The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-04

sells as ships Of war am yet Thoroughly persuaded that
they will be most valuable auxiaries and respectfully
submit for your examination, herewith, letter from OF
hcer OF much intelligence and experience in the command
Of steamships OF war in regard their efficiency in hos
tile operat ons, simply striking bodies in running
down The vessels OF enemy, by means oil Their great
weight. and the momentum OF which they capable by
the power of scap. AS CONNECTED with This suejec
Ike gise lnsts y6Ir stenton 70 the reeompendaion
the Chief OF the Bureau OF Construction. that our sail
ships OF hereafter to be constructed shall be furnish
ed with popeefs 10 be used on occasions where
celebrity Of moics. sdvsrss 20 the prevailing winds may
be important Bu. with the improvements constantly
going on In ocean steamers, would not recommend
large addition 70 this species OF naval force except IN
The even, OF war lest the progress o. invention shall
supplant them by Others OF superior construction
Of the iour steamers authorized 10 be built by the
act OF Congress OF the 81 OF March. ls47, the Saranac
doubted that the other three will be also ready in the
course ot a few months. essa As "a
While the Saranac will be retained in the home squad
ron effective cruiser in any emergency which may
arise, it is contemplated to attach the Susquehanna TO
the East India squadron and TO send the two remain
ing 10 the Pacific and The coast OF Brazil II IS IN
squadroIs in the Pacific and the Eaat ndies and in like
OF those the coasts OF Brazil and Africa. at
certain convenient times and places, 10 meet with the
greater parts OF their respective commands Tor the pur
p0se oil exercising IN fleets IL has happened That all
naval battles, in which the skill and proWess OF
officers have been signaily maintained, have been
with ncoHsiderabe exceptions the akes) fought be.
tween single ships; and II remains to be demonstrated
whether their proficiency m The Signals
nanUuvTes, anu exercises Heels Well
tried abilities in inferior commands.
The Naval Academy at Annapolis, having been placed
under new and improved system OF regulations, to take
effect from the LIST day OF July last and under enlarged
corps Of professors affords facilities and means OF probes
s0na education not heretofore enjoyed BY The young gen
emea entering the service, and II to be hoped Is des
tined furnish the navy with What has been long and
so benecaly enjoyed by the army in the Military Acad
envy at West Point. The attachment to the Naval Acad-
envy Of practice ship for the purpose OF practical in
sructon in seamanship and gunnery, short cruises
The system OF encampment BY the Cadets regarded as an
Improvement OF great value The academic em IN con-
fomty with the new arrangement, omnenced on the LIST
OF October, under the direction OF Commander Srlbing
as superintendent and is IN successful progress Plans
and estimates Tor improvements IN the buildings and
grounds of the Academy will be found in The report OF
the Chief Of the Bureau OF Ordnance and Hydrography
which approved and recommended by the department
Applications OF meri,oTious persons for the appoints
ment oil mdshipnen induce me TO recommend that lew
appointments at large be allowed to the President, as
Of promoting youths OF extraordinary promise,
who have little choice Of residence, footing of equal
ty with the other young men OF the country IN egble
ness for the naval service
The defciencyo the articles Of for the govern
oil the navy has been repeatedly brought 10 the
attention OF Congress by the reports OF my predecessors
that would content myself on this heal by general
reference Them but for the alteration made in these
articles BY clause i'll the appropriation act OF the last
session. As the department CONSTITUTES that act the pun
lshment by whipping for any crime or offence whether
by the judgment Of coutma or the SUNNI Try CON-
mand oil the chief officer OF ship, Is totally abolished
Deierrng entirely to this decision OF the Legislature,
deem my duty to remind them that the act in question
has imposed them the duty OF revising the whole sys
TEN oil offences and punshments IN the navy without de-
lay Both officers and seamen should be early informed,
only what is the rule Of their conduct, bur what PEN
ally will be incurred OF its violation The pun
shment by whipping entered largely into The code here
tofore existing since the foundation OF the navy, that
It's abolition has left in the hands of authority but lew
other sanctions than those OF death and imprisonment
and its simple prohibition, without any other change Of
the system leaves the offender still exposed to the ex
IRENE penalty oil human law to which stripes were in
many instances only mider alternative.
Thus, article IA
.No officer private in the navy shalt disobey the
lawful orders OF hs superior officer, strike him,
while execution Of the dues OF his Office on pain
Of death, or such other punishment a. cour-snaral
shall inhict."
AR IL IL any person in the navy shall desert or shall
eace others desert, he shall susr death. such
pun.hmens as court martial shah adiudge," Nc.
,ch Or n,gligcady psrorm hv duty assigned him, or
before regularly relieved, shalt suffer
audge or ltas offender be private he may a, the dts.
c,eon Of the GaPain be put IN irons OF logged not
cccding twelve lashes."
ing the sentences OF courts martial, the legislation
has degree abated the severity OF the naval code
But was probably the infection OF this punishment in
summary way, by the order oil the commander OF ship
in which there had doubtless at times been abuses
the principal mischief intended TO be remeded The
alternative In that case and which now exists is confne.
ment IN ons Aside from any comparison in the degrees
oil degradation oil these two modes OF punishment ii
not fail 10 be observed that the latter disabes and weak
ems the ships company by the amount OF every
ned and would have few for hardened offenders
on the trying occasions OF battle or a storm. Il must
also be recolected that existing at discretion is liable
10 the abuse, with It's alternative already mentioned,
although not efficient for the enforcement OF discipline
In view Of the difficulties which surround the subject
avail myself OF the presence OF board OF highly nte
gent and experienced officers assembled nj the seat Of
government for another purpose, TO ask their opinion
several questions connected with this change OF dscp
ne and will probably be able 10 communicate il within
few days And respectfully suggest that a committee
OF Congress shall take the testimony, OATH Of respect
able and experienced seamen, well oihcers in refer
proper code OF discipline for the service, and
peciay in regard 10 the discretionary punlshments 10 be
imposed by officers in command OF single ships
The line of mail steamers between New York and
Liverpool owned by Mr.. j. X Collins and his associates,
commenced the transportation OF the mails in April last
in compliance with their contract with this department.
under the act OF Congress OF the ID March, 1si7 two
steamships, the Atlantic and Pacific. which have been
recently added two Others the Aec and Baltic, and has
been emneny successful IN making the passages across
the oce1n.
The line from New York to Chagres owned by Mr.
George Law, assignee OF G. Sloo, and authorized by
the act has had accession TO It's number OF
sells the last annual report from this department
The line IRON Pana ma 10 San Francisco, and thence 10
Astoria, OF which Mr. William Aspinwall is proprie
tor, assignee OF Arnold Harris has received addi-
ton OF two Steamers the Tennessee add Columbia
within the last few months, making its whole number
FIVE
According to the directions contained in the ACT OF
the last session, approved 2Sth Of September 1850,
directing payments 10 be made on these several lines