Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-28

COMMODORE STEWARDS REPORT
ifs to the abolition Of Flogging and the Spirit
part Of the Ration in the Nary, in answer to
a circular Of the Nary Department, dated 29th
Of January, 1850.
BoRDESrows, IN. J.) MARcH IL, 1850.
Sir have received your circular Of the 29th of Janu-
AIRY last asking my views in relation to dispensing with
poral punishment n the Navy and if in my opinion,
be dispensed with, what other punishment should be subst
tuted but if not you desire my for such opinion.
Also whether any further restrictions than those which the
law imposes upon the of this punishment be ad-
vantageousy applied.
The decision which may be made upon this subject by the
authorities controlling and governing the Navy of the United
States to me to involve results of the highest
to the welfare Of this arm Of national defence.
If we take into consideration the peculiar character habits
and propsnses of of the constituting the crews
of vessels Of crowded together and confined for years
to the bounds Of their respective ships subject to in
Vulnerable restraints and deprvaions controlled by rigid
discipline essential to keep them in due subjecon to the
rules and regulations for the Of the navy in or
der that the great objects Of such may be
pshed, it be questioned that the means Of punish
men both prompt and Efficient must be lodged somewhere
tina, eecua restraint may be put upon those who may
be found in national vessels but ready violate the good
order and discipline Of their ship The organization Of the
navy not experiment it has been in operation for
half century, and the results have generally proved satsfac
tory at least far the subordinate portions Of their
concerned If under long test the navy has
not been found wanting and all the essential duties required
Of it have been efficiently performed think that any
material change radical alterations would carry with all
the advantages which experience US have been
accomplished Should experiment when tried prove
failure and the ships and their not be conducted
according to the views of your officers but agreeable to the
will Of the men, and losses and dsgaces ensue or should
the power con6ded to the officers under any
which might be adopted be found inadequate to check
growing characterization amongst the men, and which might
finally result in open muiny, would be but poor coAso-
aton to reflect that this condition things had been brought
about BY withholding perhaps through mistaken sense Of
humanity an exemplary punishment justly due offenders
and which perhaps would not have fallen upon more than
three four per cent of the whole NUMBER that too
when we know that those who generally commit offences
almost always found to be the worthless part Of the
such for example the " drnkard" the Hskulker
the "guarresome," the "dsobediet and negligent" the
" insubordinate," and the "Hief"
The mass Of ships company is generally composed
good and orderly but there may sometimes be found
amongst them who have strong propenses (acqued
by irregularities and improper ndulgences shoe) which
would lead them into violations Of the indispensable order
ship of under lax discipline, but from the commits
sion of which they restrained in consequence the
occasional exemplary punishment inflicted those who are
more reckless and deserving of it.
be evident the superficial observer that ships
Of the ends for which they design
ed unless be accomplished through the operation Of u
dcous organization, and by the maintenance of rigid dis
cipne board TIE attain this important object is
say, with large bodies Of men circumsanced and inu
enced they by such variety of empers and propen
ses that the powers which conferred the command
should not be much enfeebled restricted but fully
adequate to the objects to be attained
Naval amaments have existed for centuries and believe
the ingenuity Of those who have organized controlled
Quoted them has through that long lapse Of me been
the rack to discover punshmens which would be bes
calculated promote their efficiency and suppress the dsor
der which would certainly reign if there existed adequa
penalty by the imposition of which to check and it
The grea, obstacles to this discovery, however, may exist
the meageness Of the proper Of furnishing found
crcumscbed BY the peculiar circumstances of the
whilst time the for and the of Of
fences materially increased at many there
ring which shore offences at all or have no nu
Gus effect society," tend impair the discipline and
der Of military hence Just comparison be draw
between ornaments land and those the In th
various efforts accomplish this important object and amongs
the very many plans reorted to during that long period
ton almost to an, extremity !" .skeelhaung !" IS ducin
from the yardarnas :; s'gauntetng !" Suspension By IN
thumbs !, "erposure in The rigging to The ,ceater blast
can ntodicon from ordinary rest ]" coventry Nth tn
mess and tie cre,o and corporal punishment with ia
colt or cat" All those have been tried and finally abandoned
except the latter, because highly cruel and dan
gerous to life limb, were found inefficient and no
applicable all times and under oil circumstances. Hence
after the failure Of those NODES the whole merged int
reasonable confinement and corporal punishment which
to have been found by far the most efficient punishment 70
the preservation Of the order and discipline Of ships of
At all times, and under all circumstances practicable il
be promptly administered highly exemplary, and from on
experience has shown may be the only way in which ID
almost Dormant sensbities be reached, the sron
Propenses TO violence and ubordnaon Of those harden
Cd and reckless men who form portion of every ships
Pany can be suodued Being publicly and ceremonousl
administered, may have most salutary effect the be
holder, ana carries with those admoniioy preceps whc
well calculated deter the sufferer from f,nre opces
also subject to the control Of the law and if proper
regulated can be administered with more strict regard 10 thu
due proportion OF punishment according 10 ;nsce and m
Of the offences committed In the Nav Of the Unite
States appears 10 me that has reached by law the lowe,
mark which the discipline aud order essential in .hn
be preserved and by which means all can no
discharge their obligations the country in renderin he
armies by the efficient and powerful engines for wbc
they designed. a
In another part Of this letter have enumerated some If N
offences most commonly occurring in ships; but thor. !,
Others Of which be properly punished by oee
in command and therefore only be provided for ,houp
the instrume ntaity Of court martial
To officer OF sensitive feeling there duty impose
him painful than that Of INJECTING corporal puns
upon his fellow is not therefore, through M
tives Of cruelty which could induce such officers
Hct the penalties Of the ash II it could possibly be avoide
could such motive have any weight with the many
vocaes for its retention which may be found among
the officers Of the navy but is because long experen
them that adequate substitute be provide
without greater apparent cruelty. cannot imagine situ
ton 10 which officer be placed peculiarly onero,
than that in which he fnds himself when compelled 10 nc,
the nquser, judge jury and eIecutoner OF the sentepc
which his sense Of duty oblges him to pronounce.