The daily union., 1852-12-10


ment
particularly commend to The notice Of Congress the
consideration OF the appropriations asked ior oy me ba
eau OF Ordnance and Hydrogaphy for the Improvements
necessary purchase the grounds and complete The build
ings required by The academy.
ORGANIZATION AND DISCIPLINE OF sEAMEE.
There is no subject connected with the prosperity OF
The navy that in my estimate better deserves the aen
lion OF Congress than that relating 10 the condition OF he
corps o mariners, which constitutes The great working
force in the navigation and management OF the puoc
vessels.
la obedience 10 sentiment which is prevalent through
out the country and which is naturally suggested by
those impulses that dstnctvely characterize ihe opinions
and habits OF our people, Congress has been recently iea
The consideration OF The ordinary mode oil punishment
which had heretofore been supposed was necessary 10
the OF the discipline oil ibe navy. The re-
suit OF this consideration has been me passage OF law
Tor the entire abolition OF corporal punishment board
of our ships both public and private. his punisf-
men-which, for long lime, has been pfactsed in the
navy and commercial marDe not only without question
as TO its efficacy in maintaining the proper observance
OF duty board, but which, indeed, had become so
incorporated the sober conviction of both officers and
indispensable necessity OF the service that
had grown 10 be The most unquesoned usage and gem
orally yreceived incident oil naval discplinemany judi
cious persons believed might be dispensed wth only
most acceplably to the feelings OF the nation, but also
without disadvantage TO the service The adoption oil
this opinion by Congress. IN the passage oil the act OF
September, 1850, which forbade the accustomed penalty,
without providing substitute for it, has afforded the
navy the opportunity to make The experiment ! very
sincerely regret say that the records OF this department,
well as the almost entire concurrence OF facts and
opinions brought my notice from authentic sources,
and vouehed by intelligent and experienced observers,
all tend 10 indicate most unsatisfactory result The
omission OF Congress 10 provide Tor the punishment o
what may be called minor offences against discipline
and good order ship-boaId may, perhaps, account
in part for the failure; but The fact OF the most
rious detrment to the efficiency OF our service is
happily forced upon my attention as The elect oil the
recent change that ii becomes the gravest OF my du-
ties at this lime 10 lay the subject once more before Con-
gress, and to ask It's attention 10 the consideration oil
nj tho
am confden it must find 10 be Indispensable TO the
proper government Of the navy. We have evidence fur
nshed 10 this Department. in the history OF almost every
cruise of acts OF INSTRUMENTATION that not only impair the
usefulness OF ships, bu (which tend also 10 the grad
ual development OF habits amongst the seamen that
threaten lead TO extensive and uncomfortable mutt
MES The multiplication OF courts martial and all the
consequences OF increase OF disorder and crime, are
amongst the least OF the apparent and growing evils OF the
system The decentralization OF both men and officers
is yet observable consequence. The absence
prohibition OF the usual punlshments known TO
has led TO the invention OF penalties OF the most
voting kind in the application OF which tull scope has
been given and the strongest povocaons administered TO
that exhibition OF temper and passion which, however
natural may be 10 OF hasty and excitable natures
seldom INDUCED without leading to crlees that must
disgrace those who practise them, and, what is TO be
feared raise sentiment In the public mind hostile TO the
navy itself The seaman, believing himself exempt from
the speedy penalty OF dsobedence neglect Of duty and
looking with Indifference 10 the remote and uncertain
proceeding OF court-maral upon his delinquency, grows
habtuay contumaclous TO his superors, and nuses the
the diffusion OF this spirit OF INSTRUMENTATION finds ground
10 hope for immunity from pnnshmen-natually enough
believing that what has grown 10 be common and ire
uuent will also come to be lightly considered when
ne is summoned 10 trial at The end OF his cruise Ii
may excite some surprise in the statement OF what learn
be true that the most frequent complaints against the
abolition OF corporal punishment made, great part
by the seamen themselves The difficulties arising
its abrogaon and The absence OF any substitute Tor
H. constitute the most prominent obstacles 10 the
ready supply OF our squadrons with seamen. This de-
4
stations OF the difficulty oil enlisRg the better class OF
OF that large number oil men who have hereto
fore constituted the pride OF navy by their good
manshlp and highly respectable personal department.
comprising, rejoice TO say, the great body oil The maii
who have sustained the honor and glory o our flag
in its peTilous well in its most useful career
of these men, il is fact which invites The deepest
OF Congress, daily deprived, BY their refusal
to enter again into the service until as hey ask they
shall have that better system oil dsciy
pne may be restored. They reasonably complain that
whilst the worst portions oil the crew are placed under
arrest and are exempt IN consequence, from the severe
duties of the deck, they find their toll increased by The
constantly yrecurrng exgences which compel them Tor
weeks and months, during cruise, TO perform the extra
work which the reduction OF the force OF the ship iney.
ably throws upon them. So oppressyey is this evil
felt that have 10 believe, If the best seamen,
who have heretofore been accustomed 10 shps,
could find an occasion TO express their wishes TO Con.
gTess majority OF the whole number would be seen TO
prefer restoration OF that iolm OF punishment which has
been forbidden rather than be sub ecI to the seventies
imposed upon them by the present condition OF disorder
in the naval discipline.
Looking this stale OF things in the navy, think the
occasion prop tous 10 the adoption oi new system for
the organization aud government OF the whole material
constituting the OF our ships; and take advantage
OF the present time submit your consideration the
outline OF plan which trust will engage your attention,
and receive the appreciation OF Congress-
The supply OF our navy with seamen has heretofore
been obtained by system Of enlistment, modelled it's
principal elements, npon the plan adopted in Great Brit
ain from which nation have derived by old habit aud
national descent, the general features OF marine
Like England, bave looked TO our commercial navi-
gallon tor le reinforcement o the OF The navy We
enlist the mercantile for the national cruise dis
charging and paying them OIL when il finished, aud
turning them to the merchant service The navy, in gen
era has been sufficiently attractive 70 the sailor 10 be
able 10 has service when needed and this mode OF
enlistment being easy aud accessible resource, but lit
e consideration has heretofore been bestowed upon It's
effect either on the navy itself upon the seamen 10
the navy has given large and mertorous class OF ma
riners, not unmXed, however, with many oil different
character and from that mixture itself requiring prompt
aud effective system OF punishment adapted TO
ready discharge OF duty 10 every emergency The effect
OF the system upon the men o the navy has been over
looked, IL regarded al all it has not attracted the aen
lion OF the public authorities. The sailor is ia general.
upon shore helpless being Between himself and all
around him there is psiplbe incongruity. He bas
come OF long cruise and has earned some three four
hundred dollars lie has home; oitan no friends but
his comrades BE knows no thrill, no savag economy,
has no adviser Ills only outlook IS for some pasume /
and his idea Of that Is confined 10 sensual enjoyment.
Every is familiar with his history in bis brief sojourn
on shore He Is a victim to that class of persons who
pander to b. aPpetles and who plumber him Of his
ngs Necessity and INCLINATION very soon dnye him back
the where he finds hs natural home and the only
friends who understand his character and sympathize
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