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WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1856
things I do not know." "Well, what is it that you do know?" The boy answered, "I do know that the miller's hogs are very fat." "Well, what is it that you do not know?" "I do not know whose corn fattens them." [Laughter.] So I know that the Senator from Delaware had this information, but I do not know who gave it to him. The natural inference is that it was no enemy. I come now, sir, to speak more particularly of the action of the naval retiring board, and the law by which it was created. I believe that the law is universally condemned. It is possible that the chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs, and both the Senators from Louisiana, think it not only constitutional, but very proper. For my part, however,.~s I said before in speak- ing of this subject, I regard it as a most odious law, and it has been most odiously executed. What was involved in that measure? The efficiency of the Navy--0ur whole national marine. The safety and glory of our country were involved in that measure. Was it ever considered as such a measure ought to have been; or was it skillful engineer- ing that drove it through the Senate, that carried it through the other House, and that is now endeavoring to sustain it by an over-whelming influence? I shall not omit to state what that influence is. But I ask you, what obligation rested on the officers constituting this board? Did the obligation of an oath rest upon them? Were they sworn to discharge their duty, and the trust confided to them, impartially? Or were they invited by sinister considerations to violate the trust, and fail to discharge the obli- gations which duty imposed on them? Had they not most seduc- tive influences held out to them? What were they? Promotion; to take the place of others, or to keep them out. Sir, this was the situation in which they were placed. They had every motive to disregard the rights of others, and consult their own interest; and they had no obligation but selfishness to constrain them to the discharge of their duties, or restrain them from the disregard of their duties. Sir, we are told-and it is the voice of wisdom speaking to us-"that no man can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other; ye can not serve God and mammon." These men could not on this occasion serve their country and serve themselves. They could not serve those whom they had regarded as friends hereto- fore; because, if they retained them in their situations, it gave themselves no promotion. These men had to sacrifice and strike them down. They did not take the three senior commodores to revise and prune the navy, who could have had no incentive but
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