Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-01-17

Its in the first place. proper, upon every question Of
this kind that should understand what is the subject
which presented for the consideration of the Senate and
that should look il it is and it is presented
to us by oratorica exaggeraons. The honorable Sena
tor from New Jersey speaks OF administering the lash to
these gallant and noble sailors until the flesh is torn from
their backs, while the blood is running down to their
heels and he supposes that the pettionn
upon your table application to the Senate of the
United States to be instrumental in restorng-I should
say in ntroducng-such horrible barbarity into the
vice. Now sir, what is the petition 1t simple pc
on that the Congress of the United States will restore
discipline to the navy which has existed from the nsttu-
ton OF the navy, and which has been discontinued only
during the last session Of Congress 1t is application
to restore to the navy discipline which went into opera
ton under the sanction of the immortal Washington and
which has been continued under all succeeding admins
rations of the Government Surely need not say, SIR
that asking us to restore such discipline is not asking
us either TO restore to introduce into the navy system
OF horrible barbarous and detestabe exaggeratons of
punishment such cannot be stated without making the
heart turn sick with horror and detestaon That is the
question presented for the copsderaon of the Senate
The hcnorable Senator from New Jersey pleased
sAy that 4 he could mae the proposition with propriety
70 the senate he would be glad the petition pray
ing for the restoration OF law more than half century
Old sancuoned by Washington and all hs honorable and
iustous successors and praying for nothing else, put
under yoar table and trampled under foot hope the
honorable Senator would also send with it under the
table, ana under the rampng of feet those of
here who happen to think that the petition right and
reasonable inst ana moderae for il to follow that
If the officers of the navy who ask thing of the Senate
properly to be by having their petition subjected
TO ndgnty in this body, then either precisely the
OF some similar treatment susty due to those who advo
cate the petition they present.
But Mr.. President little is gained in discussions in
this chamber elsewhere 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
dertaking TO follow the honorable Senator through the
whole of his remarks notice in detail the
statements he has made upon this subject His objections
to that punishment which it is proposed restore to the
discipline of the navy divide themselves into two heads
L m task will he a for
the honorable Senator hmself has distinctly refuted in
the course of his remarks bota of these objections
The first is that this punishment is positively mschiev
that to subject the sailor to the lash 60 teach him
to be coward that if you expect him to maintain the
glory of the country to maintain possession Of the public
ships and to resist the enemy who assas hnif you do
wish build ships for yourselves but for your
enemesyou must abolish the lash for by accustonng
the sailor to that punishment you deprive him of his
\ principles OF honor and make him coward And yet,
SIR IN the same breath the honorable Senator reminds us
of those gallant and noble which
ed the progress OF the late with England those vcto
res upon the and the lakes which have made the
names of those commanders immortal and have shed
ustre around this country Of which shall only saw that
shall be entirely satisfied to believe that the successors
under this any other modification of the law Of those
noble commanders may be able to equal How were
the sailors bred Under what discipline were they train
II ed Was It not with this very discipline of the lash
which the honorable Senator from New Jersey says
be abolished in order to make them brave? Why sir
every victory which we have gained every
naval renown which at that day received with shouts
the other and the memory of which now cherished by
us all with honest national PRIDE gained by sailors
noble daring courageous sailors but sailors who
formed under the discipline of the lash Now IL seems to
ne that nothing can be palmer than have said that
SELF for SO far from speaking of these achievements and
exploits as but the beginning Of naval renown here
after to be emulated and exceeded lie speaks Of them in
glowing terms of eoquence which have not the power of
language the grace of eoquence be able to equal
and brings them forward the glorious examples
to follow. And if these examples which we are ever
were MI
tmaum OF our hopes is it not contradiction in the
gument for the honorable Senator say that the very dis
cipline which trained the to the accomplishment of
these great achievements makes men worsef SO much
sir with regard to the mischieyous tendency Of this pun
ishment
The objection Of the honorable Senator was that
| this mode Of punishment nexpedent-that it was
unnecessary. Now, let how thas is As have
said rather should have said, il is punishment
that obtains in every naval service upon the globe
tanned in naval service from the organization Of
marine down TO the last session of Congress 1t is aid
too, by the honorable Senator that nothing has been
urged in the form Of argument in support of the necessity
and proprety of that kind Of punishment He says that
the common course is 70 say that the punishment
cessary and cannot be dispensed WITH and there the
subject But what does the honorable Senator say
in reply than simply to make stronger couner-asserton
and that is what? He says that il unnecessary and
that officer who is f TO command ship needs the
lash to assist him in enforcing his discipline Now is that
argument? is il rather assertion opposed
another Certainly the opinion Of the honorable Senator
is entitled to much weight and consideration the
/
is no more an argument than the opinion Of any other
man. As have said he has refuted his proposition
/ by his statements He says that he who is fit to
command ship does need the lash yet he has
ainy told in the eulogium that he passed upon Huh,
Of the Constitution that lie fit command ship,
and he used the lash lie has spoken in of high
commentator Of Perry the conqueror Of the lakes of
Norris Of Wnrrenton and other heroes of naval
vice. and has shown that all these men were fit to
mand ships Yet they all needed the lash they used the
lash they formed their under the discipline Of the
lash Now, in using this term 10 not to say that
they engaged in incessant ageaton Nobody asks
for that But they held il Of discipline to
form in the sailor habits Of obedience and submission to
orders These actually needed the lash the hon
orable Senator has said in effect. And IL as he has
shown they we're fit command ship, ask the Senate
i IL he has not refuted his postonY
And he tells us in anticipation Of what he supposes
might be reply-ayguncnfem adhomiaem-that when he
was in command of ship he used the lash himself And
why He said he acted in obedience to the law. What
law? There was never law of the United States requir
ing commander of a ship to the lash Undoubted-
the law authorizes him to the lash when il is need
full but IL makes him the Judge of that, the sole Judge;
he has no in his tribunal jury TO determine
when the lash be used He is the supreme Judge
mon his own ship lie is the master and sovereign upon
his Quarterback The law says to him in effect when
YOU shall deem it necessary for controlling and directing
your vessel for governing your for restraining mis-
conduct for giving proper degree Of order to the ship
and efficiency the service you at liberty 10 the
lash That is ALL The honorable Senator says that when
he was in command Of ship he used it. Yet no