The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1852-03-05
DISCIPLINE in THE NAVY
REMARKS or MIR. CHASE,
OF OHIO, oi

! Z
In THE SENATE, February 8, 1852,
On the bill to enforce discipline an d promote
good conduct in the naval service Of the
United States.
Mr.. CHASE. There are MANY pro.
I visions Of the bill, as heard il read, Of
= which approve. There are other pro-
visions to which l cannot give my assent.
| cannot agree by my vote TO sanction a
punishment which places on the breast,
or anywhere else upon the person Of The
American sailor, badee Of dishonor-A
the epithet "thief." Nor rau | consent
to sanction any such punishment as the
"ball and chain.' But satisfied as am
that all hope of amendment to this bill is
vain, 1simply ask for the yeas and nays
on the engrossment, that ! may record
my vote against il.
The yeas and nays were not ordered.
| Nr, HALE. wish to make single
inquiry of the chairman Of the Committee
on Naval Affairs before the bill is passed.
With all respect to the committee, | wish
to inquire whether this is all they pro.
pose TO give US at this session, in order
to promote good conduct in the naval
service Of the United Staies?
| Mr.. BADGER. As I reported this
bill, Twill answer the Senator from New
Hampshire, with the consent Of the
chairman Of the Committee on Naval
Affairs. This is not all that we propose
TO offer 10 the Senate during the present
session. This is a measure indispensably
required to be at once adopted as a
necessary means of preserving order and
discipline on board the ships Of the coun-
try, while we are deliberaiiug upon
permanent and more enlarged system
We hope to report another measure dur
ing the session.
Mr.. HALE. Then | have not word to
say in opposition TO this bill. ] shall NOT
oppose it. I wish simply TO say, very
briefly. that while ] have no objection 10
this bill, as Temporary measure, I do
hope that at some early day the Commit.
lee on Naval Affairs will furnish us with
a bill which shall he permanent, and EN-.
brace everything that ough, to be embrac-
ed ia a bill to promote discipline and
good conduct in the naval service Of the
United States. In my judgment, such al
measure should 90 great deal further
fhan this bill goes. And one Of the first
and most indispensable prerequisites TO-
promote discipline and good conduct in,
the naval service Of the United Sip,es,
is TO put the naval service upon an equal
footing with the merchant service. II l
arm not mistaken, at this time the average
wages of good sailors in the merchant
service ofthe United States are al leas,
twenty-five per cent. in advance Of those
paid to the highest class Of seamen in the
naval service Of the United States. 7sb
You should hold out, by raising the pay
Of seamen. inducements to young men
Of the 6rst character in the country to
enter the naval service. And 10 do that
you must offer them higher prospect Of
promotion than a mere change Of rating.
Good conduct must have some higher
reward than that holden out in this bill.
There is another thing 10 lie done, and
that is, you must abolish the spirit ration.
| have the experience Of some officers in
the naval service Of the United States,
who tell me that the spirit ration
given TO the sailors, is jus, exactly enough
to keep alive in them an unhealthy appe-
iite during the cruise; so iha, when they
come into port, they have been disci-
plined and schooled by the Goveremen,
in in,emperance, just exactly enough to
enable them TO 60 on shore, and commit
that which subjects them to the cruel
punishmenis which they have to endure.
In other words,you make them drunkards
by law--you educate them 10 intemper-
ance-you encourage them to debase
and degrade themselves by the system
to which you submit them, and then they
are punished for n. ,sss,5
There are some other matters which !
would like to see attended to. wish
that every ship which goes to sea under
the flag Of tho United States should CARY
wellrselected and welLaranged IL
brary, by means Of which every sailor
disposed to inform himself, in the hours
in which he may not be employed at
work, should have the means al hand,
by the aid Of the Government, thus 10
improve his time. He should no, be
shut up bylaw, and the only possible
excitement, physical OF moral. the, Gov
eminent affords him is tba, which, arises
from taking the grog which you serve
out to him. 40 aiogb 9aY ea6a eSs}
There are a great many nsval officers
throughout the country now living in the
hope and expectation that The cat-and.
ninetals is TO be restored. think we
owe il 10 them that we should record, BY
yeas and nays, on the journals Of the
Senate, what have no doubt is the de-
liberate judgment of three fif,hs, If not
of larger majority, ofihis body, iha, il
never can and never viii he done.
B wish to saw. however. that have I