The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-02-25

I'M OIL W oBkt08 Nhe0 In O0Nt0useAu0lf1 II
Observation-Disclosures Report, &c.
rBR sgtxrRs OF THE REyESrE CUTTERS,
Secretary DIX has made report to Congress
about the late izure Of the u. >. revenue
cutters At New Orleans. The following is an
extract:
On the 18th of January. Glt., three days az
ter taking charge Of this Depar tnient, decid-
I'D TO dispatch special agent to New orleans
and Mobile, to save, IL possible. the revenue
cutters on those stations. Mr.. VIM. Hemp
hill JONES' chief Clerk in the First Comptroi-
ler's Office was selected for the purpose, and
on the 10Th he left this city with Instructions
to provision the vessels, and give the com.
manding officers verbal orders 10 take them to
New York. This mode of conveying the di-
rections TO them was chosen because no conf.
dence was felt that the mails, or the telegraph h.,
could BE- relied on as a safe medium of com !.
munication. That the authority of Mr.. ! ones
TO communicate 10 these officers the direc tions
intrns ted him might not be questioned, he
was furnished with the following addressed,
TO the commander OF the cutter Lewis Csss
NJ Mobile, and the Robert McCleIland, at New
Orleans
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Jan. 10. 1881.
SIR This letter will be presented to yoa by
VIM Hsmphiil Jones, a special agent of this do
psrtmsnt, You are required to obey such direc-
nons =. may De gwen You, either verbally or IN
writing, by Mr. Jones. with regard to the vessel
under your command. am, Very respectfully,
Jony A. DIX.
Captain J. G. RrI.hxood. Commanding revenue
cutter Robert McCIelland, New Orleans. La
1t was deemed prudent TO detach Captain
Morrison, who was from tho State of Georgia,
from the Lewis Cas-. then at Mobile and he
was accordingly ordered 10 Calves ton to take
command of the Henry Dodge, which was
without captain.
The precaution was too late, Before Mr.
Jones reached Mobile, Captain Morrison, re-
gardless OF the oblga ton OF his path had sur
rendered his vessel TO the authorities Of Ala
bIma- His resignation was subseq uentIy re-
ceived, but II was not accepted, and the fol
lowing order was issued, dismissing him from
the revenue service;
IsEAsrRf DEPARTMENT, Feb. II, l'6l.
venue entisI 81 esSfga GsRta,n in the re-
command OF the Lewis Cass, having in violation
OF hts oi'ieai oath aud OF his duty to the Govern
bam4. IL Is hereby directed that his name be
stricken from the rolls of said service
BY order Of the President of the United States
Secretary of the Treasury.
The revenue cutter Robert McCIellaud onc
OF the largest and finest in the service, and
sippi river below New Orleans and il was
this vessel which the Department was partic-
ularly DESTROYS of saving, on account of her
value. The failure of the attempt is fully
detailed in Mr.. Jones report hereto aunexed
Ii discloses an act of official infidelity on the
part OF the Collector at New Orleans. r II
Hatch, which cannot fail TO receive the CON
domination of all right thinking men The
service to be performed by the McClelIaud
was between the ports seventy two miles be-
low the city of New Oeleans and the mou tn
OF the river. On the 18th January, eight DAYS
before the Convention of Louisiana met and
eleven days before the ordinance of secession
was passed, Mr.. Hatch, in a letter secured Inv
Mr.. Jones, and now on file in the Department
ordered Capt. Brushwo to bring his vessel
up the river and anchor her opposite the city,
"a ffpr ,tr
Jones, OF getting her into the posses sion of
the State OF Louisiana. Mr.. Hatch. at the
time he was engaged in this conspiracy against
the United States, held a commission in i,s
service, and did not hesita tie to violate his of
nclai oath, and TO prostitute the authority
with which his Government had clio / ed him
TO accomplish an act of the grossrst infideuty
Capt. Brushwood, as events subsaoueutiv
disclosed. was party to the treachery On
his refusal to obey the order of the depart
ment, mr.. Jones sent the following dis patch
NEW ORLEANS. Jan % 1881
To Hon. JOHN A. DIX, Secretary of the Treasury.
