The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-30


ence on entering the service. and in advance {
higher ratings over persons Of similar quaiifca
tions, but who have not so served. Every petit
officer or person OF inferior rating who shall re
ceive good conduct discharge. after a contin
unus service of not less than two years, shall, i
he re-epiers within three months after his die
charge. be entitled to credit ON the books of tn
ship to which he may he first ordered OF three
months wages, at his former rating; and afte
twenty years service in the navy. with good con
duct discharges at the termination of each enlist
nent, every such petty officer or person of inferior
rating shall be entitled to admission to and provi
sion in the naval asylum for life, with half the
monthly wages of his last enlistment
Any punshmeuts authorized by this act to b,
inflicted by summary court-martial, may like
! wise be inflicted by any general court-nartial.
Mr.. STANTON said that he had been instructed
to report amendment to the BILL to strike on
from the first section the words land obging the
offender TO wear, for any time not exceeding ter
days, badge with the word 'thiei' thereon The
| lash cannot be restored, and he was satisfied il
ought not to be. And this the opinion of tn.
country. But the abolition Of this mode of punish
of promoting and maintaining discipline This
bill supplies that want. Some of the punishments
now prescribed are tolerably severe, but without
them it 10 impossible to maintain the naval system
| MIR. WOODWARD Does this bill do any thing
moro than provide punishment for insubordna
| ton?
Mr.. STANTON replied that it also provided for
system Of rewards; and this with other parts he
| proceeded to explain.
MIR. STUART said that there were several things
in the bill he could not vote for but he wished to
look into its provisions, and with that view sug
gested that it's consideration be postponed TO some
| particular day-say next Thursday-anj printed
II the bill should now be pressed. with his imper-
feet understanding OF he should be obliged to vote
in the negative.
Mr. STANTON had no objection to postpone
ment to early day. He. however, had supposed
that the provisions of the bill simple as
easily to be understood. He believed that the East
India squadron would sail on "Wednesday next.
Mr. HALL (Mr STUART giving way) said that
part of the bill proposed to establish new prin-
ciple-to grant pensions to sailors after twenty
years Of service; halfpay during life. If this be
established In the navy, it Will have to be estab
ished in the army, including both the prvates and
Mr.. STANTON explained this clause, arguing
that its result would be advantageous to the SER
vice.
Mr.. STUART (after the House refused to post-
pone the further consideration OF the bill until
Thursday stated some of the objections which he
had to it, and insisted that it should be printed and
taken up at some future time, so that every gen
tleman might be enabled, in the meantime, to
make due examination, and be prepared to vote
upon its provisions understandngly.
| MIR. STANLY said it was obvious that the gen
tleman was opposed to the bill in any form, and
opposed to giving pensions after the honest
old sailor has served his country for twenty years.
He took it for granted that the gentleman wanted
to defeat the bill. 1t was utterly impossible for
any member, If he had as many arms as Briareus,
or as many eyes az Argus, to examine every bill
and measure presented for consideration. They
must take some measures faith. The bill had
been examined by the Committee ON Naval Affairs
OF the Senate, and by that of the House; and the
public service imperiously demands some subst-
tute Tor logging. Some gentlemen who come
from the extreme western frontier, and who Che
spoke with due respect) have no learning except
what they obtain from books, endeavor to ride
down all the information from the Committee on
Naval Affairs, and from commanders, whose lives
have been spent the salt water in the service Of
their country Let a vote be taken on the bill be-
lore there shall be discussion on matters and
things in general, and about humanizing doctrines
and the largest liberty.
