Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-03

IN before ths' House
Mr.. ST iNT0N, of Tennessee, remarked that with the
permisson Of the House he should like to say words
Ths~as Senate bill, which designed to substitute
Punishment in place Of punishment by the LASH which
every knew had been abolished by Congress- There
were no means BY which discipline could be enforced in
the navy upon ship board except by coursmartia which
in Of small offences entirely too cumbrous and
difficult to enable the officers enforce that discipline
which was necessary This bill had been carefully pre-
pared in the Senate had passed there nearly
he believed it had then come to the House, been read
twice, referred to the Committee Naval Affairs and
that committee had instructed him report ii to the
House, with one amendment. The East India squadron
was now about to SAIL and IT was deemed important
by the Navy Department and the commander Of that
squadron that this bill should be passed. in order that
they might have substitute for the LASH lately
abolished, with which enforce discipline Now unless
this bill should be passed before the East India squadron
sailed not likely that that squadron could receive
information OF its passage If it should be passed. until
twelve months and in that time il would be in condition
very deeterous to the service If the motion to suspend
the rules should be agreed to, he would give expana
ton Of the bill.
The question then taken the motion suspend
the rules, and 1t was agreed to. g 9e
Mr. STANTON, from the Committee on Naval Affairs,
to which had been referred the bill Of the Senate to
force discipline and promote good conduct in the naval
service Of the United States then reported the back
with an amendment viz strike OF the first section that
part which reads and obge the offender to wear for
any time not exceeding ten days badge with the word
thief thereon"
"A i 81 - f 4 =
Mr.. STANTON, of Tennessee, remarked that the lash
could again be restored in the navy and the
tion Of this punishment had left the officers Of the navy
without any summary means Of producing discipline This
bill designed to supply this want Some Of the pun
ishments provided for in the BILL he acknowledged
severe but It was impossible to maintain military sys
tenn of any kind without punishments for offences.
Mr. s. then referred to that portion Of the bill which
provided system of rewards for good conduct and said
that he considered this the important feature in
the bi-one which would have greater tendency to ele
vafe ne of sail nd whi
greater inducemen for good conduct than any thing
adopted in this the other branch Of the service
Mr. STUART suggested that the further consideration
of this bill be postponed until next Thursday morning so
that in the time the bill could be printed and
bers afforded opportunity to examine it and be able
vote Understandings He confessed that he did
derstand the BILL and If pressed to vote upon now with
the very limited understanding he had Of it from its read
ing, he should vote against it.
Mr. STANTON, of Tennessee objected to the postpone
ment of the bill, it known that the East India
squadron would sail Wednesday next and therefore it
very important that the bill should be acted
Besides, if the bill should be postponed until Thursday
it was matter Of doubt whether it would then be
taken up.
Mr.. HALL suggested to the gentleman from Michigan
to withdraw his motion to postpone the BILL and substi
tute in lieu thereof, motion that the bill be referred
the Committee of the Whole the state of the Union
The why he desired this to be done
the provisions of the fourth section which, he under
stood it, proposed to establish entirely new principle
upon which they should grant pensions to sailors in the
every sailor who served in the navy twenty years. and
ceived certificate Of continuous good conduct should be
entitled to pension of halfpay during the remainder of
his fe If they should establish this principle in the
navy, they might have to establish it in the army and
therefore it became matter Of great Importance that this
bill should be committed to the Committee of the Whole
where the whole matter could be discussed
Mr. STANTON of Tennessee, said that the effect of the
clause which the gentleman from Missouri referred was
in his judgment simply to limit the principle upon which
sailors admitted into the naval asylum. All
r.
mitted, under certain circumstances, into the naval
asylum under the provision in this bill they would only
be admitted after having served twenty years in the navy
and received good conduct discharge at the termination
Mr. STUART then proceeded to state his objections to
the BILL declaring that it conferred arbitrary powers
the officers. He hoped 1t would be postponed till Thurs
day and printed in order that all might have opportu
nifty of examining il.
Mr.. STANLY remarked that it was very obvious that
the gentleman from Michigan intended oppose the bill
in any form The gentleman opposed to giving apen-
son if the honest sailor had served for twenty
and had announced that he would vote for it. He
defeat the bill 1t utterly impossible for each Of the
members they had all the of Briareus, and all the
eyes of Argus to examine every bill and measure pre-
sented for consideration. That would dispense with the
whole organization Of the committees Of the House They
must take some matters faith and here was bill
which had been passed by the Senate and gone through
examination of the Committee Naval Affairs of the
House, who had declared that the public service mpe-
riousy demanded substitute logging which had
been abolished in the navy Yet they gentlemen who
from the extreme western frontiers of the United
States who knew nothing in the world of naval affairs
cep what they had learned Of books endeavor to
naught the opinion Of commanders in the navy whose
had been spent upon the in the service of their
country He hoped they would have vote upon
the BILL and in conclusion moved the previous question
but Withdrew il at the request Of
Mr.. BAYLY, Of Virginia, who said that he had been
requested by number Of gentlemen interested in the
navy TO examine the BILL and il he approved to say
n n He had was nj
only satisfied Of the propriety of passing but of the
to the House. there large number of ships about
leave port Under the law as 1t stood there
mode OF Furnishing any other than the highest grade of
offences in the navy 1t had been asked why pass
this bill in the of or two weeks and send it
after the squadron which was about sail Now every
body who knew thing Of the naval service and the
merchant service, knew that most Of the difficulties
shpboard occurred during the first two three weeks
after they had left port just 1t plantation
with the overseer and the negroes When sailors first left
port they tried their commanders and they gave them
| an inch they took ell.
Mr. then referred to the punishments in the BILL and
said that they were not dsproporonate to the offences
which they we're intended to punish. In conclusion he
moved the previous question.
The previous question seconded Ayes 81 noes CO.
The question being on agreeing the amendment
ported from the Committee ON Naval Affairs
Mr.. ORR moved to lay the bill ON the table, and on
this motion demanded the yens and nays which were
dered and being taken resulted: Yeas H. nays "a.
/ So the bill was not laid on the tAbk
The amendment reported by the Committee Naval
Affairs then agreed to- and the l as amended read
the third time.