Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-03-05

ehorts 70 regain the position IN tue black-ite-
publican party which he oecupied some years
ago, and only abandoned when there was
good chance Of obtaining Office from the Dem
oerstic party. It must be acknowledged that
the new Secretary came into ONCE in the very
Dick Of time 10 show of bis malice against the
South. Whether bis exhibition, as made In bis
indictment against the Secessionists, which
appeared in our yesterday mornings edition,
will coneiliste even the favor OF the LincolR-
ties, is quite doubtful. The Tslorous and Fe-
racious General has, we fear, overdone his
work-spieed too highly bis dish Of falsehoods
for even The taste OF that Htrong-stomacbed
party. His vsulting ambition has "overlesped
Itself . and landed hia over head and ears 10
q quagmire Of cslumny and misrepresentation.
The expiring administration is appropriately
rounded of bT this ouspouring Of abolition
mlligRity. It's malice, however, gives us but
little conctrn. It's falsehoOds--as they are
sent out under the authority OF the govern
ment-msy need slight notice.
The charges in this report are thus summed
up:
/. The impeiimsnts 70 commerce BY usurp-
ing control OF the ports OF Mobile, Charles
ton, Pensacola and New Orleans.
3 The control Of the commercs Of the Mis-
ssslppi valley, by requiring the duties on all
goods entered at New Orleans for delivery at
St. Louis, Nashville, Louisville and Cinein-
~
3. The seizure by Louisiana Of all United
States moneys, as well as those Of private de-
posiioTs In the min. and sub-treasury, at New
Orleans and other places.
4. The seizure Of revenue cutters by ar
rangsment between their commanders and the
collectors OF Mobile, New Orleans and Charles
ton.
5. The expulsion Of the sick aud invalid pa
tients at the United States hospital at New
- g., A. .4aafs
Ter Louisiana troops.
With the single exception Of the seizure, or
occupation, Of the Government buildings in
this city, and the revenue cutter, every allega-
tion in the foregoing Is untrue
No impediments TO commerce have been
made In any Of the ports mentioned, except by
the intermsddling OF the Government Of the
United States. Our commerce moves quietly
and peacefully in its accustomed course.
No duties have been required at this port on
goods entered at New Orleans for delivery at
St. Louis. On the contrary, all such entries
have been made in the form provided By the
at OF Congress-that is, foreign goods have
been entered here. and the bunds taken in the
usual form for their delivery, and the payment
Of the duties, at the place Of destination. No
change has been made in the regulations that
have long prevailed.
Tbs seizure Of the moneys Of the United
-
necessary BY the attempt Of the Federal Gov
eminent to withdraw all the moneys deposited
here to pay debts due to our citizens, and
southern creditors OF the Government. So far
from Withholding from private depositors their
Just dues, this seizure was made to protect the
interests Of dspOsitors and honest claimants,
and draft holders. The only drafts which have
not been paid are those in favor Of the super
intendeut of the mint al Philadelphia, which
was evidently sA attempt to transfer the money
deposite here 10 meet drafts held in the South,
and to pay Government officials residing here,
to distant and foreign place. Then, draft
Of the Postmaster General for $3.50, ,000, pur-
porting to be oa account Of that branch Of the
service, but very evidently falsely so pretend
el, as is proved by the amount Of the draft,
and the fact that the deHaar - g. a. -----.-'
service ia the South must Be paid out OF p,l,
moneys deposited here
The charge Of seizing the revenue cutters is
true in fact, but not in the motive assigned.
These vessels are constructed for the use Of
the collectors in the several ports. They are
paid Tor out Of the common treasury, to which
the South has contributed more than its share.
Mr. Dix, on his installation in the Treasury
Department, sought to obtain possession OF
these vessels, and to deprive our people Of all
use Of them, by their removal to some Of the
ports OF bis northern friends. In this be was
defeated By the fidelity and promptitude Of the
collector OF this port, to the interests and
claims Of bis own Ststs. The Secretary does
not appear to have regarded this matter in a
very philosophic or statesmanlIke temper. He /
does not make allo@ances for the different
points OF view in which the subject is consid- [
ensd bat adopting bis own theory Of the lille /
gality { secession and the absurdity Of State /
soverei piy, and Of it's paramount claims to 1
the fealtY OF the citizen, be applies TO acts /
dictated By the highest motives Of duty and !
patriotism, such terms as no gentleman ever |
uses towards those who act from an obvious /
sense Of honor and loyalty. Precisely the |
same language was used by the English gov
ernment towards the authors Of the revolution !
Of l776.
