When Such
Commanders And Such Ships, As I Have Just Described, Shall Become
More Numerous, The Hope Of The Friends
Of seamen will be greatly
strengthened; and it is encouraging to remember that the efforts
among common sailors will soon
Raise up such a class; for those of
them who are brought under these influences will inevitably be the
ones to succeed to the places of trust and authority. If there is
on earth an instance where a little leaven may leaven the whole
lump, it is that of the religious shipmaster.
It is to the progress of this work among seamen that we must look
with the greatest confidence for the remedying of those numerous
minor evils and abuses that we so often hear of. It will raise
the character of sailors, both as individuals and as a class.
It will give weight to their testimony in courts of justice,
secure better usage to them on board ship, and add comforts to
their lives on shore and at sea. There are some laws that can
be passed to remove temptation from their way and to help them
in their progress; and some changes in the jurisdiction of the
lower courts, to prevent delays, may, and probably will, be made.
But, generally speaking, more especially in things which concern
the discipline of ships, we had better labor in this great work,
and view with caution the proposal of new laws and arbitrary
regulations, remembering that most of those concerned in the
making of them must necessarily be little qualified to judge
of their operation.
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