266
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1856
should not be stricken down for the reasons intimated by one of the gentlemen of the board. But what was the situation of the board? They were all in- dorsed by the Secretary of the Navy as they were detailed for that service; and therefore, of course, all doubts of their merit were put out of the question. Now, sir, there are in this matter some of the most striking and singular coincidences of which it is possible to conceive. It is a singular coincidence that these men should have been detailed, and that most of them should have been associated formerly, and that this detail should have been under the circumstances under which it occurred. The hon- orable Senator from Delaware says that it was against Captain Du Pont's desire that he served on the board, and I must take it for granted, because he says so. I have no doubt such is the impression on his mind; but, when the facts are investigated, the same conclusion cannot be arrived at by any one who has not a personal acquaintance with Captain Du Pont, and has not received his personal assurance to that effect. Now, sir, I like to see things work evenly, smoothly, clearly, and fairly; and to show that no charge of delinquency of a public character had ever been made against Lieutenant Maury, I will, in a very short time, advert to the circumstances; but in the mean time I must relate an anecdote connected with this subject. What I shall relate comes from such a source that it cannot be doubted; and I will name the officers for fear that an unjust reflection or a compliment-I will not say which-might be cast on others. Commanders Magruder, Pendergrast, Du Pont, and others, who (at least the last two named) became members of the board, were, as they often were, in conclave in the office of the "INSPEC- TOR OF ORDNANCE"-not that the gallant old officer who presided in that office united with them, for he did not-as I said, these officers were there, and very busily engaged in conversation; and, on the entrance of the "Inspector of Ordnance," they rose and left the room, when he picked up the Naval Register, and ob- served on the margin the names of some thirty or thirty-two com,• manders marked with the letters R., F., D. ('reserved, fu1·loughed, dropped). He remarked, "You have been hard on your grade"; Magruder, who had remained when the other conspirators left- (having dotted their commanders)-took the Register and ob- served, "We were merely amusing overselves by looking over the list" ;-an agreeable amusement, certainly! The conference was
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