The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-09

into the service of his country he is orego the pro-
lection OF those laws for the preservation OF which he is
Wiling to risk his life, he is entitled, in all justice hu-
manly and gratitude, 10 all the protection that can be ex-
tended 10 hlm IN his peculiar circumstances lie ought
certainly TO be protected from the niclion OF punish
menl which stands condemned by the almost universal
sentiment OF ms fellow cuZens-a punishment which rs
prescribed in the best prison overnmenproscribed IN
the schoohouse, and prescribed in the best government
on earththat of parental domestic affection Yes, sir,
expelled from the social circle from the schoolhouse,
the prison house and the army, il finds defenders and
champions nowhere but in the navy. To say that no
laws can be devised the navy which
do not Tolerate the lash is an acknowledgment OF mbe
cilly which this Senate will never make.
The difficulty in regard TO this matter has been that in
framing articles for the government of the navy three
things have been overlooked which ought never TO be
lost sight or First, that American sailor Amer-
can czen and freeman, though IN the service OF his
country Second that he has Welded no legal right not
inconsistent with his obligations of duty. Third, that
naval officers not inallibe, and require stringent
egua,ionstor their government other citizens invested
And now, Mr. President come to the discussion OF a
part OF tins subject far from being agreeable Why it
mat naval officers, and even some seamen, as am told
desire TO have the lash restored 10 the navy? II is
symptom OF unavoable augury II is an indication that
the moral standard by which the navy is estimated is low
and degraded II argues preference for the exercise OF
arbitrary power rather than appeal TO those feelings OF
spect and sentiments of honor which should influence the
conduct OF honorable men towards each other in the
vice OF their country.
The great Monlesqueu has said that while virtue was
me principle OF republic honor that OF monarchy
NOW, me actual government in peace or war, in your
military ana naval service, is necessarily in degree
monarchlcal Within the limits OF his command, and in
reference 10 those Immediately subject TO him. the captain
the colonel the general or the commander of ship-of
war, Is soverelgn-a monarch and hold that honor
IS the principle on which the government of his subord
mates should be founded. Tell not that sailors
heart is nsensibe to the dictates of honor know bet
ter is there. 1t may indeed slumber and remain pas
sve, and be almost exngushed by suen revenge or bit
Ter haired yet there II 10, real and perfect exist
ence as IN your breast or mine BY proper appeals TO it,
by generous treatment, by manly and discriminating
citement IL kindies INTO activity, and becomes the su
preme arber of the sailors life and conduct Sir if the
officers would only believe in the existence OF this sen
ment OF honor, and appeal to il instrument for the
preservation OF discipline, we should not be asked 10
store the lash requsiion for the lash proceeds the
suppositon that there is no honor in common sailor
Now, so far from that dogma having any foundation in
act must be known to all who appreciate the charac
ter OF hearted sailor that honor is almost the only
principle by which nine-lenths of them governed
When unsuccessful appeal made TO the honor OF
sailor, il is not because he is destitute of the principle but
because the appeal has not been properly made
In the view take OF the subject, then, the argument
derived from low and degraded estimate OF the navy
s uniounded in any OF the characteristics belonging to
the common sailor Has it any foundation in the inca
paciy OF the Officers TO excite and cultivate those feelings
OF honor in sailor which make him obedient and tIac-
table hope not II there be any SUCH they should not
be lnlrnsted with any command They destitute OF
the faculty OF commanding. They have not the neces-
sary qualifications, They are not safe depostaries for
such absolute power, for the security of public
ships. How they the sailors sense of honor
IN ume OF bae VINO nave proved themselves incapable
OF believing in lis existence at all other times appre
hend, il the restoration OF the lash be made hinge
upon thequeson whether the sailor destitute OF honor
or the officers OF capacity 10 successfully appeal that
honor that should not be troubled with many impo
tunate demands for lis restoration III the desire
store the lash TO the navy is evidence that the standard
BY which the navy Judged is low and degraded il is
also evidence, 10 my mind, that the navy has kept
pace with the moral Improvement OF the age. II be
the general opinion in the navy that the lash necessary
and indispensable for the preservation of discipline
tHen, Il say, we are now 1ust where public sentI-
ment stood IN 1860, during the infamous reign OF
Charles H. Then the thumb screw and The rack
were IN vogue, too. And II we TO 90 back 10
the LASH do not see why we should not retrograde
likewise 10 the boot, the rack and the torture What
would be thought OF the man who should propose TO
introduce into our penal code those horrible and barbar-
Gus punishments OF which have spokenl What would
be thought OF the civilized community who would ap.
prove such proposition, and enact punshmens in
vogue three hundred years agoi Yet the proposition TO
restore the lash is OF similar character II takes for
granted that the sailor has remained stationary since
the rack the humb-screw and the boot abolished
as part Of the criminal law of civilized nations it takes
for granted that OF all the light which has rradaed the
human mind during the progress OF the world, OF il
has been poured the Understanding of the sailor that
he alone has remained stationary; that he alone has
maned ignorant and incapable of improvements that be
alone is doomed 10 remain the victim of injustice and
cruelty Look sir through the various pursuits OF hu.
man iie and wherever your eyes you find that i'm
proyement has advanced with giant strides. You find
that II has elevated and enlightened the ploughman in
his hed-the mechanic in his workshop-the merchant
the professional manhe daily aborer-all have el, the
benign influence OF improved civilization. II the sailor
has not felt II in equal degree with other classes ii
because you have degraded and abused him. by treatment
from which other classes have compelled you to relieve
them. Ills voice has not been heard like that OF other
classes IN the halls o legislation. lie has representa-
tive in such places He wieds political Influence He
has residence-hs domic is on the ship III the in
erests OF the sailor had received 1.-THE OF the attention
bestowed By Legislators on the interests oil other classes
we should not now be discussing the question whether
not he should be emanded 10 the tender mercies OF
these penal atrocities from which the progress of modern
Improvement has relieved all other denominations of men
we would not now be discussing the question whether
he should be treated like a brute
Mr. President, word or two more, and am done
We hear great deal OF the dellnquencies of sailors
There denquencies OF officers well OF sailors
There are officers in the navy, well sailors, who
ought not to be there II you desire 10 prepare the navy
for the exgences OF wart you desire to preserve your
ancient renown as naval power-you must, in my judg
ment, abolish the lash aud adopt system OF rewards
and punshments IN its stead. You must abolish The
liquor ration you must aller the whole system OF the
crung sevlce-in one word, You must purge the navy
OF all its foul stud in high places well low places
and you must lay broad and deep the foundation OF your
naval greatness in the character of the COMMON SAILOR
The bone and slnew OF every navy is the common sailor
You require the commanding intellect OF scientific officers
TO direct him, and you require good ships, But, after all
the common sailor Is the working power which enables
the captain and the ship 10 gain laurels lis The sailor
who works aud sails and fights the ship and in proper
ton as he Is superior inferior, will be the success ol
the captain and the ship Sir in all the best traits of
character which distinguish sailors, nation excels the
United States. The American sailor is bold, intelligent
hardy, and enterprisng and in nautical skill is unsur-
passed. He shrinks from danger he breads no foe
and yields TO no superior No shoals dangerous