Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-11-25
THE NAVY.

To the Editors Of the National Iatelligenccr:
In a few days Congress will again be in session, and
then your columns will be too full of pressing if
not Of more important matter to give place to such
communication as am about to trouble you with.
am retired man and no politician, and l hope and
believe aarmst, but look carefully at the state Of
affairs in Europe, and avoid coming to the con-
cuson that the present between the Allied Powers
and Russia to BET long war; and expensive blood and
treasure Whilst this great struggle going on the com
merce of the United States is spread all over the world
Ours is the only important neutral flag and our ships
must be subjected the exercise of the rights which be-
long to belgerens. Now, this is very delicate matter
and has heretofore, as we know, given rise to vexed
questions between Great Britain aud ourselves It is
dfhcut for even experienced juriss to draw the line
which separates beligerent from neutral rights Who
can with accuracy the articles which may be
denominated "contraband of ?" An American mer-
chant ship bound to belligerent port not actually
bockaded may be seized if she has on board articles
contraband of war; Can learned Attorney General
furnish for the of the commander of our squadron in
the Mediterranean list of articles which may be right
fully considered by the begerents as scontraband Of
war; Why, it is as difficult to draw the line which
separates conraband from lawful it is to separate the
colors Of the rainbow The belligerent officer will
else wide discretion neutral cargo and this dis
sence Of force adequate the protection of our
merce it will expand in the absence of such force We
must give visible protection to commerce, must
send vessels Of in respectable force wherever
merchant ships go, and be frightened the
expense Of doing will be money well laid out and
may from heavy expenditures of blood and rea
hereafter.
Look, then, in time to your navy. We have ships
built and building sufficient for respectable exhibition
Of strength but the of the navy is said to be in
state Of ndiscpine in consequence of the ampering
with it Of false philanthropy. This may be remedied
IN measure by wholesome laws for the enforcement of
discipline, without the restoration Of foggng; though in
the estimation Of the sailor much degrading pun
shment than the last has, from the necessity Of the case
been resored to- No true tar would hesitate one mo-
men between taking dozen two at the gangway or
being termed a pententiary bird" by his shipmates
will say nothing about the state of the personnel in
the higher ranks about the miserable slang of Old
Fogyism and Young Americanism !" Of the cold shou
der to the former and the encouragement to the latter
SAID 10 be given by the President and his Cabinet be-
eve that the officers Of every grade in larger propor
tons than in any other navy in the world are ready
willing and able to do their duty. There are some ine
cent nay, worthless; they are but men and
subject to the fraes and aings Of men and II is much
easy to say who they arc than to designate the
tices of commerce which are "contraband Of war;
There sufficient number sound and efficient and ready
for all purposes and they have always, far as can
learn and am an old man. been found to stand up to
the rack, fodder or no fodder Let Congress at the
coming session look to the navy. y
GROVE CASTLE, NOVEMBER q, 1861. RUsTICUs.