GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. To the Senate and House of Representatives: During tlic past year the people of this Com monwealth have had reason to be grateful to Almighty God for many blessings. The earth has been fruitful, industry has thriven, and with the exception of the injury suffered by the citi zens of some of our border counties, through the disgraceful barbarity of the rebel forces which ravaged parts of them, and burned the town of Chambersburg, we have no public mis fortune to lament. The year closes with a train of brilliant successes obtained by the armies of the United States, iuspiring bona in every loy al mind that the accursed rebellion will soon be crushed, and peace be restored to our country. The balance in the Treasury, Nov. 30, 1803, was $2,147,331 70 Receipts during fiscal year end ing .Nov. 30, 1864, 4,733,313 02 Total in Treasury for fiscal year ending Nov. 30, 1864, 6,550,644 72 The payments for the same peri od have been 4,938,441 09 Pal in Treasury, Nov. 30, 1864, 1,942,203 G3 The operations of the sinking fund during the last year have been sitowu by my procla mation c; the 271h day of September last, a3 follows: Ara't of debt of Commonwealth reduced, $208,569 50 As follows, viz: Five per cent, loan of the Commonwealth, $268,308 03 Interest certificates re deemed, 261 47 The fTcal year accounted for in the state ment of the Treasury Department, embraces the time from the Ist of December, 18 >3, to the 30th of November, !Sol- The sinking fund year commenced the first Monday in Sep tember, 1803. This will explain the discrep ancy between the statement of the Treasury * Department as to the reduction of tiie public debt of the State, and the statement embodied in the proclamation relative to the sinking fund. Amount of public debt of Penn sylvania, as it stood on the Ist day of Devetnlier, 1803, $39,490,51)0 78 Deduct amount redeemed at the State Treasury during the fis cal year ending Nov. 30, 1864 110,992 84 Public debt Dec. 1, 1884, 39,379,803 94 Funded debt, $38,284,093 72 Unfunded debt, 110,510 22 30,379,893 94 Military loan, per act sth May, 1801, 3,000,000 00 Total public debt Dec. !, 18G4, 39,379,403 94 '1 lie Commonwealth holds bonds received from the sale of public works, amounting to $10,300,000, as follows: Pennsylvania railroad company bonds " 8,800,000 00 Philadelphia and Erie railroad company bonds, 3,500,000 00 $10,300,000 94 These bonds arc in tiie sinking fund, and re duce the public d. t> $29,079,603 94. The tax on tonnage imposed oy tiie acts oi 30th April and 25 tb AMU US r, 1884, has yielded something less than $200,000 —a much less sum than was antictpa'ed. I recommend a revision of these acts for the purpose of rendering this source of re venue more productive, and amend in"' of .r dof"C8 in those bills. Tiie revenue derived from the tax on banks deling .he \ci.r amounts to $539,806 87, hut under the . T abling at nf the State so many of our banks have become Naiionai hanks under the act of CuagrcSfj that ti:iM source of reve nue may he cuhm lured as substantially oxtin guishtii, and it w ill be eecS3:try in some way to make up the deficiency from other sources. , The act ot C'jsigrcs authorises the taxation 1 bvi-the State ot tne stock in the National (tanks 1 in the nanus of the holders, not exceeding the rate of taxation imposed on other similar prop erty, and part ot the deficiency may be thus provided fur. The amount of debt extinguished by the sink ing furd uuritig the year is unusually small, which is to he accounted f >r ' y the extraordi nary expenses which have been incurred. 15,- OOU have been rat 1 to refund to tin* banks the money advanced by them to pay the voiuntetns in service during the invasion of the Siate in 18 3. $10!!, GOO have been distributed among the inhabitant.- of Cbambersburg, suffering by the rebel destruction of their town. About $200,000 have been expended under tlie acts providing lor the jay ment ot extra Military claims, and i i addition to these extraordinary outlays, the amount appropriated to charities was last year larger than usual. Ir. my opin' n this matter of donations to charities is fast running to a great abuse, blou ses of refuge, and insane, blind, and l State bounty, because th ir objects are of pub lic importance: as d tfi be useful, and welt and economically managed, it seems to be necessary that they should be inure extensive than would be requited fur the wants of a particular coun ty. But in our system, ordinary local charities are lett to the care of the respective localities, and to give the public money for their support is really to tax the inhabitants ol all tlnf coun ties for the benefit of one. 'lite national taxation is heavy and must j probably be made heavier, and the local taxes i authorized by unwise legislation and paid by our people are excessive. In view of tiie.-e cir cum-taKces, we should endeavor to avoid in crcaring fhthr burdens by making "undue appro priations for any purpose. It being alleged that the Atlantic and Great Western railroad company has not in various particulars obey del the laws by which it was in corporated, the Attorney General ( delivered teciai message of 30th April last, to ~ —■ 1 " 1 1 ■■ i ' ■ m ... 1..