Squatter sovereign., 1855-06-19

affirm that you will well and truly try, with
out prejudice Or partiality, the case now de-
pending, according to the evidence which shall
be adduced, the laws for the government OF the
navy, and your own conscience. So help you
God.o
After which, the Recorder of the court shall
take the following oath or affirmation, which
the senior member of the court shall administer;
{. You. 4. B., do solemnly swear Cor affrm)
that you viii keep true record of the evidence
which may be given before this court, and of
the proceedings thereof. So help you God.''
SEC. O. And be it further enacted, That the
| commander of any ship shall have authority to
| order any officer under his command to act as
the recorder of summary court-martial
SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That all
testimony given before such court shall be Civ
en- orally, on oath affirmation, which the Sc
| nior member of the court shall administer.
That summary courts-martial may sentence
petty officers and persons of inferior ratings to
any one of the following punishments, viz:
First Discharge from the service with bad
| conduct discharge, but the sentence not to be
| carried into effect in foreign country.
Second. Solitary confinement in irons, sim
| gle or double, on bread and water or diminished
/ rations, provided no such confinement shall ex-
/ ceed thirty days.
| Third. Solitary confinement in irons, single
or double, not exceeding thirty days.
| Fourth. Solitary confinement not exceeding
| thirty days.
| Fifth. Confinement not exceeding two months
| Sixth. Reduction to next inferior rating
! Seventh. Deprivation of liberty on Shore on
| foreign station.
Eighte. Extra police duties, and loss of pay,
not 70 exceed three months, may be added TO
I any Of the above punishments.
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That no
| sentence of summary court-martial shall be
| carried into effect without the approval of the
officer ordering the court; who shall have powa
er to remit, in part or altogether, but not to
commute any such sentence. And it shall be
| the duty of any such commanding officer to re-
nit any part or the whole of any sentence by a
| summary court-marta1, the execution of which
| would, in the opinion OF the surgeon or senior
| medical officer on board, given in writing, pro-
| duce serious injury to the health of the person
| sentenced; or, in case he shall refuse to do so.
il shall be his duty, without delay, to submit the
case again to the same or to another summary
court martial, which shall have power, upon
the testimony already taken, to remit the form
er punishment, and to assign some other of the
authorised punishments in the place thereof.
SEC 9. And be it further enacted, That the
proceedings of summary courts-martial shall
be conducted with as much conciseness and pre-
cIsion as may be consistent with the ends OF
justice, and under such forms and rules as may
be prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy,
with the approval of the President of the Uni
ted States; and all such proceedings shall bs
transmitted, in the usual mode, to the Navy De
partment.
SEC. IL. And be it further enacted, That any
punishments authorised by this act to be infiic
ted by summary court-martial may likewis
be inflicted by any general court-martial.
SEC. IL. And be it further enacted, That any
person who shall entice any seamen, ordinary
seaman, landsman, or boy, who may have en-
listed into the naval service of the United States
to desert therefrom, or who shall conceal am
person, who may have 50 deserted, and shall re
fuse to deliver him up upon the order of hi
commanding officer, shall, upon legal conviction
thereof. be fined at the discretion of the court
, in any not exceeding three hundred dollars
or be imprisoned for any term not exceeding
one year.
, Approved March 2, 1855.