The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-15

GRIEVANCES OF SHiP-MAsTERs AT SAN FRAN
CIsco.-The San Francisco Journal of Commerce,
of September l, has the following notice Of the
meeting of ship-musters at San Francisco, which
was alluded to in the general news from California,
published on Monday:
The first complaint set forth in the resolutions
| is the desertion Of seamen almost mme diatey on
the arrival of their ships IN harbor. This is no
torous fact and 1t is no less so that the legal tri.
bunals afford no remedy or redress by the ordna.
ry process Of law. Whereas, on the other hand
every complaint or claim preferred by seamen
against ship-rnasters is almost sure to be enter
tanned, and TO afford material for extensive litga-
ton. These cases have every facility afforded
them, and as the ship is always good for penses,
there is no lack Of alacrity on the part Of pettfog
gers to prosecute this sort of litigation. For this
species OF grievance we can see no remedy at
present, but In the good sense and moderation of
the judges and juries who try such cases. They
alone can check this faithless and unprincipled
conduct Of seanen, in violating and setting at
nought the most binding and important contracts
affecting the shipping and commercial interests of
our own and other countries
We have heard Of case in which all law and
decency was outraged by sherif's officer, who
| was seCt on board ship in the harbor with n
summons to the captain and writ of attachment
against the ship, at the instance of claim
ing wages under 5000 in the Recorders Court.
This officer 10 represented to have behaved in a
most Illegal manner on board the ship, by helping
himself TO whatever he wanted to eat or drink,
and threatening TO turn the captain out Of his o Wn
state room, it he did not find him comfortable &C
commodation, and all the Ell ceieras Of jnviaI cheer!
The law, however, is at fault, it is inconsistent
with the spirit and intention Of the specific act
passed late at the session Of the Legislature re-
speeding attachments. The fifth section Of the act
for collecting demands against vessels, provides,
that, =" whenever any complaint is filed IN the Of
flee Of the clerk of the District Court, it shall be
his duty 10 issue warrant, directing and author
izing the sheriff to seize the boat or vessel men
toned in the complaint, and detaln the same in his
custody by due course Of law" Now, this, we
venture to say is law unprecedented in any other
country in the world where the true principles of
equity and law are understood. IL does not
quire, that it he alleged in the complaint that the
snip is about to sail or be removed beyond the ju-
rlsdction of the court; but, in all cases, where
claims made against vessels, an attachment is
issued as the very first step OF the process.
Then, again, there is the grievance Of the deser-
ton Of the officers Of ships,-an evil and derelic-
lion of Guty Of the mos dishonorable and aggra-
waited description. For these men, there is no ex-
cuse which will bear examination. They hold
Offices OF trust and responsibility, might look for
ward To promotion and command, if they main
tanned their integrity and kept faith with their en-
ployers. But their conduct in deserving their
ships in such country and predicament as this,
shows that they have thrown principle overheard,
and brands their character for professional pur-
poses az worthless anu uisSTHeu. IL IL were pos
sible TO reach these cases with penal enactment
to prevent assertions, we would recommend that a
prompt and vigorous mode Of punishment CO.
ercion should be provided by law. And in the
mean time, we think the ship-masters should club
together and raise as much funds among the. ships
in harbor as will publish in the newspapers list
Of the names and descriptions Of all the officers
who have deserted, and let them be branded as
such all over the world Few will ever again get
employment or promotion in any ship on board
Of which the black list of California shall be hung
up as a record and warning against all deserters.
Ship-masters and owners all over the world will
keep that record and refer TO it when they are are
appied to in future; and unless a man can show
his lawful and creditabIe discharge from his last
ship, he will find it difficult to get along without
suspicion and importune, which will only lead him
to ruin .....,r ,. q .H