- aiN■■ ■ mrnm ****—** VOLUME 6G. NEW SERIES. which I refer, I communicated to the Lcgisla-I ! ture, in some detail, the circumstances connect- : ed with the advance by banks and other corpo- ' rations of the iunds to pay the volunteer mili-! tia of 1893. It is not necessary here to recapitulate them at length, 'lhe case was peculiar, and it is be lieved none quite like it has occurred. The call for volunteers was made by the authorities of the United .States, but it being found that men could not be got under that call, the form of a ' call by the State authorities for the defence of the Slate was, with the assent of the President, j substituted. The United States agreed to fur nish the arms, subsistence and supplies, but it. was alleged that Congress had made no appro- [ priaiion covering the pay. In this state of things, the emergency being great, tire Secreta ry of War telegraphed rue, thus: WASHINGTON." July 22, 18G3. To /'tis Excellency, Gov. A. G. Gar tin: \ our telegrams respecting the pay of militia, : called ..ut under your proclamation t f the 27th of June, have been refer red to the President for i instruction#, and have been under his consider ation. lie directs rue to say, that while no law : or appropriation authorizes the payment, by the General Government, of troops that have not been mustered into the service of the Uni ted States, he will recommend to Congress to make an appropriation for the payment of troops called < lto State service to repel an actual in vasion, including those of the State of Penn- i sylvattia. If, in the meantime, you can raise • the tiecessary amount, as has been done in oth- , er States, the appropriation will be applied to i refund the advance to those who made it. Mea- | sures have been taken for the payment of troops mustered into the United States service as soon as the muster and pay rolls are made out. The answer ol this department, to you as Governor of the State, wit! la? given uirectlj' to yourself, whenever the department is prepared to make answer. (Signed) EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. The banks and other corporations refused to advance the money unless I would pledge tny seit to ask an appropriation trom the Legisla ture to refund it. It will be noticed that the pledge of the President is clear and distinct, but, notwithstanding the money was paid and the accounts settled and placed in the hands of the President betbre the meeting of Congress, no such recommendation as promised me was made, and ior that reason the fall introduced for that propose failed. _The men were raised eral Couch and the oilier U. S. officers in this Department, l'he troops were held in service longer than the emergency for which they were called out required. Several of the regiments were marched immediately into distant parts of the S'ate, by order of the officers of tiie army stationed ill Peun Uvania, a o :'.i::s'. my ivp ated reman''ranees. They were retained, as was alleged, to preserve the peace and enforce the draft. Nearly, if not quite one-half the money was paid to troops thus held, aad after the emer gency had expired. Finding that the appropri ation was liaeiy to fail in Congress. I laid the matter before the Legislature, just pt tor to their j adjournment, in Play last, and an act of As- \ setnbly was immediately passed to refund the I money out of the State Treasury, which, as above stated, lias been done. I ought to say that the appropriation by Congress was vigor- | ously supported by ail the members from this Suite, in both branches. Having done every- j thing in my power to procure the payment ot this just claim ot the Sia.e, 1 now recommend that the Legislature lake the subject into con sideration with a view to induce proper action [ by the President and Congress. ily the act oi 22d August, 18G4. 1 was an- : tborized to cause an immediate enrollment of j the militia to he made, unless that recently made : by the United States should be found sufficient, I and to raise hv volunteering or draft a corps of ' fifteen thousand men for the defence ol our 1 Souilwn border. The United States enroll ment bettig found very defective, I directed nn ! enrollment to be made, which is now in prog ress under charge >t Cot. Lemuel Todd, whom ! 1 appointed Inspector General. .V draft ov the United States wa- tlun in progress, and it was | not thought advisable to liaruis our people by a j conteuiporan, ous State draft, even if a draft ' had been practicable under the present law.— | Volunteers could riot be obtained, there being I no bounties, and the met* nut being exempted | by their enlistment in that corps from draft by ! ihe United States. Fortunately the United States placed an army, under Gen. Sheridan, | between us and the enemy, and thus provided j.ctfeetualiy for our defence. With such adequate j protection, as proved by tlie brilliant campaign | of that army, I did not think it right to incur I the expense to the State of an independent ar my, and the withdrawal of so many of our peo ple tro:u their homes and pursuits. Meanwldle arrangements have been made with the author ities at Washington for urimug, clothing, sub j listing and supplying tlic corps at the expense of the United States, and an order has been | given by the authorities of the United States to ; furlough such volunteers in the corps as may be drafted by the United States The corps so j privileged not to exceed 5,000 men. It is my : intention to raise 5,000 men during the winter, ' and I have already adopted measures to that end. 1 here may occur irruptions of irregular | bodies of the rebels, arid it is well to be provi ! ded against them. The number proposed to lie so raised and put into actual service, will, in ! my judgment, be sufficient, and a regard to due ! economy requires that no more than are suffi- I cieut should be placed on pay. The remaining 10,000 will be oigamzed, and roady for service in case of necessity. 