The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-12-30
The Sailors.

The commerce OF the world = estimated ia
1 require three million six hundred thousand
able bodied men to be constantly travorsina
4 The ocean, Of whom seven thousand Ave hum
/ dred die every year. What an amazing move
ment! How few of those who enjoy the fruits
Of commerce think Of the vast army that II
ever moving on to" achieve its triumphs.
Great cities are built up; manufacturing
towns spring, like mushrooms, from what was
yesterday wilderness; population redoubles /;
national wealth assumes vast proportions, yet
the agencies which produce these marvellous
results are almost as completely hidden from
view a. the coral insects which, in the fluctu-
ating waves, find material for solid and per-
manent creations and compel the deep itself
to offer foothold and habitation to man.
Traversing the globe of waters day and
night-never resting, never sleeping-moves
on the great Army of Commerce, larger than
| the army Of XERxEs, larger than the combined
| armies of Europe and America at this day.
This immense force is made up of men who
| have, in general, no habitation but the ship !;
who have no sweet and permanent home as
sociations, who pass their existence under the
iron discipline of the seas, varied occasionally
by the fierce license of the shore. Exposed to
| arctic cold and tropic heat, battling forever
with storms and perils, the life of each and all
separated by only thin plank from death,
deprived Of the consultations of religious wor-
ship and the humanizing influences of wo-
mans society, there is no vocation of man.
kind which appears to be so destitute of all
that gives security, happiness and refinement
to existence. We have often wondered that
the Philanthropy Of the Age which roams
over the face Of the earth like roaring lion,
seeking aliment for its voracious benevolence,
millions OF the human race, who present such
y wide and fruitful field for the display of it's
smiable and benefcent propensities.
We might expect those rugged millions, III
Tie ranks of commerce, who are exposed to such
perpetual hardships and dangers those men
who, while building up civilization, are bereft
of all civilzing influences, to be the most reck
less, brutalized and miserable Of mankind.
Reckless they generally are, and sometimes
brutalized, yet there are virtues peculiar to
seamen which seem to be struck out by their
very collision with peril and privation, and
which flash out like the phOsphorescent waves
that at night break about the bows of their
ships in sparkling showers. Amidst multi
tude of sins, generosity courage, humanity,
remain intact, and there is in the toughest
sailors heart a soft place. where the love of
mother and of sweetheart lies nestled and sur.
wives long voyages anu cruel oppression, and
spreads its dove-like plumage, bright and un-
ruffled, at the first sight of land The profound
and disinterested sympathy of sailors with
human suffering, in all its shapes, the readi-
ness which they exhibit to peril, and even sur
render, their own lives for the deliverance of |
others, is scarcely to be accounted for on any |
principle of human action. The memorable
wreck of the brig Somers, (the scene Of Mac
KENNELS slaughter of young SPENCER and |
others,) is only, one illustration of the remark
able qualities of the men who ego down to
The sea in ships On that occasion, the brig
was capsized by squall, and the few boats
which could be got clear of the vessel would
only accommodate the officers and a small por-
lion Of the crew. The men cheerfully per-
nitted the officers to occupy the boats, and so
lar from having any contest with each other
or the remaining Places one of them, large
nan, who had obtained a seat in a boat, upon
being told that he occupied the room of two
men, promptly, and without q murmur, re-
urned to the sinking vessel, where he and the
est of his comrades went down calmly and
to their deaths.
Is it not wonderful that the civilized world
which owes its comforts, luxuries, wealth and
power to the hardihood, labors and sacrifices
# such class of men, has never yet organized
measures, at all adequate to the end, for the
of their physical, intellectual and
moral welfare?