matter to Congress, which alone can declare war and pass such measures as will enforce execution of the laws. Message referred by Repub. licans, under previous question, to committee of five. Nothing further important to-day. [1.] Hon. WILLIAM M. BROOKS: J. J. MCRAE. JACKSON, MISS., January 9, 1861. I am instructed by the Mississippi State convention to inform you that the State of Mississippi, by vote of her convention approaching unanimity, has seceded unconditionally from the Union, and desires, on the basis of the old Constitution, a new union with the seceded States. [1.] WILLIAM S. BARRY, President of the Convention. WASHINGTON, D. C., January 10, 1861. Hon. W. S. BARRY, Jackson, Miss.: Dispatch received. Is it intended we shall withdraw immediately, or shall we wait for the official ordinance? [1.] JEFF'N DAVIS. A. G. BROWN. O. R. SINGLETON. HEADQUARTERS, Col. T. LOMAX, Montgomery, Januarg 11, 1861. Second Regiment Alabama Volunteers, Pensacola, Fla.: COLONEL: The Governor requests me to direct you to have a correct roll made out of each company under your command at present at Pensacola, or that may have left Alabama for that point, and forward them to the adjutant-general's office. You will at the same time forward a consolidated return of your whole force as it left this State. You will see the necessity of giving prompt attention to this matter. [1.] Respectfully, your obedient servant, J. J. SEIBELS, Colonel and Aide-de-Camp. WASHINGTON, January 11, 1861. Governor of Florida, Tallahassee, Fla.: His Excellency M. S. PERRY, Your telegram received. I acknowledge with pride the full sovereignty of my State. [1.] D. L. YULEE. HUNTSVILLE, January 12, 1861. Governor A. B. MOORE: I leave for Montgomery to-day. It is absolutely certain that Tennessee will go with the South. [1.] L. P. WALKER. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, January 12, 1861. Hon. WILLIAM M. BROOKS, President State Convention: SIR: The following resolution, passed by the convention, has just been handed me by the secretary of that body: Resolved, That the Governor be requested to communicate to the convention any information he may have as to the condition of military operations near Pensacola. I regret that it becomes my duty to inform the convention that the Federal troops have deserted the navy-yard and Fort Barrancas, and now occupy Fort Pickens with about eighty men. The guns are spiked at Barrancas and the navy-yard and the public stores removed to Fort Pickens. This fort commands Fort Barrancas and the navy-yard, and can only be taken by an effective force, and by bold and skillful movements. Fort Pickens was garrisoned on Wednesday night. Colonel Lomax left Montgomery on Wednesday night, at 7 o'clock, with 225 men, and arrived at Pensacola last night at 10. The 300 troops ordered from Mobile to the same point, under the resolution of the convention, were telegraphed, when about to sail for Pensacola, by Major Chase, in command at Pensacola, to remain in Mobile until the receipt of further orders. The Governor of Mississippi has ordered troops, at my suggestion, to Pensacola. They will halt at Mobile, I presume, until ordered to sail for Pensacola. This is all the information I can give at this time. I expect a messenger to-night with fall information. [1.] A. B. MOORE. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Col. D. C. GREEN, Assistant Quartermaster-General, Mobile, Ala.: DEAR SIR: I dispatched you yesterday authorizing the draft of $10,000 on this department for the defense of the forts in Mobile Bay, &c., on my own responsibility, there being no funds appropriated for that purpose. To-day I have your dispatch informing me that a meeting of the citizens would be held, and $100,000 would be raised for the defense of the place. I dispatched L. W. Lawler to-day, requesting that all moneys raised for the purpose indicated, if it was expected they should be reimbursed by the State, must be deposited in bank, to be drawn for by the proper officer upon satisfactory vouchers. Mobile must be defended at whatever cost, but I must earnestly appeal to every one connected with the military service of the State to observe as much economy in the uses of the public funds as is consistent with the efficiency of the service. In the present instance let the contemplated work for which these heavy expenditures are to be made be well considered before they are undertaken, and when completed, or as they progress by contract, let them be examined to see if they are in compliance with the engagements, and in all cases let proper vouchers be furnished upon the disbursement of the public money. Heavy drafts will soon have to be made upon the treasury for military purposes, and it is incumbent upon every patriotic citizen in the employment of the State, so far as it may be in his power, to husband every dollar of her resources by seeing that not a dollar is improperly expended. I feel sure that you will appreciate this appeal; that you will respond to it and cause it to be heeded by all under your orders and directions. [1.] Respectfully, &c., A. B. MOORE. [WASHINGTON, D. C.,] January 12, 1861. Col. JOHN MCRAE, Wilmington, N. C.: Astonished at your information. Impossible! Cannot comprehend. Please go immediately down. I cannot leave. I cannot leave. me by telegraph all particulars. Soutter here. Send D. L. YULEE. [1.] Col. D. LEADBETTER, Aide-de-Camp, Mobile, Ala.: HEADQUARTERS, Montgomery, January 12, 1861. Fif COLONEL: Governor Moore is in receipt of your report of