1 invite your immediate attention to the very able report of the Inspec tor General, which sets forth the defects in the law which he has discovered in his preparation tor carrying it into practical eifect. j The Stale agencies at Washington and in the Southwest are in active and successful operation. Freedom of Thought ?nd Opinion. BEDFORD, PA., FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY 13, 1865. I I communicate herewith the reports of Colonel Jordan, at Washington, and Col- Chamberlain, agent for the Southwest. The provisions of the law requiring the agents to collect moneys due by the United States to soldiers, have been be neficent. A reference to their reports will show the magnitude :;nd usefulness of this branch of their service. I desire to invite the attention of all our volunteers, officers, soldiers and their families to the fact that the agents wili collect all their claim's on the firOTernment gra tuitously, as 1 have reason to believe that many are still ignorant of that fact, and are greatly imposed upon by the exorbitant commissions > charged by private claim agents. Under the act of the 6th of Mae, ISG4. I appointed Hon. '1 horn as H. Rurrowes to take charge of the arrangements for the education of the orphans of soldiers. I communicate herewith a copy of his report on the subject. He has discharged his duties with commenda ble zeal, fidelity and efficiency. I earnestly recommend that a permanent and liberal appro priation be made to support this just and wor thy scheme of beneficence. I recuiniuenh that an appropriation be made for pensions to th volunteer militia men. (or their families,) who were killed or hurt in the service in the years 1862 and 1863. As sol diers sometimes arrive here who are insane, and who should be protected and cared for, I recommend that provision be made for their be ing placed in the State Asylum for the Insane, at this place, and kept until notice can be giv en to the authorities of their respective coun ties, who should be l. a ,'tred to remove and care for them. I feel it to ba my duty to invite your serious attention to the evil.- growing out of the system of passing acts of incorporation, for purposes which are provided fr by general laws. We have passed acts authorizing ci.alters to be ob tained without special legislation. These acts have been generally prepared with eoine care, and contain the provisions which the. Legisla ture thought necessary to protect the Common wealth and her citizens. It these general laws are not touud to answer such purposes, they should be amended ami perfected.- If ar.vcom pany de.-ircs to be incorporated with greater privileges than are conferred, or to be rclieveu troui any of the conditions imposed by these acts, it appears to inu that it should he requi red first to obtain a charter under the general laws, and then npviy to the Legislature tor an act making the changes which are desired. The aUtmiuip iif tbe^ Lcttislatare will thus be drawn formed of its prop'LT'.'. oua 14 judgment can be that great evil results from the habit ot 'grant ing privileges to a corporation by a mere refer ence to some former private act relating to oth er corporations, sometimes without even giving the date of these acts. All these practices are bad, airt although "'ey may bo pursued by par ties having no bad intention, yet they certainly orisinated in the design ot surprising the Com ruunwealth into grants of privileges vvhi h it was known could not be obtained it their ex tent were understood, and they arc often lol lpvved now for the same fraudulent purpose. I strongly recommend tlie repeal of the act passed ihe ISt It day 01 July, A. D. 1883, en titled "An act relating to corporations for me chanical, manufacturing, mining anl quarrying purposes." Its provisions are found to be practically so inconsistent with the due protection of the cit izens and \yith the just policy of the Common- i wealth, that it ought not tube allowed to stand i longer on oar statute book- 1 approved the act irt question with great reluctance, and sub sequent reflection and observation have satisfi ed me of its mischievous character. 1 also recommend the repeal of an act pass ed the i!2d day of .Jul", A. 1). 18u3, entitled "A furiher supplement t<> an act passed the 22d day of July, A. It. 1863, entitled "A fur ther supplement to an act to enable joint ten ants and tenants in common, and adjoining own ers of mineral lands ia this Commonwealth, to manage and develop the same." This act allows foreign corporations to hold three hundred acres of land in this State for mining purposes. It was passed, it is believed, for the purpose of enabling companies near our border engaged in the manufacture of iron, to hold lands as ore banks. Hut under the .ideal that the sinking of an oil well is mining, it is believed that companies have already boon or ganized under the laws oi other States, and that uiore will be, for the purpose of holding lands and carrying on the oil business in this State. It would be better to remove all doubt on this question by repealing the act. These companies, being foreign corporations, are not within flic control of our laws to the extent that they ought to be for the purposes of taxa j tion and regulation. 