WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1856
267
consequently broken up. They were, as Antony would say, "dot- ted." But he had counted the thirty-two names of the persons who had been proscribed, and this was weeks be/ore the board met. Yet, it is said everything was decided by a vote after the board met in June. The Secretary of the Navy detailed the offi- cers only a few days previous to the meeting of the board-the 5th of June. On the 14th, two of the members arrived at New York, and were immediately summoned from there. These two were Commodore McCauley and Captain Stribling._ They were summoned, and they sat on the board.· I shall have something to say of them presently. I wish to do justice to everybody. In order to do justice we must understand the case; and for that purpose I have the infor- mation requisite to place the character of one of the members of this board in a situation that will enable the Senate to deter- mine whether the decision of officers, such as he, could be of that impartial, pure, and immaculate character necessary to give it weight and influence, not only with the American Senate, but with the American community. [Here a colloquy between Houston and Mallory about the names of members of the board.] Mr. Houston. I cannot speak positively as to names, but I will give them as I understood them. I have no memorandum, and may be incorrect. They were Magruder, Du Pont, Pender- grast, and others. [Other interruptions by Mallory.] Mr. Houston. I am not certain as to the names of all, but . there were two or three of them who were afterwards on the board. Now, we must look at a very important matter in rela- tion to Captain Stribling. I call the attention of the honorable chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs to the circum- stances. I believe he says that when a midshipman quits the Naval Academy he is considered qualified to command a frigate. [Mr. Mallory. Theoretically.] Mr. Houston. But if he cannot do it practically it h~ of no use; for theory never did anything in the world worth speaking of. Are they qualified to do it practically? Now, sir, I intend to consider the case of a gentleman who was a member of the board-a distinguished scientific gentleman-
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