The daily union., 1852-01-17


shed am unable 70 answer any OF the queries embraced
"a The circular but The 6Ts which relates 10 the effect il
has had ihe recruiting service To This have 10 sny
ma The aboshmenl Of hogging has had no perceptibs
influence on the recruiting service Neither has n in.
duced better class OF persons enter the naval service
Captain James NJ Mcintosh writes from on hoard
the "Unted States frigate Congress-" Rio de Taneiro
August g. 1851, and thus answers the nterrogaiories
- What has been the effect on the recruiting ser.
vice Is found that better class OF persons is induced
10 enter the naval service
/" Answer. My ships company having enlisted pre-
ylous TO the passage OF the law, unable. from my
own experience 10 Judge bat from the representations Of
the officers OF our ships who have touched al this port
since the passage OF The law, am OF the opinion that
no advantage has been obtained 10 the service in the
character OF the enlisted, but perhaps the worst
80 What has been the effect upon discipline and sub
ordination among the persons composing ships compa-
MES
ANSWER | do not conceive sufficient time has vet
elapsed fairly this question. So far this ship has
been kept in good order aud good discpne but do not
consider the system be judged OF from that fact
The ship sailed under the old law, and conceive moral
control was gained al the commencement by firm and
decided with all oenders which, while the power
existed, convinced the men that crimes and offences
would be punished and which rendered few examples
sufficient had hopes, for some time after the abolish
ment OF the lash by Congress- and which was abolished
by for TWO months pre- the passage OF the law
for saw il was inevitable. and desired TO be prepared
Tor il il possbletha discipline might be preserved with
out IT, and had SO expressed myself IN my letters TO my
friends These hopes have not yet been entirely disspa-
ted but am forced 10 ack ledge to you, sir, that am
not free from anxiety and apprehension, from
which will be further touched on IN subsequent part Of
this letter.
80 Do the crews OF vessels.oi.war evince more or
less aacry and eheerfuness Are the orders OF officers
more or lees promptly obeyed!
ANSWER. My present experience of the new system
will not justify my saying there has been any change In
the alacnty or rromptness IN obeylng orders see no
Improvement certainly.
~ Are there any eectual means by which the badly
disposed persons on board ships be restrained!
Answer. None, except constant confinement; their
services then lost to the government, while they
paid and subslsted by IT,
IS. Are the vessels of the navy less efficient
since the adjustment OF flogging in the navyl
:" Answer. do not consider this ship more efficient
this moment than other ships have commanded under
up 10 this PERIOD been IN discipline and admitted. by all
foreign officers who have visited her, TO be in good
order.
q In my answer to your second query, have frankly
stated that am not without anxiety as TO the ultimate
result OF the system. Permit me TO state the
causes of this anxiety. The have discovered,
will very discover, that the only punishment for any
offence no matter how great is confinement. They
learn, that great many cannot be confined at
time without rendering your ship inefhclent, and consc.
queutly the evll-disposed are always working for
cfus and there and never will be- ship Of
war without some OF the most desperate and worthless
characters board until there be change made
the manner Of eniisng our men You are therefore,
compelled feel, whenever disposition evnced to be
nsubordinate dsobedient, that II may manifest itself
such numbers make it most serious matter, and
difficult 70 control, except by resoring TO most forcble
and painful This, believe, nigh, be avoided by
restoring martial the power OF punishment by
fogging and in OF ship cruising alone, 10 author
iZe drumhead or capsan court prohibiting the latter
from exceeding dozen ashes Tor any offence With
the means have now in force for Furnishing offenders
Uith this additional security, should have doubt
10 most favorable result; but some punishment more
than possess believe TO be necessary TO insure
good and Wholesome discipline in the ,ervce generally
This ship repeat y now IN order and good discipline
but there circumstances OF daily which in
dicate that may have as other officers already have had
before the termination OF the cruise TO regret the
too hasiy legislation OF our lawmakers"
Commander Charles Lowndes, from the Baltimore rem
devious, September II, 1851. replies thus:
SIR have the honor 10 acknowledge the receipt Of
circular, dated Navy Department. June 5, 1851 in which
am directed 10 furnish the department with my views
OF the effect produced the naval service by the abol
shment oil iogging IN the navy and particularly on the
following subjects viz lst What has been the effect
on the recruiting service Is found that better
class OF persons is now induced TO enter the naval
vice
In reply thereto have to state ha, it has been
found this rendezvous that better class oil persons is
induced 10 enter the naval service Since the abol
shment OF ogglng 10 the navy, we have not recruited
OF time formerly, which may be attributed TO the
city of that class OF men in the port OF Baltimore and the
demand for them in the merchant service The only ef
feet upon the recruiting service caused by he abolish
ment Of ioggIng in the navy, 10 be increased
desire on the part OF landsmen 10 enlist.
"As have not been alloat, nor attached TO receiving
vessel navyyard since the passage OF the law abolish
ing hoggng in the navy, can furnish the department
with information in relation to the second, third and
nith lnterrOBatores.
"In reply 10 the fourth QUESTIONABLE there any effect
ua by which the bad disposed persons board
ship can be reslrainedl-f must give Il my opinion,
that The lash, judicousy applied, is the only efectual
means by which badly-disposed persons on board ship
can be restrained and the discipline of the service main
tanned Solitary confinement might be substitute, II it
could be e1ecluay resoued TO. In warm climate il
would be attended with dangerous consequences thereby
seriously inuring the health OF the prisoners, and in
very short time rendering their discharge absolutely
cessary All mder punshments OF no avail in pre-
venting drunkenness and other vices found TO exist on
board vesses-o- war of our navy have tried them,
and in every instance have found them inadequate"
Commander J. B Hull, from the United States naval
rendezvous Philadelphia, September IL, 1881, says;
"SrR; have the honor to acknowledge the receipt OF
the circular of the department OF the 5th June last de-
string my views OF the effect produced on the naval ser
vice by the abolshment OF fogglng 10 the navy and
beg leave 10 offer tho for deernng reply 10 II
until now that might be better able to form an opinion
OF the effect il has had upon the recruiting services and,
az have not been at since the passage OF the
been placed in any situation where have been enabled
10 observe lis effects upon the discipline OF the service,
can only reply 10 the first question Of the circular.
During the past year the enslmenis at this rendezvous
have very varous-embracng several OF the grades
allowed in The servicerequrng TO fill them large pro-
portion OF having mechanical rather than naut
cal knowledge, or requiring but limited knowleoee OF
the duties OF This may perhaps, be one reason
for the opinion that comparatively small number OF the
better class OF seamen, that class known as old men
Of wars. men, have offered themselves ior me sev'cei
and another cause may be found in the tact tna ester
inducement has been offered for them 10 go INTO tne mer
service, by the payment OF bisne wages ana no
activity Of commerce has produced ReA' ueHshu ioi