'I he immense development of wealth in some of our western counties by the discovery of oil, has added vastly to the resources of the Com -1 mon wealth. I have made efforts to ascertain the value of this product during the last year, hut have failed in procuring information sufficiently ac curate to justify me in ostiinnting its amount. It is already vast, and i 9 rapi !ly increasing. The productions and manufactures of the State have become so diversified and abun dant that some measure should be taken for an accurate ascertainment, of them, so that their extent may be generally known, and also that the necessary taxation may be intelligently im posed. I recommend for these purposes the creation of a Hurcau, of which the Auditor General and State Treasurer shall be members, and the head of which shall be a new officer, I to be styled Commissioners of Statistics, or des ignated by any other appropriate title. ' The act of 25th August, 1864, providing for .he voting of soldiers, should be carefully ex amined, with a view to its amendment, and, in deed, a revision of our whole election laws would seem to be desirable, with a view to the two essential objects of, 1. The admission of legal and exclusion of illegal votes at the polls; and, 2. Faithful and correct returns of the vtfes actually polled. I communicate here with the opinion of the Attorney General on the conflicting returns for the Sixteenth Con gressional District, which will show some of the practical difficulties which arise under the exiiting system. Without undertaking to rec ommend the adoption of any particular plan, I submit the whole subject to your careful and earnest consideration, in the hope that in your wisdom you will be able to devise some meas ure which will produce the result so essential to the existence of a free government: that votes shall be fairly taken in the first instance, and fairly counted and returned afterwards. I have endeavored since I came into otliee to exercise as cautiously as possible the powers confided to the Executive, and avoid usurping any, I shall endeavor to persist in this course to the end. A new call has been made by the President for 300.000 men. This renders it proper that I should invite your attention to the evils which have resulted from abuses of the system of lo cal bounties which was begun, in an emergen cy, by the voluntary and generous loyalty of our citizens, before the passage by Congress of the enrollment act, and has since been contin ued by sundry acts of Assembly. The result, has been to the last degree oppressive to our citizens, and unproductive of corresponding benefit to the Government. In sotne counties and townships it is believed that the bounty tax, during the last year, exceeded the average in come derived from the land. The large sums offered in some places in the competition for men, have demoralized many of our people, and the most atrocious frauds connected with the system have become common. The men of some of the poorer counties have been nearly exhausted by their volunteers being credited to richer localities paying heavier bounties. The system as practiced, lowers the morale of the army itself, by putting into the ranks men act uated by merely mercenary motives, and who are tempted, to desert by the facility of esca ping detection, and the prospect of new gains by re-en!istincnt, a process which they expect to be able to repeat an indefinite number of times. Of (he number of men for whom boun ties have been paid, it is believed that not one , ui th have been actually placed in the ranks of the army, and even those who have joined it have probably not on an aveaage received for their own use one-half of the bounty paid for them. Immense sums, have thus been appro ' -mA swindlers in many ca- j agencies of the Government. An effort was made to prosecute some of the parties concerned in such frauds under the act of Assembly of Nth August last, and they were b ■un ! over bv the Mnvorof (his citv, but after the witnesses had come here on the meet ing of the court, they disappeared from the public eye. I recommend the whole subject to your careful consideration, that the system may be purged of these evils. I am officially informed that the quota of this State, under the recent cafi, is G0,999, but I am not informed of the principle on which the draft is to he made. " It appears from the President's proclamation that it is made cliieily to supply an alleged de ficiency in former calls. lam surprised at the amount of this large deficiency, and can only account for the difference between the number of teen furnished hy she State and the deficien cy alleged to exist in the as igntnent of the present quota, by the assumption that the men never reached the army, although enlisted and mustered after the payment of bounties by the localities to which they were supposed to be credited. It is probable that there are very few counties in the Siate which have not paid large bounties fur a number of utcn sufficient to fill their former quotas. Taking the local bounties at the low average of four hundred dollars, it ts believed that it can he demonstrated that the people of Penn sylvania have