WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1856
285
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in which he says : [A protest against surrendering command of the Pacific Squadron; he thinks the Secretary of the Navy wishes to humiliate him; and first impulse was to return to the United States.] That was Commodore Shubrick on the 6th of March, 1847, in the midst of the war. But what does he say further? I have the correspondence and I will ref,ld it, because it is of interest, and because the inuendoes can be as well explained by it as by any language I could use. [Houston read various letters from and to Shubrick concerning the command of the Pacific Squadron, all showing Shubrick's resentment over what he considered the unjustifiable action of the Secretary of the Navy.] Now, the inference is clearly left to be drawn from this cor- respondence, that the Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Bancroft, had treated Commodore Shubrick uncandidly, and had concealed from him any intimation of the fact that Commodore Biddle was to be commander on that station. He said that it was disingenuous, and, but for respect for the Department, he would say harder things. When he used such language, the inference is clear that he had been kept in ignorance in relation to it. Was that the case? When he sailed on the 7th of August, 1846, his orders bore this addenda different from the orders which are generally given to commodores: "Should Commodore Biddle be in the Pacific off the shores of Mexico at the time· you arrive there, you will report yourself to him; and, as long as he remains off the coast of Mexico, you will act under his direction in concert with him, communicating to him these instructions." Mr. Pratt. What is that document? Mr. Houston. Mr. Bancroft's instruction to Shubrick when he sailed, in August, 1846. Thus it will be seen how the Secretary was chargeable with treating him uncandidly, and to what extent insubordination was carried on by the commodore himself, when he charged the Secretary of the Navy with disingenuousness and a want of candor. He went further, and said there was no occasion for the Columbus in the Pacific. How did he know but what England or some other Power had formed a treaty of alliance with Mexico, and that we should require all the fleet of the United States, and every squadron we had disposable, to de- fend our coast? We find Commodore Shubrick using his influ- ence to prevent one of the most excellent and efficient vessels in
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