The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-03

FOR tbs ONION
Ias.sr and tAs r..sh In Navy. W.
The secretary hiss addressed circular 10 the officers Of
highest rank in the navy, embracing the following inter-
sCsn soporea punishmea. be dispensed with. consist.
II co. punishment should be substituted If il
not your for the opinion, and such
deem pertinent Can any further Ieslrieons than those
which the law now mposs upS9 Tie use Of this punish
spirit ration % dspsnsed with and what substitute viii
One who has "seen some service" but who has not
the honor TO acknowledge the reception OF these ques
ions an an Official circular, begs leave express his
opinions IN these premises In the hope that they may at
least meet the eye OF the honorable Secretary
II 10 essential TO correct examination OF the subject
that the last OF the above nteogatores should be
sidered the first in order "Caa the of The spirit ra
Ton Dc Dispensed ' and ,eqt substitute .O aasysr q
rank and file Of the navy to prove that ardent spirits daily
served morning and noon TO the men, present. are
and good discipline Of the crew On the contrary Il IS
well known fact that the disposed to be
boserous and disordery Immediately after grog than
other times Of the day. that tue small quantity which
strong and intoxicating drinks constantly whetted up TO
point so keen that when they have liberty to visit the
temptation Of drinking to excess and thus bringing them
selves to the gangway and the lash for violating the writ
ten law OF Congress Perhaps it may be said with safety
when ashore, al home and of duty are in The habit Of
drinking excess, and that they almost constantly
in state Of intoxicaton. And the privaon TO them
entirely Of their grog. than il now is to allow them only
the small quantities which compose their daily spirit
ton Some OF our medical men who are well acquainted
with this subject have expressed the opinion that ardent
spirits should not be component part Of the navy ration
and that they should be part OF the medical stores to
BE- issued only by the surgeon. in the line OF his profess
sion, invariably Reason and experience pronounce this
opinion to be sound; nor, under this view OF the ques
ton, is the expediency practicabty Of dispensing with
the sprt ration shsdowsd by solitary 4. doubt
is stead unless the worth q the gog Be added 70 the
from the ships stores both Of which articles ne rs now
portion OF his wages Most Of them require the oneal
Of them require the other
After the spirit ration is abolished, there will be less
necessity for the lash Jack will become better man
aoat and ashore. II he has had appetite for liquor,
be will lose it probably in cruise Of two years In his
abstinence from bad habit he will become more thought
full and rejecting, and respectful OF himself Nor
will he violate readily those laws by the breaking OF
which he i brought to the gangway But i y extreme
gehe for there no adequate substitute on board Of
II there were simple painy-written code Of laws for
the internal government OF our ships Of war ahoata
code establishing perfect uniformity Of regulation on all
Of tesselshung up every deck in every division
q As psas
sober, would rarely, ever, be "caught foul" the
nautical phrase has it, In this respect, however,
navy has been amentably deficient .
Experence in regard to the practice" Of using the lash
teaches that 'further restriction than those which the
law imposes upon the OF it, may be imposed, not
only with advantage the of discipline but with
happier effect upon the character of the offending sailor
Jack, when sober, is law-abding person; and if he
violates the clearly known law he pulls off his jacket
therefore not dgraeeM, penalty upon his bare back,
ike tar" without word Of complaint But il he has
been reported to the commander BY boy for mis-
conduct Of which he is not guilty, and he has had
hearing on his own behalf; if he has violated law
which he did not know to exist or his slot Of grog"
in his sober moment of reflection he sorrowfully
demps he then thinks peculiar hardship that there
should be no mercy, and but little justice in his punish
men; and has tendency to break his spirit and i'm
pair not only his character but his usefulness
as a sailor.
Very many officers, who may have given this subject
attentive consideration, have come TO the conclusion
that many bad characters necessarily work their
way into the service through the rendezvous when sail
In demand. the lash be entirely dispensed
board should be plainly written out By Congress the
Secretary, and exposed constantly every deck aoat
and then. whenever Jack is charged with an offence
against it, at least three commissioned officers should sit
upon his trial, and the commander in the infection of
punishment should not exceed their decision under the
their decision. Under al circumstance jack should haze
hearing; and not, is now too often the case, be
not permitted open his mouth the commander
when lac approaches the gangway, where he is to be
logged
Abolish the spirit ration -promulgate plain and SIM
and hearing before at least three Of (Got his peers, bu
his officers and in the Judgment OF one OF the officers Of
the navy the efficiency Of the service will be promoted
AN OFFICER OF THE NAVY.