Year: 1861

on foot by an experienced and energetic officer,
and Will embrace perhaps, some three thoue-
and men. recommend 1t to your early atten-
tion, and think it might be confirmed az legal
organization--at least for and during the war.
Inc country is peculiar, and requires native
local force OF that kind to give efficiency to its
deiense, and this 10 on plan least expensive to
the State. These remarks are also applicable
TO the twenty-one mounted companies of the
eeacoaat.


FINANCIAL TROUBLES.


Ia addition to tho difficulties that war always
brings upon country, we labor at this time
under stringent pressure, from the sale of all
productions for expectation Being suspended
Our banks are banks both OF discount and cir
culstion, and practically they hold the only cir.
eulating medium. They suspended the redemp-
ton OF their bills issued. The Legislature le-
gaiized that suspension. Then, if their issues
are contracted, and circulation Withdrawn, the
difficulty OF paying debts and meeting taxation
becomes greatly increased. II would seem that
undersuch circumstances, where the Legisla.
ture has interposed to relieve the banks from
the obligation to pay their notes, some course
ought to be adopted, il consistent with safe
precedent, to protect the people also from the
Temporary difficulties by which we are sur.
rounded All tampering of any kind with
produce by government, in any shape or form,
is generally unwise and unjust. If any thing OF
the kind is ever to be done, let IL be done by
the State Governments rather than by the Gen.
eral or Confederate Government, for all power
not expressly granted is. reserved to the
States, The exercise by the Confederate
government OF any power not expressly grant
ed is not only without authority, but on 90 vital
point IL is dangerous, as calculated, If habtu.
ally acted upon, to affect deeply the distribution
OF wealth and the interests of productive labor.
Ii anything is done, it should be done by the
States; and suggest that, perhaps, as we have
State institution, it might be used to advance
on produce one-half of its value, upon receipts
for the same being deposited, with q view 10
give lien to secure the amount advanced first,
to the exclusion OF all other claims. Public
policy will require that you should continue to
legalize the suspension of the banks. This
continuation might be made upon certain con-
ditions resting upon similar advances to be
made from all the banks.


GENERAL cUsHING's MISSION.


On the Goth of December the President of
the United States sent Gen. Cushing, distin.
guished citizen Of Massachusetts,, to me, with
letter, Q copy of which is herewith transmit
ted. had but a short interview with him,
eHN WIN hihA WOulu lU reply W tue
Presidents letter, except to cay, very candidly,
that there was no hope for the Union, and that,
as far as was concerned, intended to main
tain the separate independence of South Caro-
lina,. and for this purpose Deither temptation
nor danger should for a moment deter me. He
said he could not say what changes circum-
stances might produce, but when he left Wash.
lngton there was then no intention whatever to
change the status of the forts in our harbor in
any way.


PIcKENss VIEWS OF THE NORTH.


There is not the slightest danger of our be-
ing subJugated by the North. Those who con-
ceived such an idea had but little knowledge as
to the elements of real power. They are vast
ly defective in all those qualities necessary for
effective military organization, particularly for
purposes OF invasion, while the institutions of
the South train our people to individual self
reliance and to police regulations with disciplin-
ed order There are no agricultural people 30
essentially military In their early training as
are the slave.holding race of the South.


As far as the northern States are
concerned, their government is hopelessiy gone;
and If we fall, with all our conservative ee.
ments to save US, then, indeed, there will be no
hope Tor an independent and free republic on
this continent, and the public mind will des
pondingly turn to the stronger and more fixed
forms of the Old World.


In this point of view, most respectfully
urge that you increase the power and dignity Of
the State, through all her administrative Offices
and adhere firmly to all the conservative princi-
pies of our constitution.


Clouds and darkness may rest upon our be.
loved country, but if we are true to ourselves
and just to others, looking with confiding faith
up to that Providence who presides over the
destinies of men and governmental, we will
surely triumph, and come out of our trials a
wiser and better people.


F. W. PICKENs.