sccurit ies which they offered and of which I coul1I make no use. I name it only, because the fact of my rejecting the offer may be named lo you. They required lo be cornmis:;ionccl as the officers of the ship &c. Now whether they were competent or not, I cannot pretend lo say, and while I admit that a Government straightened for means, may, and sometimes for the sake of gelling them, must bend a little from the course which true policy would dictate if she were nol so circumstanced. Yet in this case no means were offered, and only very vague security spoken of, amounting in my estimation to noghing. But if they had been offered and an extreme necessity did not exist for the acceptance, I should have rejected them whiJe coupled with the acceptance, was a condition to make appointments, the propriety of which I could be no judge. Jf the secretary of the Navy cannot be free to promote merit alone, the character of the Navy will soon be such that gen llemen, and men of honor, will leave it, for men in this world expect lo he judged 1,y the company they keep. If you admit unworthy men to office, unworthy men will have them all, for the worthy will not hazzard being classed with those for whom they have no respect, for the sake of office. Officers of the U.S. Navy have no temptation to hold office for the pay only. Men of their characters and talent generally, _could do better, but they value the honor of the station vaslly more than the pay-Suppose however the case be reversed. The pay no temptation, and the post dishonorable, what chance would there be to obtain officers to be relied on? certainly none. Therefore I think both in the Navy and army, loo much pains cannol be taken, lo make the holding of office an evidence of meril in the Officer. Then the Texian Star will be worn with pride, otherwise it will be shuncd. l3ut to return lo another reason for my being the more unwilling to make an effort lo fit out the said vessel (Do not tmderstancl me as saying the want of character, or honor-or any thing of the kind, in the individuals proposing operated with me, hut that I knew nothing of them, or did Lhe Secretary of the Navy who was hcre)-the Liberty was here and we find it extremely difficult lo raise the means of cquiping her, and while you have not the means of manning and equipping those now in the service, it is only weakening yomsclves to divide your means among a grcatl'r number of i-hips. Again my opinion is that the next expenclilurt· should he for a large ~hip capable of combating with any lhing
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