Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-03-12
COmmoDDRE TATNALL.

From the Augusta Constituiionalistl
This distinguished Georgian is now in Mont
gomery, Ala, where, we are pleased te learn,
] he has been received with open arms and with
that respect which his past services and bis
recent devotion to bis native State sntitle him.
! He has declined to receive any Office from the
1 Government OF the Confederate States, until
be learns thathis services are not needed 10
] Georgia. He resigned under the Georgia ordi-
nance Of Secession, and feels that to her he
/ owes his first allegiance. n be is not required
/ here, then be will be ready to accept the POSI-
/ ton which may be rendered him by the Con-
/ fedsrste Government. Welesrn also, that it is
the intention Of the Commodore to visit Au-
gussa at an early day; and we again call the
attention Of our fellow citizens to the Prepriety
OF giving bin reception worthy Of bis name
and fame.
While upon tkls subject, we may add the
/ following article from the Journal Of Com
merce, which win explain itself:
DEFENSE OF CoMMoDoRE TArNALL.-The
Rochester Uaiea publishes communication
] from pauiding Tatnal, son OF the veteran
/ commodore, vindicating the course which bis
father has seen fit to adopt, in accepting a
commission from the authorities Of the State
I Of Georgia He SAYS:
! If the "republic Of American Is a thing Of
] the past, with its government a corpse, as
believe, then it may be claimed that all officers
at present serving under the stars and stripes
unless they renew their old oaths Of allegiance
under a different form, do so not from duty
l but from their own free pleasure. They are
/ free to give their swords to whatever govern
( ment they choose, and are surely not to be
blamed il they accept ssTyice under that OF
/ the land which gave them birth, and has fur
nlshed them a home through life.
/ Il is not for me, sir, 10 sound the praises Of
my own parent, but this much feel bound to
say-that, during career OF forty-hve years
/ in the American navy, my traitor" father
has never once swerved from bis duty to the
/ Government. He served the national "grfd-
iron , faithfully and well as a Yankee volun-
teer at the, to US disastrous battle Of Bladens-
burg, in the last war with Great Britain, and
also in the Algerine war under Commodore
Decatur. While a Lieutenant stationed in
the West Indies, 10 command Of a gun brig,
be did such good service against the Spanish
pirates that be received a public expression Of
appreciation from bis Government, and a ser
vice Of plate from the merchants Of Baltimore.
More recently, as the commander Of ths " Mus
quite fleet" Of steamers; during the Mexican
war, be was present at and participated in the
bombardment Of the castle Of San Juan de
UIloa, was there badly wounded in the arm;
was mentioned most honorably by Commodore
Perry, for bis conduct on several occasions, in
bis official dispatches, and received q still
I AA9AN "a A1- e~nAA3ft tN4- AAehN VI NA1
in the shape Of a sword presented him By bis
native State Of Georgia. and silver vase pre-
sented by the citizens Of Savannah. Six months
ago, be returned from a cruise In the East
Indies and China, where be acted in the ca
pseity of com2ander-in-ehiefs Of the American
forces in those waters. For the manner in
which be supported his sTeellency, Townsend
Harris, at Smoda, JAPAN while the dis
tinguished diplomat was negotiating treaty
yp ifh ifa government he Eecefved the arknn1Ei-
esgment Of that gentleman himself, with the
verbally expressed appreciation Of his Presi-
dent, and for assisting, at the peril Of bis life,
the brave British forces when treacherously
surprised By a host Of Chinese at the Peiho
river, the thanks Of her British MajestY's gov
eminent, delivered through bis eXeelleacy,
Lord Lyons, the English minister.