398
WRITINGS OF S.HI HOUSTON, 1857
the commander of the East India squadron in relation to the resignation of any commissioned officers recently serving therein. 1 Congressional Globe, 1856-1857, 3rd Sess., 34th Cong., part 1, p. 323; also Jom'?tal of the Senate of the United States of A1nerica, Ser. No. 873, p. 88. The Senate resumed consideration of these resolutions seven times before they were finally permanently laid on the table. See ibid., pp. 92, 97, 142, 144, 150, 156, 176. Senator Mallory, of Florida, made a long speech against the resolutions. SPEECH CONCERNING NAVAL DESERTIONS, JANUARY 16, 1857 1 Mr. President, I cannot but congratulate the Senator upon his felicitious change of feeling, and his increased sympathy for indi- viduals connected with the Navy, since the conduct of the naval retiring board was discussed in this body. The course that I pro- pose to pursue is very different from that which was pursued by the Senator some time since. I wish all the facts bearing on the efficiency of the Navy to be brought before the Senate for its consideration, not for the purpose of reflecting upon individuals, but to enable us to inquire into the present condition of the Navy, which we are informed by the Executive of the nation, has pros- pered under the reorganization it received by the action of the naval retiring board. If such be the fact, I desire it to be rendered manifest to this nation. I was opposed to the action of the naval board; but if they have done good, I wish them to stand vindicated before the nation in the course which they have pursued. If they have given increased efficiency to the Navy, and improved its condition, as alleged by the Executive of the nation in his annual message, I wish that fact to be made manifest to the people; I wish it to be made manifest to the Senate, who have important action to take upon the measures of the retiring board. I wish to impugn no one who is spotless in his reputation; but if the naval board has produced no good effect on the Navy, and if it is in a worse condition than it was at any former period of the history of our country, I wish that fact exposed to the eyes of the world. If individuals who passed the scrutiny of that board, and were retained as examples in the Navy, have disgraced their rank, their position, and the nation whose commission they bear, I wish the facts laid before the nation. If individuals have incurred reprehension, such as attaches to misconduct in the discharge of official duty, or palpable and glaring delinquency, they have exposed themselves, and the consequences rest with them. That does not preclude the Senate from an examination into the facts, so far as it may devolve on this body to act in relation to those
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