Simon Cameron to His Excellency the GOVERNOR OF California, November 25, 1861

His Excellency the GOVERNOR OF California, San Francisco: SIR: It is found by experience that competition by agents of States, authorized to purchase arms, in competition with agents of the Government, is highly detrimental to the public service, as it advances prices both to the States and to the United States, the loss of which may ultimately fall upon the General Government. To avoid this competition you are respectfully requested to withdraw all agents for the purchase of arms, in order that the Government of the United States may make all such purchases with the greatest possible economy, and remove the present inducement for speculators to withhold arms from the service. The arms will be distributed to the troops of the several States as soon as received.

SIMON CAMERON,