The republic., 1852-01-08
THlRTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
WEEDS EsDAy, January 7, 1852.
SENATE.


against Cuba, urging Congress TO equip and send
national vessel to Spain to bring home the Anne
rIcans who were engaged In that expedlnon, and
who have la tey been pardoncd; which was read
and referred 10 the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions
CLAIMS AGAINST MEXICO
Mr.. BRODHEAD presented the petition Of seve-
raj persons praying the establishment OF a new
Board OF Commissioners Oh claims al galnst Mexico.
NEW YORK.
Mr.. FISH presented the resolutions Of the author
ities OF the city of New York rendering the Gov
ernment of the United States lot of ground in that
city a site Tor the mint proposed to be established
in that city.
sAvANsAH RIVER.
Mr.. BERRIEN introduced n bill providing for
the removal OF obstructions in the river Savannah,
and for the improvement of the same.
FLoaeING IN THE NAVY.
On motion by Mr. GWlN, the Senate proceeded
to the consideration of the memorial praying the
restoration of hoggng as part OF the naval disci-
plne, which had been laid on the table pending a
motion 10 refer ii 10 the Committee on Naval AT
fairs.
MIR. STOCKTON said: Mr. President, the sub
ject of this memorial, in my Judgment is equalin
importance to any which is likely to occupy the
attention Of Congress 1t was, therefore, sir, that
asked the Senate on its first presentation to per-
init it to lie on the table for few days that might
have an opportunity TO examine II. At the same
time promised the Senate, when II next came up,
that would express my views in relation to il. 1t
Is my purpose now to redeem that promise.
The memorial upon the table presents for the
consideration OF the Senate nothing le7s than the
whole foundation OF our moral structurc--the hu-
man material by which your ships are worked and
fought, your guns leveed, and their thunders
pointed al your foes Good ships well-built well.
rgged, and fully equipped, are magnificent and
perfect specimens of human science and art. But
unless they arc manned by good men, they will
sail only TO become prizes your enemies. II you
do not desire to build ships for your enemies, you
must give them crews worthy 10 defend them Sir,
the difference between sailors is as great as the
difference between other classes Of different ma
tions. There is as much difference between the
American sailor in our whaling and coasting SER
vice and the sailors Of other nations as there is be-
tween the European emIgrant and the sturdy
son OF one Of our frontier pioneers. The emlgrant
will in some cases almost starve, while the pioneer
is building his log house, enclosing his cornteld,
and making himself an independent and useful
lpan.
am Of opinion that the nation whose service is
supplied with the best common sailors will excel
IN naval warfare, as well as in all maritime pur-
suits, am further Of opinion that, in sen=lblhty,
education, courage, and industry, sailors in
the whaling and coasting service excel those Of all
other na,ions. | am furthermore of opinion that
the superiority OF the American sailor has decided
the battle in cur favor In many bloody conflict,
when without that superiority, ii might have been
otherwise. desire TO secure and preserve that su-
periority To that end, and for humanity's sake,
am utterly and irreconcileably opposed 10 the use
of the lash IN the navy, or anywhere else. The
longest, the most arduous voyages are made in the
merchant service without the use OF the lash. In
the Polar Seas among the icebergs of the Arctic
and Antarctic oceans the intrepid New Englander
pursues his gigantic game, and hurls his harpoon;
and, after three years voyage, returns with the
oily spoils OF his adventurous navigation. But he
owes none Of his success, his patient endurance,
he exemplary discipline, and his indetati gable
industry to the guardian ministrations otthe lash
To say that men who can make such voyages,
and endure such hardships, cheerully and con
tentedly, cannot navigate their own national
thls without the iniiictiOn OF the infamous lash,
ID "A libel. Is their nature changed the moment
they stcp on the deck of a national vessell Are
they Ices incn-less AmeriCans-as soon the
custody OF the American flag or the national honor
IL entrusted TO their keeping No, sIr; II Is libel
do not mean 10 the word in offensive sense,
shall to day any word in that sense il
is of those inconsideratc, thoughtlcss opinions
which mankind seem 70 think they have a perfect
night 10 express in regard 10 sailors. Ii wac not
long since, cir, that had a conversation on this
subject with a gentleman who had for several
yests commanded fine ship in the merchant ser
vice, bot who s now an honorable, active and efh-
clent man oi business IN one of our large cities
and 10 whuse inte gritty, generosity, and humanity
would catrust anybody-but sailor. After Inc
hao heard my views upon the subject. he instantly
rCphed, why, you seem 10 treat them like hu
uau beings" The theory that the navy osupot
te governed, and that our national ships cannot
be EasIgatcd, without the Of the ssh, seems u
Ine 10 be founded in that ialse idea that sailor.
