Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-26

The Reason Fort Pickens was NOS Taken.
We find the following deeply Interesting eOrrera
p1ndence published in the Pensacola O6saV =;
PExsAcOL4 September IL, 1861.
To Messrs. MiishelI, Ru hing and OGisrss
GESTLExES: The undersigned observe In the
public press of this city, that as your immediate
representatives, they called upon to give sach
information as they may possess touching an "aP-
mistieeD entered into between Florida and James
Buchanan, late President, etc. etc. ~
Ack oElsdging the right Of the constituent at
ali times to demand of his representative any in
formation Of acts Of high public nature, Affecting
the rights Of the citizen, and touching the honor
and interest of the State, and suppOsng, from the
public manner in which you have made the demand
that you 5ere that cur reply koad be equally 80,
for your information we beg leave TO StSt3 that
our ARRIVAL at Tallahassee, in November last We
waited on the Governor of the State, represented
to him the vast importance which the possession
Of our Notifications at this point would be to the
State and their then defenseless condition and
that our fellow citizens were anxious to take pos
session Of all the forts in this hsrbor requesting
simply his permission to do so, assuming to them
selves any responsibility resulting from the act.
though it should be treason (tlis State thsn not
h1ving seeeded) The Governor thanked us for
this offer, and remarked that the subject should
receive his attention
On the reassembling of the Legislature in JGnGs
ary and anterior to the secession of the State, we
again rendered the services OF our fcl0w-citizens
with IL additional assurance that during the ses-
sion of the Legislature the plan had been so per-
fected that the enterprise would certainly prove
successful and urging its Immediate exeeution--t0
all of which we received in substance the same
reply made upon the previous tender. We subss-
quently learned from the Governor that Major Chase
had been commissioned and ordered TO stake Pick
ems without waiting for secession and when Capt
A. II. Bright of the Pensacola Guards, rendered
the services Of his company, asking. "shR We take
the Notifications be received orders
to Cooperate with Chase and Perry
The events which iranapired at this point, at that
time you are familiar with - sefsse
The Governor being unable 70 obtain correct ia
formation Of the proceedings here, and peRceiYing
no good reason why his orders were not executed,
dispatched the undersigned, Mr.. Abercrombie 10
this place. with full instructions relative 10 aattsrs
here. M. AbeFcrombie failing TO make the views
Of the Governor to be carried out or his orders 70
be obeyed returned to Tallahassee.
short time after this, it SEas with the almost
sstOnishment, that the authorities Of Florida re-
ceived copy Of the following agreement, catered
into, not between Florida and James Buchanan,
but between Hon s. P. Mallory and James Buchan-
an, (Which was aftsrward confirmed By Mr.. aallory
and Col ChAse) touching the occupancy Of Fort
Pickens, which fully explained the mystery which
overhung this whole affair, and accounted for the
noH capture of this fort: -.rs-.s
By TELZGRAPu,
DATED WASHINGTON, Jan %, 1861.
To Cap In Gvyan. Commanding Naesso1iaa. Ospt. "
Wsksr eonmandng the BroskyIs other naval OdOsr5
In mad, and LEST. A. j. Slemmlr lht Regiment AF
lery, o. s. Army, CO nmanding Fort Pieke1E s ...-
In consequence of the assurances received from
Mr. Mallory in a telegraph of yesterday TO Messrs
Bigler Hunter and Slidell. with request that Il
should be laid before the President that Fort Pick
ems should not be assaulted, and offer Of such
assurance to the same effect fron1 Colonel Chase for
the purpOee of avoiding hostile collision.
Upon receiving satisfactory Assurances from Mr.
Mallory and Col. Chase that Fort Pickens will not
be attacked, you are instructed not to land the
company on board the Brooklyn, unless said fort
shall be attacked, or preparations be made for its
attack. The provisions necessary for the supply Of
the fort you will land. The Brooklyn and the 9TH
err vessels Of war on the station viii remain, and
you vail exercise the utmost vigilance, and be pre-
pared at a moments warning to land the company
at Fort Pickens and you and they will instantly
repel any attack On the fort.
The President yesterday sent a special message
to Congress, commenting the Virginia resolutions
Of compromise. The commissioners Of ferent
States are to meet here on Monday, 4th Of Februs-
ry, and it is important that during their session
collision Of arms should be avoided, unless attack
should be made, or there should be preparations |
for such en- attack, In either event the Brooklyn
and the other vessels will act Prcmpty. Your right
and that Of other officers In command az Pensacola,
freely to communicate with the Government by sps-
cizl messenger and its right in the same manner 70
communieats With yourself and them, Will remain
In fact as the basis Of the present Instructions.
j. HoLT, Secretary Of Wars
/. Toucgy. See'y Of Navy.