will not be haZarded.