Capt. Brushwood has refused positively in writ
ing TO obey any instructions OF the Depa rtnent -
Ia this AIN sure he Is sustained by HI Collector
and belleYe acts by his advice. What must do
W. H. JONES. Special Agent.
1t was supposed, when this dispatch was
received, that the McClelland WAS at her sta
tion at the mouth of the river, and the fol-
lowing was teiegraphed in reply. 1t was in
tercepted by the Governor of Alabama, and
forwarded 10 the authorities of Louisi ina
only reaching Mr.. Jones through the papers
TKEAsTRY DEPARTMENT, Jan. 20 1851
WIN. HRMPHiLL JONES, New Orleaus
Tell Lieut.. Caldwell to arrest Capt. Brushwood
assume command OF the cutter and obey the order
arrest, undertakes to interfere with the command
o. the cutter, tell Lieut.. Caldwell to consider him
ss a muIineer, and treat him accordingly If any
one attempts 10 maui down the American flag, shoot
him on the spot JOHN A. DIX
Secretary OF the Treasury
The officers of the revenue service ara
MIA pxst nv Iayr ia, t1.,l
rotary OF the Treasury, and are required 10
obey his instructions. The refusal ON the
part Of Capt. Brushwood to act as directed
was regarded not as mere act of disobedi-
ence, tor which he would, under ordinary cir.
have been promptly dismissed
from the service, but it was also considered as
Il prelude TO the grand act Of infideltv he was
believed to be meditatng. The only chance
OF ahtlclpatln and preventing it, was through
an order, bearing some relation in severity to
the enormIty OF the offence he was about to
Had the dispatch not been inter-
cepted by the Governor of Alabama who did
not deem it beneath his dignity 10 violate the
OF system OF CONFIDENT al commu-
nication, for the purpose of scrutini2ing the |
of department of the Gov |
with one OF its special agents in n |
matter relating exclusively to its own inter |
ssts, tho vessel might have been saved and the |
State of Louisiana spared the reproach of |
conserving to an act which all civilized com |
munities hold In merited detestatiou
1t may be proper to add, in reference To tho |
closing period Of the foregoing dis patch, that,
Is the flag of the Union since iii, when il |
was devised and adopted by the founders of
he Republic, had never, until recent dav
been hauled down, except by honorable hands
n manly conflict, no hesitation was felt in
attempting to uphold it at any cost against an
vet OF treachery, rs the ensign Of the public
authority and the emblem OF unnumbered We
'ories by land and sea.
The revenue cutter Henry Dodge. at Gal
weston, Texas, was understood to be so much
'at OF repair us 10 render it very questionable
whether she could be safely taken to New
ork. Under these circums tances the follow !
hg order was sent 10 her commanding officer |
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Jan % 1891
SIR III the revenue cutter Henry Dodge to the
Of which You ere assigned by ar order
'f the 18th met, should, on examination, prove
,er for six weeks aud sail for New Ycrk pepar
he Port While making Your p req Ss0r for
guarding your vessel against attack from any
luarter II any hostile, movement should be
made against You you will defend yourself to the
asst extremity; The national nag must not be
ii.honored II you are in danger Of being over
,o"e,eIa py superior numbers, You VIII put to
intercepted, so That you cannot go TO sea, aud are
,aspie 10 keep possession OF your vessel, You Will
hat she may not be used against the United
states. am, &c., JoHx A. DIX.
Secretary OF the Treasury
henry Dodge, Galveston, Texas.
Ii was the determination of this Department
o adopt such measures as 10 prevent, if pos
iole the revenue vessels for which il was re-
ponsibie, from being taken by force and used
or the purpose Of oyerthrowng the public
" thority. ANY attempt to gain possession
them by military coercion could not be- re.
,arded in any other light than as an act of
war, proper 10 be resisted by force Of arms;
ma II was deemed far more creditabie to the
ountry that they should be blown into frag-
nsn.s IMAM that they should be pnsillani.
nousiy or treacherously surrendered, and en-