Washington sentinel., 1854-03-28
NAyALs REFORM.

Our attention has been called to the sub
Joined communication, which was published in
the Norfolk (Va.) Beacon, of the llth Of this
month. We transfer it to our columns, because
we feel an earnest wish to see the navy placed
upon proper footing, and to that end desire
to place before the public everything that may
further such result.
AS to corporal punishment we have but little
to say. fit be the pleasure of Congress to con-
tinue system which brings bad men into the
navy, all discipline must be destroyed, when
the punishments suited to bad men are prohib,
tied by Congressional enactment. Flogging
in the navy has been abolished; but unfortu.
nately. no substitute for the cat was provided by
those philanthropic gentlemen who carried
through the movement Some of them we're
honest and deluded, we doubt not; others con-
sidered only the effect that specious phrases
and high-fown rhetoric might have on weak
minded constituents. But, be this as it may,
this question comes to us and meets us face to
face: How can efficiency be given to the navy?
To answer this question fully we would have
to write volume. y"
Having stated our views more than once on
other branches Of this subject, it is not neces-
sary for us to repeat them now, although we
may give full consideration to the whole matter
hereafter, as we receive the information we
have been seeking to obtain. But our present
object is to speak only Of those things which
the abolition of cerporeal punishment in the
navy suggests.
IF the abolition Of fogging had been accom-.
panied by an enactment authorizing other ade.
quate punishment for negligence and insubor-
anation, all would have been well. But,
unfortunately, no such thing was done. Even
Buncombe men must have perceived that such
a course would be fatal to the discipline Of the
navy under the present system, and the ridicu-
lous decision alluded to by the correspondent
Of the Norfolk Beacon is full and complete
proof Of the fact, even if it stood alone.
But it does not stand alone, as every one
who has any knowledge Of naval matters knows
well enough. We have conversed with sailors
not officers, but common sealnen-who told us
that they had quit the service because the abo
lition Of corporeal punishment, without estab
fishing some other, forced them to do the worl
of bad men, who were resting at their ease il
confinement.
But, whilst we express these views, we do no
think that the true course would be to return +
the old idea Of low wages and the cat-o-nine
tails. We agree with the recommendations 9
Mr. Dobbin, the enlightened Secretary of tn
Navy, on this point. We think that the gov
ernment should avoid return to the old sys
tenn by taking measures to procure bette
class of men to man our ships-ofwar-me
who would not need the lash, for men VIII
would feel themselves degraded by the las
will never do anything which could bring upo
them such punishment. This result can b
accomplished only by increasing the pay of th
national marine, so that the merchant-servic
shall not take away from the navy all the bes
seamen, and leave to the national service moth
fng but the meanest and most debased.
We think also that Mr. Dobbin's recon
mendation, that when sailor is placed in con
6nement for omitting his duties, and for mis-
behavior or other bad or criminal conduct, hi
pay should be divided amongst the rest of th'