Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/117

 Letter of Stephen R. Maiiory, iS6i 107 When our State seceded Moreno (Marshal) my brother in law;' and Baldwin at Key West sent me in their resignations to do with as I pleased. At the same time" the members of the Legislature and Convention telegraphed to me, not to submit them as they wanted these gentlemen, as good and true State Rights men as ever breathed to hold on until the State could assert her authority at Key West, and thus assist the State to assert her authority, and thus they did hold on to 4th. of ]March, not for their own benefit, but for the Public good. And now my dear Sir why you may ask have I troubled you with these details and I reply that I have within a few days, learned that Genl. Morton and Mr. Blount the two leading lights of the K. N. Party of St. Rosa Co. have sought to create the impression in Tallahassee upon the minds of honorable men that I was not sufficiently sound upon Southern Rights ^•^ and that they have given as specifications the very acts and doings of mine which I have thus recited and of which I am justly proud, and all and every of which I rejoice to have been able to do. Of course they must have presented them by the lights of their own dark lanterns or men like you and others would have seen them in their real and true light. I kept clear of Montgomery wanting to be let alone in my career of full private and determined to fill no other part under our Government and I was unwilling by coming here to give any ground for presuming that I wanted Station or position. Mr. Davis and I have long been personal friends. By telegraph he invited me to a seat in his Cabinet. I resolved at once not to take it and came to say that though I could not accept of any Public position, I would cheerfully give his Secretary of the Navy all the aid in my power, from time to time in the orginization _sic' or conduct of his department. Upon reaching here I learned from him that not only had he sent in my nomination but that it was opposed by two of Florida's delegation.' Of course I could not carry out my purpose and withdraw in the face of unknown opposi- tion. Next day I learned that these gentlemen (Anderson was not here) opposed me upon the precise ground I have related, disclaiming all per- sonal grounds. This opposition of Mortons needed but to be seen to be despised, as to Mr. Owens, I had never before met him but once, when he favorably impressed me. And I know he only saw the matter as Morton presented it, but Morton from mental and physical structure Fernando J. Moreno was marshal for the southern district of Florida. John P. Baldwin was collector of customs at Key West. » In the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States. Florida was repre- sented by J. Patten Anderson. Jackson Morton, and James B. Owens. When President Davis nominated Mallory to be Secretary of the Navy, February 25, the nomination was, on motion of Morton, referred to the committee on naval affairs. In the final vote on confirmation, March 4 (36 yeas, 7 nays), Florida voted thus: yea, Andersen; nay, Morton and Owens. Jountal, I. 85. 95, 105, 106.
 * Senator Mallory had married the daughter of Senor Moreno of Pensacola.