New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-05

extraordinary PROMISE and of placing the sons of
officers of the Navy and Army, who have little
choice of residence, on footing or equality with
the other young men OF the country ia eligibleness
for the Naval service.
The deficiency OF the Articles of War for the
government OF the Navy have been so repeatedly
brought to the ectention Of Congress by the lie
ports Of my Predecessors, that | would content
myself on this head by general reference 10 70
them, but for the alteration made IN these ar1lGes
by clause in the Appropriation Act OF tue ,%s'
Session. AS the Department constructs tne. ~
the punishment by whipping iot any ronr. M
tense, whether by the judgment Oh Co4i "a "a
Martial oy the summary command OF the chlel OIL
cer nj q ship. is totally abolished, Deterrng en-
sirelv TO this decision OF the Legislature, deem
it my duty to remind them tnat ehe acI Ia ques-
t;on 'boa imposed on them the duty of revising the
rvhoie system of offenses and punishments IN the
Nav without delay. Both officers and seamen
sbouId be early informed, not only what is the
rule of their conduct, but what penalty will be IN
cured in case of it's violation. The punishment
by whipping entered so largely into the code
heretofore existing since the foundation of the
Navy, that its abolition has left in the hands Of au
fhorty bat few other sanctions than those OF death
and imprisonment. And it's simple prohibition
without any other change of the system, leaves
the offender still exposed TO the extreme penalty
of human law, to which stripes were In many IN
stances only milder alternative.
Thus, Article ID:
mo officer or private Navy shall disobey the law.
offer to draw or raise any weapon against him. while the
execution of the duties Of bic office on pam Of e de VI
All H. If any person the Navy shall desert or shall
entce others 10 desert he shall suffer DEATH such other
90 r. person in the Navy shall sleep upon his
watch neglgency perform the dptyassigned nun, OF
leave his station before oy relieved he shall suffer
death or such ot punishment Courmartia shall adj
Judges THE offender be private he may al the deere
lion ofthe Captain be put in rons hogged not exceeding
twelve lashes"
It is manifest, therefore, that in all such cases,
involving the sentences Of Courts Martial, the re-
cent legislation has in degree abated the Sc
verify of the naval code.
But was probably the in1iction of this punish
ment in a summary way, by the order OF the COM
nander OF a ship, in which there had, doubtless,
at times been abuses, which was the principal
mischief intended to be remeded. The alterna-
tive in that case, and which now exists il coune-
ment in irons. Aside from any comparison IN the
degrees of degradation of these two modes OF
punishment it cannot fail to be observed that the
latter disables aud weakens the ships company
by the amount of every man confined, and would
have few terrors for hardened offenders on the
trying occasions of battle or & storm. 1t must
also be recoected that, existing at discretion 1t
is liable to the same abuse, with its alternative al
ready mentioned, although not go efficient tor the
enforcement of discipline. In view Of the diificul,
ties which surround the subject avail myself OF
the presence of a board of highly intelligent and
Government for another purpose to ask their
opinion several questions connected with this
change of discipline, and will probably be able to
communicate it within few days. And re-
specially suggest that a Committee of Congress
shall take the testimony on oath Of respectable
and experienced seamen, as well officers in
reference to proper code oil discipline for the
service, and especially in regard to the dlscre
tionary punishments to be imposed by officers in
command of single ships.
SC hotu Non NOrtY
and Liverpool, owned by Mr.. Il. 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 Sd March, l847 IN two steamships
&he, Atlantic and Pacific, to which have recently
been added two others, the Arctic and Baltic,
and has been eminently successful iii making the
passages across the ocean.
The line from New-York to Chagres, owned by
Mr. George Law, assignee Of A. g. Sloo, and au-
thorized by the same act, has had no accession to
its number of vessels since the last Annual lie
port from this Department.
The line from Panama to San Francisco and
thence to Astoria, OF which MIR. w lillian II. AS
pinwa is proprietor, as assignee OF Arnold Har-
ris has received an addition Of two new steamers,
the Tennessee and Columbia, within the last lew
months, making its whole number tive.
According to the directions contained IN the act
of the last Session. approved 28th of September,
1850 directing payments to be made on these
several lines according to the service actually
performed there pad to George Law, Tor
mail service ON his line from LIST December, sac,
to both September 1850 in
And by credit his debt for advances. ooooo
This payment was made III compliance with
what was supposed to be the intention OF Congress
in the proviso OF the appropriation for the mali
steam service in that act That, however, was a
temporary provision and the especial direction oil
Congress is desired in relationto future payments
for service on this line.
On the Goth and 29th November, $50, there was
paid to e. X Collins and his associates Tor service
on their line Sl63000 leaving the former indebted
to the United States i'll the sum OF $4,000 with
interest. and the latter in the sum of S38500O ol
Announcements madein aid oftheir enterprise which
will become due in Apri next with interest
Mr., William H. Asplnwa repaid the whole
amount of the advancements received 10y bm II
mail service prior to the 18th February last &C
cording TO settlement thenmade and having eX
ecuted his contract with great punctualty, has hat
further settlements with the Department to the
30th of September last
! respectfully recommend that line for the
transportation of the mails from San Francisco tt
Macao, Shanghai, or other point IN Eastern Asia
either by steamers or sail vessels, be also estab
lished Such a line would furnish regular and early
means of communication between our squadron
in the Pacific and the China seas, enabling thel
early cooperation whenever occasion might re
Quire, and would contribute much to the aclllta
tion Of that commerce with the East to which rel
eronce has been already made.
In consequence OF the adaptation OF mail steam
ers principally for speed and transportation it ha
been doubted by officers of great intelligence
whether they can he converted into war steamer
of the first class without much additionale Xpense
since they have neither the strength to bear heavy
ornaments nor to withstand cannonadng Bu
as long as warfare at sea- unlike that on land, per
nits the seizure of the private property of the PEG
pie of an enemy when found atloat on the ocean
they always be employed with great advan
tage under light ornaments against the commerce
of an adversary. With speed to overtako mer
chant vessel, and at the same time elude the puI
suit of cruiser. they must prove most tormida
bic means of annoyance to merchantmen
The operations at the National Observatory ant