New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-02
SOUTH CAROLINA.

SOUTH CAROLINA,
MESSAGE OF GOV. PICKENS TO THE CONVENTION
STATE OF sou,H CAROLINA, EXECUTIVE DEPAhFsEsr'
To the Pre- ,ia,n, and Afen,Je,s Of ca1 Concea,on;
GEXrLrsES: On the 10Th day of February last, the
Confederate Government adopted the fotsowing reso
lution:
R46,d That thi. Government takes undr it's charge t.
ques onsnd difficulties existing between several ,,
tbs 'icfedescy and the Soysram o. M Yards and
ard st the President Of ,hs %
gre :. directed s to communicate TINS
tsl on the first DAY Of March, the Secretary OF war
,yl>,,e me in the following language Sheer 'nl'
ao she President directs toiniorm yon thas nc az
s,sy es control of al the military operations Oh 1
Sste, having reference to- or connected WIN P''''
stween your State and powers foreign W IL
He also directs me To request you 10 communism
IN the Denartlpent without delay, the qnttty anu
,ba racter of arms and munitions Il war when nave
been acquired from the United states, ana mSh an
now in the Forts Arsenals ana Navy-iJhs; - 49,
State and all other arms and munitions when your
State NAV desire 10 turn and make chargeabe 10
The provisional Government for the Confederate
States was created by your authority through aele
oates snpon,ed 10 meet other delegates from all the Sc
SediDo States and therefore consider the acts OF the
Proys .onal Government binding on South Carona'
By virtue of this authority, the President OF the Coh
federate Government the third OF this month paceu
General Beanreeard in full command Of all forces In
actpl service in and around Charleston. He If eel
enti6c and thoroughbred officer, and no appointment
could have been more acceptable. =,
did not think was fully authorized 10 transfer tne
enlisted forces of South Carolina TO the CoDed-
crate Government because their enlistment was IN the
nature Of contract with the State the condohs oi
which could not be varied except by the authority oi
the Convention.
7 have transmitted to the Secretary of War Of the
Confederate States full and accurate list OF the oh
GERS that have been appointed IN the regular
service of this State and took occasion 10 say that
would refer the matter to the Convention to determine
and fix the conditions upon which this force should be
transferred over to the Confederate Government was
a force raised under peculiar circumstances, OF great
excitement and peril and the officers have been selected
with strict regard in most Instances to military serv
ees heretofore rendered the late Mexican war, OF In
reference to their rank and position in the late United
States Army.
I respsctfuly urge therefore, that the Convention
may preserve their ranks and COMMISSIONS as lar as
possible in any arrangement or transfer they may
make Of them TO the Confederate Government Ihis
force was enlisted for year. and in any events ha
NAV arise it will require at least 600 men TO garrison
the forts in Charleston harbor and II VIII also require
a company permanently stationed at the mouth OF
Stono and one near Georgetown at least one, II not
more at and near Beaufort; in all 800 men, II there
should be any continued agitation or apprehension OF
prot acted war then Of course II would require many
more III the Confederate Government would receive
this enlisted force with their officers then they might
constitute, for their term OF service the permanent
garrison force on the coast OF South Carolina ~
We happen 10 be the pioneer State IN the great
movements that have taken place in the last three
months and this force suddenly raised under CIR
ou1pstances requiring the sternest character They
have served faithfully, and their General has peeh
brave and meritoIious officer in the Palmetto Regiment
through the Mexican war, and Of great experience as
Adjutant and InspectoE-General, appointed by the
Legislature for many years. The other held officers
and captains, with but single exception, have also
either served through the war; been graduates
of West Point aud officers In the United States Army.
1t may then be said far officers concerned 10
be efficient aforce for the number be obtained
therefore most respectfully urge that the Conyen-
ton will eectuay guard and preserve their rights in
any arrangement disposition they may adopt In ref
erence 10 their transfer 10 the Confederate Govern
| ment The hgh-toned and noble regiment, COM
manded by Col. Gregg was organized under Tesolu-
lions adopted by your body: They were called foth
at time when we expected immediate conflict Of
arms and under the powers granted me by the Con-
yenton, intrnsted 20 great extent their formaiio9
70 tneIr tatnotic ana gifted oomnandGT' ne Term on
service for which they volunteered was only Six
months and believe they do not propose a longer
term now unless there should be some prospect of
more general state of hostiities But communicate
with this a report of the Secretary Of War and refer
TO the details there presented for full account Of
the forces that have been employed. most cordially
adopt that report, and recommend its clear and truth
full representations 10 the earnest attention Of the Con-
vention.
send on also, with this, copies of all letters that
have passed. in relation TO the military forceb Of this
State from mysen TO the President Of the Confederate
States, and the Secretaries Of War and Navy together
with their replies. make this communication IN order
been DONE and the particular interests involved.
doubt the night 70 make the transfer Of these forces
aud fix the conditions that may be necessary except
through the Convention.
also communicate with this reports from the differ
ent heads of Bureaus or Departments and refer with
great satisfaction to them OF not only showing the ab
iy and aithfGlness with which each one Of them has
administered the affairs under his particular charge
but also TO show that the Executive has been at all
successful in administering the duties Of Office, IL
nru VIII n Council
he was surrounded. II was by resolution of the
Convention that this Council was appointed. One Of
s most useful and patriotic members has been trans
ferred the Administration Of the Confederate Gov
eminent; and have appointed the Hen. Edward
Frost a member of the Council in his place. II was
required by the resolution appointing this Council that
should refer any nomination 10 your body for confirm
alton. l. therefore, respectfully refer to you this
nomination for your confirmation.
II will be seen by the report from the Treasury De-
partment, that expenditures have been t6iO,3l7
(Gx hundred and forty thousand three hundred and
seventeen dOllars) Of this amount $l95 800 ex-
pended by the Ordnance Board This includes what
has been expended for ordnance and munitions Of all
kinds. As 70 all expenses incurred since the 10Th Of
December last the day on which South Carolina Sc
ceded from the old COnfederacy, take il for granted
the Government Of the Confederate States will be-
come responsible to for the amount as il was in
CURED in defense of cause, and particularly
as the Confederate Government expressly assumed
jurisdiction of all questions between and any other
governments relating to defenses and military opera
tions.
Ii will be perceived that through communication
Of the Secretary of War at Montgomery, was patic-
nlarly requested to turn over all aud munitions
received from the Arsenal Of the United States in this
,ity and also all other arms might think proper 1 |
suppose the ordnance and the State itself
which were purchased in 1850 and 1851, might with |
great propety be retained by the State now as also
ome small arms in the United States Arsenal essential
N arm our volunteer force If called into service ought