Perhaps you have already thought of the condition of our State now, with practically all our State Troops, mustered in the U.S. Army, and very soon, will be taken to the border. This will leave our State without any military protection in case of [illegible].

The trouble of lynchings and their threatenings at Kinston, Night Rides in Duplin and Pender and strike in Wilmington are but [illegible] of much greater trouble that might occur. Im writing this to call the matter to your attention and ask if you have the power under the present law, will you not have some companies organized at once and get the U.S. Government to equip them with arms, uniforms &c?