The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-06-30

W.. .nn,o.e that every attentive reader OF the
.o.,.,. mns, be struck With the frequent Case
~ ,..,.x n>,netr s,ei by masters of vessels npei
sea,,en a dozen of which occur 10 every ca =
,Yneltv nv the master TO the slave. The number
Of deaths resulting from tnhumsn treatment "
sh,pboard. seems 20 be constantly on the increase
scarce week pas es, but we hear OF some poe'
wretch Killed outright, or dyings lingering oes'
from the effects Of his wounds, or ma's'e" ~
ertppl.i for the rect OF his life s"hooR" 'h'
checking inhumsniiy is not cophne" 10 'pe "'e'F
of sny particular nation, u is we are so'ry -
.,x most frequent and common among American
march Antnen; SO much as 10 have attracted tue
attention of the mngistraey in Liverpool, fr"m
whom IL has ELECTED comments, not very co'hph
,asntary % American masters Of vessels, nor TO TIE
aaminis ALTON Of Justice in this country, where II
rarely happens that any of These murdeiers re-
reive their deserts. ....
We sub,Ait that here I. broad and inviting
arena for the surplus philanthropy OF the oehef
stn,e. sach nv IL cannot find in the cotton pisnia
,ans or tobacco fields Of the South, or in any por
,inn Of the whole earth, accessible to American
influence When we rccolect that about tcni
hundred ,bousaud men are engaged in the Isef-
chant marine of the Unitcd States. and simfiaF
number IN that Of Great Britain, to say pothins
OF The r,ul. q ues who serve under other igs a"d
wheu we bH,e in mind that all Of these are divideo
u. aa,e- thousands OF little ansting ptincipah'
ties each gose; ned by p"'entafe OF despotic pow
ers the 5fapliness of whose subjects depends upof
tie disus ton of their master, who can lash ana.
torture, and say, at his good pleasure. we shall
Fl al euosxh 20 engage the activ AID united exer
tons Of all the ihilsn,bropists in the world Tor
.hs next hundred years. 1t is true that many
ship captains are humane and nerciful men, and
S, are many despo,s; but it is also true that an
lave the power aud the opper'uoity TO be intum"h
aud cruel. and that, until their powers are more
clearly defined and limited, and until the courts
afford equal juttice TO the mariner aud the mas
ter, the condition of the common sailor is more
helpless aud miserable than that OF the Ell jets Oh
any monarchy upon earth.
What is there about these suffering multitude
which should deprive, them of our sympath, :
TheJ are &c orr ewn color, QUE own race, an1, II
often degraded that is the result of the dem oralIzie
suijectian in which they are bled. They have
many noble and manly qualities TO set off asainsf
their d,f-cts; they pruverbially generous. gal
liant. cheerful and WARN hearted. Their yocatio"
is one. which Of itself, is AT the most heroic
aud eevatiug that man can pursue These men
who 70 down to the sea in ships; who see the won
ders of the Aimi ghty in the great waters Who are
10 constant com null ID WIN Nhiute iu tic hus'
nsjsstc ard au fsl a. well as lovely ffrus, ought
20 have moral qualities corresponding TO the gran
ctear and ueauty of the scenes amid which their
live. are passed Society rarely appreciates lis ia
debted 1ess to these men. who carry tho ex-
change of the products Of various climes, At the
ptrii of their own lives, hy the toll and dsnger'
not only Of avery day, but every night: vino have
no reward except the small pittance of their
IN hop 70 in the AyeninP Df life
no T, fuse On shore except the sailors boarding
houses, where the land sharks devour any small
surplus that their labor has accumulated, and no
probable resting place but the restless sea, which
every wct& Ii nee solae rugged coast with wrecks
and tosses from wave TO wave the dead bodies of
the to4r mariners, whom ard shore seem t.
have couspired TO destroy
1t would seem that these men he'd sufficiently
rough time 10 life without the cruelties 10 which
they are often subjected by brutal tyrants. Bnt,
is is nos 81. and, whilst the philauih'op of the
country is shedding crocodile tears over the i'm
sgined wees of slavery, sailors left be ahus-
ed. Inaltreated and murder ed. and that with per-
feet inspuuity. II no other reason under heaven
tran because they are poor meu. and have no paw
eTfn friends that the courts do them justice
Admitting that masters Of ships must have author
ty, that discipline must be maintained, that sail.
On ing to ther neglect ty society aud long Sub
lection to iawless rule, are sometimes mutiUous
aud endeavor bs violence TO redress their real or
imaginary wrongs, what excuse is this f,r bruia
ard laeless de-potism! Is 1t not known TO l
who know anything of the government OF meu
that fiji m decision, combined with geutleness aud
kindBt Sc, are always efficient in the management
aad control of the most desperate characters, and
that IL is ouly weak tyrants, who distiust their
own capacity to enforce 'utiectiou that resort TO
cruei and unusual punshments! Moreover, cases
OF mutiny, after all. of rare occurrence, for
thoss engaged ia them know that the courts will
do HesB jss,ce, whereas the manning. Gripping
and killing Of sesmep by commanders are of fire.
queut scurrepce and in nine cases out of ten,
punished. This talk of mutiny is often mere
pretezt 10 extenuate the exercise Of cruel aud
desp0tie temper There are hundreds OF shipmas-
tiers whose obty, respect aid even love them.
who never in The course of their lives indicted
any inhuman punishment.
Congress ought to paes the most stringent laws
for the protection of seamep, and tie courts IF
the country to execute these laws without tsar,
flvJr or affection
asm Mr. Letcher.