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

ton which the Senate proceeded has been necessarily
called from the Senate He desrous of moving that
II De ad upon the table, and his request make that
| Mr. BADGER. hope the honorable senator will not
make that motion wish 10 make a few remarks
| ME- HAMLlN. The senator iron Louisiana wishes
TO leave Tomorrow and therefore 10 address the Senate
| TO day
| Mr.. BADGER have no speech TO make, and hope
| the senator will not make that motion.
Mr.. HAMLlN | submitted the motion because told
the senator from California that would do So and
cannot Withdraw it,
| Mr.. BADGER The senator from California, pre-
MI Mr. HAMLIN. He is
Mr. BADGER. And being absent, he therefore wishes
70 preclude ms associates upon the Committee on Naval
Mr.. HAMLIN No, sir wish the senator to under
stand the position He did not wish preclude discus
sion but to have this laid temporarily upon the table, out
OF Kindness TO the senator from Louisiana, and for
other reason.
| Mr.. DOWNS. i have no desire, at SO late an hour,
TO address the Senate and do not wish the motion pressed
on my account t
| Mr.. HAMLlN. Then withdraw the motion
] MIR. BADGER. have no disposition to inflict upon
the Senate speech upon this subject The views ihst
have been submitted TO the Senate by the honorable
aor from New Jersey Mr. STocKIoN nave in some re-
specs struck with surprise; and think they have
been delivered 10 the Senate upon occasion when is
not usual for us TO go into discussions and demonsra-
tons OF this kind, and as | am member OF the Naval
Committee, TO whose custody long ago. according my
view, this memorial should have been intruste. ii the
Senate intended TO make any disposition of il for lur
poses OF discussion, and as entertain very different
opinion upon the subject matter OF hs petition from that
which has been SO iorciby and eloquenty expires. BY
the honorable senator from New Jersey, couiu 4
think il right that remarks OF this kind should 60 o
to the country without instantaneous notice 'om
some gentleman who belongs to that committee; an
the absence OF The chairman, have assumed the a.
charge OF that necessary duty myself
Ii in the first place. proper upon every question ot
this kind that should understand what The subject
which presented for the consideration of the Senalead
that should look at it as is, and not as it spresen.d
10 by oratocal exaggerations The honorable
tor from New Jersey speaks of administering The lash 10
these gallant and noble sailors until the flesh from
their backs. while the blood is running down to their
heels and he assumes or supposes that the petition
now upon your table is an application to the Senate of
the United States TO be instrumental in restongI should
say in nroducng-such horrible barbariy into the
vice. Now, sir, what is the petition 1t is simple pc
,ion that the Congress Of the United States will restores
discipline the navy which has existed from the insttu
on OF The navy, and which has been discontinued only
during the last session of Congress. 1t application
restore TO the navy discipline which went into opera
on under the sanction OF the immortal Washington, and
which has been continued under all succeeding admins
atlons of the government Surely need not say sir,
that asking to restore such discipline is not asking
either to or introduce into the navy system
of horrible, barbarous and deeslabe exaegeratons OF
punishment, such as cannot be stated without making
he sick with horror and detesation. That
the question for the consideration OF the Senate
The honorable senator from New Jersey pleased TO
say that if he could make the proposition with propfety
to the Senate, he would be glad To see the petition pray
ing for the restoration OF law more than half century
old, sanctioned by Washington and all his honorable and
under your table and rampled under foot. hope the
honorable would not also send with it under the
table, and under the same trampng OF feet. those OF
here who happen TO think that the petition is right and
reasonable, Just and moderate; for TO follow
that il the officers OF the navy who ask this thing OF the
Senate are properly to be met by having their petition
subjected ndgniy in this body, then either precisely
the similar treatment Is justly due TO those
who advocate the petition they present.
But, Mr. President, little is gained in discussions ia
this chamber elsewhere as imagine, BY observations
which do not meet the merits OF the question under the
consideration OF the Senate and TO that point desire to
invite your attention for very few minutes, without
undertaking 10 follow the honorable through the
whole OF his remarks, TO notice IN detail the various
statements he has made upon this subject. His objec.
ons TO that punishment which IL proposed to restore
10 the discipline OF the navy divide themselves into two
heads and, far see, my task will be very easy
one, for the honorable himself has distinctly
tuted, in the OF his remarks both OF these obec
tons.
The first is that this punishment is positively mischev
that to subject the sailor to the lash to teach him
10 be coward that il yod expect him to maintain the
glory OF the country TO maintain possession OF the pub
lie ships, and resist the enemy who assails himf
you do not wish TO build ships not for yourselves but
for your enemies-you must abolish the lash for by
cusomng the sailor TO that punishment, you deprive
him OF his principles OF honor, and make him coward
And yet, in the breath the honorable senator
reminds us OF those gallant and noble achievements which
the progress OF the late war with England
those victories upon the ocean and the lakes which have
made the OF those commanders immortal and have
shed usre around this country, OF which shall only
say that shall be entirely satisfied to believe that the
successors under this other modcaon oil The law,
Of those noble commanders may ever be able 10 equal
How were the sailors bred Under what discipline were
they trained Was not with this very discipline OF the
lash which the honorable senator from New Jersey says
must be abolished IN order to make them brave Why,
SIR every victory which we have gained, every monu.
ment Of naval renown which at that day received
with shouts OF Joy and graduation from one portion OF
the nation the other, and the memory OF which is now
cherished by all with honest national pride, was
gained by sailors, NOBLE daring, courageous sailors, but
sailors who formed under the discipline oi the lash
Now, il 10 that nothing can be palmer than,
as have said that this objection OF the honorable sena
tor is refued by himself for, far from speaking OF
these achievements and exploits but the beginning OF
our naval renown hereafter to be emuated and exceeded
he speaks uf them in glowing terms oil eloquence winch
have not the power OF language or l1e grace oil elo
quence be able TO equal, and bass them forward as
tue glorious examples we are 10 follow. And II these
were examples which ever ser to follow. aud II
tbe ends Then attained were the ulhmdum OF hopes,
I il moi contradiction in the argument for the bonora
bIe senator to say that the very discipline which trained
the men 10 the accomplishment OF ihese great achieve
menls max "a men worse SO muCh, SIR, with regard
10 the mlschevous tendency of this punishment
The next objection OF the honorable senator wa the
This mode OF punishment inexpedent-thst u so
unnecessary Now, let see how that Is, As as
said or rather should have said, It is punlsbneH.
that obtains in every naval service upon the gloo7
obtained in our naval service from the organizauoL
our marine down TO the last session ol Congress ~ n
said, too, by the honorable senator, That nc'hlng M
been urged IN the form OF argument IN support oil g
necessity and propety OF that kind Of punishment e.
hat the common is 10 say mat tne puhou
ment is necessary and cannot be dispensed Wlih an
there leave the subject Bot what more does 'hs homo