thus been robbed of more than twelve millions of dollars during the past year. This estimate does not include the money fraud ulently taken from men who have actually gone into the service. The continuance of the-se monstrous and un parallrled abuses cannot be tolerated. Certainly more men are required to aid our gallant soldiers in the field in crushing this re bellion, and every consideration of patriotism and of regard for our brothers who are now in the face of the enemy, obliges us to spare no ef fort to raise the necessary force. In .Tune last T gave letter? to a committee of the prison society of Philadelphia, requesting that the members of the committee might be allowed to visit and examine the prisons and pcor-kouses throughout the Commonwealth. I transmit with this communication a copy of the report made to me by the society of the re sults of their labors, and commend jhc same to your attention with a view to the. adoption of proper measures to reform the abuses which have been found to exi.st. In connection with this subject, I again call your attention to the expediency of providing for the reception in the penitentiaries, of per sons convicted of murder in the first degree, and who may be pardoned on condition of serving a limited term therein. It has become a cus tom that an incoming Governor should not is sue a warrant of execution in cases left unact ed on by his predecessor, and it not unfre quently happens that even in cases which are recent, while some punishment should be inflic ted, that of death may appear to the Execu tive to be too severe. The result is that there arc at this time, in the various prisons, some eighteen or twenty persons under sentence of death, and who may He there for an indefinite penod of time. The vast amount of additional labor which has been imposed upon the Secretary of the WHOLE NUMBER, 3093 Commonwealth by the existing state of affairs renders it absolutely necessary that the clerical force of his department should be increased.— The making out of commissions for our large army of volunteers in the field, and the prepar ations of election blanks required by law to be sent to the army—the receipt, filling and record ing tlie returns of the soldiers' votes —the en rollment of the yearly increasing number of acts of Assembly, and charters obtained under general laws and the making out of letters pa tent for them—all these, together with the pre vious heavy duties of the office—form an ag gregate, the weight of which must ultimatefy break down his few subordinates, diligent, faith ful and enduring as they are. I recommeud, therefore, that provision be promptly made to meet the necessities of this case. It is a subject of just congratulation that not withstanding the distracted condition of the country, our system of common schools contin ues to flourish. Tbe report of the Superinten dent, which I herewith transmit, shows that there has been an increase of scholars during the past year. It is important to secure as teachers a sufficient number of men of suitable education and ability, and with a view to this object, I suggest for your cor.sideration the ex pediency of making out of the school fund it self some provision for the support of such teachers as shall after a given term of s rvice become superanuated or disabled while in the performance of their duties. Of the fund placed in my hands by the acts of the 16t h May, 1861, and on the 4th of May, 1864, and to be appropriated in my judgment in military service, i have expended in the last year $6,124, 68 in support of the agency at Washington—up until the 30th of May last, for my personal staff and other military service, an account of which is settled in the office of the Auditor General. Ko similar appropr.ation will be required at this session* A bill was introduced and passed the House at the last session of the Legislature providing for the appointment of a commission to ascer tain the damages done in the counties of Bed ford, Fulton, Franklin, Cumberland, York and Adams, by the rebel army in 1366, which fail ed in the Senate for want of time. I commend to your consideration the propri ety of the passage of such a bill during the present session. It is just to the people of these counties who have suffered, as well as to the Government, that these damages should l>e fairly ascertained and the evidence perpetuated, whatever may be the view to be taken on fu ture consideration by the United States or State claims. ... . , Major General Hancock has been authorized by the War Department to raise a corps of vet erans, to be called the First Corps. One of the regulations is thai on application by the Governor of any State, recruiting officers will bu designated for such State. I have been re quested by General Hancock to make such ap plication, but have hitherto declined to comply with the request. It appears to me that the families of men raised on the plan adopted by tiie War Department would probably not be entitled to (be relief provided by our own laws for the families of volunteers. I have inquired of General Hancock whether the proposed corps is to form pari of the regular r.rrny or of ihe volunteer force, and if the latter, under what act of Congress it is to be raised. lle has referred that communication to the War Department, from which I have as yet received no answer to it. The fallowing letters have passed between