The southern press., 1852-01-08
CONGRESSIONAL pRoCEEDINas.
IN SENATE.
WEDNESDAY,, January 7, l65:


WEDNESDAY, January 7, 1852.
A variety Of petitions were presented by Messrs.
WADE, BRopaEAp, GwS, F,sm, PRArr, and 9TH
ers.
Mr. CLEAENS presented petition from VIM.
Scott Haynes, one Of the officers of the late disas-
trous expedition Of Lopez. praying that national
vessel be detailed to bring home the American
prisoners from that expedition, now In the king
dom of Spain, and recently discharged from their
confinement, on the eve Of her own, by Queen
Isabella the second. Mr. c. said that az the first
national vessel sent over to the old world IN be-
half of the martyrs Of liberty. was by resolution
from the Committee on Foreign Relations, he
would move that this petit be referred to the
samefeommittee and il so referred.
Mr.. BERRIEN introduced bill providing for
the removal of distractions 10 the navigation Of
the Savannah river.
FL0GGING IN THE NAVY.
On motion of Mr.. GwIN, the Senate took up a
petition from citizens of Pennsylvania, praying
the restriction of the lash, the cat and the ropes
emo in the naval service.
Mr.. STOCKTON, (lnie commodore in the
United States Navy took the floor in opposition
to the prayer Of the petitioners. His argument
was eloquent, able, consistent powerful, and COW
cred the whole ground. He detailed in glowing
terms the services Of poor Jack to the country,
and the ory which his devotion has shed upon
the American flag--he adverted to the land servi-
ces of the sailors and marines under his command
in California and to the scanty compensation
and rewards they have received, in contrast with
the liberal land bounties to those engaged IN all the
different branches Of the army.
He then turned to the question of fogging, and
contended that it degraded and demoraized the
sailor that the principal offences for which he was
hogeed were the result of drunkenness, and that
for his drunkenness the officers Of the ship were
responsible He said that the proper dis osi-
-. r. xuould ha Law md he
table, and trample it under foot. He thought the
true discipline Of the service required the aboli-
tion of the lash, the abolition Of the liquor,
new system Of recruiting, and the thorough
purging of the navy, in high as well as in low
places.
Mr. HAMLIN moved to lay the petition upon
the table, but withdrew the motion at the IN
stance of
Mr.. BADGER, who took exactly the opposite
view Of the whole subject With the closeness of
a lawyer who suffers point Of assault TO es
cape, he reviewed the speech of Mr.. STOCKTON.
and urged that the experience OF the service had
proved the efficiency OF the lash, as medium of
discipline; and that society itself would soon be in
a state of anarchy, if all offences against the laws
were left to be reclaimed by the influences of
moral suasion. After pleading with remarkable
skill the necessity of furnishing, in many instances,
to enforce obedience and discipline, he said that
he would have no objection to laying the petition
upon the taOie. he was opPoneu " oil VI
violent changes, and though he resisted the change
of the last Congress, he was in favor of giving
the new law the full benefit of fair trial.
Mr.. STOCKTON, in reply, said that the Sena-
tor had by no means fairly treated his argument;
he maintained his position that an American sal
jor was an American citizen, and asked of the
Senator if it was lawful any where in the country
to Aog an American ctizen'
Mr.. BADGER. Yes, sir.
MIR. STOCKTON. 1t may be in North Caro-
lima where the people are yet behind the age.
Mr.. BADGER. Yes, sir. And in Virginia and
Delaware too--very respectable company,
Mr.. STOCKTON. Delaware is very small
State and as to Virginia, | don't know. Mr.. S.
then asked Of the Senator fhe would like law
providing for the fogging Of all American cli-
zens
Mr.. BADGER. Certainly not we should then
come under the liability to tteinhiction ourselves.
Mr.. STOCKTON, in his answer, asked why
not fog an American senator for dsobedence of
ord ers, as well as an American sailor. The SEN
ator from North Carolina, however, had tacitly
admitted the impractcablty of restoring this sort
of djscipline in the navy. He, therefore, would
move that it was inexpedient to grant the prayer
of the petitioners.
After some further conversational remarks, be-
tween Messrs DowNs, QVN, MALLORY, and
others, the subject was postponed till Monday
next.
And, after the consideration of several private
bills the Senate on motion of
Mr. BADGER, and as an act Of courtesy to-
wards the Democrats, desirous Of commemoratlng
the anniversary of the celebrated battle of New
Orleans and in Difference to the memory of Gen
eral Jackson, they adjourn over to Friday next.