New-York daily tribune., 1856-08-16
ABOTT SAILORS IN TIE NAVY.
To the Edito~ Of The " \. Tribs~s

SIR Having had more or less experience in the
merchart ar naval service f)r the last 30 yeals will
you allow NE to speak my mind in regard to few
thu gs in the latter service which need reforming.
suppose it is the wish of the Navy Department to
make the service so popular that there will be no diff
fculty in shipping men. Nox there are two things
which we sailors want, that we far from sure of
getting, and the want Of which makes Us d:conented
viz, liberty often as thrice year, and our DIS
charge at The end of three years service
In regard TO liberty to go shore: if a man has
doDe nothing to forfeit the right of going en- shore,
why should the ship be made prison! II man is
properly treated he will love his ship and fight for it.
as you andslnep will for your own homes but make
pI!son OF it, and sailors will feel THAT attachment for
their ship that the of the State institution at
Spg Sng feel for their present home. Experience
shows that men org confined in ship, except during
the excitement of war, become very much dissatisfied
and moreover, a run on shore once IN four months
s Iecessary to health. We have been kept on board
this ship an entire gear wthOWt h6erfy ana though
We are havirg il low Indebted TO the fact that
an epidemic on board Grove Us to sea from Mo dc
Jantiro and it became of the very last importance
Il at the crew should have relaxation on shore. IL was
kind and humane ft tipg for us fellows who have
TIE work to do, that has given us liberty now.
As there il 10 law this subject | suppose 1t Is LETT
20 the captain OF the ship to exercife common sense IN
ewing hoerty Now here If place where those gen
Y,uen at WashiI gton who lay back In cushioned
chairs, make q radical blunder. They suppose that
otfcers who are raised i'll the Navy from mldShipnen
have con sense, but 1t Is often remarked inst IL
hat Kind of men s wanted in any one tmng more
than aIoher is plan common st nae, ana my e4pe'
risn,e irstfes the ct at ment. Tney are taken away
ftom thtir Others AT the tender age OF hir'een OF
fourteen and all their eoGcation ana habits are con-
formed to model poculi + to naval ite. because
me old tumbue of nmOdore did 80 and go forty
years ago a good with these gentlemen. why
ibe ssme thing should be Gone now. 1t must not be
supposed that the Naval Board expelled togyism from
active duty; there young fogies as wei as Old
ones and is this account that we sailors want
law We wait Law that will make IT. the duty of
our comm anGDg officer to give us liberty oDcs in four
n ontbs or give satisfactory reason for withholding
it. must not be understood as saying that all offi-
GERS are alike, or as we say "tarfed with the same
brush" Among them are some OF the kinaest ana ana
most hunaLe of men. Some Of Us have sailed with
sucn and We had iusi much liberty ~ We wanted
Wherever tney command, they have contented men,
and a hsppy s5ip. But Leed the law Tor the otner
sort wbicL, unhhpply for VA, is largely LII tue ma
JoIlty. -L ...a,
drag in one ship; and when We sign the articles,
though there is a that holds US onger 1t the in
tertst Of the service require it. we expect To be dl-
charged and permitted to go home lntdity SIX months
W. lave An idea if we are detained over tbree year,
that the Government Goes not keep It's promise Will
liz: and if kept board, we are dis contented. The
law makes the duty of the captain to discharge us at
TIE e1d Of three year, unless the interest OF the service
REQUIRE our Geteution. Well we are such ignorant
creatures that we cannot understand why sailor Is
detained when he offers to furnish substitute VINO
can fully Go LIS Guty. sai!or just from the nited
States wishes to ship in my place. and more thah
three years from be me, wis tn give him chance o
few months in the naval service. The cHpt lin says
No and am 20 stupid not to how the interests
Of the service will be damaged by the change. Inc
Uniform rule seems to be to detain every mao tl the
end Of the cruise, and or the captain, 's matter Oh
form merely to certify that the interests OF the serV
ice require, &c. Thls was not the iatention OF Tue
law which was really made for our projections and II
tic :. cretaiy Of the Navy should cai on any cap%'h
who had detained 10 give specific relsons ior tbt
detention he would be jammed.
It is true the sw aGts % per celt to our pay II We
arc defined over three years; bCA money Is a poor
ccmpepsaton fo keeping mar away from Ii. ssome
sgair a. hi. will. Already, the time OF hunGicd or
so OF orr men is out and in about six weeks tie term
Of os early oas OF the ship company
vii Lave expired. The Government will BE- paying
"a about 81 100 trtra pay, per month, which makes
il rather exrsnsive for - Unce Sam, whom we higoiy
resp.ct b.t whose service many of us 'f, decline,
ii the 'aw puts it on .ster f,otng fos men ot our
,l.s. YozIs repectfully VILLA. CrrTLE.
=. \ >h,1 ,a-unhah Of f.oati Nideo, May &, iS5.