New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-04-14

zone Dul l0n0Ttolc Inch were IOlcIutco III IL. Dus
of late years for reasons which We will not stop TO
consider such change in this regard seems to
have taken place that the name Of American sea-
captain is fast becoming only another name for
sea- rufxan and q BLACKBOARD. The charge is $
sweeping one, and unquestonably unjust As to tho
great msjority of the profession; but so long a. IN
every feet which visits foreign ports there are TO
be found few of the rufisnly and brutal sort of
matters who are recognized as toerable among
their peers, who can find employment among hon.
| orabe merchants at home, and who go unwhipped
Of public apprehension, it is inevitable that such
| men shall mske the reputation which waits upon
American captains. The hanging Of one of them
in Epglsnd for the murder Of one of his crew;
| the conviction Of another OF cowardly cruelty
toward bis men in an East India voyage,
will 90 more to destroy the popular belief in the
frankns,s and generosity of the sailor than eau be
built up again by quarter of century Of the
trsditionsry Iea.csptain. And more than this
such men are looked upon not merely as represen-
tstyes Of class, but representatives. Of national
character. The fact 10 one well worthy the con-
sideratiOn of the owners Of ships well OF those
who command them. The remedy is in their
hands.
In the case before US, Mr.. Roberts WAS assaulted
by Capt SouIe Of the Uncle Toby, because the
Vice Consul bad given judgmen. against him and
hi, officers on the complaint Of the crew, of cruel
and unusual treatment. 1.-THE unhnching and
persevering manner" says The Mail, sin which
" Mr. Roberts has revealed the horrible condition
/" Of things on board some American vessels, has
"procured him the cordial hatred of certain class
90 We have been aware, for
" some time, that one or two American cap
{" tains had expressed an intention of carrying off
" Mr.. Roberts, and COW hiding him" The repu-
tation of the American marine, in China, is evil
IDENTIFY not one which fstter our nstiOna vanity
and not as we happen to know, what it was twenty
years $50 in those waters.
To assault Judicial officer for decision upon
the bench is monstrous aud uDjustifable Whatever
the provocaton in any civil ed community. la this
case the provocation was no stronger than any
dead Rabbit" or "Shoulder Hitter might feel
for being .ent to Blackwels Island for an agra
waited assault upon an inoAending wayfarer. Capt
Soule shipped, in Liverpool, crew Of seventeen
men-hs previous crew having all run away from
the ship in that port-fourteen of whom appeared
before the Vice Consul at Hong Kong with CON-
plant of cruel and unusual treatment A report Of
the trial is before u.s. and we do not remember ever
10 have seen stronger evidence that the Uncle
Toby was what sailors call 90 hell afoa." than
this press nts to US. To seize man up to the main
rigging, and give him dozen or more, whenever
the proper discipline required it, was the old
fashioned method, but which is abolished now in
our Navy as an unnecessary and cruel punishment
for grown men, who may be sup posed to be reason
able creatures In the merchant marine, the law,
we believe still considers such discipline as proper.
1t must have however, that much show of being de-
lberate and judicial action. But on board the Uncle
Toby, ceremony was dispensed with. Capt.
Joseph T. Soue, bis first officer, Mr.. j. b.
Soule, and his second officer, Dir. George
w. Soule, enforced the discipline OF their
ship by knocking men down with cspstan-bars; BY
beating them with Delaying pins; BY stamping on
them with heavy boots; by kicking them in the
head and face; by setting the dog on them. 1.-THE
"frstmate knocked down Eben Folks, and stamped
"on him; he mashed his mouth; blood came out
"of his ears; the man lay on deck fifteen minutes
"he never got up himself" "The second mate
"knoeked down Peter Solme, and jumped on
"him, kicked him, knocked him as if he were
ga drum, and threw hot coffee on him. They
"beat him all that day, from to 8 in the morn
"ing; at IL he was beat again; at he beat
"bim with his fist. The first and second mates
"did most of the beating" "Tne csptan kicked
Anderson Define three times in the head,
"once above the temples; he had hard shoes on;
" the blood ran down on his shoulders" Such isthe
nature of the evidence and this is the sort of life
the poor fellows led for q voyage Of four months
and fifteen days. Nor was there any essentially re-
butting evidence. As Mr. Roberts says in his
decision: /" The defense consists principally OF ad-
missions on the part of the captain and FIRST mate,
" accompanied with some declarations which har-
"monize well enough with cruel practices. The
"csptan admits the men were hsbitually beaten
with Delaying pins. The mate commenced bis
" evidence by stating that he did not expect to De
believed, and concluded by stating that if he had
" really been guilty Oft certain assault, be should
" think it justifable 10 deny it," Accordingly, he
decided that the compliments be discharged with
e1tr. wages, amounting to ei6i so. FJr this,
Can't. Soule when he next met the Court, attempted
TO carry out the Uncle Toby discipline, aud
fell upon it with a cane. Whether the ship got
another crew, We do not learn; but she and her
captain have earned reputation abroad which, we
trust. we have done something to extend at home.
II is for our merchants ard shipmssters TO say
whether they will suffer il TO attach to the whole