The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-24


The public, that individual of composite order
but who, uniting the general opinion Of everybody
Il do not mean politically, where everybody's opn.
ions are manufactured for them in Baltimore), is
appealed to as the supreme judge Of books and
newspaper articles. wish to address this high dig
nitary through your columns, and trust that the
theme will not be considered 50 hackneyed as not to
merit degree Of attention.
have heard much of this from others but, perhaps,
not the whole Of the truth. Your mind has been
poisoned by ibellous publications and speeches. re-
presenting the shipmaster as . tyrant and brute;
while the sailor is descanted upon as noble, gener
GUS, self sacrificing being, whose principal misfor-
tune in life consists in state of cruel bondage, to
which he is subjected by the whims and caprces Of
his tsslmaster A young gentleman leaves college,
voluntarily subjects himself to unaccustomed hard
ships, and the trough and tumble" Of tho forecaste,
for one voyages everything with jaundiced eyes,
which can perceive nothing through tho mist, but
fine prospect ahead Of making legal capital; then
wide circulation, is generally credited and from
which precisely such differences are drawn as
were intended by the author. Another person
called Haynes. dealing in broad assertions, one
runs about the country eOturng upon the discipline
Of the navy, till he wakes up the antis Of ali des-
crptions the moral refomers and some Of the clergy
The Rev Henry Ward Beecher (my old schoslnate,
like to hear him preach religion-although he does
it, like everything else, in queer way-and under
takes to enlghten people upon subject entirely out
Of the Line Of his profession He used at school, to
talk Of going to sea. II ne had done 50, be would
have experience for his foundation, and am sure he
would have been an ornament to our-what does my
aristocratic aunt call it Occupation.
Well, you have heard all that these gentlemen
have to say, and have dcvoured it with SUCH ayidty
that your Representatives in Congress assemb led,
with the aid Of a popularity seeking Commodore
amongst them, who, when he was afoat, differed
exceedingly in bis then practice from his present
theory) have succeeded in rendering our public
ships refugees for the mutinous and lazy in driving
from them men who are too good for such company.
But now you owe a listening ear to the other side.
have alluded to the navy, but merely incidentally,
as, with your permission, intend to refer to it
again In another letter. but will conne the remain
der of this to the consideration Of the general char
acter OF seamen at the present time in the merchant
service, and their relations to their ocers-who are
not exactly the tyrants and brutes represented to
your u s{ sss 9saT e n !, ss sa
them, and In the administration of your laws ysu
do not protect them. Neither is the sailor the
paragon OF suffering humanity that he is represented
TO be. The best trait as wen as the worst trait in
his character is susceptibility to influence. and If
you allow more evil influences than good to sur
round him, reproach yourselves that he has become
the corrupt and dshonorable man that he really Is
Thank God, do not speak so of all There are
many exceptions, and noble ones, too; but IL is
your fault chat am compelled to speak of them
thus as class. The general character of sailors is
not TO be learned from observation on Shore or BY
attending the yearly glorifcation meetings of the
Seamens' Friend Society. God bless that society
30 far as il does good, which it does to great ex-
tent-an extent as great rs its understanding
The homes and the churches IL has built and the
Libraries it has founded are enduring monuments of
it, good Intentions and Of their oten good results
but, till serious evils are remedied over which
public opinion and government have control, tho
good which this society can achieve must be limited
and circumscribcd. STILL to this society, whatever
charity have to bestow, shallgo ] love any thing
that will benefit tie sailor and, Of all the remins
cences of life, mono arc so cheering es Of instances
that can DO called to mind Of successful efforts on
bic behalf and 10 hopes Of the future delight
full as that Of doing him service.
The Character and warts Of seamep cat only be
understood sGd asec.t4inet fson loSs and ici-