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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1857
421
information should be given, because it might prejudice him upon his trial. Now that he has been tried, convicted, and cashiered, the chairman says the information is of no use, for he has gone into private life. It is very strange that I cannot manage, in any way, to suit the gentleman. He really cannot see any reason for these inquiries, and he says, that when the last call was made by the Senate upon the Navy Department, at the time when the action of the naval board was being discussed at the last session, some unpleasant circum- stances were disclosed-too much information was got from the Department, and great caution ought to be exercised, because a most honorable and amiable gentleman was greatly prejudiced by the fullness of a report transmitted to the Senate by the Navy Department, at the last session. I grant you, sir, a most esti- mable man was deeply prejudiced; and now, in consequence of that infliction, and of the conduct of the naval board with ref- erence to him, he is stricken with paralysis-broken down in spirit--physically imbecile from affliction and distress. But, Mr. President, I well remember the history of the infor- mation then obtained. I may mention the name of the gentle- man alluded to; and I can commend him as a most honorable man-Captain Parker. Instead of giving information pertinent to the call which was made by the Senate, that in relation to Cap- tain Parker was given unnecessarily, unwanted, and uncalled for. Instead of bringing it forward in its ordinary place, you will find it published out of place in the first page of the book. That matter, if it had come according to its date, would have been far advanced in the book. Was that done by negligence? The print- ers delcare that it was published according to the manner in which it was sent to them by the Naval Committee; and if the Naval Committee did not arrange the matter in proper order, or allowed it to get into confusion, they are responsible for the attack on Captain Parker on account of the prominent manner in which it was displayed to the eye of every reader. It was the very preface to the book. It preceded all other parts, and attracted attention at once. Every man who read the information and looked at the resolution making the call, must have pronounced it irrelevant to the call. · Sir, it will not do to attempt, by any chicanery, or artifice, or management, or trick, to arrest inquiries before the intelligence of the Senate. They have power to inquire into these matters.
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