The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-10-09

hanging is 10 be kept as one OF the punish the
consequence will be that you will increase the numbe
who WI, 6e punished BY condign punishment more than
Mr. President. the whole experience Of our navy and
the desire OF hundreds OF ships is for the contnnatio
Hampshire, founded upon what he supposes TO be phi
anthropy, is wrong in fact Il you do not keep subor
dinaon in the navy. those who violate their duty will
reduce the character OF those who necessarily associate
with them shall vote In favor OF striking out this
Mr. YULEE. wish to SAY very few words upon
nas A. think hs Ss
mitiee The senator from New Hampshire Is mistaken
his impression TO the history Of this matter There
passion in the two houses for several years past upon
this matter; but never assumed shape which called
for action until this session AT the last session there
amendment sent here from the House similar to this
understanding that al this session the Committee on Ma
val Affairs would take up the subject. examine it, and
port upon IT, The subject has been referred in formal
way, in way TO attract attention. al this session.
great number OF memorials from the New England States
New York, and Pennsy lvaniaprinted memorials which
had been circualed-el into the hands OF the committee
As stated by the senator from Virginia. member OF the
committee, we took early measures ior obtaining such
would enable to give to the Senate
maured Judgment upon the subject and such inteili-
gence would enable US 10 act upon this important
question Of discipline with full regard Tor the interests Of
the service. ."
The history Of this service as the Senate quite aware,
came into hands in time for action now All that
propose is. that shall be separated from this
nexon, in which it does not belong in order that at the
and may act upon it judiciously and finally
There is reason connected with the remarkable ux
Imposition OF the proviso as it stands in the bill which
will at once show the propriey OF striking i out
reads in this way:
For transportation Of the United States mail between
New York and Liverpool, between New York ard New
md In the Terri Of
and sevenyour thousand six hundred dolas Provided,
nG 3 s or
may be hereafter Periomed and that the Secretary OF the
ion oy Provided That ssog ia the navy be, and the
hereby abolished from and alter the passage OF
this ac.." .".
There is private appropriation to carry out contract
and before the appropriation be made the Secretary
OF the Navy must wait until the year is out 10 know
whether man has been ogged in the navy and there
has been, he can pay out no part OF this money.
merits OF this matter. There seems 10 be great msap
prehension upon the subject There is no regulation
now existing which authorizes ogsne in the navy. II
is punishment which rests upon law OF Congress
to give authority in the Navy Department II is part
of The discipline on board ship II ests upon the
thority OF the com nanders, which operates as we'll on
board the commercial marine in the navy. II -
limited in respect to the commercial marine but has been
limited with great care by the regulations heretofore
adopted by Congress, and other regulations issued BY the
Department upon lis authority II is limited to a de
gree which the same practice in our merchant service
10 not limited because there II Is limited only by the dis
creon Of the courts, and here il is limited BY express
TO protect The seamen IRON lhe abuse OF
practice which The immemoal law of every commercial
country has introduced on board the ships at sea- The
law rests this punishment upon the ground upon
which il rests that punishment as inflicted by the parent
upon his child BY the teacher upon bis pupil and by
the master upon his apprentice II rests upon necessity
upon the necessary subordnaton and discipline which
involve the lives and safety oil all on board, and all the
property intrusied to their care.
Now, cir, iha,much rs the practice oil the navy con-
meets itself ndspensaby with the commercial practice.
and inasmuch il will be necessary to legislate IN ref
erence TO that the tme the jurisdiction of Con-
gress covering the commercial marine as well as the
val marne addressed circulars TO the representatives of
the commercial interests Of the country and to the organs
of that interest in the commercial associations OF the
country The result has been that they unanimously In
ali the ports in which there has been any foreign COM
merce, condemn the attempt to change the practice as
now observed board ship, and as sustained BY the
courts as fraught with the greatest danger TO the COM
mercal interests OF the country II we go into port OF
New England, from which vast number OF these memo.
rails have come we shall lind that they have been sent
by per sons who know nothing OF the effect OF the reform
OF which the, speak ! sought IRON The senator from
Massachusetts,, who sits the other side the furhesi
from me- M DAvIsl the intelligence OF ihe opinions ol
the great body OF the commercial classes there with
gard the abolition OF corporea punishment IN the navy
and in the commercial marine In reply he gave to me
the name OF the " Boston Marine Society," which Is com
poseI of old sbipmases who have become disconnected
with the service at sea, and who represent the CONNER
ca and admiralty interests OF the navigating marine oil
that section OF the country Here s the reply wrote 10
them because the senator from Massachusetts informed
me that could get The best and reliable information
from Them as they were the most experienced upon the
subject They have all risen from the condition OF tas
for ia well known that captains all rise from the condi
lion and pass through the discipline OF tars They do moi
enter by the cabin windows. but by the port holes This
gentleman who represents that society, writes me TO tins
effect:
have brought yonr communication the notice and
con oi the board trustees, who concur IN the
belle the interests Of navigation aud conmsrce wola
be placed Ia small peril IL corporea punishment were
{, be legally fobidden,"& NC
MI HALE Who is that signed byl
Mr. YULEE BY " Richard Soue, president OF the
Boston Marine Society, and chairman oil the Board OF
Trustees" | have also information from chambers OF
commerce and from variety oil sources We have taken
Mains 10 procure information from the best sourcesthe
opinions of seamen in the navyand the result to when
our information brings that the gent, and alih-
full and honest portion of the seamen 10 the navy are op
posed 10 the abolition OF corporeal punishment, as
means by which The skulkers would be able TO throw
upon the good men all the abors OF the voyage ana an
The fatigue, hazard, and exposure It's pronaoe 'na'
The Committee will be able-ndeed know u is the m
,ention Of the commee-to recommend iunher restnc'
tions and certain notifications. We have Obtained ln,
formation of the practice IL exists m NIL the nayes o.
the world, and we shall be able TO throw oeloIs ;ns
Senate and the country amount OF information whcn
will be emneny useful There is very little llme now
10 spare and we ask, Tor the sake OF the mpor'ah
branch o tLe service which may be very much eotaeu
and injured by inudicous and hasy legislation iha n
proyiso may be stricken out which may very wen %
DONE II upon other ground, upon this, that 70 con
nec,ed with an appropriation TO which aoes no' oeo"t
Mr.. HAMLIN. Mr. President
Mr. HUNTER Will The senator permit me TO say
that we shall probably have TO act upon the approPra