Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-03

such bill this as any other in the Uned Status
ne hsd objections nevertheless 70 many provisions in
the bill, but only waud he cite this time For
nearly nifty years commanding officer in the navy how
ever high his rank, authorized by Law to inct by
his own authority more than twelve lashes for any
offence and that law provided that for offences deemed
deserving of severer punishment martial should
be convened for the trial Of those offences SO careful
was the law to guard the rights of the humbes
man in the service that it would not permit ssverer
punishment than twelve lashes to be inflicted upon man
at the discretion Of the commanding oieer Yet
the bill which had just been rejected by the House pro-
posed to confer upon the commanding officer Of any
sell who might perhaps be passed midshpman the right
to nict upon sailor the punishment of solitary confne-
ment not to exceed thirty days. with irons upon his
and ancles the cuprt to be restricted to byead and
water; and all this without regard the evidence upon
which the punishment was inflicted This power he could
not consent to confer upon any officer of the navy In
conclusion he asked that the motion to reconsider might
lie over and the bill be printed.
Mr. EVANS said that the rejection of this bl was one
OF the oprngs of the modern philanthropy Of the
sent time He considered INSTRUMENTATION upon vessel
Of war as one of the highest crimes pered the life
Of every upon the vessel He referred to the
lack of discipline in the navy and attributed it to the
want OF sufficient punishment for offences committed
He deeply regretted having voted to abolish ogging
the navy, and said that the Of menrowar
composed OF foreigners, and not of good Sailors They
were composed of worthless men, vagabonds and jail
birds men who perhaps had committed rracies who
quire the strong arm of the law to be held them
Mr.. STANTON, of Tennessee, then smoke in favor Of
the bill replying to the arguments of gentlemen who had
opposed it.
Mr. ORR followed and referred to the SUMMARY action
OF previous Congress in the abolition punishnent Dy
the LASH He then oresaw the evil consequences which
would grow upon the navy in consequence of that
and gentlemen attempted to remedy these evils by
equally hasy legislation This bill had been reported
to the House and without giving any opportunity
Of seeing wheherthey favorable 10 it not under
the operation Of he previous question it was attempted
to be rammed down the throats of Members oas poens
He in favorof well-reguated BILL and did know
but what the principal features of this bill might meet his
sanction but hi could not without examination and
sheraton be Induced to vote for it. He hoped that the
motion to reconsider would 60 until Monday,
and that the bill would be printed that oil could
anime it.
Mr.. VENABlE said that he had voted for the BILL and
had done because he desired to sustain the dignity and
glory of na Those gentlemen who voted against the
bill had got themselves into difficulty; he trusted they
would get out but he would not help them. He then
strongly advocated the bill before the House.
Mr. JONES' Tennessee, said that he proposed to
leye the majority from the dilemma into which the gen.
tleman from Moth Carolina had said they had alen by
moving to lay The motion to reconsider the table.
Pending which motion the House adjourned.