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Wru:TINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1856
of a cruise, it would be their duty to say so, and leave the country to take care of the hero while supplying his place." Yes, sir; but if he was neither of these, and they were to say he was dumb and blind and old, the statement would be false. Sir, a hundred officers walk about these streets repelling the charge of incompetency. They are practical contradictions to it. Here we are told the duty of the board was to retire an officer when he was incompetent. It is only for that cause, or for · misconduct of a flagrant character, that he can be retired, fur- loughed, or dropped. Every one that is dropped feels that impu- tation on him. Let me give an instance. The other day my friend from Delaware stated that Captain Du Pont had written letters to Lieutenant Rhind and others for the purpose of getting a contradiction to rumors against Mr. Bartlett, of the Navy, one of the most intelligent, prompt, and sailor-looking fellows I ever saw-a gentleman who was selected by the Secretary of the Treasury to go to France, and was there for more than. two years, for the purpose of obtaining improved lights and light- house apparatus. He came home bearing a highly laudatory letter from our Minister, Mr. Mason, recommending him to the special consideration of the Secretary of the Treasury. He was again at sea performing his duty when he was stricken down and degraded, as unworthy of a place in the Navy. Not retired, not furloughed, but dropped entirely. That is Mr. Bartlett, to whom my friend alluded the other day, and whose character Cap- tain Du Pont was so anxious to vindicate that he wrote a letter about him; but the answer came too late, and he was dropped for other reasons, it is said. On a charge being made against him, by rumor, ten years ago, Lieutenant Bartlett demanded an investigation by court-martial or court of inquiry against his accusers. His demands were made to his superiors, and are there yet. He has from time to time demanded an investigation, a court of inquiry, or a court- martial, and it was not given him. Why? They who made the charges knew they could not prove them. The fact that he was continued on service shows that the rumors had no influence on the Secretary of the Navy or his commanders; and yet that man was dropped from the list of officers. Mr. Du Pont had written to different individuals to know if they knew anything about a certain transaction; but the answer, it is said, came too late! Bartlett is a fine officer; but he has one outrageous fault in the eyes of some gentlemen. He is similarly situated with
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