common feelings, sympsthies and honorable i'm
pulses Of cur Anglo American race.
! DO not wonder when look back on the past his
tory oi the sailor at the prevalence OF this idea Ills
life las been life Of natOnal-l will not say oi
systematic-dogradation The officers who com.
inand him, the oldest, the bravest, and the best
have been accustomed from their boybood TO see
the sailor lashcd about the ship's deck like brute
He who, by the laws Of the service in which he is
engaged, is treated or liable 90 be treated, like n
brute, soon comes 70 be thought OF at least but
little bCtter than brute Who in social life re-
spcCts a man whose back has been scored at
whipping posr Into what depth of contempt does
such punishment sink its victim, And here Il
one Oi the Worst evils Of the system. IL destroys
those feelings Of respect and kindness which 0ih'
ought 10 entertain for the sailors under thcl
command Bot this is only one Of the worst evil
oi the system. IL destroys those feelings of regard
and respect which the sailors should entertain io
their officers. The truth is, there are 10 rela
tIJuB OF affection and regard between them
The one is the Opprossor the other the Opprcsscd
SIR. msn may fear or hate, bat be usithc
lJycs nor respects bic tyrant The worst gov
eminent upon earth u that Of fear, the best
that ui love and affection. These sentiments, bJ
law 81 our nature, must be mutual sentiments
B0napartc Was the idol Of the soldier, becaus,
the soldier his Idol. They loved him bccaus
they supposed be loved them. There il nothing
that gallant, brave men, viii not DO or suffer iCr
Commander whom they love Difficulties, an,
dangers, nnd death have no terrors for such men
lu great battles, where the contest has been doubt
lul ihysc soldiers have nlWnYs iJught most despc
r8tcly wbosc devotion 10 their comma nder vas thi
Crcaicst II has always been considered a. an *
tcnsiye clement in the character Of succcssfu
commander, that he should be able 10 excite an,
Encourage the confidence and affection Il th
men under bis command. But what cOnhdcnc
sr regard can be expected under the govern
mcnt of the lash But more than the thi
pluIsbmcrt destroys The GALORE own self rcspect
What las honor, what has pride, what Ia
fttislaJ tion 60 DO with man who may be, a
the caprice Of another, subcctcd ~ iniamOu
puui-hmsnt; worse, ay, cir, in sOfnc cases, wors
tbOusand times than death, Can uObleness
sentiment Or an honorable pride oi character DIVE
With yue whose every InusCie has been made
culver under the LASH Can he long continue
loy, bic country, whose laws degrade him O. th
level ~ brute, The infamous question oi tor
turc now only remains a leaf on the page
AnUlJ-Sa1Dn,histOry. The whipping poet, vhrr
'hs worst v8rrants used 90 o1piaic their Offences
has been discarded from society. The worst O
fcnres in our state prisons are no longer punishc
~ tbr iosh. Why is all THE, Why are thOsc pur
ishIneuts. now Cbndrruued the shameful rCiics
b1rbaroos e., H. BE- because the light oi BET
Ter day hoe Gawue5. u is because the prcccpts
tic Cosucl Di Christianity have amelOfsted Ou
laws. It's because s5ricty has made the discover
tha, IL m1u Is tt 20 live al 1l, he ought not 20 b
diyestCd Of all th- qualities which make a man, b
the Infamous mutations Of his body. What b. th
answer which be-, given 90 all this by those vii
seek 10 rcftorc this relic Of barbarian 10 The navy
...H. d..