WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1856
307
archives of the Navy Department certain information; and he animadverted-though not with any degree of severity, with an implied censure-on the course which I had thought proper to adopt. His own course, I must say, struck me as somewhat novel. Here I must express my sincere and unqualified regret that the venerable Senator is not present to hear every word which I have to utter in relation to the course which he has been pleased to adopt. I will not, in his absence, say all that I should say if he were present. I am sure that no Senator in this body entertains half the sincere regret for his absence that I do. For the last ten days I have postponed my address that the Senator might be present, so that he might hear what I have to say, and so that he might be prepared to repel any improper accusations, if such should be brought against him. Sir, I have no accusation to make against the venerable Senator [Mr. Clayton]. I shall advert to his own remarks, but not with that degree of point which I desired to do, and which his presence would necessarily suggest. I know his ability and distinction. I am aware of his adroitness in debate. I know his diplomatic capacity. I fully appreciate those high qualities which distinguish him from the ordinary mass of mankind. I aspire to none of those distinctions; I am too humble in my pretentions even to emulate his proud, preeminent position; but I must nevertheless be permitted to vindicate the course which I have taken in refer- ence to the measure now before the Senate. It will be recollected, Mr. President, that the Senator at some period-I do not recollect the precise date, nor is it material- came forward, after the Senate had gone into executive session, and indicated a desire to present to us a most momentous subject- one deeply affecting his own feelings. I must confess that I felt the deepest sympathy with the Senator then. I had heard of his indisposition, which had detained him from the Senate Chamber for ten days previous to this event, and I believed it was a vale- dictory that he came here to deliver to the Senate; and I supposed it would command all the sympathy which his colleagues in the Senate could afford. This was my impression then; and if I were in the habit of surrendering to sensibility to a womanish extent, I believe I should have wept, such was the plaintive tone and manner of the Senator. Great was my astonishment, however, when I heard his speech, after leave was accorded to him to have it read, as he was unable to deliver it. It was an address carefully collated, conned, prepared, punctuated, the i's clotted, the t's crossed, and
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