WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1856
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to supply their places. Captain Smith was the furnishing officer to supply accommodations and other things necessary; and they insulted him in a correspondence which they had with him, or at least Mr. Du Pont did, for I am speaking of him especially. Mr. Bayard. It is untrue. Mr. Houston. I say he insulted Captain Smith. Mr. Bayard. In making that statement, will the honorable Sen- ator tell us upon what the allegation rests? Mr. Houston. On the correspondence. Mr. Bayard. In the correspondence, Captain Smith himself says that the letter of Lieutenant Du Pont was perfectly re- spectful. Mr. Houston. The Commodore did not. Mr. Bayard. I have read the letter, and, if the honorable Sen- ator can make insult of it, he has a power of perversion greater than that which he has already exhibited in the Senate. Mr. Houston. I do not know how times are now, for it is long since I have been subordinate to rules and regulations; but it struck me, when I read it, that at one time, in 1812, 1813, 1814, or up to 1818, it would have been considered insubordinate to a superior in the Army, and I supposed it would be the same in the Navy. At all events, Commodore Hull, by the return of these gentlemen, felt himself humiliated and degraded. Here is what the Secretary of the Navy said in his letter to these officers: "Had this combination succeeded in attaining its object, here would have been an end of that power which the laws have con- fided to the head of the Navy Department, and that respect and subordination so essential to the service; the direction of the Navy would have reverted to those whose province it is to receive and obey orders; and a combination of officers might at all times drive the Department from any measure it thought proper to adopt." He is speaking of facts within his own knowledge; and this he could not take back when he wrote the exculpatory letter to Commodore Hull, predicating upon their application; and if Mr. Du Pont did not do it I must have overlooked something in the correspondence, for I did not wish to read it all, as it was very voluminous; and, besides, I had a dread of him, for I had read his official report at San Jose, of which I will speak directly. [Laughter.] It is remarkable in its way. · Now he speaks of Du Pont's letter, and I say he never took this back. Mr. Paulding says:
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