Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-12-21

I
ness to cooperate with Congress in arranging the
details of measures to accomplish what may TO
] seem necdful proceed to throw out few sugges-
tons touching the ocGtiOn Of our systtH" az re-
nard to seoDen arih rieso to encourage more per-
Snanent easments to identity them more thorough
IN .cith the mary, and eterate Metr character 0y I"
| plan of Tcscdn2s as tceU as Ptt'asShments
While the yiror and reform lncldentto our happy
American institutions have been successfully infused
| into almost every department OF government ana
penetrated almost every fibre of the body pohtlc the
neglected sailor, if we except the genera
of ASYLUM and hospital has too rarely felt the friend
w touch of the legislative hand, and has continued
TO toll on under code of discipline and laws out
little modified since the days when the press-gang
dragged 1.-THE unwilling Vlcum from the mover " 'le
man-of-war :, .
With population approaching 3OOOO,0OO, full OF
enterprise and adventure, the difficulty of procuring
sailors to man ships-of-war-more particularly
the difficulty of enlsting the young men OF our own
country-s not only attracting the attention OF the
public but seriously embarrassing the efforts OF the
department to maintain even the small naval 1orce
now allowed by law. Hundreds OF merchant vessels
are almost daily dartng forth from our busy marts,
readily filed with cheerful seanen, counting danger
upon the element on which they love to I'VE, Whhe
our ships-ofwar lingering in port until the re-
cruitng officers by hard effort, can manage, by the
aid of the exactin landlord of the sailor tavern and
a small bounty, to procure tardy enlistments
Our cities, towns, and villages are thronged with
athletic young men, struggling anxlously Tor employ
ment in petty offices and in every department OF Ia
Dor: and when disappointment and ldleness beSet
dissipation and dissipation reduces to degradation
and friends regard them as burdens to family ana
nuisances to society, then, and often not till then 90
we hear the remark that they are now only III 10
become sailors in the navy!
Why are the laboring young men of our country
so reluctant to sail and serve under their countrys
flag? Is it a dishonorable Calling! why 40 our
merchant marine find comparatively so little Difficult
ty in procuring seamen? Is it because they care
more for them-cncourage them more-pay them
better?
While I am far very far, from proposing to relax
discipline tolerate insuOordinaton to hesitate at
administering punishment-sure punishment to cor
rect the offender and to deter the do pro-
nose some reform of system so rs to REGARD the
meritorious, to elevate the character OF our seae
to give no.. responsibility to their pursuit. to cause
them to become identified with, Incorporated into,
and part of the navy ITSELF to pay them better to
encourage them to love the flag under which they
sail, and when they walk the deck OF the man.ol-
war in a foreign port and compare their condition
with the sailors of other governments, to feel some
pride in being American sailors under American COL
orS.
There is much in the character of the sailor to eX
cite our admiration-much to enlist our sympathy
He is brave generous, selfsacriticing; and when,
after long cruise, far from home and friends tenn
pesttossed and weather beaten, he treads on the soil
of his country again, discharged from the service
improvident and wastefu unfit for land service the
victim of the cunning, soon bereft OF his hard
earnings surely it is but natural that this wanderer
should look to his government to care for hum, and
invite to return to service IOF aIohe nc
is fitted and in which he is so much relied upon TO
protect the commerce. the rights the honor of that
government Without wcll-disciplined, eOntented, |
and efficient scamen to man our ships, we may have
officers of gallant bearing vessels of storm-defylng
strength and beautiful symmetry, but the vital spir
it will be wanting.
It becomes, therefore, a matter of grave inquiry !
how shall this branch of the public service be mod
fled so as to the best seamen and prevent ex
pensive delays in despatchng vessels whenever ready
for commission.
In the first place, 1 deem it indispensable that
some plan be adopted by which our seamen shall
become more distinctly and permanently a part Of
the Macy, and attached to tho service. Whenever
ship-ofwar now returns from her threcyears cruise
he officers detached and granted a leave of alb
;encc for three months, with leave ofassence pay;
but the seamen are peremptorily dischdrgSd-diScOn
accted from the sercice If they have been merito-
'ous propose that their return they be granted
IN honorable discharge Ito be considered leave of
lbscnce pay) if within certain time they choose
o reenIist in the service This would possess two
old virtuc-of fair and generous treatment at part
ng and invitation to continue member of fam
ly caring for them during temporary absence.
They will regard the shipofwar as their home;
hey will feel that they arc part of the navy of
heir country; they will compare their condition
With that of the seamen of the mercantile marine,
appreciate their advantage, and cling to the service.
1t may be also well worthy Of consideration whcth-
r it would not be wise, very gradually, and never
,eyond reasonable limit, to increase the pay of the
canaan in proportion to the number of continuous
ruscs he makes, thereby creating an additional in
Cntve to remain the service. 1t is believed that
" the officers in command on returning from cruise
ling i'll the department certified list of those who
re honorably discharged, there will be but little diff
culty i'll simplifying and executing this plan, and
systematzing it by registration as to produce the
God results incident to making them a regular part
the navy and thus touch their pride we'll as
neir hearts. Many interesting suggestions on this
INFECT commended to the consideration of Con
rcss by my immediate predecessor.
Another change indispensable to the prompt Sc
of the service of first-class seamen is to
an them at least much as their skill experience
nd character soiU command in the merchant service
is the effort of the department to regulate the pay
f the hundreds of mechanics and laborers in the
arious navy-yards, to correspond with the
ay of similar employees in private establishments
inside of the yards. Such, however, is not the
regard to seamen. The appropriation will not
crmt it, IT'S true that necessity has recently drv-
n the department to paying bounty, which will
suspended so soon as the vessels indispensable to
lie service manned.
Busy enterprise is dottng every ocean, and sea-
nd river with vessels. The demand for seamen is
roportionally increased. The wages now range
ON fifteen to twenty dollars per month, whereas
the navy the best seamen paid but twelve dol
RS. Can expect, therefore, to command readily ,
ny seaman-much less the bcst-under this state
things? My opinion is, therefore, that the pay
loud be increased.
But perhaps, the most practical and important '
form to promote efficiency in the corps of mariners
the blending together system of REGARDS and S
to encourage the qneritorio4Ls and to
lbdue the diSorderly.
The abolition of punishment by hogging without
gazing some substitute therefor, has already &C.
lpied the attention of Congress and the country I
oI1r ckOlk