Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-02-06
The Administration and the Sailors.

The Administration and the Sailors.
The following statements and remarks we
take from the Bangor Democrat, which go to
$ how us clearly as anything can, the real char
acter Of ,chiggery, and what it would do, had it
the power,
1t has long been matter Of regret with us
that the Navy Department has not been under
the administration of men more competent TO
conduct its affairs than have the greater part of
those who have been called to preside over it
for many years past.
e What are the specific qualifications that may
be requisite in the head of that important de-
partment of the public service, in order to en-
sure an intelligent and efficient discharge Of its
varied duties, is not for us to show, or even to
suggest but we hold that no one can possess
them very fully, who either needs or allows
about him sub-cabinet of liveried coxcombs
to dictate measures, or make recommendations
for the benefit of tenants of the quarter deck,
while Jack is left to the hard fare of the fore
castle, exposed to every degradation to which
official insolence or legalized tyranny may sub
ject him.
That many of the Secretaries of the Navy
have summoned boards of navy officers to
Washington for consultations, to obtain
from them views suggestions relative to
the general regulations of the service, and to
ask their advice in reference to measures pro-
posed to be recommended to congress for adop-
ton, is well known; and we see no improprie-
ty in requiring officers of long experience and
sound common sense to communicate to the de-
partment any facts which may be deemed nee
essary as basis for any proposed measure
But where such boards are consulted on ques-
tons of mere expediency, of mere opinion; OF
are called together for the express purpose Of
framing laws and regulations for the service
at the request of the department, however par
tial, incomplete or unjust they may be, it is
time congress should look to the matter, and
leave the Secretary and his satellites to their
own iniquitous devices, and teach them the
"
to make, laws.
Among all the measures which such boards
have heretofore concocted for the Navy Depart
ment, none has ever been so grossly preposter-
Gus, so barbarous, or so monstrous as the HOT
IRON recommendation of the present incum-
bent. The old federal alien and sediton
laws sink almost into nothiugness, in compari-
son with the modern whig recommendation OF
BRANDING our hardy seamen with HOT
IRONS.
The Democrat says:
One of the darling objects of the present adj
mlnlstratlon, seems to be the restoration of the
lash IN the United States Navy.
There is no navy in the world, where sailors
have been so shamefully abused, as the Amer
lean navy.
The disclosures made at the time Of the cat
astophe on board the brig Somers, are still
fresh in public recollections.
The log book of frigate returned about IL
months since, after 3 years cruise, showed
the administration In that space Of time, of up
wards of FORTY-FOUR THOUSAND
LASHES.
The abuse had become 50 fragrant and enor-
nous, that Congress at its last session, in spite
of the thousand and one dandy officers, who
are constantly loafng about Washington, pro-
hlbited the use OF the lash altogether.
During the recess of Congress, board of
these same officers has been in session at w ash
lngton, endeavoring to restore the cat-o-nine
tails. They appear to have gained over the
President and the head of the navy department,
to their views. Mr. Fillmore, in his annual
message, hardly took the pains to conceal his
partiality for fogging, and the annual report
from the Sec. of the Navy, was still more eX-
plicit in the same direction.
More recently, the same Secretary, acting,
doubtless with the concurrence Of the other
members of the cabinet, and of the President,
has sent in special report to Congress, in
which he recommends BRANDING WITH
HOT IRONS, as a necessary substitute for the
lash
Now, we apprehend that the Secretary hard
ly expects TO drive democratic Congress into
any such measures Of abomination asthat The
HOT IRONS will not go down this nineteenth
century Rather than to submit to such horri-
Bile barbarity, the people of this country would
prefer to see the whole navy sunk to the bot
WIN VI tliC oNCdu. HC hOCClGldly hHONS thai
we'll, and so does the President. They are
now holding up the HOT IRONS, to drive
Congress back to the old system of the LASH
They will effect no such object in any such
way. The HOT IRONS are in the hands of
the people, and will yet mark as deep brand
upon the gentlemen now in power, as they
have fixed already upon the late Galphin Cab
met.
Three boards of officers have been recently
in session at Washington =
l. a mixed board Of army and navy officers,
to settle questions of relative rank, pay, and
etiYuette.
,. A board of army officers to recommend
new grades of title and dignity.
B. A board of navy officers, TO fix new pun
ishments for the sailors.
What they ask for the country, is, NEW
TITLES for the officers, and HOT IRONS
for the men.
Scarcity of Silver Coin.
There is at this time a general complaint
TN ron hput tho of 81, I