Mr.. BAYLY, of Virginia, said he had been re-
qucsted by a number of gentlemen interested in
the naval service to examine this bill, and, if he
approved Of il, to say word in its favor. He had
| examined it, and was no. only satisfied OF the-pro
priety Of passing it, but of the necessity OF doing
| so at once. As has already been said, large
number Of ships now about to leave port. I'm
der the law. as it now stands, there is no mode Of
punishment except for the highest grades OF offences
IN the navy ii the chips go to sea in this cond-
ton, no one who is not acquainted with sailors
| (and he believed he represented many as any
oDe) can predict the deleterious consequences TO
| the service. Ii has been said, why not pass this
| bill a week from now. and send it out. There will
DC difficulty OF sending it to those vessels The
troubles on shipboard always occur lew days after
| going out 10 When a overseer goes
upon plantation. the slaves for the frat two
three weeks try his temper. So with sailors; they
| try the commander and what he can do. II
you give them an inch they will take an ell and
| the only way to have good lime out Is by main
tanning discipline the first two or three weeks.
After further remarks and interruptions
| Mr.. ORR desired 10 inquire, as the gentleman
! had made examination of the bill, whether he
would have been prepared to vote upon it if he had
not investigated it; and whether IL was right and
propa< to call upon others to vote without giving
them an opportunity to examine IT. Should gen.
Il tlontn ho rod Ia Trina md
| be proper to force a vote now?
| MIR. BAYLY replied: II this bill com
phcated in its, character, there might be some
force in the questions Of the gentleman from South
Carolina. He asks If it s lair that sh uld press
other members who have not examined il, and
whether members should vote ON trust. Now,
undertake to say that nineteen'twentietb this Of the
bills voted on without ever having bee read by
members, and If this should pass without beiug
read by one tenth, il would be by singu-
lar in that respect. He moved the previous ques
ton, which was seconded-ayes 81, noes SO; and
the main question was order ed.
Mr.. ORR moved to lay the bill upon the table
and the question having been taken, il decided
in the neeative-yeas II, nays 81.
The SPEAKER. in reply to question by Mr.
| MILLsoS, said that the demand for the previous
question having been sustained, cut off all amend
ments except that Of the Committee on Naval AT
fairs, namely, striking out the thief badge CLAUSE
! Of the bill.
This amendment was agreed to.
| The question was then taken the passage o.
the BILL and decided in the negative-yeas 10, nays
| 97-as follows:
YEAS.-Messrs Abercrombe, Aiken, William
Appleton, Asbe, Thomas II. Bayly, Bartlett. IT,
| Bennett. Bocock, Bowie, Bragg, Breckenridge
George II. Brown, Burrows. r. Darlington Cabell
Chandler, Clngman, Cottmsn, George t. Davis
Dean, Dockery, Evans, Florence, Freeman, Henry
| M. Fuller, Thomas j. ID. Fuller, Gentry, Goode
now, Goodrich, Grey, Hammond, Harper, Samp
son w. Harris, Hart, Haven. Hllyer, Horsford
! Thomas M. Howe, jackson, James johnson. Rob
ert w. Johnson, George G.. King, Kuhns, Ian
dry, Martin, Mcdonald, Mcscbsm, Meade. Miller
Miner, Henry ID. Moore, Morehcad, Penn, Porter
Riddle, Sackett. Schoolcraft, Scudder, Scurry
| Smart Snow. Stany, Frederick p. Stanton, Rich
ard II. Stanton, Abraham p. Stevens, Sutherland
Taylor, Benjamin Thompson, venablc, Walbridge
Walsh, Ward, Washburn, jr., WEIGH. Wells, Al
exander White, and Williams-7S.
NATS.-Messrs. Willis Allen, Allison. Averett
Barrere. BeaIe, BisseIl. Brentoo. Briggs, ALDER
G.. Brown. Buel, Busby, Joseph Gable, Lewis ID
Campbell, Thompson Campbell. Caske, Chap
man, Churchwell. Clark, Cleveland. Cobb Curtis
Daniel, John G.. Davis, Dawson, Dimmick
Doty, Durham, Durkee, Eastman, Edgerton, Ed
mundson, Ficklin, Fitch. Floyd, Fowler, Gamble
Gaylord, German, Grow, lsham G. Harris, Hen
dricks, Hem, Hibbard, Holladay Houston. How
ard, John w Howe, Hunter, Ingcrsoll Ives. Jcn
\ kns, Andrew Johnson. John johnson, George w
yones, J. Clancy Jones, Preston King, Lctcbcr