Washington sentinel., 1854-03-28

crew who have to do his work. Abolish fog
ging, if you please; but raise the standard of the
sailor SO that you may procure men who do
not need the lash. Whilst our ships are re-
cruited from the refuse ofa general Jail delivery,
and by men stepped in degradation and habitu-
ated to brutality, nothing but severe, imme-
diate, corporeal punishment viii give even the
semblance of discipline Therefore we say
that the true and only policy is TO elevate the
character of the sailor by giving such com.
pensation as will secure the services of men
worthy to be trusted with the reputation and
| with the flag of the republic.
But it was not our purpose to write on this
subject at this time. The remarks we have
made we're suggested, almost involuntarily by
the following communication which we lay be-
fore our readers without further comment, as
worthy of the consideration of the public:
NORFOLK, Va, March 8, 1854.
Messrs. EDIToRs: Please give the following
article place in your paper:
The courtmartial which convened here ten
days since, for the trial Of seven men belong.
ing to the United States ship Decatur, will ad-
journ, sine die, on Tuesday next, the 18th inst
The Decatur will then sail for the Pacific, or
perhaps Havana.
Since the abolition of fogging in the navy,
| and the unaccountable neglect on the part of
Congress to substitute any punishment at all
| in lieu thereof these courts have become Of
| frequent and vexatious occurrence they are
mere shams, as the result of this one has fully
Anvx AL ~ - IL q II. r.
catur was reported to the hon. Secretary of
| the Navy for calling the first and second lieu
tenants "damned bloody cowardly sons of
bitches" and other choice expressions of SIM
liar character. The charges were preferred by
| Mr.. Dobbin, and he was tried, not for the Ian
guage used, but mere "disrespect and abusive
1 language this embraced the entire charge
and specifications
And now, sirs, what think you was the SEN
tence of this august court in the above case?
Deprivation of pay till the sailing of the De-
catur" about one week, "and not allowed grog
and tobacco for six months" and to be sent
back to said ship-for the purpose, suppose,
of regaling the officers again with his villa
nous and scandalous language. What mock
cry upon justice and decencyl / do not know
which is the most censurable the Secretary of
the Navy, who preferred the charges so loose
ly, or the court, who so gravely elaborated the
inadequate sentence. 1t is impossible now to
maintain anything like order or discipline in
the navy.
The legal authority of the officer is wantonly
violated, the safety Of the ship jeopardized,
and " confusion worse confounded" reigns su-
preme on our government ships. Moral sua.
sion" that miserable clap-trap cf the politician
will no more govern the sailor on the bound
| less ocean than it will the desperate and rap
scalion on land. tits strange that any sensible
man in Congress should for one moment hesi-
tate to give US wholesome laws for the govern
ment of the navy, particularly for the common
sailor. They should increase the pay, adopt
at once the judicous recommendations of the
Secretary of the Navy in his last report--in
word, "reorganze," purge, and vitalize the dam
nable corruptions of an effete system, which
now hang like an incubus over its once fair
cscutcheon; strike at the very root of the evil
make a retired list, remove all the unworthy
from the service promote the gallant and
mertorious; pay them amply; and then build
on the ruins of the old regime q navy COM
mensurate with the commercial greatness of
our country.
The energetic Secretary Of the Navy is do
ing much to correct some Of the evils in the
navy. ! must say I'm pleased with his incipient
demonstrations. Already he has infused unu-
sual activity among the officers, but it remains
yet to be seen whether he will have sufficient
moral courage to do his WHOLE DUTY. So far
he has failed to touch the snecures, the spe.
cial service" and above all, the "coast survey
that nest of elegant gentlemen, whose courtly
influences and SCIENTIFIC ATTAINMESTs have
SO won upon the powerful and plausibles uper
intendent Mr.. Bache as to make him fain be-
lieve that they are Indispensable fixtures to the
prosecution of that ENDLESS WORK.
"Three years" by regulation Of the Navy
Department. is the terms for officers on that |
duty. This gentleman, by his adroitness, man
ages to defeat tha. law and retain his favorites
and relatives on that service indefinitely, and
that, too, to the prejudice Of other officers equal
ly meritorious, who are forced to do all the
drudgery and disagreeable duties at sea while
those gentlemen in command of photographic
parties" from three to ten years, with three
hundred dollars per annum more pay, are half
the year enjoying the exhiarating influences of
gay metropolis. Can such things be, and yet
consonant with the "motto" Of justice?
NOUS TERRONS.
| P. Sit is not too late to continue the pre-
fix slate to the exploring expedition ?" and
too late for Especial service connected there
4 with ?'