The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1851-02-22
31st COngress--2d Session.


| to appoint board of Commissioners to settle
| and decide upon all claims of individuals against
the government of the United States. This oc-
| CURED the 1lth, but from the in
which it was rejected, think it probable it
will not stay rejected. The vote was 100 to 90
From the little that we know about it, we think
there ought to be such board. 1t appears to
US it " ould save Congress much labor
The Senate on the 18th passed bill granting
to the States ten millions of acres of the public
lands. for the purpose Of building asylums for
the insane people of the States who may possess
nothing to render them comfortable.
A proposition to contract for building steam
ers for a line to Africa, presented in the
Senate and referred
The Senate also passed joint resolution
ating higher grade in the army, with the title
of Lieutenant General.
The joint committee the subject of naval
affairs, have reported bill 'to enforce discipline
and promote good conduct in the naval service
of the United States.'' Since the act abolishing
hogging in the navy, it was thought necessary to
have more explicit written law for the guidance
of the naval officers in regard to punishments.
This bill provides that commander of ves-
sci shall call 'ssummary court martial - to try
all petty officers and seamen for offences which
have heretofore subjected the offe nder to the
cat o'nine-tals. The court martial to consist of
three commissioned officers and recorder "a
commissioned officer means any officer below that
of midshipman.) When commissioned officers
cannot be detailed, any officers above mdship
men may be taken Midshipmen excluded
because too young, we suppose.
These summary courts martial are to have
power to sentence offenders to the following
punshments:
1st Discharge from the service, with bad con-
duct discharge.
3D. Solitary confinement in irons, single or
double on bread and water: Provided, no such
confinement shall exceed thirty days.
3D.. Solitary confinement In irons, single or
double, not exceeding thirty days
4th Solitary confinement not exceeding thlr-
ty days.
5th Confinement not exceeding two months.
9th Reduction to next inferior rating.
7th Ball and chain, but not to be worn at sea.
Sth Deprivation of liberty shore.
And loss of pay, not to exceed three months,
NAV be added to any of the above mentioned
punish1nents. 4
The commander of the vessel to have power to
remit part or all of the sentence of court mar
tal And no sentence to solitary confinement to
| be carried into execution. if the surgeon thinks
| it would seriously injure the offenders health.
! The commander of any ship to keep &c con-
| duct book" in which is to be noted the short
comings and merits of each person. And when
the men are discharged, the written discharge is
! to specify their general conduct as 6" good" or
IS bad,' the case may be.
Any seaman petty officer receiving i" good
conduct discharge,'' after a two years service,
| and re-enlistng within three months from the
time of his discharge, will be entitled to three
| months extra pay. This is to induce good men
| to enter the service again. If seaman petty
| officer serve 20 years in the navy. and always
receives good conduct discharges, he will be
| titled to be provided for in the U. S. naval asv-
| lum for life. This is an excellent provision.
Commanders of vessels to be allowed to inhct
the following punishments, without the author
| ity of court martial:
Solitary confinement so days
| Diminishing ratons.
Imposing extra work
Withholding permission to go ashore when
! others 90.
! In of theft, to make good the amount
stolen from the wages of the offender, and to put
badge on him labelled " thief,'' to be worn ten
| days.