The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-01-08

un their command but what confidence regard can
be expected under the government Of the ssh! But,
than this the punishment destroys the sailors
own seErespect. What has honor pride, satisfac.
tion to do. with a man who may be, at the
caprice OF another, Subjected to infamous punish
ment--worse, in some cases, thousand TIMES than
DEATH Can nobeness Of sentiment or honora Die pride
of character dwell with one whose every muscle has
been made to quiver under the lash Can he long
tipue to love his country whose laws degrade him 10
the level of the brute This infamous torture now only
remains leaf on the page Of Augo-Saxon history.
expete their offences has been discarded from society
The worstso- noes in our State prisons no longer
published by the lash. Why all this? Why are those
punishments condemned shameful relics of q
barbsrous ageY 1t because the light of better day
hasdawned 1t is because the prscepts OF the Gospel
of Chssianity-hsve ameliorated our laws /. is be-
cause society has made the discovery that man is
fit to live at ell he ought not TO be dvested OF all quail
ties and made to die Infamous with mutatons of his
body. What Is the answer given by all those who seek
torestore this relic OF barbarism to the navy! Why
they tell int end only to apply this system Of
isbment to sesmen. We intend only to fog sailors.
That Is quite true. 1t Is only saors who are to bs
treated like brutes. No man who hears me
would permit his dog to be thus treated There Is
spot on the habitable globe known to me- where
would be permitted to seize up dog aud beat him until
made to down froa his back bone his heels But
1t is only the taior for whom this punishment is
served When Oh Senators is the that
he isto be treated worse than dog! He has been my
companion for more than quarter OF century, through
Gains and ,torms, pvations suiIsrings and hunger in
peace and iIwsr have lived with him, eide by side by
and land have him the western ocean,
when there night to veil his deeds. have
him the of AFRICA surrounded by pestnential
cisesee have seen him among the West India islands,
in chase of pirates, with his parched tongue hanging
almost out OF his mouth. have encanped With him on
the California mountans-I have the rays of the
morning play on his carbne and boarding pike. have
march hundred and fifty miles through the
eDeny's country, mountains and through rivers
have him with shoes on but those Of Canvass
made by his own hands, and with no provisions but
what he took from the enemy have seen him go into
the Rio San Gabriel and drag his guns after him. in the
face Of CALLING fire from desperate foe and finally
have laid beside him the cold ground, when ice has
formed his head. His heart has beat close to mine
ought to know him. do know him, and this day be-
fore the assembled to of the republic up
speak in his behalf l hope he will rd abler advo
cate / ture he will find such on thi. floor, but,
nevertheless hear me. American sailors class,
have loved their country WELL and hsvs done
for her in peace aud than other equal number
OF citizens Passing by, tor moment their antecedent
glorious achievements, let remind you that he has
recently gained for his country empire which has al
ded to his countly and greatness and perhaps
saved his fellow citizens from universal bankrucy nd
ruin; and what hes his country done for him? When
achevtd--you sent band of Mormons to Califor
mia to drive him to his ship aud rob him of his
glory. You refused to give him bounty lands which
you gave to the soldier, his comrade fighting by his
SIDE You have neglected to give him even your thanks
and more to cap the climax Of his country's ingra
tude, there memorialists would have him scourged
They would scourge him for drunkenness, when they
put the bottle to his mouth They would scourge
wrong have made him. fer instant discontened and
sullen. Shane shame You ,rvula ssoar2s him
while living, ard when dead, consiyn him to felons
grave That l may not be supposed to have drawa
upon my fancy or to have exaggerated his countrys
inhumatity. will read some documents. Extracts
read she wing the large number Of sailors
bpred in prison cemeeries To whom in time of peace
intrus.d tie lives Of the thousands who traverse the
ocean! Whose energy and skill and the hardy. self
d,Dyrg toll carry the productions OF your soil through
the world sDd bring back the rich return 1t is the
American saiorby his superior qualities a man he
trefs Of the where is the coast or harbor in the
wide word accessible to human enterprise 10 which he
has not carried your flag His berth is no snecure,
his service Is easy service he ia isolated
being; he knows no comforts Of home, and wife and
chdren he reaps golden rewards FOX the increase Of
amsng strangers, and frendless When worn out he is
scarcely provided for Making many rch he lives and
dies poor Carrying the gifts OF civilization and the bes-
ing OF the gospel through world he treated as an
outcast from the merces of both but look to his
tory'hst part Of which the world knows by hesrtand
nd in Its brehte the glorious achievements
Of the American sailor Whatever his country has done
to disgrace hin and break his spirits he has dis
graced her he has always been ready to her; he
always has served her faithfully he has often been
weighed in the balance and found wanting The
only fault found with him that he sometimes fights
ahead Of his orders The world bas match for him.
