The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-09

was the idol of the soldier because the soldier bis
IDOL They loved him because they supposed he loved
them There is nothing that gallant and brave men
WIN mol DO and suffer for commander whom they
love Difficulties and dangers and death have no
teHos Tor such men In great battles, where the con-
test has been doubtful those soldiers have always fought
most desperately whose devotion TO their commander
the greatest has always been considered
tlal element in the character of successful commander
that he should be able to excite and encourage the conf
dence and affection oil the men under his command But
what confidence regard be expected under the gov
eminent OF the lash But than this: this punish
men destroys the sailors own self-respec What has
honor-what has pride-what has patriotism to do with
man who may be al the caprice of another, subjected
TO an Infamous punishment, worse-ay, sir in some
cases worse thousand times-than death Can noble
ness OF sentiment or an honorable pride OF character
dwell with one whose every muscle has been made 10
quver under the lash Can he long continue TO love his
country, whose laws degrade him TO the level OF brute
The Infamous question" of torture now only remains
as blot on the page OF Ang Saxon history The whip
pngpo where the worst Migrants used TO expaie their
offences, has been discarded from society The worst
offences in our State prisons are no longer punished by
the lash. Why is all ihis9 Why are those punshments
now condemned as the shameful relics oil barbarous
age II is because the light of better day has dawned
have ameliorated laws 1t Is because society has
made the discovery that if is fit to live at all he
ought not 10 be dvesied OF all the qualities which make
man by the Infamous mutation OF his body. What IS
the which is given 10 all this by those who seek
to restore this relic OF barbarsm to the navy Why,
they tell us we intend only to apply this system OF pun
is quite true II IS only sailors who are to be treated like
brutes-ay, sir, worse than brules. There is no man
who hears me who would permit his dog 10 be thus
treated There is no spot on the habitabe globe known
to me where man would be permitted to seize upon
dog and lash him until he the flesh from of his ribs and
the blood should be made run down from his backbone
10 his heels But sir, is only the sailor for whom this
punishment is 10 be reserved.
Who, oh senators, the American sailor, that he is
10 be treated worse than dog He has been my com.
panion for more than quarter of century-through
calm and Storm privatlons, sutengs, and danger In
peace and in have lived with him, andfought with
him, side BY side, by sea and land have him in
the northern where there night to veil his
deeds have seen him on the coast OF Africa surround
ed by peslenal disease | have him among the
West India Islands in chase of pirates, with his parched
tongue hanging almost out OF his mouth. have
camped with him the California mountains, and on
the plains OF the Mesa have seen the rays OF the morning
sun play on his carbine and his boardingpke have
seen him march one hundred and fifty miles through an
enemy's country, over mountains and through rivers
have seen his feet scarhed by the projecting rocks he
hauled bis cannon over the hills have seen him with
no shoes on but those OF canvass made by his own
hands, and with no provision but what he took from the
enemy. have seen him plunge into the Rio San Ga
bre and drag his guns after him the face of CALLING
fire from desperate foe. And finally, have laid beside
him the cold ground, when the ice has formed on his
beard. Sir, his heart has beat close my own. ought
fore the assembled Senate OF the repubc-l stand up TO
speak IN his behalf. hope he will find aber advo-
cate. Nay, am he will find abler advocates the
| floor. But, nevertheless. hear me-
Mr. President, the American sailors, as a class have
loved their country WELL and have done for her
in peace and war than any other equal number OF citi
Passing by for moment their antecedent glorious
achievements, let me remind you that the sailor has
gained or his country an empire Through pers by land
and pes by water he has gained golden empire which
has added TO his counys and greatness and per-
haps saved his ellow-ctZens from almost universal
bankruptcy and ruin. And what has his country done
for him. When the fighting was over, the battles won.
the conquest achieved, you sent band oil Momons TO
California TO drive him TO his ship, and rob him oil his
glory And historians too have done more TO prove that
history is he You refused TO give him "bounty lands
which you gave 10 the soder-his comrade fighting by
his sde-and you have neglected TO give him your
thanks And now, TO cap The climax OF his countrys in
gratitude these memorlasis would have him scouTged
They would scourge him for drunkenness when they put
the bottle 10 his mouth They would scourge him for
iBaenion 10 his duty, when injustice and wrong have
made him for an instant dsconented and sulen Shame
shame You would scourge him while living, and when
dead consign him TO elon's grave. That may not be
supposed TO have drawn upon my fancy or 10 have exag
geated his countTy's nhumany. ask the Secretary OF
the Senate 10 read these documents
The Secretary read them as follows:
To The honorable the Senate and House Of
Representatives ia Congress aEsembisd
The undersigned president and trustees Of the Boston
Marine Society Of ihe city OF Boston, In the State Of Mas
sachuse beg leave represent your honorable bodies
that, having bad their attention directed for many %
been much impressed with the fact OF the suefnqs of h.
valuable class Of citizens by sickness and accidents
neeted with tbeif prover6ia mprovidence for the future
with their pecuniay means
The benefits OF mcdoa aid ana comfort IN foreign ports
enjoyed by others are hardly ever obtained by them and
In after receiving such forts and attentions
the ships they attached and their officers give.
they frequently brought home and placed in
hospitals, where no seamen can remain beyond the Time
limited by the laws regulating those Institutions.
Is very often tho that they are dismissed from the
hospitals when sufficiently restored render them h
for their active service, and consequence theJ become
paupen tenants OF public amshouscs though most ol
then would rather die than suier this degradation
is well known all obSeryant seamen, that they
always ready the call for their services whether
be in the OF the naval OF the mercantile ma
rne ready gnt with vaof lor their country 70 aid
in ia com erce and true this that very few
advanced in can be found who have not served IN
both public and private ships.
Your attention respectfully called TO the fact that there
s this moment in the public treasury, as your memoir
asts have been informed, money the credit OF
who have been attached 10 tue government marine and 10
the mercantile marine, amounting more than million
| of dollars.
Thslarge amount has accrued from unclaimed due
to deceased seanen from unclaimed pr belong.
and TO the contributions made by all OF twenty
per month in the name Of hospital money
In view OF these facts, memorasts beg leave 10
cit from your honorable bodies that measures be
in the United States treasury aud that thererom
suitable provision be made in the principal seaports
in the United States the further mantenRnce OF
men, citizens OF the United States, who are intirm aud
unfit for service from sickness advanced age or any other
cause.
| AN OF which is respectfully submiuedi
PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEES B. NJ. 8
r. R1Na, esq -DEaR sR, | herewith fumi.h you with
the information desired Daring the year 1850 there were
IO6 deaths OF seamen Of wtch number Al buried by
friends the balance (6I) taken by the anshouse to
Poues ied for the latter class the government allow us
S5 each-s3 Tor coIin and 81 for ground.
Not In have money TO provide for themselves
wy ie'PVo''ViouN l. ROoMF