Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-11-08
HINTS ON NAVAL DISCIPLINE.
FROM THE purrAIo oommnacrAI ADVERTISE

FROM THE BUFFALO comMERcIAL ADVERTISER.
DEMOCRACY IN THE NAvY.-For many years
past certain pseudo reformers have undertaken
to abuse the public mind in respect to the dsci-
pline and mode of government which prevail in
the naval service. The idea has been attempted
to be inculcated that the officers are exacting
and yannca and that Jack is beaten and banged abou, in
derogaory his manhood, vioative Of his rights,
and outrageous humanity II has been gravey proposed
to abolish the existing regulations dsband The personnel Of
the navy, and substitute the elective system,
formabe to republican institutions and the liberal de-
mocratc feelings of the people, The necessity of such
innovation has been earnestly urged in certain journal pub
lshed in the city of New York, the ground that the des
poc authority exercised ship board inconsistent with
the natural rights of and absolutely intoIerable All
this wreched stuff passed unheeded for inconcevabl
that such proposition could be entertained for
by any outside Of asylum for idiots. The thing
absurd, and its demagogism fagrant, that
deemed impossible for any impression be made any
tegen quarter by army Of such hypocres when
pretending to act from phanhropic motives No man of
ordinary understanding requires be told that only the
efficiency Of armed vessel, but the safety of all board
depends upon the maintenance of unquesoned and absolute
authority the part Of the commander Aoy innovation
upon is ubveve Of order and destructive the usefulness
of the vessel RePubicanism and equality sound charmingy
and work practically well dry land but they are in
admissible shipboard Garry cut the theory Of these
refomer by introducing the republican principle and YOU
would have the captain inviting all hands deck that he
might take their opinion on the propriety Of putting the ship
about taking in sail The absurdy of the scheme is so
papabc that would suppose the most sanpune of the
nnovators must shrink from pushing seeing the newt
able consequences And yet the abolition Of corporal punish
ment in the navy, which The, have Effected is sort of en-
ering wedge, likely to work mischief 1t is the
step towards demoazng the service, and to be followed
by other seemingly humane improvements tending de-
moazaton Of this favorte of the defence
We published paragraph few days ago, going show
the injurious effects Of this benevolent REFORM An
board the gae Rarifan in the South Pacific ocean,
as we find it described in exchange furnishes additional
evidence on this point. who consantly ofsnd
ng and was put in confnementno other Of punish
ment having been substituted for made his brags
that he lived like lord had men bring his hammock to
him at night his meals a meal times; that be lived in clover,
while Others worked &c. night let out OF confne-
ment and in the conus n while hamm 'cks were passing
down. seized by the working part OF the crew. bndfod-
ed gagged taken 10 gum and had four dozen administered
his naked hide with the admonon OF Go and do your
share Of work" In The morning Inquiries instituted
to who were the offenders answer, no oLe