The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-27
From the DqiIv Post of Tuesday.l
2 IFfo0l the DdtTy Fost q TUesaayI
AN EXCITEMENT AT PITTSBURG-S
OF GUNS TO THE SOUTH-THREATENED
INTERFERENCE OF THE PEOPLE


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From the Daily Post of 7uesday.l
AN EXCITEMENT AT Observation-Disclosures
OF GUNS TO THE SOUTH-THREATENED
INEXPERIENCED THE PEOPLE
Our city was thrown into a furore of excitement
yesterday by the announcement that large amount
of munitions of war had been ordered to be shipped
South by the Secretary of War. As far words
were concerned, there most rebeOus spirit
manifested by the people on the streets, and there
plain talk Of open resistance to the removal of
any of the arms or ammunition from the United
States arsenal near this city until it should be known
what object contemplated in this removal. =
The feeling of resistance to the movement was con-
tinued until late at night and some of the RepubIi.
actually seemed to think war, horrid war, was
about to brstle in our midst.
The real facts of the took pains to ascer-
tain. 1t seems that the United States has for some
time past been constructing couple Of forts-0ne
at Ship Island, below New Orleans the east side
of the Mississippi, and he other at Galveston, Tex
as. These forts are now ready for the reception of
the ordnance. Secretary Floyd has ordered num-
Der of eight and two-inch Columbiads, and some
eighteen and tWentv-four Founders to be transport
ed from arsenal, for the purpose of armng
| these forts. Thus we are informed by Major Sy
mington, who is Commandant at the Arsenal, and
Major Butler the Paymaster. The circumstance
was not unusual as to attract any particular at
tention with the military men in city, but Just
many of our citizens, even those with cool
heads and calm judgment, look upon this order as
inopportune, at the present time to say the least.
The excitement which exists in regard to political
matters, seems to have been greatly increased by
the OF this order. Many persons talk loudly
of preventing the removal of the ordnance, should
it be attempted.
The steamer Silver Wave has been contracted
with to carry the guns to their point of destination
The excitement last evening on this subject was so
great that teegr aphc mesa es sent to Wash
ington by some of our leading citizens, Democrats
as well as Republicans, making inquiries regarding
1Ia
was talked of. The order, informed
covers nothing except heavy ordnance. 1t includes
no small arms or ammunition-simply the Colum-
bads and eighteen and twenty-four Founders.
While we cannot but regard the issuing of this
order at the present time, when so much excite
ment exists, as inopportune and well calculated to
increase the existing excitement, still we do not
think that the citizens of Allegheny county will at
tempt to nullify any order which the War Depart
ment may issue, for the good of the country, and
for the Strengthening ofjts Notifications. At the
same time we cannot wonder at the excitement,
and see no reason why order of this kind might
not with propriety be ,countermanded until less
excited state of feeling exists in regard to the po-
litical future.
As far as we have been able to ascertain, the or
der for the removal of these guns, has been given in
the ordinary routine of the military service of the
nation.
The foil owing are the numbers and weight of the
guns ordered to be sent. For the Fort on Ship
Island
q 10 hCoumbiads L, 200 lbs each 49, 200 lbs.
Il " 9,240 " $4,000
4 50 FOUNDER iron guns 1850 " e 20, 600
Total, 1920 q"
20 10 inch Columbads Is 200 lbs each $40 600 /"
As s 9240 " " 44352O "
% FOUNDER iron guns 1880 l." I" 50,750 "
Total, S43 $50 l."
Making a total of 1856 ITO lbs. or G93 tons in all
From the PitSburg Despatch of Tuesday.l
MORE TREASON.
1t is not enough that are to be sold out to the
secessionists-the Administration should bind u:
hand and foot, deprive us of arms, and deliver us
tied neck and heels to the traitors who would de-
stroy the Union! 1t has already ordered 124 heavy
guns from our Allegheny Arsenal to the far South
NOT to defend the stars and stripes for which our
skiful mechanics made them, but to batter it down
under the pirate flag of some Lone Star or Rattle
snake Government. The order came few DAYS
ago to ship on Wednesday, December &C.
In all one hundred and twenty-four guns, one
broadside of which would throw fire tons of balls.
To take these would strip entirely of cannon
| and leave us disarmed, and as far as cannon are
concerned at the mercy of traitors. For months
| the muskets have been sent to Southern points
where rebels have already seized them by the thou
sand. Shall Pennsylvania be disarmed, and Charles
| ton allowed with impunity to seize on Federal arm:
| with which to overthrow the Union?
| Will our people submit to this? Our citizens, o
| all parties, as unit, denOunce the movement al
| treason, and prominent Democrats, leading Brock
| inridge men, have telegraBhed to Washington IL
treason endeavors to destroy the Union, while for
two months yet in power, owe a duty to the
nation to the State of Pennsy lvania and to our
selves to prevent (by force if necessarily the trans
fer OF these munitions of war, under color of law
| to the enemies of the nation.
Had Benedict Arnold succeeded so far in hi
treachery as to have ordered the delivery of West
Point, its cannon and munitions of war to the
! oSSJnr ,1,tE,-
| given force to order tainted with vile treason
No, his gallant officers would have torn the epau
ettes from the shoulders that disgraced them, burnt
| his commission, put him in charge of guard, and
! double-shotted their guns for enemy however
| aided by shameful treason. Let it be so with Mr.
Secretary Floyd The people of Allegheny
county should see that the purchased by the
national treasure are not conveyed to the far South
and they need not barricade Liberty and Penn
streets to prevent it. Let them decide that no can
non shall be shipped till Charleston Arsenal Is IN tn
possession Of the Federal Government, and For
Uouttrie reinforced, and none ,rW be.
! The Mayor, at the request of citizens of all par
! ties, will probably call meeting for Wednesday tC
| consider what action is necessary.
On applying for information to Maj or John Sy
| mington, of Maryland in command at Allegheny
Arsenal, he politely declined giving us any infor-
mation''in the present state of affairs he shoulc
| not say anything about tin regard to the
amount of cannon, arms, &C., and recent shipments
| On inquiring in Lawrenceville, we were informed
l
been hauling muskets to the city, one of the en-
ployees stating that ten thousand musEes were ship
ped within week-no doubt to be placed where
traitors can obtain possession of them without
gun being fired. From another source we learr
that small arms, cavalry equipments, balls and
shells, have been quite recently shipped by river tt
the South.
The Government is even now ''hurrying up' The
completion of the enormous twelve-inch gun at thu
Fort Pitt Foundry, and hopes, doubtless, to have i
South before the fourth of March.
There are about hundred ten inch (12S pound
cry cannon at the arsenal; the orders are to shiI
| forty -four of this size.
Gen. j. X. Moorhead, NJ. c., on hearing of these
movements, at once teegraphed to Mr.. Stanton
Chairman of the Military Committee, House 0
Representative, to make inquiry at the War De
partment on the subject He then applied to Majo
Symington for information, and learned that thu
| guns designed for Two new forts, which haC
not yet been mounted or even named-that thu
carriages were made at Waervet, n Y, ant
these guns made for these forts; that all th.
muskes heretofore ordered have been shipped, ant
no further acquisitions made; that no cannon hav
been shipped except to fill ordinary acquisitions.
| Arrangements were making on Monday to hau
some of these guns to the river. We suppose som
one will tap the tre-bells on the route on their ma
king their appearance on Penn or Liberty streets
| that our people may witness heir removal.