New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-09
IRON KEY WEST.

D.siOyuity at Aey West-I ne NhTriseh IN"
its OGlcers-HebcI Spies md sympn.
thixers - Col. Morgan's Order - The
Military authorities Prize Vessels
Col. Morgan Superseded.
'''"' KKr WEST, Fla Feb. %, 1863.
Kew West is the chief center whence the Rebels
derive information Of the plans and movements OF
the Union armies from the Potomac to the Missis.
sippi. From sympa,bizers here they receive early
notice Of anticipated expeditions and orders. The
fruit boats from Nassau and other ports il the
British Islands arc the chief means Of conveying
news and yauables 10 Rebel ports. Almost constant
communication is maintained with Tampa Bay by
these nsi1ous traitors, many OF whom have taken
the oath of allegiance. From its nearly central
location between Havana and the main land the
place il subject to double danger. The disoyal ma
tiyes Of III. island have nearly every facility they
could reasonably desire by Of the daily inter.
course with Havana. The Proyost-Marshal II fire.
quenly placed in possession of valuable facts from
Rebedom, through the medium OF intercepted let
ters obtained ffom the trunks or clothing OF pas
sengers from Havana.
Ibe garrison consists Of the Goth New.York, Col.
Io,eph \. Morgan, who il Poet Commandment.
Major Nelson Shaurman Of the Goth 10 Provost Mar
,hsl. From truly loyal men | hear but one opinion
expressed In reference 70 these officers. Ardent
lovers Of Liberty and Union. hearty synpathizers
with the Proclamation OF Emancipation, able, eau
tons and determined in the discharge OF their du-
ties. they merit the Assrmest appreciation Of the
Government and the people. Sitting upon the era.
ter OF political volcano, their orders are issued ana
enforced with tile stolclsn Of Butler aud tho hrm-
nsss OF Jackson. ,
nlac.d from For, Taylor a3d the citizens have the
reputation Of being loyal men, IL is u well known
fscs that ree-iourths Of the population are Rebsi
y, npathiIers Rebel spies. IL ha5 been for eoae
.me evident that the leland must be depopulated OF
this dscordant and dangerous element OF its popnla-
ton, or be prepared for open outbreak OF Rebel
fury. Therefore. acting under orders from Gen.
Hunter, Col u organ issued tho following order:
HEADQUARTERS. BLAND OF Ksr WEST, ~.
u \ BAsHACKs. Feb. H. 1862.
0KxKutL ORpHg No 10: la accorlAnes with Instructions
received rom Headquser' Department Of the south. tho
Families Of all petTn. lwhi,e ,s'k,dnf within the ir; Z
viii bold themselves ~ reaeine" 10 embark on
board of The ar.. available taDPs !r Hilton Head s. c.
with visr Of being placed within the hset
usada1sf,e wihoa, de,y Due notice viii 10 given as to
the u,n'rOr, aud zine o. 'si'ins JOS g MORGAN
Col se.h RsS't, n. Y. Vols Commanding Post
w. T. wooLLrr. IL, LIEUT., and Post Ait
The excitement caused by the PRONUNCIATION Of
this righteous decree was intense. Among those
who denounced the measure in strong terms, |
GRAVE 70 state. were the United States District
Judge. VIM Marvin, and the United States District
Attorney, Thos. j. Boynton. Judge Marvin held an
Immediate consultation with Col Morgan, in which
he informed the commandant that the order riust
not be carried out; that every person thus trans-
ported would have Just claim upon him for dam
ages IN a civil suit, and that judgments would be
obtained against him TO the amount Of mil ions Of
dollars. lie further said that should such suits be
brought before him, he should in all cases enter
Judgment. The reply Of Col. Morgan was peculiarly
chnracteristic: Judge Marvin, l am acting under
orders from my superior oicer shall enforce that
order if have Ihe power to do it, and feel conf
den, that | have" Tue Judge replied: Should
Won do ro think the President of the United States
will conclude that you are not tho proper man to
commaud this post" The Dstrct-A,torney kindly
favored Col. Morgan with fifteen pages OF foolscap
containing his opinion Of the order. The ponderous
asked my advice l have said, Resist the enforce
ment OF the order even 10 the death. do not think
such resistance could DO construed Us IN unconstu.
tiona action
Upon the promulgation Of the order, sixteen Of
the line officers and tho Chaplain rendered their
designations. Col. Morgan called meeting OF the
remaining officers, and asked whether there was yet
one remaining who wished to tender hs resignation
Receiving no answer, he demanded that they inform
him whether they would continue to adhere to their
regiment and their country or not. The unanimous
reply was, We will stand by You and the goth
rest those who hGd been recreant to their duty and
their swords Were taken 20 headq quarters. Upon
this exhibition Of iirmness two Of the designations
were withdrawn. The recasants arc at present in
Fort lor, and arc confined 10 their quarters.
They will doubtless DO sent to Hilton Head for
trial by Court Martial.
About one hundred persons have already received
permission to leave by the transport City of Bath
ibis morning for Hilton Head The majority Of
these persons have been dangerous to the political
peace Of the island during the entire period of the
war, and their absence cannot but have sslutary
effect here.
BY special order of Provost-Marshal Shearman,
dated Feb. "A, the military authorities assumed con-
troll Of ell persons or vegses arriving at Or departing
from the island. Captains Of vessels are ordered TO
report with complete list Of their passengers aud
crews at the Provost Marshal office before landing
them, and all persons coming upon the island are
obliged TO register themselves. No persons are al
lowed 70 leave the island unless provided with per-
mi,s from tho Provost Marshal. All masters Of ves-
selS after obtaining their clearauces, must obtain
pastes to be exhibited to the guard-shp upon pass
ing on, Of the harbOr.
Tber, are ut present about 30 prize vessels of all
classes lying in the channel On the 18th the British
schooner Avon was brought In. She was taken OIL
Abaco lslald, and had OH board All assorted cargo
chiefly salt---for the Rebels. Tho British steamer
Pearl ran in last night, with prize crew on board.
She is a most beautiful model, and can easily run
Is knots per hour. The two most effective guDboa's
in these waters are the Port Royal and the Santiago
de Cnba. The former il the heaviest gunboat in
the navy. She il now ut Apalachicola. Tue latter
in charge of Capt. Morris OF the Cumberland, and
bas taken more prizes than any vessel in service.
k.l1 "a md thA fol