Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-05-06
ng- SEE FIRST, THIRD, AND FOURTH
Tho United States Naval service.

Tho United States Naval Service.
We have never known the time in which lib
eral compensation would not procure the services
Of good men in any department of honorable in
dustry in this country; and when we hear that
men are scarce in any particular line, we are at
once convinced that the recompense is meagre,
or that there some circumstances connected
with the employment that call for high rate of
wages
The Norfolk Argus of Tuesday, informs us
that ''sailors are in great demand in every port
in the United States. With US" it savs, ere
Gently, several ships and barques have been de-
tanned for days because they were unable to get
the complement Of hands to navigate them. The
Japanese expedition had to be postponed in
: consequence of the difficulty of shipping crew,
and the feet fitting out for the Mediterranean
will probably be Detained for several months
owing to the same cause The officers of sew
eral of our United States vessels have reported
for duty on this station, but have obtained leave
of absence because no seamen were shipped"
This state Of things is to be regretted and as
it no doubt has o cause we would urge its dis
covery and removal. Now what is that cause
We quote with shame that assigned by the Ar
gus-the good Democratic Southern Argus Read
it:
!" Many of the old salts refuse to engage in
the government service since the abolition Of
fogglng IN the navy. They inquire, has the cat
been restored! And when answered in the me-
gative, they turn away. Not that they love the
cat'-for good men are not whipped-but be-
cause they are averse, they say, TO doing the
work of lubberly, skulking fellows"
We will not dispute the veracity of the Argus
editor; and that is all that we can possibly con-
cede on the subject. As he asserts it, we have
not the shadow of doubt that he has heard soma
or even "many old salts" make such declarations
as he quotes. But that the abolition of fogging
prevents the procuring of men, and that good
men are not whipped when the regulations per-
NIT fogging, will not do even to tell to the ma
rines. There are other causes, and we will per |
NIT our friends of the Argus to state them in
their own words:
The government likewise labors under a dis
advantage from the fact of the disparity that
Whlle the merchant service is paying sixteen dol
lars wages for seamen, it only allows from eiqht 10
fDetDe The morale Of the service would be es-
sentially improved if the government would adopt
a more liberal policy, by giving such Vages as
ottteJ CtdSS " men 10 SHl D6O lC0dLa
be content 10 remain in tie permanent Environment Of
NE Chtted States. The hardy sons of New Eng
land, under such system, might be tempted to
enter the service, rather than engage in the ad-
venturous life Of whaling in far-distant ssas"
We have taken the liberty Of italicisng the
above words, as they reveal the whole story.
Good wages, and such treatm ent as is worthy the
naval service Of Christian republic, will as
surely procure good meD "who would be con-
tent to remain in the Permanent employment of
the United States" as that there is a sun in the
heavens, or the appreciation of justice on earth.
According to the testimony of the Argus here
gwen, the United States government is expend-
ing, in the del'.y of great enterprises, as much
money in one month as the necessary increase
in the pay Of the sailors would amount 10 in
year, and yet piu have 10 come 10 terms at last!
And all for what? Simply because the officers
Of our navy and the Congress of the nation do
not believe in the truths Of repubcanism, and
would sooner rely upon the most degrading cas-
tigation, or the label of THIEF" than elevate
the seamen in our service to the condition Of
lnen and constituent members of the republic
For the life Of US VIC cannot account for tho
this subject With the facts plain before them
that the sailors life, with all its hardships lite
dangers, its vicissitudes, and priyations, pos
sesses attractions for the bold, adventurous, and
spirited among our people, and that in the mcr-
chant service, where good wages and good treat
ment are extended to them, there is seldom any
lack Of good men, the niggard and degrading
policy OF our government is dorredly persisted in
We love our navy, we are proud Of its history,
and we honor the heroic spirit Of its gallant Off
GERS; yet we exult in its present endorsements,
and earnestly and sincerely hope that every yes
sci in its service may rot where it lies before
single crew of American sailors can be induced
to ship, either at low wages, or subject to the
lash or other degrading instruments or means Of
punishment
An Apology.