It Is No Cause Of Complaint That The Testimony Of Seamen Against
Their Officers Is Viewed With Suspicion, And That Great Allowance Is
Made For Combinations And Exaggeration.
On the contrary, it is the
judge's duty to charge the jury on these points strongly.
But there
is reason for objection, when, after a strict cross-examination of
witnesses, after the arguments of counsel, and the judge's charge,
a verdict is found against the master, that the court should allow
the practice of hearing appeals to its lenity, supported solely by
evidence of the captain's good conduct when on shore, (especially
where the case is one in which no evidence but that of sailors could
have been brought against the accused), and then, on this ground,
and on the invariable claims of the wife and family, be induced
to cut down essentially the penalty imposed by a statute made
expressly for masters and officers of merchantmen, and for no
one else.
There are many particulars connected with the manning of vessels,
the provisions given to crews, and the treatment of them while at
sea, upon which there might be a good deal said; but as I have,
for the most part, remarked upon them as they came up in the course
of my narrative, I will offer nothing further now, except on the
single point of the manner of shipping men. This, it is well
known, is usually left entirely to the shipping-masters, and is
a cause of a great deal of difficulty, which might be remedied
by the captain, or owner, if he has any knowledge of seamen,
attending to it personally.
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