The daily union., 1852-01-17

al commanded the Princeton through all the Mexican
war her reports will show that foggng was seldom re-.
sorted toTon average not more than four men quar-
ery never approached The gangway to direct punish
ment without feelings OF s0rrow and would most willing
y have substituted any other punishment But know OF
none TO reconme nd TO you
"oars i service OF qucknessof constant readiness,
The pers0p who exces is he who Is hhand, who de-
cdes quick and acts quicker The principle governs the
disciplined ship from truck 10 keeson, and is the reason
why summary punishment is so useful Properly admin
lsered, II Us check and lesson not 10 be forgotten
"lt would be we'll enough 10 have people understand
that there are but about twelve men in sloop war;
and twenty IN frigaIe. who are punished by The cat
these are bad and ungovernable. Two.thirds OF the
crew OF ship are treated brothers-with Kindness
and familiarity which would very much surprise those
who have listened 10 the gross attacks which have been
made on ihe naval service
81 submit my answers 10 the several questions
Answer to question l. There is no change for the
beuer. The men now are not equal to what they were
when recruited in 1886. Prime seamen are mol apt 10
go where there is probability OF insubodinaton, or
where the worthless have the same treatment as the
good
q" Answer to questions aud 8. cannot answer these,
not having had command since the law forbddDg fog
ging has been enforced.
means byswhich The badly disposed persons board
ship be restrained Placing men in rons andunder
charge OF sentinel, is no punishment is il intended
TO be. Drunken placed there for safety. 4, keep
them from falling down the hatchways Others are
there TO cool off, so that when brought before the cap
tain, time will have passed, and the evidence be more
shpo war where man can be confined for punishment
without seriously njaring his health repeat that am
opposed to coporeal punishment provided substitute
can be found But sir, sincerely believe that ship
can come out OF fight with honor TO the flag OF her
country without being high state Of discipline And
TO be the lash must be used when The demands it,
"Answer TO question s. There is doubt in my mind
that vessels less efficient since the adjustment
OF foggng the navy No officer disposed TO drill
crew, unless he have his orders obeycd Therefore,
negligence prevails, and disgrace and defeat will be the
consequence.
ell the law had been in force when commanded the
Princeton her usefulness in the Gulf would have been
destroyed; her crew reduced third by sickness
and hard work SO, if had been compelled to punish the
men by confinement, never could have coaled al Pensa
cola could have met the requirements OF the Com
motore, who could name not only the day. but the hour
OF her arrival, from Pensacola, al Vera Cruz
1t was standing order that no boat should leave the
ship when coalng We could not spare the men"
| Commander S. B. Wilson, from the United States
ceivng ship North Carolina, New York. July %, 1851,
says:
81 will premise that as have reliable information
in regard to the effect produced board OF other ships
my answers to the several questions will be confined
principally 10 what has come under my observation, in
reference TO the subject board OF this ship. which, II
will be perceived, can scarcely be considered fair test
OF the question, inasmuch as the situation OF men here is
very different from what it is on board OF sea-gong
ships.
1.-THE crews Of receiving ships enlisted but for
years and as satisfactory testimonials OF character are
usually required oil them, opportunity Is afforded OF
selecting better class OF than when enlisted u the
rendezvous for general SERVICE where they most
occasions received without reference TO character There
are also many inducements 10 good conduct not available
on board OF seagong ships, 10 which may be ascrbed,
perhaps, the better condition OF men generally on board
of receiving ships. The recruits on board Tor short
time, and when first joining, being strangers 10 the ship
and 10 each Other and IN many instances 10 the service,
they are less likely 10 engage in acis OF insubordnaton
than at future period OF their enlistment.
:" will now answer the several questions in the order
| in which they are proposed.
"Fuss sWhat has been the effect upon the recruiting
service! Is IL found that better class OF men is now in
duced 10 enter the naval serylce'
The number of recruits daily received from the
devious for the last several months has been less in
proportion than at former periods and il does not appear
that better class OF men is now enlisted on the con.
trary II s evident that the men received Tor some time
past generally OF an inferior character, both in regard
TO their physical condition and capacity seamen This
may be attributed, and perhaps very properly to the
scarcity Of which has prevailed for some time,
and the higher rate oil wages paid for those oil better
class in the merchant service
Second. What has been the effect upon discipline
and subordination among persons composing ships COM
panies
"There has been no overt act OF insubordinaton or
gross violation oi discipline on board ihs SNIP except
cases OF desertion but the effect otherwise has
been decidedly unayoabe, is frequently manifested
by the manner and bearing OF the men towards their
oticers-conduct utterly subversive OF good order and
discipline.
Thud Do the crews OF ships war evince or
less aacriy and cheerulness Arc the orders OF officers
more or less promptly obeyedP
There is evidently, even on board this ship, less
aacry and prompt obedience 10 orders than heretofore
evinced by indifference and nattenton 10 orders, vixen
called upon especially by junior petty officers, 10 per.
form the ordinary duties OF the ship Frequent instances
OF this nature occur being source OF annoyance and
complaint both to officers and the better disposed men
| Fourth. Are there any efectusl means by which
the badly disposed persons board ship may be re-
| strainedp
"yarious means have been proposed, and | believe
tresored TO, but with what result board OF sea-gong
ships unable TO say On board OF this ship, partly
for the before stated there seldom occasion 10
resort to more severe punishment than confinement, in
anT AZ fhag dlsrh
Moreover, there is ample and sufficient space for
securely conhnlng delinquens without injury to health
inconvenience from loss OF service II s not so, how
ever board OF going vessels, where the services
OF all necessary, and where they have not the means
OF conhnng men in such as TO render IT eecual
punishment without danger OF perhaps permanently
iniurng the health OF those confined
"All who familiar with this subject must agree as
10 the necessity OF stringent means by which the
evl.disposed may be restrained, but none that am
OF, have been suggested eteciua substitute
for the mode OF punishment formerly in use nor am
prepared to offer one, being satisfied from long expert
in such matters that other can be resorted TO
board shipsof likely 10 have the desired elect or
none more humane and sautary when administered un.
der wholesome and proper restrictions u is well known
OF what dscordan materials ships companies are usu.
ally composed many oil them only TO be controlled
and restrained through the fear OF prompt and severe pun
/ ishment.
Fifth Are the vessels OF the navy more or less eh.
cient since the abolisbing OF ogsing in the navy
am not prepared to answer this question from any
knowledge have OF the effect produced on board OF sea.
going ships where only ii be fairly tested but II
may readily be understood that with less authority and
power enforce stct and prompt obedience TO orders
the efficiency OF ship-owar must OF necessity be seri
ously impaired"