The daily union., 1852-01-17
rHE UNION WASHINGTON SATURDAY MORNING JAN IT, 1852

poTanee 10 this subject happen 10 have DeSh leisoe.
ally present some four or hye OF our pubic vessels
within the last four hve months, and do mol speak
without having witnessed the operations o this law, 70
extent, with my own eyes, and without having oesh
ny were liking abroad defiant oi the officers who had
no prompt means Of Furnishing them have Ieeshuy
one OF our crack sloops-of. war; win omceIs .ne
bes in the world, who knew their duty IN every Respect
but with sailors in stale OF INSTRUMENTATION sDd the
bungling and unhandsone manner ia which she was
handled was dseenible at the distance OF mes-ior
seamen, with their glass tell al that distance
whether a ship is in good discipline.
The question was whether she was a merchant OF a
naval ship The manner o. lowering ns sa,Gs on s
and OF executing every other evolution required OF hef
seanen, dilatory and unseamanke clearly showing
the laxy of her discipline Yet she was IN command oi
the finest officers OF the service Their explanation was,
that they had power TO enforce discipline that these
things go unpunshed because Jack had found Out
that he could not be logged The are made up OF
large portion Of them, Of andsmen, coming IRON EN-
ployments shore. and representing all kinds Oh vice.
and these not easily controlled by "mora sua-
sion" :,
From every view of the subject which we able TO
take the question is Important and demands deliberate
legislation. II should be sent 10 committee lhe COM
mee should have power TO send for persons and papers
for officers and men familiar with the duty--seamen, u
you please; not iders and skuks. but those on whom
we depend TO sustain the honor OF our flag.
Mr. President, our people are the most military people
on earth. Their military spirit IS not evlnced IN me
maintenance of standing armies or large military estab
lishments but in their reliance their inyincble
prowess which teaches them that these necessary
they unwise But this military spirit IS evincea IN
cordial and hearty appreciation OF military merit what
form taxes and il Is this appreciation which mas
borne three successful and distinguished soldiers to the
presidential chair which has placed other honorable gen
eman in high political positions, and which now cons
their strongest hold upon the hearts OF their coun
trymen Governed as republic must be, by two
great opposing partes seeking availability as an element
Of political supremacy is fair TO suppose that with our
appreciation OF military fame, every war IN which we
shall become engaged will produce its President and
lis political fayores 1t is this appreciation OF military
which, after the war OF 1912, made our navy me
idol OF the nation And under the teachings o this mil
tary spirit the naval officer feels that the American peo-
pie recognise grade between triumph and disgrace
and that sooner than the proud banner OF their cou
ys union, strength, and pride lowered TO equal Toe
they would their ships laid up in ordinary, or sunk
thousand alboms deep Under the teachings OF this
spirit the naval officer feels esprit du corps which com
pes him. law OF his being, 10 regard success IN any
thing like an equal contest as fixed fact, and 10 know
such word as fail He is proud OF his profession, be-
cause his country honors i, aud enables him to make y
useful and glorious. This esprit du corps-the soul oil
all human organzaion-ths esprit du corps, without
which your would prove but as the sounding
brass and linking cymba this esprit du corps, which
is the work OF ages, and which generation Of services
and successes only create. may be destroyed In sin
gle breath Show the naval officer that he can no longer
render his profession efficient and successful cut him
off from The path Of honorable Distinction and you teach
him that you indifferent to his disgrace. Send him
forth 10 fight your battles, and deprive him discipline
the only key TO triumph-and his very commission be-
comes but the passport to defeat and degradation
\" a mockerya deluslon, and snare.
The inevitable consequence OF this will be, unless
check be put this disorganizng tendency, that
total disgust for the naval service will exist in the hearts
of people and that it will be either annlhia'ed or
reorganized stem OF discipline infinitely more Sc
we're than anything which the country has ever wit
| messed. The American people never do things by
halves. will say here that there never was time in
the history OF the country when attention TO this subject
when wise and cautious legislation for the navy, was
mperativeiy demanded than at the present hour.
All the powers Of Europe are organizing their nayes
with the utmost possible vigor; and unceasing watch.
fulness is bestowed their discipline. The naves of
France of Britain, and OF Russia, each numerically
far superior TO ours and the introduction OF steam has
decreased the width of the Atlantic since the last war
half; in fact by the universally OF navigation has
become mere sailing pond for the nations oil the
earth. The navies OF France and OF Britain are IN
higher state of efficiency at this moment than they ever
have been. Their fleets are not more numerous now
than they in the time OF George ILL., but they are IN
higher state OF naval discipline France particularly,
though her have never exhibited That bulldog
obsnacy which precludes an American or bnian from
knowing when he is conquered has carried the arts and
sciences in their application 70 naval organization beyond
any other power earth The naves OF the Old World
can never become our allies, under any condition ot
things, long government stands but they may
become enemies. They are guided al this moment
by statesmen who are watchu and dslrustful OF our
principles and progress and ready at any moment TO
seize the first auspcous sign TO crop the wings OF the
soaring eagle
And sir we are not 10 be told that, in the organization
Of our naval service should regard the system OF
the British navy the naves OF monarchies. | hold
that the government OF all the navies OF Christian powers
in this age be similar, il not the same; and that we
are not permitted TO disregard the organization and cond
lion Of the British navy, OF the French navy or of the
Russian navy. In the organization OF system
of defence, must look abroad 10 systems OF offence
In bucklng for the contest, cannot dis
regard the condition of our opponent. Let gentlemen
look at this, and say who likely to be our opponents
These powers never can become our allies; and the
slightest sign may unite them in strength as in policy
against US.
On this subject | will ask gentlemen TO refer back Tor
brief period There signs abroad which we are not
permitted TO dsregard-saws, sir, which tell how blow
the blasts OF the political winds Witness the sudden
appearance upon coast OF the fleets OF France,
OF Britain, and OF Spain, in narrow strait through
which annually pass two millions OF our coasting
mercial exsieRce They thus assumed their position
near our shores, determined 10 resist any action
which this government might have adopted towards
Cuba unless approved by their pocy-exercised sort
ef nautical police upon our conduct And, sir mark the
reply TO our inquiries-tbat they but executing
the laws of the against piracy and this too, in face
OF the fact that there has been pirate in those
in quarter OF century Such picture this, our
country before exhibited, and the Indignation OF
our people swelling like subdued volcanic fires in their
hearts, will at no distant day speak OF it in unmisakeabe
terms. ! recommend the consideration OF this matter,
SIR 10 gentlemen who talk of opposing European inter-
veuon. The very fact that we have a navy presup.
poses that have something TO contend with and we
not permitted them 10 disregard The probable foe that
we may meet. And, SIR, what is our naval condition
Look al il and where do sensible men look for proof
upon any subject but 10 those who most intimately
connected with the transaction Where do we look
for proof this subject but TO those who iden
titled with the navy who have grown up with its growth,
and strengthened with it's strength who have entered as
boys into the service and whose identified with
every brilliant page OF its history who owe everything