292
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1856
Although he recovered from this, it furnished a pretext for strik- ing him down, because he was more gallant, more accomplished, than those who judged him. The temptation to the officers who served upon the board was too strong for human nature to resist. They were directly in- terested in the result. The Secretary of the Navy has endeav- ored to sustain their action by drawing examples from the Army. He urges, as an analogous case, that the Army was reduced under Mr. Madison, and that that was the origin of the system which has arisen. Why, sir, there is no more analogy between the two cases than there is between a common window and a sky-light . in form and appearance. After the war of 1812, when all were prepared to be disbanded, Mr. Madison selected three generals, ' whom he determined to retain in the Army of the United States, and constituted them a board to regulate and prune the Army, exercising their judgment in retaining and removing. In no other respect is there any analogy between that proceeding and this of the naval board. They could not by their action be promoted; but how is it in this case? Strange to say, gentlemen of the board were directly interested in its results. On this subject Commodore Stewart has said something which is worthy of notice and remembrance. He speaks as a man of sense and experience. He delineates_this subject in graphic and striking characters, that must convince every candid man who will impartially review the subject, that he has thoroughly examined it, and that he has examined his own heart-the heart of a soldier, a sailor, a gentle- man. From his investigation he came to the conclusion that it . was unsafe to entrust to officers even the subject of promotion alone. The board of which he was summoned as a member, and on which he refused to serve, was called to recommend the pro- priety of promoting, not by seniority, but by selection. He voted against it. He wished to sit with open doors; so did Commo- dore Jones and others; but we find that the president of the naval board was then in favor of closed doors, and that was effected on this occasion; but Commodore Stewart protested against any such proceeding at the time to which I have alluded. He always voted in the negative upon their action, and it failed. It was under the administration of Mr. Bancroft, Secretary of the Navy. The protest of Commodore Stewart, is as follows:
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