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WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1856
Captain Levy, of the Navy. He was the first man who discoun- tenanced flogging in the Navy; and he has finally triumphed. Bartlett was a temperance man, and recommended dispensing with grog in the Navy. This was offense enough to some gentle- men to incur reprobation, and to brand him as a victim necessary for the sacrifice. Yes, sir, that is it. If Mr. Du Pont had such great solicitude and anxiety for Mr. Bartlett, is it not strange, as a member of the board, having the Secretary's ear, that he did not prevail on the Secretary to give Bartlett a trial, and let him vindicate his character? He requested it promptly. Why not give him a court of inquiry or a court-martial to enable him to exonerate himself? Mr. Du Pont had sufficient influence with the Secretary, undoubtedly, if the Secretary needed a prompter and was disposed to serve him. But no, his feelings of friend- ship were all dormant until they were awakened by the responsi- bility devolved on him as a member of the naval board! But, sir, I desire to continue the reading of the article of which I have already given some extracts: "Of course clamor will follow the report of the board if it be searching and efficient; but worse clamor will follow those who fail to report searchingly and efficiently; for this act is no sudden freak of Congress;"- If it is no sudden freak, I should like to know when was it deliberately considered. -"it is the preferred among multitudes of rejected prede- cessors; it united many conveniences and avoided many objec- tions; it was fully debated, thoroughly considered, and scanned by hostile interests . . . " But the American people are both practical and liberal, and therefore, while providing for remov- ing 'dry-rot,' and substituting sound material, they took good care of the relics and memorials of former glories and long serv- ices rendered the Republic. They justly discriminate. It is only those whose incompetency is the result, not of time, nor natural decay, nor hard service, but of their own fault or excess, who 'are to be stricken altogether from the rolls.' " Lieutenant Bartlett was dropped at a time when the Secretary had detailed him for active duty. He was an accomplished and an efficient officer on ship. Now, remember, it was only for inef- ficiency that they had any right to touch him. The officers of the Navy were amenable to the laws of the country, and to the prerogative of the Executive, if they failed in their duty; but the board had no power to touch a man for any offense unless
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