WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1856
304
accusations; but before that time comes I wish to be informed in relation to the whole subject; I shall "Nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice." I intend to treat the subject with fairness and frankness. For that reason I desire that the resolution may be adopted, and that the information for which it calls shall be laid before us. Mr. Houston [to Bayard]. Mr. President, I can declare to the Senator from Delaware, without any unkindness of feeling, that this resolution is not offered for the purpose of heaping up material against the individual to whom he alludes, and whose name I did not bring here. I have more material now than I require. I said that the resolution·was to obtain this correspond- ence for my own information; and lest this should not be suffi- cient, I referred to the fact that it was desired by gentlemen who were favorable to the action of the board, and who I know are its warm supporters. One gentleman who has made a speech supporting the board, told me this morning, that he had intended to call for the information himself, and was glad that I had done so. Mr. Houston [to Bayard]. If the gentleman says that, in his former remarks, he has not gone beyond the range of the pro- prieties of the Senate, I am glad of it; but I am sorry that the range is so large. If epithets of "untruth," "unfounded asser- tions," "perversions," and things of that kind, are decorous ex- pressions in the Senate, I never so understood, and this is the first time that I have become aware of the fact. They are expres- sions I will not use in relation to any gentleman, trusting to my imperfect knowledge of the proprieties of the Senate, though others may claim such latitude. I s}:lall take the liberty of ani- madverting upon it when I come to my general reply. Mr. Houston [to Bayard]. I have not on any occasion used any perversion. The gentleman employed the expression "un- true." At the time I passed it by unnoticed; but it was not the proper occasion to notice it. I did not introduce the name of any individual in debate; I confined myself within the range that was taken by others. I did not bring before the Senate the name of Mr. Du Pont, or Mr. Maury, or Mr. Bartlett, or Captain Ritchie. The transactions between Captain Ritchie and Captain Du Pont, were alluded to by the honorable and distinguished Senator from Delaware [Mr. Clayton], and I desire to know the
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