The National tribune., 1889-04-11
TIE FOREC4STLE
What Our Naval Heroes Have to Say
About Their Cruises.


been cast upon men who served In the United
States navy during the war. Ii has been
thought that felony was the only cause that
could deprive 4 citizen Of his rights, but the
Hudson County IN. J. judges and, it is said
others. have decided that naval service Is not
evidence of honorable Government service:
that navy men have never, as such, been aq-
mitted to citizenship. As this is direct affair
Of the GAR concerning every comrade
honor, l. knowing your papers interest," IN the
veterans, ask for the insertion OF the following;
We The disfrRnchised naval veterans OF the war
earnestly petition Congress for tie passage OF
bin 10 canaiize the rights Of sailors and soldiers,
and TO amend Section 2l65 Revised Statutes Of the
United states so as TO read army and navy
This act directs the courts TO accept honorable
discharges from the armies OF the United states as
evidence Of citizenship. The omission OF the wore
navy has been held by Judges beael, PaNtou
and Lppincott, Of the Hudson County tN.J@ Court
rs pretcxi for refusing 10 accept naval discharges
as evidence Of service under the Government enti-
ting TO citizenship.
On the great waters flowing into the port of New
York come many sailors. men who reside IN New
Jersey great light rises on the depths from the
raging fires Of the massive torch Upheld by inc
colossal statue OF Liberty Enlightening the World
bat the back Of the colossal IL turned toward the
Hudson County Courthouse he torch WORKS
mechanically. giving only an of glare.
The claim of this tribunal that Congress mao
never provided for the rights OF the sea army OF the
Union" although the above-quoted statute directs
the courts to accept honorable discharge from the
United States service evidence OF citizenship
nua the scene graphically described IN the New
York Herald Of Oct Is OF the naturalizlng OF ltal-
ians who could not speak English, through inter
prefers. renders the decision Of TINS court insup-
England denied the right Of American citizenship
60 sailors and Congress settled its record forever
their protector by declaring the war OF ISL
The intrepidity Of our tars secured the uDeondl-
tional surrender Of all such opinions. Herein lies
the most emphatic denial Of the pretext: that the
neglect Of Congress has made possible the depriva-
tlOn OF Our naval veterans TO citizenship congress
used the strongest argument ever devised. now
for their defense.
During the late war the sailors oaths of allegi-
ance were accepted by the Government as the only
means by which their services could be secured IN
tlfne Of need internationally United States con-
trol over foreign subjects was impossible. The
performance Of the naval trust Is the JOY OF history
the soil - = @'s-
Help the seanpnf The confscation OF their eiti-
zenship levels them with felons. The country
stands challenged for the defense Of its defenders.
III naval service can never acquire citizenship. are
not our dead seamen foreign TO the soil2 How can
their right TO the ensign over their graves De
d0ubteda
The honor Of our fathers has been upheld by rs.
We have fought the greatest OF fights and we have
won. Many are dead, and all are growing old. We
may never fight again Attention 10 the honor Of
dead. educate our children TO take our places
fail out and secure the defense Of the Nation
for all time The sears and blood OF our land and
seR armies are the eolors in our ag-the stars and
stripes. We have been given the stripes FIRST We
have them 20 now We are IN distress.
This Hudson County (N. j. court for quarter
OF q century has not recognized naval as United
States service. l. this not long enough, this pre-
oedence?
During the action at Mobile Bay the monitor
hlekRpOO OF Farragutt's feet went down with los
Hlah Duty as american seaInen took precedence
Of their lives.
That The confiscation Of the rights Of our sea vet
ersls viii ever be popular Is denied by the march
3Dg hosts o. giittering, helmeted, plumed men-the
Grand Army Of the Republic, and the assemblage
Of the widowed and orphaned OF the late war. AS
they herald Memorial Day with reversed arms TO
vibration Grand ENbnn1f1ff- tne Eublued
funeral music myriad footsteps rythm, awakening
the echoes Of the raveyards 10 the warmth of liv-
lns sympathy. In the silence under the seas the
listing flowers Of the ocean enwreath the uncofined
sasiOr at his gun.
