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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1856
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as far as I could, vindicate them, and repel and ignore the charges brought against them; but they have not sought me. What next? Towards the conclusion of this two-column arti- cle, I find this language : "The naval board is charged to scrutinize the men of the Navy, to name those unfit for every exigency of active service. The President is directed to remove such as are so designated from the active service list. If the board fail in its duty, Congress will find a remedy and a mode of executing it. More than one radical measure of reform has been proposed: four-year appoint- ments, vacating all commissions, and the like. The moderation of the people, of the majorities in Congress, and faith in the high-minded honor of naval officers, have prevented such rash courses.'' It is a pity that these considerations did not prevent the board from taking so rash a course as that which they have pursued. Confidence in the honor of naval officers would have saved some of the chivalry and elite of the Navy. Some of its proudest spirits have been sent adrift. Who are now in their places? Men of superior qualifications, superior merit, superior moral standing, or superior worth? Not at all ; but their places are vacated; they have not been properly filled. The article thus concludes: "But if Congress see that they not only have among them men who are inefficient, but also that the whole body is infected so as to be incapable of applying a remedy, they will find a short cut to the conclusion that there is little of the old material worth preserving. They may relieve themselves of the trouble of pick- ing the sound out of the rotten by cutting off all together.'' Sir, rather than submit to the action of this board, by which rank injustice has been perpetrated; rather than submit to the wrong which has been done to generous and manly spirits who have served their country; rather than suffer under the wounded feelings of honorable men, the blighted expectations and hopes of their families, their children dishonored, their wives' happi- ness destroyed and feelings crushed, I would vote to repeal- repeal-REPEAL every act that recognizes a Navy in the country, and would see every vessel scuttled to the bottom of the ocean. We can rebuild ships; we can obtain artisans and materials to replace our vessels; we have resources which could be thus ex- pended though it would take our surplus revenue. Still, sir, though we may have mints to coin silver and gold, we have no
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