WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1856
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down; it shall not confront the majesty of a free people, and will not be countenanced and fostered by my vote on any occa- sion while I live; but it has been done by this board. A majority of the captains were family relatives. I am not going into the privacy of families, but this is a public matter, and I have a right to refer to it. Not only were the captains related to each other, but most of them had relatives, subordinate to them, either mid- shipmen or lieutenants, who were promoted by the operation of the board. Were they impartial judges? Were they compe- tent, honestly, to adjudicate the rights of noble men, who had fought for their country, who had gallantly bled for it, and who had borne aloft its proud banner to the breeze floating over Brit- ish hulls? Is that to be countenanced? Could no other disinter- ested men in the Navy have been obtained? Surely, no one will make such a statement. Do not understand me as casting blame on the Secretary of the Navy. He is a very polite and elegant gentleman, and per- haps he did not inquire into these things. I blame these men for not each telling him, "Sir, my situation is too delicate. If I should find it necessary to remove one above me, it would leave me liable to the imputation of making a vacancy to give place to myself and get promotion. If I remove one who is subordinate to me, and advance my relatives, nepotism will be imputed to me. My honor would be impeached by serving on this board, and I will vindicate it by a just and generous course-just to myself, generous to my fellowmen, generous to men of chivalry, whom I esteem, and who deserve my esteem." It is suggested to me that the morning hour has expired; but still I ask leave to proceed with my remarks.... Mr. Houston. Mr. President, I will read another extract from this delectable publication. It says: "What, then, does Congress charge the board with the duty of performing? The law assumes what the country knows to be the fact, that there are many officers in the Navy in the grades mentioned, incompetent to the prompt and efficient discharge of all their duties ashore and afloat. The law has charged the board to examine into the efficiency of the officers of the Navy, and to report those who, in their judgment, are so incapable of per- forming all their duty." Sur,ely it was their duty to recommend the retirement of those who were incapable of performing sea duty, but there must be
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