The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1861-09-06

We publish to-day the reply of Cow.
PuTus. to the communication signed .
Enquirer which we copied into our
last issue from the WasH8pw What |
ever may De the merit cr demerit Of the
action of the Governor and the Military
Board, one thing Is rendered certain, by
His EScellency's reply, and that is. that
the exceptions Of Enquirer are badly
taken. and are not sustained 10y the facts
of the case. As our readers know, we
ave been in favor of the abolition Of the
Military Board, and believe the placing
Of eight thousand State troops in camps
of instruction to have been bad policy,
considering the Strengthened fnancies Of
the State. But the whole question was
presented to the Legislature the Re
representatives. Of the people, and they re-
fused to interfere. There may be a neces-
sity for the measure known to those at
the head of affairs of which private
citizens are not aware 1t is certain that
other States have pursued the same
course, and have spent far more in drill
ing and instructing troops at their own
expense than those eight thousand will
cost Mississippi. The defense Of our sea
coast rests now almost entirely upon
Louisiana State troops. All the prepare
tions made for that purpose have been
done mainly by Louisiana at her own ex-
pense. The batteries at Ship Island are
of Louisiana guns, manned by Louisiana
troops, and fred with Louisian powder and
ball, while the detachments stationed
along the main land, are, or have been
until recently, we believe, with the eX-
ception ofone single company, composed OF
a regiment of men raised and paid by the
State of Louisiana. These facts have re-
Gently come to our knowledge, and we
candidly confess that they have had nc
uncomfortable influence in modifying the
prejudices we had previously entertained
respecting the action of the Board The
Governor and Board may have thought
that sense ofState honor and pride should
forbid that the work Of defending oul
own soil should be left to the liberality o
sister State, and hence they ordered ou
these eight thousand. They may possibly
be needed We know Lincoln has sen
e powerful feet, with troops on board t.
some point on the Southern coast. The!
stopped on the way and took For Hat
teras in North Carolina, and it is mos
likely that the coast between Mobile anC
New Orleans, and one or both OF thos
cities, is the intended field Of their opera
tons.
There seems to be a persistent, preme
dated and arranged effort to cry Gov
Pettus down, and il is mainly amon
those who opposed 10 the very last, tn
secession of the State. We all recollec
+ that short time ago a clamor was raise
= against him because he had not provide
for the proper defense of the coast. TIL
+ Governor replied to this over his ow
signature, and showed that he had don
e all within his power. Additional facts hay
since come to light, which show beyon
- question that instead of censure, he d.
y serves the very highest praise for tn
IS effort he made in that behalf. We hay
e it from gentleman Of the utmost reli
l. bility, who knows What he says, and wi
81 was privy to the efforts used by Go
'e Pettus to procure guns and ammunition
fortify Ship Island, and guard the coa'
The Governor went in person to New [
, leans and Baton Rouge, for that purpo'
> but the authorities in those places we
unable at that time to furnish him Il
supplies. 1t was then mainly through |
lnstrumentality that three Governors
=. Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisia
made the arrangements which are M
being carried into effect under the dire
ton of Gov. Twiggs, to protect the Soul
and render the coast inaccessible to t
u enemy. The mastering of these Gig
= thousand is doubtless intended to assist
" the carrying out of this plan and
other purposes, and we should be We
on certain of its impolicy before we becor
re fixed in our opposition to it.
or But lastly, though there may have be
W. an error in this thing on the part Of t
Id Governor, we do not think that it shou
be made the turning point OF the prese
Or canvass. 1t cannot be an error OF Il
,p- character which should cause him to Il
cts the public confidence, and induce
bo original state right, men, to assist thu
~ who still hate him for his early advocI
NE of secession, in expelling him disgracet
a " from the Executive chair.
he
!. Jasper Blues.