WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1856
313
writings, that if I were to attempt to read all that he says, my speech would be entirely too bulky. I will, however, read the paragraph to which the Senator from Florida has called by atten- tion. Mr. Du Pont said, as I have already shown, in his letter to Captain Smith, that he would not occupy the quarters prepared for him, but would remain in those assigned to him by the Navy Department. He first grumbled about the accomodations provided by the Department; others were prepared for him, which he declined to occupy; and after insulting Captain Smith in the way I have detailed, he goes on in this letter to say: "I trust, sir, however, that you will not for a moment suppose that I do not fully appreciate the consideration whicn induces you to do all that you conceive lies in your power to alleviate the present state of things." I am very glad that I have read this paragraph, because it shows that he did not intend this indignity for Captain Smith so much as for Commodore Hull. It was there the arrow was directed, but he did not shoot it. He says that Captain Smith did all that he possibly could, but yet that they were not accomo- dated. Why? Because Commodore Hull was in the way-that is it. I am glad that I read it, because it just suits me. I think the inference which I drew from this correspondence is a fair one; and it is evident from it that I stated nothing untrue when I said that Captain Smith was insulted. I am per- fectly aware of the source whence the distinguished Senator from Delaware [Mr. Bayard] derived his information on this point. I was not aware at the time of the existence of a document which, I presume, induced the contradiction that he so unceremoniously administered to me. I shall allude to it. Lieutenant Du Pont, after he returned from the Mediterranean, wrote a letter to the Department dated June 5, 1840. In that letter, rendering his apology to the Secretary of the Navy, he says that he was very much astonished to hear that Captain Smith was offended. I will read his own language :. "But Captain Smith, in speaking of it to Mr. Pendergrast, the executive officer of the ship, after remarking that, in his opinion, it involved me in an inconsistency with a previous communica- tion to him, added : 'but it is a perfectly respectful letter, and, if it required an answer, I would reply to it in the same spirit in which it is sent'; and this observation was reported to me at the time by Mr. Pendergrast." This was the hearsay of Mr. Pendergrast, communicated to Mr. Du Pont, and Mr. Du Pont communicates the same hearsay to the Secretary of the Navy, and to the distinguished Senator
Powered by FlippingBook