WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1853
403
are all that he represents them to be. The armories were originally carried on under the direction of the Secretary of War, and they were headed by civilians. They prospered in that condition. A change was made. That change did not increase the number of officers, but it called gentlemen from their ap- propriate duties in the line of the Army, thus devolving an undue amount of duty upon those who remained at their stations. These gentlemen now in command of these armories have been selected for that purpose. It will not be an inconvenience to them to return to their duty in the line of the Army. lt is no reflection upon them, because they only go back where they were intended by law, and by their rank to remain. If insinuations have been made, the action of the Senate would not change public opinion in relation to the matter, if that opinion is detrimental to the officers. An investigation I think has already taken place, and that has only been a source of additional clamor to that which previousl!Y existed, because it was a military investigation. Civilians complained that they were not heard or treated with courtesy on that occasion. The only way, in my opinion, is for the Senate to settle the question as has been done by the House of Representatives, where the immediate representatives of these districts of country were upon the :floor and were heard; where their views were con- sidered by their peers in the House. That House came to the conclusion that it was necessary to make this change, and to go back to the original plan of conducting these armories. That is all the House has done, and I am willing to sustain it in that... I wish these matters looked at in their true light. I made no reflections, and I want none made. I have not the pleasure to know Colonel Huger personally. I only know him from character as a gallant gentleman and as a capable officer. I know Colonel Ripley, and I know him to be a gentleman of intelligence and respectability. I imply no reflection on either of those gentlemen when I vote for the proposition as it comes from the House, giving the control of the armories to civilians. I am willing to retain these officers in the Army unscathed, in their appropriate spheres, for which they were intended. I cannot think it a compliment to detail any gentleman who belongs to the United States Army, and wears it insignia upon his shoulders or bears its sword upon his thigh, to say that he shall go nnd overlook a plantation or a parcel of hands or workmen either North or
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