the capture of Mount Vernon Arsenal, and requests me to express to you his entire satisfaction and gratification at the manner in which you and the offi. cers and troops under your command have discharged your duty in that enterprise. The charge for the steamer appears erroneous. teen hundred dollars of the amount will be paid now, and the balance held over for further inquiry and consideration. No disposition of the arms or public property taken in the forts can be made at present. The Governor regrets, therefore, that he cannot comply with Mr. Shepherd's wishes to have the rifles. We recommend the appointment of five commissioners, to be appointed by Kentucky, to meet Virginia commissioners, on 4th of February, in Washington, for settlement of national difficulties. [1.] J. J. CRITTENDEN. J. W. STEVENSON. JOHN YOUNG BROWN. W. E. SIMMS. H. C. BURNETT. W. C. ANDERSON. L. W. POWELL. S. R. MALLORY. SAML. O. PEYTON. L. T. MOORE. G. ADAMS. F. M. BRISTOW. Col. T. LOMAX, HEADQUARTERS, Montgomery, January 13, 1861. Second Regiment Alabama Volunteers, Pensacola, Fla.: COLONEL: The Governor instructs me to say to you that the possession of all the fortifications commanding the entrance to and the harbor of Pensacola is of the last importance to the safety of the seceding States on the Gulf of Mexico. No other place on the Gulf is safe while the Federal troops hold possession of the commanding fortifications at Pensacola. The Governor, therefore, desires that you take into immediate consideration the practicability of getting possession of Fort Pickens. Obtain all the information from military and other sources as to the best means of taking it, and use your discretion as to the propriety of making the attempt. The Governor desires me to say that he has full confidence in your prudence, judgment, and courage, and leaves the method and manner of attack entirely to your decision. Do not unnecessarily or uselessly expose the lives of your troops, but the importance of having in our possession every fortified place in the harbor of Pensacola may render a sacrifice necessary in order to obtain them. Should the Governor of Florida have appointed any one to the command of the troopsat Pensacola of course you will have to conform to his orders, but press upon him the importance of this movement. The Governor received from the mayor of Augusta, this morning, the following dispatch: "Information has been received that the Gulf squadron is ordered to concentrate at Pensacola." It is presumed that this information was obtained from the operator at Augusta from dispatches passing through. A copy of this dispatch has been sent to the Governor of Florida. Three hundred troops, mostly from Mississippi, will leave Mobile Bay to-day by water for Pensacola, and three other companies, viz, Capt. Samuel H. Wimberly, of the Conecuh Guards; Capt. T. G. Pou, of the Greenville Guards, and Capt. E. M. Law, of the Alabama Zouaves, Tuskeegee, are ordered to march at once for Pensacola, and six other companies have been ordered to march to Montgomery and hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's notice to any point that it may be deemed necessary to send them. The Governor directs me to express to you, and through you to the troops under your command, the great satisfaction he has experienced in Major Chase's report of their gallant behavior since their arrival in Pensacola. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, [1.] J. J. SEIBELS, Colonel and Aide-de-Camp. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Col. T. LOMAX: I dispatch by W. P. Vanderveer 1,500 cartridges. Others will be forwarded, say 4,000, by next Friday's train. [1.] A. B. MOORE. WASHINGTON CITY, January 15, 1861. Hon. WILLIAM M. BROOKS, Montgomery, Ala.: Has certified copy of ordinance been sent us? Telegraph officially secession of State. [1.] C. C. CLAY, JR. Hon. WILLIAM M. BROOKS, MONTGOMERY, January 15, 1861. President of Convention: SIR: I have received a notification that my company, the Warrior Guards, Tuscaloosa County, starts to day for Fort Morgan, by order of the Governor, and it is my duty as well as my inclination to join it forthwith. I therefore resign my place as secretary to your honorable body. SIR: Your letter to the Governor, asking to be ordered in the service, also for arms, &c., has been duly received, and the Governor directs me to say to you that it has become necessary to cease the issue of arms for the present to all troops except those who are ordered into actual service. He requests that you hold your company ready to move at the shortest notice, thinking it probable that he may need your services at no distant day. Respectfully, your obedient servant, J. J. SEIBELS, N. B.-When ordered into service, arms, accouterments, &c., will be issued to you at the point to which you are ordered to rendezvous. [1.] J. J. S. [WASHINGTON, D. C.,] January 15, 1861. His Excellency M. S. PERRY, We have ceased participation in the proceedings of Senate, and only await receipt of authenticated ordinance to retire formally. [1.] D. L. YULEE. [WASHINGTON, D. C., January 15,] 1861. Col. W. H. CHASE, Pensacola : It is charged that the correspondence of the Government through the mails has been interfered with in the post-office by the State authorities. Let the postmaster send a dispatch. [1.] D. L. YULEE. WASHINGTON, January 15, 1861. Maj. W. H. CHASE, Pensacola, Fla.: Value of ordnance stores at Pensacola yard $117,000, including Dahlgren howitzers; very useful. [1.] S. R. MALLORY. |