The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-04

winch IS SIMPLY 10 strike out from the bill the provision
for the summary courts-mara and leave the command
ing officers 10 infic those punshments which given
in the bill substitute for the corporea punishment
abolished BY the proviso 10 the appropriation bill OF 1850
the committee being clearly OF opinion that whatever
punshments the bill proposed for the coporeal punish
ment abolished should be placed in the hands Of the
commanding otcer OF the vessel II was considered as
Indispensable for his authority and control his
that whatever means Of discipline Congress thought
proper 10 provide should be put in his hands without
the intermediate machinery OF the summary courts mar
ual That is The whole purpose OF the amendment
The question being then taken, the amendment OF the
committee was agreed 10.
II Upon the call OF MIR. DAVIS, the bill as amended was
\ then read through.
The bill was then reported 10 the Senate as amended
and the amendment was concurred in.
Mr., HALE offered the following amendment ad-
ditional section:
"SEc -. dad be IA further emacfed, That all commis-
sons In the navy of the Unted States hereafter shall be fo
the term OF ten years which shall be expressed in said com
mission ma
Mr. HALE demanded the yeas and nays on his amend.
ment; which ordered. ~ taG
4 The question being taken upon the amendment il was
! relected--yeas 7, nays 30-as follows:
! YEAs-Alessrs, Chase Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodge Of
Iowa, Hale, Jones OF Iowa, sumner and Waker-7
NAYs-Messrs; Alchisdn, Badger. Borand, Brodhead,
Fish, Foot, Geyer, Gwn, Houston Hunter King, Mallory,
Soule, Spruance, stockton, and Wade-30.
Mr. ATCHISON moved 10 strike out from The bill the
words ''bread and water"
The PRESIDENT, 1t is not in ORDER The amend
ment has been agreed 10 the Senate.
Mr. ATCHISON Then move 10 reconsider; and
for This reason They have protected the sailors back
Now, sir am disposed TO protect his stomach. | con-
slider the one about as respectable the other think
the punishment OF confinement 10 bread and water, al
though il may not be Infamous is far than
giving him ogging II had TO select between the two,
sir would take the hoggng Laughter
The question being taken upon the motion to
slider, IL was rejected.
/ Mr. CHASE There are many provisions in this bill
which very valuable There are other provisions in
my vote TO sanction punishment which places upon the
breast upon any part of the American sailor badge
OF dishonor-any such word "thef." Nor can con-
sent TO sanction any such punishment the ball and
chain Satisfied as am that any attempt 10 amend the
bill is vain, shall simply ask the yeas and nays, that
may record my vote against 1t.
The question being taken upon ordering the yeas and
nays resulted, upon DIVISION ayes 6, noes 2S One h
not voting in the affirmative, they not ordered
| Mr HALE want to make single inquiry OF the
chairman of the Committee Naval Affairs before the
bill is passed. and that will ask by reference 10 the
discipline and promote good conduct in the naval service
of the United Slates to inquire, with all respect
to the committee i this is all that the committee propose
to give this session to promote discipline and good
duct in the navy OF the United States
Mr. BADGER. ! will answer the question, re-
ported the bill from the Committee on Naval Affairs. This
moi all we propose 10 offer TO the Senate during this
sion This rs measure ndispensably required, as the
committee believe, 10 be at once adopted necessary
the country while we are celebrating upon permanent
and more enlarged system We hope to report another
bill upon the subject in the course Of the session
MIR. HALE have not word TO say, them in opposition
to this bill, and shall not oppose il but simply wish 10
occupy the attention of the Senate very few moments
to say that, while have objection to this bill
temporary measure, do hope that the Committee Naval
Affairs will at some day not far distant afford per
manent and an improved SYSTEM containing all that
ought to be embraced in a bill to promote good conduct
In my judgment, we should go great deal further than
this bill goes One OF the first and indispensable pre-
requisites promote the discipline and good conduct in
he n tn
service of the United States upon footing with the me-
chant service. II | am not Mistaken al this moment
the average wages Of good sailors in the merchant
vice at least 25 per cent in advance Of those paid TO
the highest class OF seamen in the naval service OF the
United States. That is TO say, while the merchant
service pays 25 per cent. more than the government
pays, they will always have the best sailors, and the ma
val service will have the dregs and refuse II is an in
dispensabe requisite you mean 70 raise the character
OF the naval service OF the United States, 10 put them
upon the same footing with regard to wages with the
merchant service.
Another Thing sir It will be necessary TO hold out in.
ducemenis the young OF the country TO enter the
service. and afford them some higher motive for good
conduct than change of rating You must afford
some higher promotion for good conduct.
And another thing You must abolish the spirit ration
have been told by experienced officers in the naval SER
vice that the spirit ration you give to the sailors IS Just
exactly enough TO keep alive unhealthy appetite du-
ring the cruise that when they enter the port, they
have been disciplined and schooed by the government
into niemperance Just enough to enable them to go on
shore and commit what subjects them TO the cruel pun
shment they have 10 endure In other words you make
them drunkards by law you educate them TO intempe-
rance you encourage them 10 debase and to degrade
themselves by the system which they subjected and
then you punish them for IT, trust, with all due def
erence TO the committee that they will take this view OF
the subject.
There are some other measures Of improvement
think that every shp--I do net know but the suggestion
may be considered absurdI think that every ship that
goes 10 under the flag OF the United States should
carry we'll selected and well arranged library u which
every sailor who is disposed to inform himself should
have during the hours when he Is not at work
that he may have the at hand with the aid oi the
government, thus TO improve and aid him do not wan
ment, physical moral, which he can have, shall be
that which from taking the grog You serve out 10
him. ! think this Is something which iavoraby pre-
| sents itself 10 the humanity Of the committee.
There are many other things which might be done
hat hope that these things may be done al early day
and that serious and earnest effort may be made TO pu
the navy where il ought TO be. think il is due TO the
throughout the country who are lying under the
hope and expectation that the eaonineias will be re-
stored to them. We owe II them that we shall record
by yeas and nays upon the journal oil the Senate, what
have doubt the deliberate Judgment OF three hhs o.
this body, that II never and never viii be done "
ought 10 be settled by legislation that this tiSed tact
per se-hat that thing will be restored. When
that DONE men and officers will conform themselves 10
the new state OF things they see before them.
When such n bill as this ls offered shall have some
thing 10 say will not trouble the Senate now by enter
ing upon the subject but wish to say that have some
facts which have gathered in detail from the reports OF
the government upon this subject, from which cun
show the honorable senator from Florida MIR NAL.
Loay that he is exceedingly mistaken not only In the
conclusions TO which he has come, but in the premises
upon which he predcates them. One OF them | will
slate this morning for his especial edihcation In