The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-12

the United States which should retain all i.s pre-.
sent property there, and continue to exercise district
and reefs and the East Florida coast. II would be
shameful derelicon for the only States really interest
cd in the wreckng administration lights and harbors OF
refuge and defence along these keys reefs
der all their rights and prerogatves on the demand OF
be done to the citizens of Key West by leaving them to
their own municipal government and to District Court
Of the United states with admiralty jurisdiction The
adjudication OF wreck and salvage will always in
time OF peace give to Key West large share Of it's i'm
porance. This duty must be confded either TO a
sion judge anagonistic TO the commercial interests
volyed or TO Judge whose afnities with the
to class viii not more than c0unerpose the urgency Of
present and exacting wrecker influence Between these
prospects merchants aud underwriters will goot
reason for choice II tho United States abandons
admiralty Jurisdiction along the reefs and keys
booting and piracy This will in turn lead 10 seizure OF
the place by aggreved naval power (probaby the
Northern States) which will gain indemnity and security
Many indications betoken that secession will lead to
the active rcopenng of the slave trade in the Southern
states either by law or by its absence Key West and
loftngas, abandoned, will in this event. become regu
lar places Of resort and clearance for slave ships which
will also put into them harbors Of refuge from cruisers
This would. tend to prccipate foreign seizure the
forts and harbols, as pirates nests II world rapidly
wss yooT p aesns bc sad w9n o %
cpled would be negro thieves, who with 5000 900 cash
~ hand, utterly failed to buy a chance for steal
the slave trade gospel found the United States Mar
sa true steel to his trust while one worthy citizen
500 600 offered Not ouIy oincers, but eya common
soldiers on guard, displayed fidelity which have
seemed very incomprehcnsibe and very verdant
tain chiyarous magnstes Of South Carolina
Key West s Of leading importance a coaling and
supply station for Cult squadron. While secession
scarcely impair the least the strcng 9Th
OF the United states IL will increase the necessity OF az
fordpg protection and exercising police in the Gulf and
West lDdia waters To execute this function properly
VIII require not OILY the occupancy Of Key West for
coaling station now but also for supplies and repairs
The REIMBURSEMENT OF the Pensacola Navy Yard Florida
nIx faa
the shops machinery and materials for overhaupg ships
and steamers and indeed all the essentials for yard Of
supplies and repairs
Should events soon bring into relief the questions now
raised due regard Cor the future interests Of the United
states, a. distinguished from the amputatcd States, viii
require careful consideration VI the views herein pre-
seuted The distinction between works dcfences OF
purely oca! character and such national shoud not
he overlooked The forts and lights in Charleston arbor
or instance, chiefly concern the security and
Of that city. Hence, If II be determined to let South
Carolina cultivate solitude or select so,iey undis-
turbcd, these defences and aids TO nav alton
may well be abandoned TO her, though she should
give bonds properly 10 maintain the lights. But when
i Is question OF abandoning forts Taylor and Jefferson
Ilorioa demand II should be understood that this
quite another matter. From 6rst to last appropra
tons FOR these works have been asked officially and by
heir advocates ia Congress the express ground OF
their national Importance, and not at all because OF
local value The Florida senators forever estopped
from claiming them local by Oft recorded assertions of
oir nationality the great for appropriations in
their behalf hey West aud the whole line OF reefs and
keys have only commercial and naval significance.
raphy, interests and vocatons They should be consider
cd and occupied as NATIONAL not local The Northwest
border and Northern States shonld only yield them when
they too feeble to hold them and neither Florida
cotton coniedofscy should be permitted to play them
iuto foreign hands.
Tho national dignity and interests require prompt and
decided determination Of the policy 10 be pursued and
assertion OF that policy either by timely and uncon.
ditonal orders TO all demand or by an mme
date and proper posting Of such wal and military forces
as viii suhce to vndcae the high policy OF al earnest
nationality.
THE DEFENOES OF THE CITY OF MOBILE
PORT MORGAN AND MOUNT VERNON ARSENAL.
Al the time louisiana purchased from France In
1905, Mobile claimed and held az q spanish posses.
Tho French claimed territory 10 the Perdido river
flowing into the Gulf OF Mexico between Mobile bay
and Pensacola. when into possession Of fouisi
ana, ai,o chained 10 the same boundary. while the
spanish government ciamed TO line considerably west
cs Mobile The war of 1912 coming the spanaris con-
tnucd in possession until 1919 when the Fort Conde,
the principal work Mobile, surrendered to force
under Gen. wilkinson and our claim made good TO the
Perddo The Americans taking possession not only
Fort Conde but also manned the imperfect
works At Mobile Point, which measursbly commanded
the entrance tho harbor These attacked in the
autumn Of 1914 by British vessels OF varons OF
which, II our memory serves US, was the IIermes. On
this locality has since been constructed Fort Nor
gan--one OF the strongest defensive works the
Gulf oc Mexico with this fort aud other works at
the entrance Of the bay twenty-five miles from the
city the possession Of reasonable force, feet. how
formidable, pass them Tor, Morgan alone CON-
mands the chief entrance 70 the bay. Vessels Of
large draft cannot pass Dog Island bar, some miles
below the city.
The arsenal referred to having been taken possession
Of by Alabama militia is known the Mount Vernon
Arsenal and IA situated thirty miles in the interior,
north OF Mobile. n stands high hill, which rises
some 400 500 feet above the surrounding country
from the base o this hill 10 the city, and IN fact to the
Gulf of Mexico, IL almost dead level The soil IL sandy
and covered with almost unbroken pitch pine forest,
interspersed with alluval creeks small farms and with
gades and swampe bearing magnolia trees live oaks and
tangled thckcs o undervrowth The present Mobile and
Tennessee Railroad passes near Mount Vernon. The
view from the arsenal magnificent. overlooking towards
the Gulf apparently inerminable carpe, Of green
which " lost In dinDess rs u disappears at lie junction
with the distant horizon. The site well chosen a.
safe depository of arms and other munitions of for the
defence of New Orleans, Mobile, Pensacola and the
contiguous Gulf cosst and h probably the strongest
and best built arsenal 10 be found IN the United states
contains a gtpre Of army Az nda