The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-06-03

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They asserted their fealty to the
south and declared that they would
not affiliate with any military COM
pany which was prompted by Darti-
san spirit to subserve the aim of the
black republican party and the reign
of terror attempted called for rebuke;
they would give their aid against abol-
ition violence and, in the event OF
Maryland and Virginia withdrawing
from the Union, they would act in
such manner as to hest secure
themselves and those states from the
evils of a foreign or hostile govern.
ment within and near the border.
This association, started during the
campaign, once had nearly 300 men,
bers, comprising some of the most In
fiuential men in the city, and also
included half a dozen or more of the
local police. But they had dwindled
down to 100, and after the action
above started their number became
less A military organization with
out arms was maintained by those 10y
al to the south, and a number cast
their fortunes on that side. An Of
ficer of the company and a few 9TH
ers espoused the Union cause and
served with the District militia.
Jefferson Davis Resigns.
Jefferson Davis resigned his seat
as senator January 81, his state, Mis-
sissippi, having withdrawn from the
Union twenty days before. Georgia
had passed the ordinance of seces-
sion January 10. Gen. Twiggs had
surrendered more than S1,J00,00O
worth of United States property in
Texas, and some of his troops were
then on their way to this city. The
United States artillery from some of
the northern posts had relieved the
marines at Fort Washington January
&c.
There were then many mechanics
and other employees in the Washing
ton navy yard, which contained stores
of arms and ammunition, and there
were rumors that an attempt would
be made to capture the yard and cou-
tents for use in preventing the in
auguration of Mr. Lincoln. Capt
Franklin Buchanan, the commandment
said This yard shall not be surren-
dered to any person or persons ex-
cept by an order OF the Honorable
Secretary Of the Navy, and in the
event of an attack, I shall require all
the officers and others under my com.
mand to defend it to the last extrem-
ity, and if we are overpowered by
numbers, the armory and magazine
must be blown up"
The execution of this order was in
trusted to Commander Dahlgren, who
subsequently reported that he had
secretly removed the contents of the
magazine and prepared to wet any
explosives in the yard at short notice.
On February l, Commander Buchan-
an issued another order that in case
the yard should be attacked by a mob
the defense was to be made with how
tiers and the men of the yard, under
command of five lieutenants and three
warrant officers and Capt William
McBlair was placed in charge subse-
quently.
Commander Dahlgren was ordered
to prepare for the defense of the yard
all the howitzers available in the ord
nance department with as much secrc-
cy as possible. Promptly prepare
tions were made to repel an attack
and soon, in addition to the ordinary
work, the men were drilled in the
use of howitzers. Included in the
force were many members of the 10.
cal military companies, the loyalty Of
most being unquestioned, but there
were suspicious as 20 some, who af-
terward proved these suspicious cor
rect by going south, as did Command
er Buchanan.
In the early part of February other
troops of the regular army had been
"iO"bHJ HSlS' NhlSn lnCluueu luIee
light batteries, and with the marines
at the navy yard and the ordnance
men at the arsenal, made a force Of
about 1000. The local troops at this
time numbered nearly 1000.
Threats to prevent the counting of
the electoral vote February 10, with
the news of the spreading of the Sc
cession sentiment in the south and
the border states, of the election Of
Jefferson Davis and Alexander H.
Stevens, president and vice president
Of the Confederacy, at Montgomery,
Ala, caused the authorities to be Wig
liant.