New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-01-22
THE Governor Of South Carolina.
A DESCRIPTION OF HIS OFFICIAL QUARTER

| DESCRIPTION OF HIS OFFICIAL QUARTERS.
The Charleston correspondent of the Baltimor
American gives the following graphic description
of Governor Pickens headquarters in Charleston
The room was filled with aids writing out order
| and dispatches. The various secretaries Of Hi
Excelleney the Military Chief of the Republic
all employed in attending to the demands upo1
them. The Governor himself was seated upon
roStruin facing the entrance. surrounded by half
score or more of gentlemen in military undress OF
| in citizens habit All seemed impressed with anx
iety and concern, and from what saw going on anG
fron what heard, inferred that the State cOnsid
lselel herself in an actual state of warfare. The
| messengers that ran hther and thither bore mill
talyrlooking dispatches with great sealsupon them
\ lhe Governor appeared careworn but determined
He Expressed himself to those about him as pre-.
Eparing for the worst. He listened to the sugges-
! lions OF his advisers and read the reports of mill
tary subordnates as soon as they preached bis hand
and on the instant issued such directions seemed
to be necessary. The measures he has already
taken for defense are principally confined to the
| harhor, beyond FortSumter This postis not gem
orally known to be almost in the middle of Charles.
| ton harbor, halfway between Fort "MOutrie and
| Morris lslaud or Fort johnson. Fort johnson is
no stronghold in any sense, but merely the
| site OF old Revolutionary work, on which
| nrenchments now being erected. Morris
| Island is also the site for another work un-
dergoing construction Both the localities bear
directly upon Fort Sumter, and besides com
mand all vessels that enter the harbor on the
one side, while opposite positions command the
rest of the entrance the bar, that before any
craft vessel Of is able to reach Fort SUMTER
she will have to encounter the breastWorks, bat-
| teries, etc, erected on the outside.
To the left Of the Gubernatorial quarters is a
chamber occupied by number of staff officers.
These gentlemen were III the midst of business. A
long. green, baze table extended nearly from end
to end OF the ROOM 1t was literally covered with
| papers, while the floor of the room was in an
equally unfortunate condition. There was no loln-
lDD{RU
| to be thoroughly immersed in business. Many Of
| them were busy writing out orders, which were
| promptly delivered to men in waiting. None were
| idle, and affairs of the greatest moment appeared
| to occupy every one. The Governor is quite up to
! the mark of promptness which the ardor of the
| people demands "A Il under him are bound to be
active, and all that liveliness can accomplish will
| be done, you may rest assured
should give you some description of tie GOV.
crnor's apartment 1t is in the second so2y of the
| City Hall, the seat of municipal and magsterial
irstice, corner Of Broad and Meeting streGts. The
Recorders Courtroom is the 8rst you enter ON the
| story above the basement. Passing through this
! you ascend to the second story by a broad and
/ winding staircase of mahogany, until you are
| brought up ii front of the Mayors ofoe, which OF
| itself is most luXurlousay furnished apartment
| being fitted up with heaEiy red danask curtains,
| mirrors, gilded frames, marble maItels richly pa
pered walls heavy velyst chairs, luxurious sofas
| and rich Brussels carpeas. AdjoiGing this retreat
| Of o&acial dignity is the Executive chamber. A
placaNi on the door past gives information OF the
| iact. Tcu pass the vigilance of q sentinel ant
| brush through u croad of military men in attend
aaGe, And ushersd into tho Executive pYesence
| The hrst thing that strikes the eye is dais OF
r0BtrGn, in appeaEance sOIaething like the reading
desk of church. only it IS covered with dark ret
| yelSet, and bestrewn with papers, inkstands ant
| pens. The pirate secretary of the Governor oc
| cnpied it when was first admitted into the apart
lnent and he was as busy as all the rest writing
| Above this desk is bust of Calhoun, and leanin,
! against tho wall below it are a dozen or more 0
long, black ebony rods, with gold heads which,
am tod are used on State occasions by high funt
tionaries. They are chiefly carried in the han
when professions are moving, and belong, | be
lieve, to the Aldermen and Mayor of the city. Th
entire room is richly furnished, and is of larg
dimensions. At this time it was in muck confusion
, owing to the great amount of business transacted
| Around the walls rich pictures, portraits, bust
etc., were suspended, giving an air of refnemel
to the apartment in perfect keeping with its otht
appointments. In front of the das, and, indee
! scattered all over the room, were Writing-table
with clerks and aids at work, giving the who
| place exactly the appearance of a drawing-roo
suddenly transferred into an editors or reporter
quarters. About the grand old fireplace knot
military officers were gathered in conversation
Among these the Governor freely circulated, al
on. did not remain after hearing that it was Il
intention of the Governor 10 continue his orders f
Y fortifying the harbor. have heard, lrom outsit
parties, many of his intentions, and am informe
Of many points he intends to strengthen, but {
not think proper to mention them here for obYlol
reasons. Be assured, however, from the celeri
ID with which things going on, that South Carolil
B I will take determined stand and that the san
+ will be done in double-quick time.