Memoirs of John Adams Dix; comp. by his son, Morgan Dix.

1860-1861.] MISSISSIPPI NTA VIGATION INTERRUPTED.

367

tions of this department, and perform your duty under the laws of the
United States. Very respectfully, JOHN A. Dix,
" JOHN BOSTON, Esq., "Secretary of the Treasury.
"Collector of the Customs, Savannah, Georgia."
On the 12th instant the following reply was received:
" Savannah, February 8, 1861.
" SIR,-Your letter, under date of the 4th instant, asking me whether
it is my purpose to obey the direction of the Government of Georgia to
pay no more money from the Custom-house to any government or person
without his order, or whether I will conform to the instructions of this
(your) department, and perform your (my) dnty under the law of the
United States, is this moment received; and, in reply, I beg to say that
I will, as a good and loyal citizen, as I hope I am, obey the authority of
my State. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J BOS
j"JOHN BOSTON.
"Hon. JOHM A. DIx,
" Secretary of the Treasury, Washington."
This declaration was carried out at a later day by refusing
to pay a draft for the compensation of a revenue-officer in
his own State.
It also appears that the free navigation of the Mississippi
River, which had been guaranteed as a perpetual right to the
people of the United States at the time of the purchase of
Louisiana, had been interrupted by the authorities at New
Orleans, to the great loss and injury of all the North-western
States, the inward commerce of the great West having thus
been made subject to the authority of the State of Louisiana
and tributary to her treasury. No madder proceeding could
have been imagined, nor one more certain to open the eyes
of Western men to the results of secession.
The subject of the Marine Hospital at New Orleans involved (as will be seen in the following extracts from General Dix's papers) some vigorous correspondence:
" The Marine Hospital.
"In the month of June, 1858, the Marine Hospital opposite
New Orleans became seriously injured by the overflow of the