The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1852-03-05

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which was read, I think from M. Eagle
land one Of those which the Senator fron
Florida gave in bis speech, he mentione,
that Aogging on board vessels was con
fined to comparatively very small mum
Der OF the crew. Iihink he said, abou
twelve on hoard sloops, and about twenty
ON frigates partook Of The fogging. | be-
lieve ! am correct in that statement.
have looked over the retlirns Of several
of these vessels, and made somewhat oI
an analysis Of them9 II shall give to The
Senate the result Of one. The ship
Columbus sailed out Of fhe port Of New
York on the Odd Of Fernary, lS46. and
returned on the 22d Of February, lS49.
That is a cruise Of about three years;
and we have only The returns Of abou,
eighteen months, or one half Of the
voyage. Four hundred and twenty Hour
hoegings were administered during these
eighteen months If that number DO
divided between twelve or twenty men,
It will give pretty considerable portion
for each. But find that this admins
ira,ion Of justice, though severe, was a
little more equal. find. by these re-
turns, that one man was fogged seven
four men were fiogged FIVE times; that
eleven men were fogged four times;
tba, twenty men were fogged three
times; that fifiy-seven meE were fogged
twice; and that two hundred and seven
ty-Iwo took il once. Two hundred and
seventy-two different men were hogged
once during eighteen months, or half
the voyage. If there was the same
proportion throughout the whole voyage,
there would have been five hundred and
twenty.four different men who received
that punishment during one voyage.
MI. DAVIS. There are in this bill
some pretty hard provisions, which are
degrading in their character; bnt still, as
there must be discipline in the Navy,
and as men Of large experience say that
something Of this sort is necessary, shall
reluctantly vote for this bill, but with the
hope that a. milder and more humane
system may be introduced.
] think there is a great deal Of misap.
prehension on this subject. Il is nearly
two years since we passed the act abo'
fishing aoggiug in tine Navy, and also ir
the civil marine 4 | live in commercial
commnni,y--in State perhaps aslargely
engaged in navigation, in proportion to
its population and various Interests, fas
any State in the Union, and as far as
regards the mercantile marine, ! have
never heard voice raised against il
1 never have heard word of complaint
in the mercantile service in regard to II.
| have ye,io meet the individual who
seeks for The restoration Of fiogeing IN
that service. Now it seems 10 me that
this is fact tina, every genllaman can
appreciate--that every gentleman can
understand. II seems 10 me iha, the
plain and obvious inference from il iis,
that the evil of want Of discipline for
the want Of power 10 control men by
forcible means, is not SO great as many
gentlemen apptehend.
Mr.. CHASE | regret the necessity !
have fell myself under Of saying a aword in
reGelenco to this bill. | desired, indeed,
nothing more than simply to place my
name on record against measure for
which | cannot, in conscienc, vote.-
The bill, as originally reported from the
Committee on Naval Affairs, seems to
me liableto comparatively little objec-
,ion. It institutes, however, a code for
the government ofthe Navy which, inrny
Judgment Inadequate, Of course, for il is
only that ofa landsman--is sufficiently
severe. irt saiHo 81 aA|
But | would consent, in Difference to
the judgment ofthe committee, and in
Difference to the judgment ofotbers fully |
acquainted with the subject. TO vote for
the bill, with the single amendment Of
striking out the degrading punishment Of
''the bail and chain" Ii will be obser-
we'd that this punishment is not to be
inflicted at sea, but in port, where it is
most conspicuous and most degrading.
The amendments which have been |
offered to his bill and adopted by the
Senate, lin my Judgment, anything |
but amendments They are the reverse
Of amendments. They make that which |
was harsh and severe enough much |
more harsh and much more severe. -
One Of these amendments authorizes
the commander of any vessel in The |
Navy, or Of any shore station, TO punish |
offences without courtmsrtial, without
investigation, but summariiy, and upon
his own motionsby diminishing the ia
tions;, by res,ricting the diet to bread
and water; By imposing ersra police, and
other duties; and in case ofihefi, il addi-
ton 10 any one Of these punishneE,s,
by making good from the wages Of the
offender 10 the ownerth the yalue Of the
article or articles stolen, and obliging |
he offender to scear for aay time not
ezceeding ten days, a bcdge ,Oish The ,Dord |
'thiet" thereon. 'sf
n Passing over other punjsbments. /