WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1856
303
Mr. Houston [to Pratt]. Mr. President, if I had a design to avail myself of any advantage growing out of the presentation of this subject, it would make no difference to me whether the Senate passed or .1·ejected the 1·esolution; but I have no such de- sign. The gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Pratt], according to my understanding, misapprehends the subject. If, as he sup- poses, there is correspondence between Captain Ritchie and any officer of the board which led to the court-martial, it is informa- tion which I do not possess. I never heard of such a thing, and I believe it does not exist. I want information in relation to the charges and the trial as it took place. If the Senate, having a subject before it with which this is directly connected, can dis- pense with information which will cast a light on that subject, I can dispense with it as well as any other member. Doubtless, if I had applied at the Department, I could have obtained the information; for I must say that the Secretary of the Navy has been exceedingly kind and obliging; but I have considered it more respectful to him, and to the Senate, to bring forward in open day, this resolution calling for the information, so that it may not be said that I surreptitiously introduced it for my sin- ister purpose. I express no opinion in relation to the merits of this case; and I have introduced this resolution so that I may be able to inform myself of all the facts and circumstances before venturing an opinion on the merits of the case, or making any allusion to it. It has been alluded to in the Senate, but not by me. I wish to know if the gentleman from Maryland intended to give me premonitory advice, when he expressed the hope that we should abstain from personalities? Sir, have I introduced or dragged before the Senate the private character of any individual? If I have done so, and if I have been the first to do it, I shall stand convicted of an impropriety; but I have not done so. I am here to vindicate the propriety of my course, and to defy and challenge the 1·efutation of every word which I have uttered. I will prove the correctness of my course on a fitting occasion. I do not intend that either of the Senators from Delaware shall asperse me in the manner in which they have done-perhaps in- stead of "asperse," I should say "assail"; that may be a more decorous expression, and I never intend to depart from the de- corum of this body in anything that passes my lips. I will, on a proper occasion, respond to those gentlemen; and if I do not vindicate myself, and confute every charge, direct or implied, which they have made against me, I shall plead guilty to their
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