The daily union., 1852-01-17
5SAsON2. A&sA

:
sons is now induced 70 enter the naval service"
Commander J. j. Manning, from CharlestoWn, JefeT-
soa county, Virginia, September IS, 1851, says
In o the circular edanating from The Navy
Department on the 9th OF June last wherein am dl-
recled TO furnish, much detail as practicable, my
views oil he effect produced on The naval service by the
aboishmen OF aogging in The navy have the honor 10
state;
"1 That there has been no effect produced upon the
recruiting service
class OF persons have not been induced enter the navy
and think there would be many more worthy applica.
lions il the law had never been enacted The general
remark OF seanen with whom have conversed is, that
they prefer the merchant service, for, man of.
war; we who behave ourselves well have all the work
10 do
2. have had no opportunity of Judging the effect
upon discipline and subordinaton among the persons
composing ships companies since the passage OF the law
my duties having been conhhed 10 The shore al rendeZ-
80 am firmly OF the opinion that there il much less
aaery exhibited and consequently less cherulness In
my experience at sea, have found exception The
rule that when the commander is rigid in his discipline,
and suffers offence, however trivial pass unnoced
there is greater degree OF prompttude displayed. In
Illustration OF The correctness OF these views, will
ton instance which came under my observation,
and was made a part OF my duty,
81 went TO sea some years since, under commander
who carried out 10 the letter this seemingly harsh rule
In the first two weeks of cruise the lash was fire.
queny resored TO; but the men, percevng the deermna-
ton evnced and knowing the consequence OF the slight
est dsobedence o orders, became satisfied, and aler-
wards discharged their dates with aacrty and cheerful
OF affairs continued until our return home After the
men had been paid of and discharged, they petoned in
body TO enter for The snip for another cruise
with the same oihcers.'
Captain William lnman, from board the United
States rgate Susquehannah, Rio de janeo, August s,
1851, replies 10 the interrogatofies thus
81 What has been the effect on The recruiting ser
vice? Is found that better class OF persons is Induced
10 enter the naval service"
"Answer | do not think that the effect on the re-
crutng service has been Tor the better, Tor have not
found that better Class OF persons IS induced 10 enter
20. What has been ihe effect upon discipline and
subordlnallon among the persons composing ships
panies 7
s'Answer. After digcnf observation and comparison,
think That the effect is injurious discipline, aud that
there Is less proper suhoEdnatlon among the persons
named in this question
90 Do the crews OF vessels of-war eyince more or
less alacIty and cbeeuness Are The orders of officers
more or less promptly obeyedP
Answer. find less a!acrity, withcp greater cheer
fnlness think the orders Of the officers are less
promptly obeyed,
81. Are there any eiieCtual means by which the
badydisposed persons board ships be restrained
"Answer know oil eiectuai OF restrain
ing such persons, which do not impair the efficiency Of
'5 Are the vessels Of the navy more less efficient
since The abolishment OF foggIng in the nayyH
Answer. consider that tue vessels OF the navy,
which have had the opportunity observe, are less
efficient since the abosbment OF hoggng in the navy
honor TO address the department this subject ask It's
indulgence Tor The following remarks-the department
being aware that my command. under the present law
has been he'd since December last:
sWhen commanded under the existence of the law
authorizing logglng IN the navy that punishment was
scarcely ever used in that vessel yela the essentials OF
discipline prevailed among her crew, viz: subordnaion
aacy obedience, all roqeF restraint good order, and
efficiency, with the utmost apparent cheertulness and
contentmen From these facts and previous experience
| infer that the abolishment Oh hoeging in the navy
though doubtless caused by hum ane and phianthropic
considerations has in effect produces dsconient 10 the
worthy because, although they are moi The persons
intended TO be punished, IN reality they are lnconve
nienced by performing, in addition 10 te own the duty
OF evil doers, TO whom in almost all cases now, eonine
ment (and consequent exemption from current duty) is
awarded 1t will be perceived that these eau must,
FIRST lessen cheerulness, suhordinatlon, an alacrty
among the of our ships, The good men being made
to feel punishment inflicted on the bad; secor d. they IN
ure discipline because small offences are s ssed over.
rather Than produce the above effects on the good men
third, they lessen efficiency Tor all the above easons
81 have found in the navy that prompt and GER
tain punishment of offences prevented 10 great extent,
their being committed that such punishm ent (yith prop
restrictions and oms) is especially NECESSARY at sea,
where the system and circumstances lst always be
widely different from those on shore
Commodore Foxhall A. Parker commanding the Home
Squadron, from board the United States flag. ship Sar
anac, Havana, September 9, 1851, replies:
ITO the first question propounded in your communca-
lion, answer that, not being in the vicinity OF recruiting
stations, cannot state with certainty what has been me
effect the recruiting service but Judging from the diff
cues of obtaining men, and those obtained being OF
very inferior class, am induced to believe that the aho
shent of oggng in the navy has had an injurious effect
on The recruiting service.
tTo the second question, answer that the effect upon
the discipline and subordnaiion of the ships company
has been, nay opinion, OF the most pJut2s character,
muci destroy everything Ike proper discipline
for il has sometimes occurred on bcdrd This ship naf
haze refused 10 perform duty on he most trcolons pre-
tenceS.
ssTo the third question stale that the crews Of
sells composing the Home Squadron evince less alacrIy
and cheeuness than formerly and that the orders from
officers are less promptly obeyed
"To the fourth question, answer that know 0. no
efectual means under the existing laws and regulations
of the nayy) by which the badly ydlsposed persons
board ship can be restrained
"And 10 the fifth and last question propounded, | de-
clare that the vessels OF the navy far has
within my observation, far less efficient than before
the abolshnent OF iloggiDg
' In justice TO the petty officers and ordinary
seanen take pleasure IN stating that very little com.
plant made OF them for want OF proper conduct and
obedience orders; but il is the andsmen and disso
Lutte youths who are picked up in large cities that
create most of the difficulties which board our
ships. OF -war-many OF whom, doubt, have been
inmates IN State prisons gnd psnttsntdrieS"
Commander n. Y Purviance, from the United States
receiving ship Ontario, under date OF Baltimore Sepem
Der &c. 1881, thus replies
TO the first quesfion-The effect upon the recruiting
service this station has been extremely injurious. We
have not found that better class of persons offer
" 10 The second queSnoH.--Snce the abolshment oil
6oggng, have found strong disposition by the 10
lay aside entirely all discipline and subordnaton.
:" To The third queStion.-Ihe men do not act with the
aacy and cheeTinlness the orders OF the
officers obeyed with pfomptness.
To ht fourth qlilshoa.I know Of no more tlectual
means by which baddsposei persons can be restrained
Tn et he ~ ~,