The daily union., 1852-01-17

ordination among the persons composing ships compa
!. 3d. Do the crews OF vessels oiwar evince more or
less aacry and cheeulness Are The orders oil ohceIs
more or less promptly obeyed
4h. Are there any edectua means by which the bad.
ly.dsposed persons on board ship can be restrained
5th. Are The vessels OF the navy more or less eihclen
since the abolishment oi hogging IN the navy"
The parties who have responded TO these inerrogato-
: CommOdorss-G. C. Read. C. s. McCauey. J. H. Au-
lick. +, A. Parker, Downes.
Capidias-W d. Saller s. III. Stringham, M. Nc
Intosh. J. Tatnall, W. Inman, 4. A. + Lavaleite;
Commanders-J. L. Saanders J. b Hull, J. Kelly 3.
Wilson Enge LOyndss sa;ts;a,. + Gesmy ey.s..s
Lieutenant Commanding Manning
will read extract from the answer TO the circular,
the United States receiving ship Ohio in the habor Of
Boston Ii will be remembered that as the commahder OF
receiving ship in port he has much better opportunities
OF ldgDg OF the efficiency nefciency OF The system
OF foggiDg than sea going master, and he says:
"Even under these favorable circumstances, insubor-
dnaton, particularly among recruits for general service,
is becoming more common and an impression seems 10
be rapidly pervading the whole naval service that
independent OF The immediate control OF their officers
and can obey their orders at pleasure, or dsobey them
with impunity. During my experience IN the navy,
have always found the best state o where pun
ishmen OF offenders was most prompt, and inflicted WIN
the most formalty its frequency less necessary us
influence more durabe aud hence the efficiency oil the
service was greatly promoted.
"a certain class OF reckless will always be found
in The navy, aud. il kept under proper snbecton VIII per,
form their duty cheerluy, in satisfactory manner, and
impose extra service upon the more orderly and obed
ent To such corporeal punishment is mostly conhned
and seems Indispensable
ITO meet these cases. the system OF irregular courts
martial, having the power 10 inct fogglng TO limited
extent Tor minor Offences would, IN my opinion, enable
officers TO preserve more healthu state OF discipline
and render the navy all respects more efficient than at
present. when there Is no adequate punishment Tor such
Offences and consequently all prestige OF discipline is In
evahly destroyed
In reply 10 The first question: think the effect upon
the recruiting service has been bad in every respect II
now requires much longer time to ship crew, and the
persons induced to enter the naval service generally
of class inferior 10 that which formerly entered the
navy.
"ln reply TO the second question, think the effect
upon discipline and subordnaton is too obvious to admit
OF doubt, and decidedly subversve OF both.
In reply to the third question: four ships ofwar have
arrived at this port from foreign stations since the new
system went into operation, and from personal observa
on 1t is my impression that there is less aacry and
cheeuness in the performance OF duty. The orders OF
officers treated with contempt frequently, and
obeyed less promptly now than formerly.
"ln reply TO the fourth question. think there are no
ehectua means by which the adlydsposed persons on
board ship can be restrained under the present system.
Confinement is trng punishment to such persons. and
while they enjoy respite from work, innocent men
tuay suffer by having the onus OF duty imposed upon
them. The efficiency OF the vessel is also materially in.
ured by the confinement OF whose drilling
is Indispensable TO constitute well-regulaed man-of
war.
In reply TO the dfh question, must consider all YES.
oggng by act of Congress- and that they will continue
until different class of persons embrace the sailors pro-
fesson than those now found OF every nation, and in
every part oil the world whose reckless lie has const
tu,ed them distinct but similar class OF beings from
earliest maritime dates"
Commandant w D. Sater, from the New York navy
yard, under date OF the 2lst July 1851 replies thus:
To the first question. have that the edest
upon the recruiting service IS that have great difficult
ty in procuring good men tor the navy, but few Offering
to enlist excepting such as are unable 10 procure employ
the merchant and OF all
particularly English, who generally the most lnsubor
dnaie and worthless found in crew OF an American
man -of-war.
The seamen who properly appreciates his situation
and position in a man nofwar is deferred from entering
the naval service IN consequence o there being no sum
mary punishment authorized by law in cases OF an
gent nature and the only left 10 the officers being
that OF placing the offender in confinement, hence throw
ing extra duty those who disposed TO peorm their
part o the contract with the government, while 10 Skuk
Is relieved from that duty by the only
left TO punish him for insubodinaton, disobedence oil
ORDERS neglect Of duty any other deviation from vo
lalon OF the rules of discipline.
IL sDot found that better class OF persons is now
induced TO enter the naval seryce on the contrary, just
the reverse.
Question q SO far as has come within my knowl-
edge, from the statements made to by officers in
mand OF vessels OF war and soreshps which have ar
rived at this station would answer that discipline and
subordinaon have not been preserved since the abolish
ment OF foggng, and thar the knowledge OF the dsuse
OF that custom had marked effect upon the crew OF
igae which arrived at this port in November last The
day before her arrival he law not being known board
punishment with the cat inflicted, and the
in good state OF discipline until the vessel hauled in 10
the wharf, when a change took place Immediately the
being informed OF the recent act OF Congress- which
showed the neiciency OF the laws Tor the government
OF the navy as they now stand The crew OF the irg-
ate BraDdywne were IN state OF opn nfufiny on the
arrival OF that ship, and the commander OF the rgate
Constitution has already reported TO the department the
lnsubordinae state OF hIs crew. reason for not CON-
plying 18th the order 10 take The ship 10 Boston.
Question 3. have not the OF replying fully TO
this question; but from the reports made TO me, should
Judge that the orders of the officers less promptly
obeyed.
OF restraining the bady-disposed than by confinement;
and this practice must il is obvious be very nconvenent
on many occasions IL may happen that time when the
services OF all on board ship required, either 10
ton for the preservation OF the vessel portion OF the
may be in irons for offences against the laws What
resource them has the commander when their services
most needed but TO let loose the vicious and nsubor
dinatei who IL they ft may then refuse to do Duty
and thus leopard the safety OF the ship and the lives
OF sli board and all this the result OF the mistaken
philanthropy OF our lawmakers | do not hesitate TO
say that the navy would be improved by the restoration
OF the only means that well be made available on
board ship for the suppression OF crime, nsubodinaton
muny, &c viz: that of authorizing the commander 10
inf Ict corporeal punishment
'Queslicn g. consider the vessels OF the navy less
eft cient than they formerly, the OF which Is
apparent TO the most superficial observer who is nc.
qiainted with the routine of well-regulaied man of
ITO my certain knowledge, many good men have re-
fused 10 enter the service the Law is and have
given the at the rendezvous. The wages in
The merchant service being much greater, they seek
poyment in that branch OF our marine, procure
other service on shore,
The old laws navy con alder annlo nj af