Man for man he asks odds, and he for odds
when the cause of humanity or the glory of his
try calls him to the fight Who, the darkest days
OF our revolution, carried your flag into the very
chops Of the Brtsh Channel bearded the lion Ia
his dep, and awoke the echo CT old Albion's hills by
the thunder Of his and the shouts Of triumph
1t was tie American sailor and the of John Paul
Jones and the Bonne Homme Richard, will go down the
BUNDLED the Barbary flag which, for a hundred years.
had been the terror Of Uhrieien dom droy from the
had been accustomed to exact! 1t the nercan
sailors; end the Decatur nd his gallant CON-
psnions will be as lasting monumental bra's. In
war Of 1872 when your arms shore covered by
Disaster when Winchester had been defeated when
the army Of the Northwest had eurrerderedand when
the gloom OF dependency hung like cloud ovef the
land who frrt reiit the fires Of national glory, aud
made the welkin ring with the shouts Of victory!
II pes Ire american sailor snd the nams Of Hull aud
T.. y 4
left anything worth remembering That was no smsn
event The wand OF Mexican prowess was broken on
the Rio Grande-the wand Of British inviDcbility was
broken when the flag Of the Gurcere came down That
worth 10 the republic than all the
money which has been expended tor nary. Since
that day the navy has had stain upon its national
escutc cheon but has been cheri. he'd as your pride
ard glory; aud the American sailor has established
reputation throughout the world in peace and
in war, in storm and in battle for unsurpassed
herot m and prowess / am no panter-I cannot draw
with artificial skill tho scone would have yol
look upon See the gallant bold sailor who has served
bis apprenticeship with Hull in the Constitution,
who helped drag the guns the Saa Gabriel,
stnpped ahd "a he'd worse than dog Can you STAND
It, r Yet your laws have auth orzsd TO be done, and
1t Is proposed TO give authority 70 do II again viii
the American people stand IL win this more than
Roman Senate long debate whether an American
citizen as he is the sailor shall be entitled TO all
his rights or not Whether. freeman as he Is, he
shall be scoureed like slavo Cicero,s clactcric,
in his speech against verrts, is that though Ro-
man citizen, his client has been scourged Shall
American citizen be scourged! Forbid it, God If hu
IOlhiu fOr my Own part, 4 Npulu rEJnt
the navy abolished and the stars and the stripe
burtd, with their glory in the depths f the than
that it's gories oud be sutecte pun
Isrrent SO grominous api brutal thing III had the
power youchs fed to others TO impress my feelings
upon the heaits OF those who hear would rsue ia
the minds Of b. nators .uch Of national pride and
huMaD sympathy that they would, with voice, de
mortal which seeks TO rob the American
sailor Of hs ra hts American freeman should be
thrown under table AID pied your feet
The object Of egstlcN for our seamsn should be to
elevate tb class, and not TO degrade thes In pro-
l.tl rnff
self you will brig him to the performance Ct his duty with
ehferfi and slacdty; you best appeal 70 his patri
otin by showing him tbat he Is beaored and respected
by his county and presenting motives 10 his emu
lation. Whstever the pecuatities Of the sailor may
be- b. /, siil a man vta sll tse impulses wbhes.
ard hopes ot o man; and II there is trait more
peculiar to him than ancther, Il IL the sentiments
of gratitude lie never fcigets Kindness and would
fsks his heart out OF his bosom to save ftient.
believe that many cc,rs OF the navy have fallen into
error, in suppospg TINT salos more Influenced by
ther fears thsn s1ectiope They do not rightly appre