II even "the heather are a Ia unto them |
selves" those who believe in the sovereignty
Of the States, and In the right and duty Of Sc
cession, should not be sssailed for performing
these duties which the maintenance Of their
principles requires The commencement Of the 1
Revolution Of 1776 grew out OF an attempt Of
the patriots to seize the British arsensls and
magazines. Doubtless, this conduct Of the I
men Of Massachusetts, was regarded BY Cover
nor Gage with feelings Of disgust, quite as
strong as those manifested BY Treasurer Dix
toward Mr.. Hatch and Captain BreshWood |
but we are not aware that the Briton was at
all successful in calling down on that act "the [
condemnation Of al right thinking men," with |
which Secretary Dix now threatens Collector /
Hatch and Captain Breshwosd.
The relative positions Of the parties are
strikinglY analogous. Secretary Dix desired 1
to employ some Of the finest and largest" rev. /
ebue cutters in the service (ss the Harriet I
Lane is now being used), 10 obstruct the move |
meRt to secure snd establish the independence |
Of the South, just as Gage removed the arms
and munitions Of war to Boston, to use thea
in the subiugation Of the rebelliOus people Of
that city. Our "rebels," however, were only
a little quicker and more yigilant than those
Of Massachusetts. Hence the fierce and very
unreasonable wrath and truculence Of this
sanguniary treasurer, which sought relief in
tue order entrusted 10 Mr.. Wm. Hemphill
Jones to have the captain Of the McCleliand
treated as a mutineer, and "if any one at
tempted to haul down the American hsg, to
shoot him on the spot"
This terrible order Is a striking illustration
Of test "spirit Of paternal for5earanceo to
which Mr.. Dix refers in the following gentle
and forbearing terms:
Throughout this whole course Of encroach- /
ment and aggression, the Federal Govern
ment has borne itself with a spirit OF pGter- I
nal foTbesrance, OF which there is no example /.
IN the history Of political society, waiting in /
the patient hope that the empire Of reason /
would resume its sway over those whom the I
excitement Of passion had thus blinded, and |
trusting that the friends Of good order, weary /
with submission to proceedings which they /
disapprovs, wsuld at ne distant dav rally un-
der The banner Of the Union, and assert them I
selves with vigor and success against the pre-
vailing recklesBness and violence"
The idea Of ordering 30 true and fine young
officer az Lieut.. Caldwell 10 shoot down bis old 1
commander; that sturdy and honest son Of the /
Old Dominion, Can't Breshwood, because be |
would not give up to Secretary Dix a vessel /
sent to this port for the protection Of its com
merce, exhibits Secretary Dix In a very un- I
amiable light. We must, however, make some
allowance for the seerbity Of the official whe
assumed the responsibility Of administering the
revenues Of the United States at the time
Mr.. Dix did. Dix had the right, il ever a man
did since the day old Socrates welded kan
tippe, to get into passion and to continue in
passion. The condition OK the United States ]
treasury was equal to a combination Of gout,
toOth-ache, neuralgia and a scolding wife, I
in its effects upon the temper Of the un-
happy administrator thereof. Dix is prob /
ably very smisble man; we never heard |
anything to the contrary. He left the army, /
we presume, on account Of bis genteness. I
But Dix could not stand The sight Of the empty I
treasury boxes, and Of the incoming drafts, /
without bomieidsl and sanguinary tendencies. I
And after ALL the display Of bis truculenee was,
perhaps, the most innocent manifestation be
could have adopted. He had no idea bis or
der would be executed. In fact, be knew there /
was no possibility Of anybody being shot in
the Mississippi river for any such act as that |
which be proposed thus sunmarily to punish !
He knew that Captain Breshwood would have
been insured, with a full knowledge Of this
order, By any life Company" for one-tourih
OF one per cent. Nor is our theory or General
Dix's general smiability and mildness Of dis
position at all invalidated BY his assault upon
The Governor OF Alabama, who, regardless
Of bis dignity, did not hesitate to violate the
sanctity Of system Of confidential communi-
cation, for the purpose Of scTutinizing the cor
rsspoHdence Of department Of the govern
ment with one Of its special agents, in a mat
ter relating exclusively to its own interests.
But for this act on the part OF the uBdigniied
governor aforesaid, the vessel might hsve been
saved, and the Stats Of Louisiana spared the
reproach Of eousenting to an act which all
civilized communities bold in merites detesta-
tion."
This may not be very logical; it may even
Be regarded ss very uDsophistieated and sim
pie minded-but It is certainly not objection
able on the score Of feroeity. Indeed, we
may say that there is something decidedly
provocative Of mirth in the suggestion that an
order, By foreign government, TO dispossess
our city Of the revenue cutter placed here for
is defense. and to shoot down one Of our eiti-
zens in the jurisdiction Of our Independent