The daily union., 1852-01-17


SENATE.
The following is The letter OF Commodore Stewart,
oni,,sd al the conclusion OF Mr.. MALLoRY's speech
yesterday
Comaodors SsDarfs report 10 the abolition of fog.
g,og and he spirit part Of the ration IN The nauh an
snyissr 10 eucutar Of The Macy Department dated 2sM
Of January 1880
BoRDESrowE, IN. J.,) March IL, 1850.
Sin have received your circular OF the 29th OF
January last asking my views in relation 10 dispensing
with corporeal punishment IN the navy; and if, in nv
opinion il can be dispensed with, what other punishment
should be substituted but II not. you desire my reasons
for such opinion. Also whether any further restrc-
lions than those which the law imposes upon the
use OF this punishment can be advantageousy applied
The decision which may be made upon this subject by
lhe authorities controlling and governing the navy OF
he United States seems 10 me 10 involve results OF the
highest moment TO the welfare OF this arm of national
deteRce
II we take into consideration The peculiar character
habits and popensities Of OF the men constituting
he OF vesses-of-war crowded together and con-
Tor years to the narrow bounds OF their respective
hips, subject to nnumerable restraints and deprvations
controlled by rigid discipline essential to keep them in
ue subecon TO the rules and regulations for the govern
enl o The navy in order that the great objects Of such
fmamenls may be accomplished it cannot be questioned
hat the means oil punishment both prompt and efficient,
must be lodged somewhere, that eeclua restraint
nay be puupon those who may found in national vessels
u TOO ready TO- violate the good order and discipline of
their ship The organization Of the navy not now an ex-
eriment it has been in operation for half century and
the results have generally proved satisfactory least
far the most subordinate portions OF their crews are
concerned. IL under long test the navy has not
been found wanting, and all the essential duties required
Of it have been efficiently performed. cannot think that
any material changes radical alterations would carry
with all The advantages which past experience assures
US have been accomplished. Should new experiment
when tried prove failure, and the ships and their
mens not be conducted according the views OF Your
officers, but agreeaby to the will of the men, and losses
dlsgraces ensae, should the power conded to the
Dhcers, under any new arrangement which might be
adopted, be found inadequate 10 check growing nsub-
ordination amongst the men, and which might finally re-
ult open mutiny, 1t would be but poor consolation to
reflect that this condition OF things had been brought
about by withholding (perhaps through mistaken
p humanity an exemplary punishment Justly due TO Of
endes and which, perhaps, would not have fallen upon
than three or four per cent of the whole number
md that too, when we know that those who generally
commit offences are almost always found be the worth
ess part oflhe crew such, Tor example, as the drunk
h" The "Skutker" the "guarreison,e," the " disobe
dxnt and Negligent" the :" tnsubordinae," and the
The mass OF ships company generally composed of
good and orderly men; but there may sometimes be found
amongst them some who have strong propensies, FAC.
CURED by irregularities and improper ndu gences on
shoe,) which would lead them into violations OF the
Indispensable order OF ship-of war under a lax dis
|plne but iron the commission OF which they are now
restrained IN consequence OF the occasional exemplary
punishment inflicted on those who more reckless and
deserving OF it,
must be evident to the superficial observer that
shps.ot-war can never answer the end Tor which they
designed unless it be accomplished through the oper
oil lud,cious organization, and by the maintenance
rigid discipline on board To attain this important
bbect is necessary, with large bodies OF men thus cir.
rams'anced, and influenced they by such variety
pi enpers and pTopensites, that the powers which are
conferred on the commanders should not be too much
nieebed or restricted but fully adequate TO the objects
10 be attained
Naval ornaments have existed for centuries and be-
the ingenuity o those who have orgahized control
i or conducted them has through that long lapse OF
me, been ever on the rack TO discover punishments
which would be best calculated to promote their eicen.
and suppress the disorder which would certainly reign
there existed no adequate penalty BY the imposition of
which to check and arrest it, The great obstacles TO this
discovery however, may exist in the meagerness OF the
proper means of Furnishing, found 10 be crcumscrbed
y the peculiar circumstances OF the case, hils al the
ame time the for and the nature OF offences are
20 materially increased at sea, many there occurring
which on shore offences ALL or have no iniuri-
elect on society, or tend 10 impair the discipline and
prder OF military men, Hence just comparison can be
rawn between anamens land and those on the seas
the various efforts to accomplish this important object
nd amongst The very many plans resored to during that
oug period of time, "a proiraeed confinement In
fron " aaruafion almost 10 ertrerniiy ]" keel haul
|tng; "dnekmg from the yard arms = "gduntieting 7"
'wpen,son by the thumbs = "srpospe tho rigging
s reath blast "an inerdiet,on from ordinary resi- ?
oovtntry wih the mess and the eren and corporal
punishment uh The colt cat" All those have been
ined and finally abandoned, except the latter because
some were highly cruel and dangerous 10 life limb,
some were found inefficient aad not applicable at all
lines and under all circumstances Hence, after the fail
ae OF those modes. the whole merged into reason
.oe confinement and corporeal punishment, which
nave been found by far the most efficient punishment
The preservation OF the order and discipline OF ships
Mwa AT all tines and under all circumstances prac-
Saee v can be promptly administered is highly ex-
phy, and IRON long experience II has shown ii may
y ne only way in which the almost dormant sensi.
hnes can be reached, the strong propensi,ies 10
oence and insubordinaon OF those hardened and reck
- nen who form. portion OF every ships company
an oe subdued Being publicly and tremendously adj
nnseted, II may have most saluary effect on the be
Older and carries with 1t those admonitory peceps
(Which well calculated 10 deter the sufferer from
paw, and properly regulated be administered with
more strict regard TO that due proportion OF punishment
according to Juice and the nature oil the offences com
Pnued in the navy OF the United States IL appears 10
ne that has reached by law the lowest mark at which
ne discipline and order essential in shp.o-w can be
fharge their obligations TO the country in rendering her
tmles by sea the efficient and powerful engines for
Imhch they designed.
ln another part OF this letter have enume some OF
be offences most commonly occurring in ships but there
pre- Others some OF which cannot be properly punished
omcers IN command, and therefore can only be pro-
Fi1sd Tor through the instrumeniay OF cour-martia
ioa officer OF sensitive feeling there no duly i'm
oeeo on him painful III that of nictng corporea
PUNISHMENT upon his fellow-man 1t is not, therefore,
|h1oogh motives OF cruelty which could induce such
omess 10 inilct the penalties Of the lash, il il could
weight with the many advocates for its retention which
may now be found amongst the officers OF the navy; but
~ because long them that no ade.
qs substitute be provided without greater apparent
..ue,y cannot imagine situation in which an officer
De placed more peculiarly than that in which
ne nnds himself when compelled TO act the nquisiior
uogs Jury and execntoner OF the sentence which his
Snse OF duty oblges him 10 pronounce.
would here, however, express my conviction that II
greater latitude were conferred upon commanding