Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/516

 from Texas right, and to state that the acts of the committee are yet incomplete; they are going on in their investigation, and will endeavor to acquit themselves to the satisfaction of the Senate.

. I really thought that I was out of this triangular controversy; but the remarks of the gentleman who has just spoken appear to implicate me a little. I did not charge the gentleman with what he imagines; but I said that, judging from the circumstances and from the declarations of the Senator from Louisiana, it was clear to me that this publication in regard to Commodore Perry had stimulated the member from Louisiana in the course which he pursued in the arraignment of Mr. Bartlett before the committee. I said that the questions which were put to the witnesses who were introduced were designed or calculated to invalidate his general credit and veracity. Am I right?

. No, sir; I do not think the Senator recollects precisely the point which he made. It was that the investigation as to the veracity of Mr. Bartlett was all directed to this letter in relation to Commodore Perry, That was the Senator's remark. I wish to say that he is misinformed as to that fact entirely.

. At all events, his veracity and his general character were attacked by the witnesses—Mr. Missroon and others. I do not say that I understand the information before the committee as well as the venerable Senator from Delaware. He said that, though he knew the proceedings of the committee well enough, he would not state them. He was perfectly posted in relation to the whole matter. I have no doubt, and I believe every word that he said as to his information. I have not alluded to this matter for the purpose of imputing anything dishonorable to Commodore Perry. I have respect for that gentleman; I would not hurt a hair of his head; nor would I soil the hem of his mantle. I have respect for him; and I have more respect than I before entertained for him since I have seen this publication, because it shows that he has a heart. If he had yielded to the importunities of the head of the department, and given his time and attention to a board that was odious to him as a system of proscription, he is excusable; but he is now fully awakened to a sense of the injustice done to gallant men, and entertains an ardent hope that reparation will be made, commensurate with the wrongs inflicted.

This was the amount of the conversation. 1 wish it known everywhere, because I believe it veritable, and because Commodore Perry has never opposed one contradiction to it that I have heard of; nor did the Senator from Louisiana impu:e to Mr. Bartlett a want of accuracy or truth in any part of the statement which he' made, except in the quotation of the letter, and that I have already explained, where the words " monstrous injustice " were substituted, from th-' deep impression which the conversation had made on him. He had merely seen the letter. His statement of it was written as a private communication, and not with a view of having publicity given to it; but that was inconsiderately done by the friend to whom it was sent. Mr. Bartlett, in writing to a friend, says: "I have spoken to you of a conversation held in New York, since my return from the coast of Africa, with Commodore Perry, the subject being the action of the late naval board, of which he was a member. I had also seen a letter in Commodore Perry's handwriting to Mr. Parker, son of Commodore Parker, late