The Writings of Sam Houston, Volume VI

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WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1856

260

incompetency, either of mind or body, unless the inefficiency of the gentleman was such that it was impossible to retain him. This is admitted by these very gentlemen themselves. They say: "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'; a pro- vision in the law inserted and insisted upon by the people's im- mediate representatives." The people, as i: have before rem~rked, knew nothing about it-cared nothing about it. The members of Co11gress were in the same position in which the people were, and represented them very faithfully-neither the people nor their representa- tives thought anything about the consequences. This article abounds in points. There is a richness, a marrow in it, that is worth looking at. Let me read another extract: "If it be no injustice to remove an officer who cannot discharge his duties, it is surely not illiberal to give him the full leave-pay of his rank, when doing nothing; and, if his sensitive honor shrink from receiving pay without rendering service, the law sat- isfies even this scruple of a high nature, by reserving the liability to duty at the call of the President; and the emergencies of active warfare may well occasion many a demand for experience and skill in dock-yards and shore-batteries, fitting out flotillas, and organizing men for victory, which will satisfy the longing for active service which the note of war will awaken in the oldest naval heart." It appears, then, that the men who are not fit for active serv- ice, according to the board's view, are in time of war to be relied on for their experience, and for that purpose are subject to be recalled by the President to active duty, but inhibited from pro- motion. That is their notion of honor and justice, and the pride of a military man who loves his rank better than he does his life; for it is for position, and the consciousness of it, that he will fling away his life and trust it to the enemy a thousand times. Yet you tell him by your law that he cannot have that rank and promotion, but he may be recalled to service on the retired list. He may go and fight a battle; he may gloriously defend a post; he may give his life if he chooses; but it must be with the con- sciousness in his dying moments that, if he had survived this glorious achievement, and if it had been possible to avoid this sacrifice of )ife, the road of promotion would be blocked-eter- nally blocked from him. Who will fight your battles under such

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