24,6
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1856
inclusive; how the said masters have been employed; and what the difference between leave and waiting orders pay of such mas- ters and an equal number of passed midshipmen, from which they were promoted. [Mr. Mallory objected to the consideration of the resolution.] 1 Congressional Globe, 1st Sess., 34th Cong., Part 1, 1855-1856, pp. 617, 618. 2 Stephen Russell Mallory, Senator from Florida, and chairman of the Sen- ate Committee on Naval Affairs. See Dictionary of Amc1·ican Biography, XII, 224-226; also Biographic.al Di?-ectory of the Ame1·ican Congress (1928), 1284. REMARKS CONCERNING CHARGES AGAINST NAVAL OFFICERS, MARCH 10, 1856 1 Mr. President, I do not consider anything a private matter which concerns the public interest of the Navy or the Army of the United States. If the honorable chairman and members of the Committee on Printing have not time to examine responses made to calls of the Senate, so as to determine upon the propriety or impropriety of publishing them, that is nothing to me. I called for the information communicated by this report for the purpose of ascertaining what course had been pursued on a ques- tion of great moment to the Navy. The Senate was informed by the Honorable Secretary of the Navy, that the records of the Department were furnished for the guidance of the late retiring board in their action. I wished to obtain, for the enlightenment of the Senate, such portions of that intelligence as might affect the subject which has already been, and I presume will be more, thoroughly discussed before this body. After examining the document, I shall be able to determine whether it will be proper to publish a larger or smaller number for the use of the Senate and the public at large; but at present, I shall be satisfied with the publication of the usual number. There are many channels through which it can reach the public, if it be important; and in the course of discussion on the action of the late board I presume that the whole subject will be laid before the public. It is for the purpose of having a proper under- standing of the questions arising out of the conduct of the retir- ing board that I have made a number of special calls on the Navy Department for information. In addition to the call that has been made, which has produced so much infelicity or trouble to the chairman of the Committee on Printing, I have a few more to present, which I will send to the Secretary's desk.
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