Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-01-17

4
cessfu commander that lie should be able excite and
encourage the confidence and affection of the under
| his command But what confidence regard be
pected under the government of the lash But than
this this punishment destroys the sailors own sefre-
spect. What has honor-what has prde-what has pa
trlotism to do with who may be at the caprice of
another, subjected to infamous punishment,
a SIR IN some cases worse thousand tmesthan death
Can nobeness of sentiment, honorable pride Of cha
racter dwell with whose every muscle has been made
to quyer under the ashs Can he long continue to love
his country whose laws degrade him to the level OF
brute? The infamous s'question" of torture only
remains blot the page Of Anglo-Saxon history
The whppngpo5 where the worst vagrants used to
pate their offences has been discarded from society The
offences in State prisons longer punished
by the lash. Why is all thsf Why those punish
ments condemned the shameful relics of barba
age? 1t is because the light of better day has
dawned 1t because the precps of the Gospel of Chris
tany have amelorated laws 1t is because society
has made the discovery that If is fit to live all
he ought not to be Invested of all the qualities which make
man. by the infamous mutatioa of his body. What is
the which given to all this by those who seek
restore this relic of barbarism to the navy? Why they
tell us we intend only to apply this system of punishment
to seamenwe intend only 20 fog sailors That is quite
1t is only sailors who be treated like brutes-
aye cir, than brntes. There who hears
who would permit his dog TO be thus treated There
is no spot on the habitabe globe known to where
would be permitted to seize upon dog and lash him
until he cut the flesh from off his ribs, and the blood
should be made to down from his backbone to his
heels But sir it is only the sailor for whom this
ishment is to be reserved.
Who oh Senator's is the American sailor that he
be treated than dog? He has been my compan-
ion for than quarter of century-through calm
and Storm prvations, suerings, and danger In peace
and in war have lived with him, and fought with him,
side by side, by and land. have him in the
Northern where there night TO veil his deeds
have him the coast of Africa surrounded by pes
lential disease. have seen him among the West India
Islands in chase of pirates with his parched tongue hang
ing almost out of his mouth have encamped with him
the California mountains and the plains of the Mesa
4 haye 81 O pl n
bine and his boarding pike have seen him march
hundred and fifty miles through enemy's country
mountains and through rivers have his feet scarf
fed by the projecting rocks he hauled his
the hills. have him with shoes but those Of
made by his hands, and with propison 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 CALLING fire from desperate foe. And final
ly have laid beside him the cold ground when the
ice has formed his beard Sir his heart has beat close
to my own. | ought to know him | do know him. And
this day-now before the assembled Senate of the Re-
public stand up to speak in his behalf hope he will
find abler advocate. Nay am he will find abler
advocates the floor But nevertheless, hear
Mr.. President, the American sailors class, have
loved their country WELL and have done more for her
peace and than any other equal number Of citizens
Passing by for moment their anteceden glorious achieve
ments let me remind you that the sailor has gained for
his country empire Through pers by land and pers
by water he has gained golden empire which has added
his countys and greatness and perhaps saved
his eowctizens from almost universal bankruptcy and
ruin. And what has his country done for him? When
the fighting over the battles the conquest achev
ed you band of Mormons California drive him
his ship and rob him of his glory And historians
have done prove that history is lie. You reus
ed to give him bounty lands, which you gave to the
soldierhis comrade fighting by his sdeand you have
neglected to give him even your thanks And now
the climax of his country ngratude these memoraliss
would have him scourged They would scourge him FOR
%hsR @ a r n the his duty
Injustice and wrong made him for instant discon
tented and sullen. shame shame! You would scourge
him while living and when dead consign him TO feon
grave That may not be supposed to have drawn upon
nv fancy or to have exaggerated his countrys nhu-
manty ask the Secretary of the Senate to read these
documents.
The Secretary read them follows
To tie honorable he Senate and House Qf Representatives d"
Congress assembled:
The undersigned president trustees Of the Boston Ma
rne Society city Of Boston, in the State Of Masachu
se leave represent your honorable bodies, that
had their attention directed for many years
don of seamen abroad and home they have been much
impressed with the fact of the surng Of this valuable class
of citizens by sickness and accidents and from poverty
arising these circumstances connected with their proven
bal mpovdence for the future with their pecunary means
The benefits Of medical aid and comfort in foreign ports
consequence after receiving such comforts ana attentions as
the ships they attached to and their officers give they
frequently brought home and placed in our marine hosp
tails where no seamen can remain beyond the time limited by
| the laws regulating those institutions.
1t very often the that they dismissed from these
hospitals when sufficiently restored render them fit for
their active service consequence they become paupers
tenants Of public amshouses though most Of them would
rather die than suffer this degradation.
1t is well known all observant Of that they are
always ready the call for their services whether II
bel the service Of the naval o the mercantile marine
ready fight with yaor their country aid in its
merce and true is this that very few seamen advanced in
years be found who have served in both public
and private ships.
Your attention is respectfully called to the fact that there is
at this moment in the public treasury your memoriasts
have been informed money the credit Of who have
been attached to the Government marine and 70 the
tile marine amounting to than million Of dollars
This large amount has accrued from unclaimed due &c
deceased from unclaimed prizemoney belonging t.
Of private well public vessels and to the
contributions made by all Of twenty per month
in the name Of hospital money.
In view Of these facts your memorasts beg leave solicit
from honorable bodies that may be taken
certain the amount accumulated from these in the Uni
ted States Treasury and that heeom suitable provision
be in the principal in the United States for tb
further maintenance Of citizens Of the United Stocs
who nrm and unfit for service from sickness advanced
age, any other
All Of which is respectfully submitted:
PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEES D. M. S.
q RrSG ESQ.,. Dear Sir: herewith furnish you with the
deaths Of Of which IS buried by friends
the balance 6 taken by the amshouse to Potter field
for the latter class the allow s. cach$3
coffin and 50 for ground.
Not in ten have money to provide for themselves
Very respectfully
n JOHN L. R00MB,
Superintendent Of City Hospital, N. T.
PoTrER's FELDThc grand jury for the September term
examined hundred and seycnysx complaints and found
one hundred and thirty three bills Of Indictment They visit
ed the various public Institutions but made
hN