New-York daily tribune., 1861-01-19
STATE OF AFFAIRS AT THE SOUTH.

STATE OF AFFAIRS AT THE SOUTH.
Tie following is anextract from Pittsburgh gentle
man travelling for Philadelphs dryeoods house, in
the South, dated
NASHVILLE, Friday, Jan. 6, 1851.
am sick and tired Of this trip No money. no goods
wanted and nothing talked of bat the distracted state
Of the country There Is gloom over everything and
every person. and cannot and do not feel comfortable
This State with the Of the people, s conserva-
tive, but they say they must be guaranteed in their
constitutional rights, or they will be obliged TO 90 ont
with the other Southern States. The Legislature
meets tomorrow, but what their probable action on
the Southern issue will be, have not been able to
learn but Gov. Hars is said to be rather inclined TO
secession.
The northern part of Alabama Is also conservative,
but the northern part of Mississippi is redhot for
ceseion, and will go out tomorrow or next day. l
was at Oxford 20 miles from the Tennessee line, and
very glad to get out of the State and felt quite
relieved when got back TO this State. This part Of
the country has had no crop for two years and no
good crop for four; and you may well imagine that
money il scarce, business prostrated and provisions
high Corn so to 80 cents; pork "A to cents, and
other things in proportion. There is much distress
among the POOR Of this city, and the end, fear, not
yet. God help them.
THE FUNNY CRUISE OF THE BROOKLYN.
The sealed orders of the Brooklyn substantially
these:
"You are to proceed direct to Charleston harbor,
but not 60 the bar TO anchor bnt lay
under outside and ascertain If the Star OF the
West has landed her troops; if not, countermsnd her
orders and order ber, with the troops TO Hampton
Roads and also gain any information you can as 10 tne
exietipg state Of affairs there and then return iinoied
ately to Hampton Roads,"
| A writer on board of the ship says.
| As we approached the bar, we observed smau
schooner coming Of port for which we Immediately
made, and caused her 10 heave to. In reply to our
questions her captain gave US the following iuforma-
tion The name Of this schooner is the Edith Of Har-
wich Mass the Star Of the West attempted to enter
the harbor the 10TH for the purpose Of landing her
| troOpe, but she was fred into, in all, some l9
shots. We think some of them struck her the
wheelhouse. After this demonstration the part Of
the authorities here abe put to again without land
ing her troops, and We suppose she has sunk al sea,
with all on board. Five vessels have been sunk on
the bar to obstruct the passage Of inbound vessels
Pilots forbidden to go board armed vessels all
lights put OUT and there are batteries all along the
beach. II you are the steamer @ Brooklyn you had
ready for YOU We expect to be seized for volunteer
ing this Information.
No~ all The obore ras dsemed perfectly reliable By
our rey rofhy Captain, and so reported 10 the Sec
retary Of the Nary. Without any further investigS-
tion We instantly put about, and headed for Hamp-
ton Roads, obtaining, first, peep at Fort Sumter.
This action on the part Of our commanding oiicer
was not at all in accordance with our views; on the
contrary caused the greatest indignation throughout
the whole vesel, officers and crew sharing il alike.
The Norfolk Day-Book adds:
"The Brooklyn was surprised to see that the
schooner did not proceed to sea- It was also observed
that steamer out Of the harbor and talked with
the schooner and then took her in tow until shs
some distance from the Brooklyn. The steamer finally
went back and the schooner leisurely made her way
into the harbor. II now occurred to those on board
the Brooklyn that the sailors the schooner wore
black slk hats, standing collars, store clothes, &C..
and the impression prevailed that the schooner
of the guard vessels that had been sent out 70
intercept the Brooklyn. The Brooklyn made no at
m he buf med nj uni
she started homeward
"It little remarkable that none Of the guns on tho
Brooklyn loaded, or even unashed for the pur-
poee nor was the slightest preparation for action made
on board during the whole cruise. The sailors that
were on board were divided in sentiment some being
Southern in sentiment, while others were infiu
eneed by Northern feelings. AS for the officers moth
ing could be gained from them; they were perfectly
mum on al the various subjects connected with the
ship her cruise and If they discussed the subject st
all, did so privately.
SOUTH CARoLrNA's sEA-COAsT POLICE.
Gov. Pickens tells the Legislature of his rebel State
that the net passed in relation to the sea-coast police
appropriated $500 for that purpose There was
plan laid down, except an authority indicated to pur-
chase three screw propelieis to be used: md ex-
ceedngly difficult to procure boats suitable for this
er, ice, but shall at the first possible moment ACCOM-
plish The design and arrange the details of outfit.
desire to enlist tbrtytw men, accustomed to the
sea and familiar with the inles Of coast for each
boat with captain and Arst lieutenant, besdes ordn
airy crews, 6remen and engineers. The pay OF these
men TO be something like what is received In the United
States navy. would prefer small iron propel
l,rs, ninety 10 one hundred feet long, with liyht
draught not 10 exceed Elk feet but screw propeller
Of tina, sze usually draws nine feet. One of these
boats propose to station In Charleston harbor, and
the waters around the harbcr another at Beaufort and
a third at Georgetown. In connection with these
propose throw up breastworks or Temporary forth-
cations at the most important and exposed points ON
the coaet and tue mouths OF our MYERS placing IN
them such pieces of ordnance as may be needed, ac-
coldug to the width of the channel ~ be defended 70
suit tie moderate resources OF the State. :,
intend these three boats to keep up rapid and
constant communication between these points, ana 10
Give an the protection they able In case OF suddeo
invason by l,wlsss bands In small crafts and skip
ners that NAV iniest Our coast In each temporary
ratification propose to station men according TO the
,ye;oht Of ordnance they contain OF course these
defnses are not intended to resist any invasion OF
barge war vessels but to constitute strictly coast
roce 10 act concert with detachments Of the neigh
borhood militia at any time OF menace or danger from
rnarauding parties sent on our coast.
To carry ont these views, appointed, the day a,er
came into office, Col. Gwypn an engineer Of hg6
reputation, to examine the proper places TO DO eeteo
for the erection Of temporary fortihcauons nmnnS
him to the most economical plan poesible. Tie maoo
the examination and rendered his report, desgnsnh8
the prof. er points. have since sent COL Aston 20
carry into effect what Col. Gwynn had rcporec
upon there, as far the coast toward 1eorgctown
concerned. LieuCol Elliott has the same me- o'SS o.
toward Beaufort. He was charged with three
pounders for Beaufort and all other points rean,S
ordnance shall IL possible, be supplied eut ~. "a
In this particular are limited, and for me ~ ;nss
sball be compelled TO conhne ourselves 70 .e
think we will finally have 10 rely more - sis,
upon these armed and equipped steamer,s ~ ~,
system OF police, there are many .-csrt n o.