The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-05-29
NOBLE SENTIMENTS.

NaFy, COm. StOcktoH gave utterance tC
the following eloquent appeal in behalf
of the American sailor:
The American sailor has been nv COM
panion for more than a quarter of a CEN
tury-through storm and calm, privations,
sufferings and hunger. In peace and in
war have lived with him, and fought
with him, side by side, by sea and by
land. have seen him in the Western
ocean, where there was no night to veil
his deeds l have seen him on the coast
of Africa, surrounded by pestilential dis
ease; have seen him among the West
India islands in chase Of pirates, with his
parched tongue hanging almost out Of his
mouth; | have encamped with him on
the California mountains and on the plains
of Mesa; | have seen the rays Of the
morning sun play on his carbine and
his boarding pike; l have seen him
march hundred miles through an ene-
my's country, on mountains and through
rivers; | have seen his feet scaritied by
the projecting rocks as he hauled his
cannon over the hills; I have seen him
with no shoes on but those of canvass,
made by his own hands, and with 10 pro-
vision but what he took from the enemy
| have seen him plunge into the Rio San
Gabriel, and drag his guns after him in
the face of a CALLING fire from desperate
foe; and, finally, l have lain beside him
on the cold ground, when the ice formed
on his beard Sir, his heart has beat
close to mine. ought to know him, | do
know him. And this day, now, before
the assembled Senate Of the Republic, l
stand up 10 speak in his behalf.
Mr.. 5. passing by the antecedent glo-
rlous achievements of the American sal
lor, reminded the Senate that the sailor
had recently gained for this country an
empire, added to her renown and great
ness, and perhaps saved her citizens
from universal bankruptcy and ruin. He
asked. what had the country done for the
sailor? When the fighting was over, the
battle won, the conquest achieved, band
OF Mormons were sent to drive him from
California and rob him of his glory. And
now, TO cap the climax of his country s
lngratitude, it asked that he be scourged !!
They would scourge him for drunkenness,
when they put the bottle to his mouth !;
they would scourgc him for inattnntion
to dnty, when Injustice and wrong had
made him for the instant discontcnted and
sullen. Not only y was the sailor scourged
when living, but he was doomed to i;el-
on's grave when dead! Mr.. S. caused
some documents to be read, showing the
large number of sailors who were buried
through want, &C., in burial grounds at
tached to prisons, sc.
He pointed out the great services
which the Navy, composed of American
sailors, was to the country, its commerce,
&c., and the hardships Of his duty. He
was deprived of all the comforts OF home.
Of wife and children. lie lays up no
rich stores, and dies poor. He is treated
as an outcast.
The brightest pages in the history of
the nation were adorned with the achieve
ments of the American sailor. Whatever
his country has done to disgrace him, he
has done nothing to disgrace her; the
only fault ever found with him is, that he
sometimes fights ahead of his ORDERS
He alluded to the achievements under
John Paul Jones, and the blow which
first humbled the Barbary flag, and drove
it from the Mediterranean, as glorious in
stances of the conduct of the American
sailor. The victories of the war of 1912.
and of the Mexican War, were also cited
with the same view.