The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-03
DEFENCE or sHIpmasreRs.
TO rHR EDITOR OF THE HERALD.


TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Every class OF society in the country in days OF
social progress has its special champions from the resi-
dents OF Fifth avenue and Madison square TO the freed
men OF Mississippi including the Chinese Of California
excepting mat best abused and most neglected OF all
classes, the officers OF the merchant marine They have
no standing in court they have never made themselves
felt In politics, candidate for Office has ever sought
their support or confessed knowedgeof their ex-
istenca 1t is only whom champion Of reform
wishes to s'spread himself on Aacricaa commerce
that this despised class is permitted the
surface 70 receive the kicks cuffs and curses SO literally
bestowed upon it by every reformer OF theday Nearly
every newspaper IN the country does prove,
week after week, that they are perfectly incom-
duties Thew are brutal oowardy Ind mureror .a1 IN
their treatment to the unfortunate sailors entrusted TO
their charge Instances arc known, though they are
rare, IN which some Of them have beer charged with
disordery conduct and II it does appear that any Of
this class has ever been convicted of burglary high
the reporters Of The press is it not rather DYING to
their deporabe ignorance. which preclldes IN "a from
Tue relnea society o. The professors q thosi useful
the individual members OF the class itsefg lhe fact
thai no champion has ever appeared 70 protect hem IN
their rights Is proof enough that they have NJ rights
which any man. white or black Is bound 10 aspect
In this very enlightened age, when no man CAB whip
his horse without being called 10 account forEt, any
man throw his stone at them and feel thathe has
done meritorlous act When their services were
necessary the Hon. Gideon Wells said the
breaking out of the rebellion, that wien q
large portion Of the naval officers deserted their
flag and became traitors to their country theirbaces
speedily llied by experienced shpmastors aid on
Of the merchant servlcs performed th{r du-
ties moro efficiently and faithfully. This Is cetainy
men. In another OF his reports he says:.ut most of
all do commend to the gratitude and praise of their
government and country the officers and menpf the
naval service. In my last annual report SAID bat in
their hands the historic Of the America1 navy
had been elevated and augmented. Another var of
Their heroic and triumphant service authorizes AID i'm
pcls me now to state that country ever owed higher
appreciation 10 its than Is justly ourzP Re-
member ibis e said Of the navy, seyen-eigh.hs the
OF the country We were told by writer in the HRALD
some months ago that shipmasters woulygno-
rant or the theory and practice Of navigation But
during the rebellion, when the United States NAVY
larger than /. probably viii again. the nlyiga.
ting officer in nearly every ship selected from noug
TO doubt the above sweeping assertion. II theyhave
shown inconpotency in seananshp the present writer
would like 10 learn whore their supcrors to be
found; certainly not in tho United States Navy d the
present day. Nor Is he aware Of the fact thattheir
mercal nations of Europe II they are brutal and crue
70 their seamen 1t may be alleged in their defence that
they are endowed by nature with goody share " all
tho vices and virtues inherent In the human heart and
are subjected to greater trials aud temptations THAI any
other class Of men in existence Mon living asot are
protected by laws which they Immediately
resort TO-, thereby lcssening the temptation OF
taking the law into their own hands If
an employee in the HERALD establishment Is insdaent
negIecs bis duty or refuses TO obey orders he can be
medatey paid his wages and dsoharged and n ne gives
any fartaer trouble foreman may go 70 the door en-
gage the services OF policeman aud have tho delinquent
elected at once, filing his place immediately by some
one VINO will be moro careful Of giving ofenca The
is different at Tho master 81 ship Ii sent by
his owners on long voyage, is expected to Make II
speedily and safely and Is responsible FOR the condition
loses his reputation shpmster and very soon his
employment Now suppose he has disorderly and tnu
tinous crew rs sometimes occnrs Il Is not necessary
that they should actually resort 10 violence 70 wars
him and officers in their Of the ship thus giving
excuse FOR harsh measures ia endeayorg to restore
discipline. a crew may be provoking IN thcr manner
stow they should quick in their movements over
jealous IN their duty Ut times wcn zeal IL an mpcd mont
and IN a hund<cd rliag ways may provoke attacks or
abuse and violence, Tor the solo purpose of assessing
heavy damages for assault aud battery when tho snip
rcurns to port They cannot be discharged at sea and
their place supplied VITA better men, nor are The police
available. The captain must depend Oh himself and his
officers to discipline, anu no cannot place the
offenders in irons without obgin. the Innocent portion
OF the TO do double duty Aud when 1t is emcm-
bered that officers and work meyer lees than twelve
the voyage, u cannot be expected that any OF them
should be obliged to DO the work of denquents. The
Tact Is marine laws require revision, and our ship
masters and their mates should not be blamed for the
faults OF our lawgves. but to have reform.
We schools under the control OF the
State educate boysfor of Of nnrine
This may DO excellent idsa but Is refinement
or lily 10 oer Inducements 10 boys 70 devote their
llves 20 service ch VI present offers nothing but
starvation and want Of employment TO men who have
already devoted their whole lives TO H. WIN the pro-
motcrss OF this scheme secure permanent employment
aud good salaries tleso boys they have become
experienced and competent cccrsy II they can do 50,
would u not be as wcil TO turn their attention TO tho
thousands OF competent who since she rebellion
have been thrown out OF employment, and are now
starving streets, and by whose services cur
merchants have become enrlchod The commerce OF
the country Is rr,e enough ~ give employment 10 all OF
them, but unfortunately, IL has been transferred 10
foreign bottoms, may be by referring the
shipping News'' OF the HERALD.
nat want az present Is no, competent officers, but
employment Tor them. II the Chamber of Commerce
eiect this they Will the gratitude Of class Of
who have spent tho prime Of life la their ice
and who IN the most abjcct want.