358
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1856
if you wish it improved-place it in the hands of men who have no motives of self connected with its reform, and who will look back upon the honors which they won and earned-gallantly won and honorably earned-in the defence of their country ; and they will feel that they are bound by their acts to do whatever will add to its future glory. These are the men to whom you ought to confide the well-being of the Navy, that important institution of the nation. If you trust it to a few individuals who are selfish, and who are to be promoted by their action, or if you indorse the acts of such men, you bring disgrace upon the nation and disorder upon the Navy; and honorable men will be loath ever to trust their sons or their persons in it. If we repeal the law we shall annul what has been done under it. The President has declared that, by virtue of this law, these officers were dropped, and not by virtue of his prerogative; and he cannot gainsay what he has certified. I hope he will not do so, at least. At any rate, I trust there is a conservative principle, if not in this body, in the other House, that will arrest this crying wrong, and that redress will come eventually, if not immediately, to the country. 1 Congressional Globe, Part 2, 1855-1856, p. 1635. Houston made a long speech on this same subject on April 23, 1856; it is printed in this volume.
To JOHN HANcocK 1
Washington City, July 21, 1856. My Dear Sir : Your letter of the 27th of June, ultimo, addressed to me, at Huntsville, did not reach me until my arrival here. I thank you for your kind sentiments, and I assure you I reciprocate all you have expressed. Any apology was unnecessary for address- ing me on political subjects, as they are now so interesting to the public as well as to individuals. I thank you for your views and suggestions, and will render mine with perfect freedom and fidel- ity. You say, in speaking of yourself, that "having been reared almost beneath the shades of the Hermitage, and in every sense a Democrat, I feel all the 1·everence and confidence in the prin- ciples and integrity of the motives that actuated General Jackson in his political course that I should do. The issues formerly dividing the old Whig and Democratic parties may no longer he said to exist, yet there is a difference in principle, arising out of the interpretation of the Constitution of the United States, that must continue to exist as long as our present form of govern- ment continues."
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