The daily union., 1852-01-17

passionate Argument Twill call the aItention OF gentle.
men 10 all the mutnies which have ever occurred IN the
British service for, whatever may be sad TO the contra
~, our model has ever been the BRUSH navy and the
British navy has furnished US with seamsn oi disn.
gushed merit and conspicuous gallanlry lhe sf pul
your hnger upon her naval history, and show me where
these men complain OF hoggng. And must be recol-
ected too that this system ls undergoing anticipation
every hour live. In former times, was Infinitely
more severe. AT the time the nutny oil The More oc-
Cured, when eleven ineof battle ships and thirteen
rgaes and smaller ships making twenty tour IN all had
their officers all confined on board by thef crews ana
the navy OF England dsorganzed, and at the mercy
ol lis enemies, what the causes oi grievance lheTe
was prompt and universal organization OF seamen
against their Officers extending even TO ihe West inGes
which continued from the 18th OF April TO The 10th
Of June, before queled and before the government
got into possession OF lis ships Now, sr, Will take
the liberty OF reading from the naval history oil Great
Britain written by Captain Brenton-one of the highest
ornaments OF that service at the time he wrote: The
schedule Of grievances set forth by seamen oil The BRITISH
navy and The want OF redress OF those grievances which
superinduced the celebrated muuny OF the More, are
couched in these words
"At That every indulgence granted to the lleet at
Portsmouth should be granted TO the fleet at The More and
places adjacent,
go That every man, upon ships coming into har
Dor, should have liberty 10 and see his friends ii being
understood that the number should be limited according
10 the duty OF the ship.
80 That ships going 10 sea should be paid all their
rears oi wages down to SIX months.
81 That officer that has been turned out OF any OF
his Majcsys ships shall be again employed IN The same
ship without the consent Of the ships company.
us. That whenever any of his Majesty's ships shall
be paid there be any pressed men on board who shall
not be in o pay they shall receive Two months
advance, 10. furnish them with necessares.
"6 That any seaman who may have deserted from his
Maiestys service. and shall be now IN any OF his Ma
esiys ships shall be pardoned and receive tndeRncd
lion.
~ Thata more equal distribution be made Of prize
money in ships ot. war.
"s That the Articles OF War; as now enforced require
various alterations and several should be expunged and
if more moderate held forth to the seamen in
general il would be the means OF taking off that terror
and prejudice against his Malesys service TOO frequently
mbbed by The seamen. and preventing their voluntary
enlistment"
In aludiny 10 the causes Of the losses Of ships. the
same author IN page 276 speaks OF the axy OF dlscp
line on board the ship Queen Charlotte commanded by
Sir Andrew Shape Douglas and, speaking OF the want OF
efficient punishment being felt by all the officers on
board that vessel, he goes on TO say that
On the 18th of April. easter Sunday) Lord Bridpor,
the commander chief, made The signal tNo l5 10 pre-
pare for sailing the TO which was three cheers
from every ship in the fleet then lying at Spithead The
example was set by the Queen Charlotte. This ship.
from the relaxed state oil discipline in which she had
been kept while the flag oi Earl Howe was flying on
board her. naturally became the focus OF all mutihy-a
character which she maintained until she was burnt OH
Leghorn."
On page 276 OF the same work is found the following
extract:
"The origin of the muny has been ascbed 10 various
lcauses-o the Vaccinations of domestic traitors and
responding soceiies-to the severity tyranny OF the
captains and the secret influence Of foreign enemies
These may each have had ser weight IN producing the
fatal effects but certainly severity in the captains was not
generally, could il have been reasonably, complained
OF by The seamen Most OF The captains erred on the
other extreme particularly that highly accomplished off
GER the late Sir Andrew Shape Douglas at that time cap
tain OF the Queen Charlotte, on board OF which had
been serving not long before, and where the want OF
punishment Of the elt by the officers great
| evil"
Now sir, in illustration OF the existing evils in the
navy and the absence OF discipline will read an extract
the The the NAVY, made
Goth OF November, 1851 AT page in the report, he
says
"n the present of the law, there is nospower TO
infcl any punishment except confinement IN irons or
without unless by the sentence OF court martial Such
cout must consist OF not less than five than
thirteen commissioned officers and be ordered by the
President OF the United States Secretary OF the Navy or
commanded OF fleet or squadron acting out OF the
United States II is manifest, therefore, that there
be other punishment during cruise whether long or
short, except vessels within the immediate reach oil
the commander OF the squadron and only then if there
be al least five commissioned officers superior TO legal
exception, who can be detailed court Il being known
that two vessels rarely cruise together, but that sng lie
ships despatched on distant service and are often
separated from the flagship and from home for many
months is apparent that the delay justice the accused
| being meanwhile in confinement, is serious grew
ance TO him. But when 1t is remembered that the ends
OF punishment shipbond not merely for the sake
OF example and reformation but TO secure faithful and
specific execution OF the contract OF enstmen; with the
government at the very time when duty required and
10 protect The rights OF the dutfu tie honest the
iu and orderly any punishment, 20 be eectua must be
speedy and certain. Confinement is ordinarily means
OF securing the accused from escape and OF preventing
repetition OF positive wrong but TO obstinate, indolent,
or vicious men, some of whom will HSrhaps be found in
every ships company, Notwithstanding any precau
tons OF enlistment, 1t Is not sufficient remedy 10 en-
force the performance OF positive duties. In civil life no
provision is made by law for the specific fulhment OF
contracts or dutles except in few equitable cases, where
the time OF performance not material The only remedy
for failure IN all others, is by indemniheaon in money,
to be awarded by courts OF justice held periods regula
ted by the convenience OF the community. In military
affairs, al land, IL is far otherwise. Time
and alscrity IN performance are of the very
OF the contract and upon them may depend the safety OF
the ship and h6 company from disaster al well as
the honor OF her flag
Again, theft unlawful violence. and other wrongs,
must be kept under wholesome restraints, by the terror
of punishment at well shore. But pub
lie ship carrying superluous men, the service cannot
without injury, spare from daily duty those who commit
offences during the time necessary for their punishment by
imprisonment, that the appropriate punish
ment say nothing OF weakening the ships company by
this process and the imposition upon good OF double
duty and the menal service of waiting offenders while
thus imprisoned.
The consequences OF the change have been, thus far,
detrimental 10 The service, and is apprehended, will be-
come more serious unless speedily remedied.
"When vessels arrive in port after cruise, ., is found
mposs BILE to keep the board until proper
ter exercise al quarters and inspection have TAX place,
which the adopted ascertain whether officers
have done their duty in keeping their ships and in
cases OF delinquency overlooked disposed OF by dis
charge honorable ordshonorabe, there have been nearly
one hundred trials OF enlisted by courts. martial
since the passage OF the law In question"
In addition 10 the report Of the Secretary OF the Navy
IN relation 10 hundred cous-marial, will say that