Indorsed by Naval Post, No. Io9. New Jersey, and
many other Posts.
Through the efforts of Hon. Frank LAWYER a
bis was offered to place the navy in Section
2lG6 Of the Revised Statutes. It was read
twice. ordered printed and sent to the Judiciary
Committee.
In union the soldier and sailor upheld one
h0nor-the National. In union they won. In
prosperity the Nation forgot the sailor. and be
was Er0nged by mislegislatiou. For their
efforts 70 place the navy in the United States
Statutes, this Post Naval. No 104l, on behalf
Of the GAR and American seamen, tender
thanks 10 Shipmate Wm. E. LAWYER, Of this
Post, and Hon. Frank LAWYER, Member from
Chicago. BY thus insuring a reunion of rights
Alb lNA4uClB4e lflALklEhbC-Lu sOlQlert the
sailor and the Nation-may again march on in
peace as they once went down to war.-NAYAL
PosT, No, I04, New Jersey.
Correcting the Biography Of Admiral Rodgers.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I am an in
valid Of some I've years duration. get your
pager sec0nd-handed; and, of course, am anx-
ious il should publish good. straight stuff, yard
wide and all wool. Ia your biography of Ad-
miral Rodgers you have made big mistake.
If had been made about a General of the late
EnPieasantness it would have raised howl
from all points of the compass I have been
waiting for someone to rectify your mistake,
but there doesn't seem to be anyone to put you
right, 50 i viii have to do is myself. First
] can't find any mention Of Rodgers that
served under EarTagut during the war; second,
Rodgers did not command the Franklin while
FaEraguts flag few aboard of her; third, Capt
PenEock put the shipin commission at Charles
ton Navy Yard, Mass, and sailed it into the
last port Farragut visited before starting fol
home, which was Gibraltar. Capt. Pennock
got his flag then, and was left in command Of
the Mediterranean Squadron as Commodore
FarEagDts Chief Of STAFF, William Z. Leroy
brought the Franklin home God rest his soul
no finer man ever walked the quarterback *
New York, where she reftted took new crew
and returned TO the European station. witt
ReaE-Admiral Earl English, think, TO reliev,
Capt PenBock.-WILLIAM b. THOMPSON, Z
s. Steam Frigate Franklin, Canandaigua, n. Y
Expedition Up Black and 0uiohIta Rivers.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / was mucl
ibaerested in the suggestion of Shipmate John
son, Of the PaEnee. His idea of the Fore
castle is good one, and / have no doubt /
will wake up the old Tar" and bring to ligh
many a shell-back loaded to the guards wit
yarns that would interest the sailor BOYS
can see the old salty fellows give sniff Of con
tempt when I admit l was only fresh-wate
sailor but they must ali acknowledge that W
had lively time on our Western rivers.
! would like TO hear from some of the ship
mates who were in the expedition on Blacl
and Ouichita Rivers. The boys in gray alont
the river-banks made livery interesting for u
on that cruise.
hope some shipmate who has the gift of spin
ming good yarn will write up the expedition
IL consisted Of the following vessels. under tn
command Of Lieut.. Commander T. M. Ramsey
Fort Hiudman, Acting Lieut.. Pearce; Osagt
Acting Master Wright; Lexington, Lieu
Bache; Conestoga, Lieut.. Commander Sc
fridge; Cricket Acting Master Gorringe; Oui
chita Lieut. Commander Byron Wilson. Th
expedition had nothing but sharpshooters 1
contend with until they reached the town {
Trinity. There they were attacked by bat
terry Of field pieces, but, Oh my what mistak
the J0hnnies made that time. The OUGHT
alone had brOadsde Of 80 guns, and the wa
shell and shrapnel rained into that batter
and village was very discouraging. They di
not stand on the order of going but went