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WRITINGS OF S01 HOUSTON, 1856
had been ordered home by Commodore Hull, and had returned, by combination or otherwise, they made most explanatory and satisfactory reports. Yes, sir, the four gentlemen, Messrs. Godon, Pendergrast, Missroon, and Du Pont, made long reports, friends stepped forward no doubt, political influence was exerted, and they were ordered back. Their reputation would have been lost if they had not returned! And when the Secreta1·y ordered them back, he sent a letter to be read on the quarter deck of the ship, exculpatory of them so far as it could be. He did not contradict those charges which he had made himself, from his own per- sonal knowledge. But think you not that he had personal knowl- edge of those publications? The charge was such as should have brought dismissal to an officer, and for which his name should have been wiped from the register of the Navy. Certainly we all know that much. I know that such would be the case in the Army, and I presume the discipline of the Navy is equally rigid. Mr. Paulding never took back that charge, and when he ordered the officers to return, what did they do? They went all over Europe, traveling wherever it was most agreeable. They did not join the ship for five months, and then insulted Hull when he went on board his vessel. Mr. Clayton. Will the honorable Senator allow me to ask him what is his authority for saying that Du Pont went traveling all over Europe after being ordered back to the Ohio? Mr. Houston. His own letter, I think. Mr. Clayton. It is utterly untrue. Mr. Houston. I have not read all the letters; they are too long and explanatory for me. Mr. Clayton. Then you know nothing about it. Mr. Houston. Did he not make an apology and explanation?
Mr. Clayton. No, sir; he did no such thing. Mr. Houston. He made no explanation?
Mr. Clayton. He did not; I am speaking only of Du Pont. Mr. Houston. Well, I am glad that he did not. He had no apology, and the others made very bad ones; he is in a worse situation than I thought he was. [Laughter.] I must now be permitted to say a little about a combination or cabal which existed from the very time they first set foot on that vessel, before she left the port of New York; and they would have been ordered back at once, if it had not been supposed that it was too late to make the necessary transfers in order
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