WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1857
397
to be captious when we are acquainted with all the circumstance~ that accompanied their conduct in relation to that election. I have done, sir. 1 Cong,·ession.al Globe, Part 1, 1856-1857, p. 299. There was a contested senatorial election in Iowa. Robert Toombs, of Georgia, had offered an amendment to the effect that James Harlan was entitled to the seat as Senator from Iowa. A long debate followed concerning the constitutional authority of Congress over State elections.
A RESOLUTION CONCERNING NAVAL DESERTIONS, JANUARY 14, 1857 1
Mr. Houston submitted the-following resolution: Resolved, That the President be requested to inform the Sen- ate of the number of deserters from the Navy since the 28th of February, 1855, and particularly of the deserters from the crew of the steam-frigate Merrimac whilst commanded by Captain G. J. Pendergrast, together with any report or reports made to the Navy Department by said Captain Pendergrast, of the causes of said desertions. Also, of the causes of the return from the Pacific squadron of the captain and commander of the frigate Independence, and, more recently, the commander of the sloop of war Decatur: to- gether with copies of all reports made by the commander of the Pacific squadron, or any other officer, in relation to either the said captain or commanders; and whether any, and what, action was taken by the President, or Secretary of the Navy, in relation to Commander Gansevoort, of the sloop Decatur. Also, whether any other officer of the Pacific squadron has been reported to the Navy Department for dereliction or unofficerlike conduct, and if so, to furnish copies of the reports, together with a statement of the course pursued by the Department towards such derelict officer. And also, whether, since the return of the captain from the frigate Independence, in the Pacific ocean, an officer of in- ferior grade or rank has been sent to command that ship; and if of inferior grade or rank, whether such course was in conse- quence of any, and what, difficulty in finding a captain to order to command said frigate Independence. And also, any report or reports from Captain Mercer, of the Brazil squadron, in relation to the officers of the brig Bainbridge, while serving on the Brazn station; and Resolved, further, That the Secretary of the Navy be requested to furnish the Senate with copies of any report or reports from
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