Gen. Hancock and myself on this subject: PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, 1 Ilarrisburg, Pa-, Dec. 23th, 18G4. ) GENERAL :—I received your letter at the mo ment of my departure for Philadelphia on Mon day last. I returned this morning and hasten to reply, Haviog no knowledge of the organization of the corps you are to command than what ap pears in the newspapers and order -, I will be obliged if you will inform me if it is to be re garded as a part cf the regular army of the I'niled States or as part of the volunteer ser vice. If it is part of the army of the United States, I certainly have no connection with it, as Gov ernor of the State. If it is organized as vol unteers, be pleased to iuform me under what act of Congress. I need not say, General, that I would be most happy to do all in my power personally and officially to raise a force to be commanded by you. Can we not raise you two or three regiments in Pennsylvania, in the usual man ner and according to the act of Congress, for your corps? Of course, I would consult you in the selection of officers and only commission where you approved. I cannot understand the importance of my asking that persons be sent to Pennsylvania to induce veterans to g > to the District of Col umbia to enlist. I certainly will do nothing to embarrass the nlan proposed. We have benefits, by general and special leg islation in Pennsylvania, which attach to the volunteer and his family. While I will do noth ing lodeter the veterans of the State from en tering your corps, I hesitate to connect myself with a mode of enlistment which may deprive them of such benefits, unless it is my duty un der the law. I am, General, very respectfully, your obe dient servant, A. G. CURTIN. Maj. Gen. WINHELD S. HANCOCK. HEADQUARTERS FIRST CORPS, ) WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 31, 18G4. J To His Excellency Hon. A. G- Curtin, Governor of Pennsylvania: SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge th receipt of your communication of the 20 inst., and have referred the same to the War partment. I thank you for jour kind exprea- ties of personal good will, and regret that tbsre should be any hesitation on your part to Jasd your official influence, as Governor, to the rais ing of the corps as proposed by the War De partment. It is not within my province, perhaps, to discuss the plan of organization, as I am act ing under the direct orders of the War Depart ment, and my own views, therefore, are of ne practical moment. I nay say, however, that I have no knowledge of the organization other than what I hare derived from the orders and circulars of which I mailed you official copies December 5 th. I cannot see how volunteers for this corps from your State lose any of the advantages at taching to those for other organizations. They are credited to the localities where they or their families are domiciled, and count on the quota of your State. It should be borne in mind that this is an effort to get men into service who are not sub ject to a draft. VOL. 8, NO. 24. I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, ; your obedient servant, WINFIELD S. HANCOCK, Mnj. Geo. L. b. Volunteers, commanding First Corps. The only act of Congress for raising volun teers that I am aware of, requires that the field and line officers shall be commissioned by the Governors of the several States. The men in this corps are not to be formed into organi zations of the respective States, and it is pro posed that its officers shall be appointed by the General Government. I know of no act of Congress or of Assembly under which men so xaised will be entitled to pensions or their fam ilies to benefits from the United States or State Government. In addition, 1 will observe that without any feeling of jealousy, I ana still not ready to participate actively in transferring to the United States illegally the right of appoint ment vested in the State, and which the Stat* authorities can exertuss with more discrimina tion by reason of havirg a greater familiarity with the merits of the citizens af their own I State, than the United States authorities can ! possibly hu\e. I will transmit any further communication that I may receive on this sub ject. It will be perceived by reference to the correspondence, that I have offered to raise, in the manuer provided by law, two or three reg iments of veterans for Hmcock's Corps. My desire is to assist the Government in every le gal mode in raising men, and especially to facili tate an officer—a native Penusylvanian—so distinguished as General Hancock, in his effort* to organize a new carps. I ahli throw no obstacles in his way on the preent occasion, but I cannot, certainly, be expected to invite a violation of laws in carry ig out a plan which sacrifices the rights of the State under existing laws, and would leave the men unprotected by them, so far a* concern# future provision for comfort and that of their families. I w.'l further observe that it appears by the report of the Adjutant General, herewith trans mitted, that the State, under the system estab lished by law, has put into the military service of the United Suites since the commencement of the war, the following number of men via : Troops sent into service during 1864. Organizations for three years term, 9,857 Organizations for ne hundred day's term, 7,67-5 Organizations for one year term 16.094 Volunteer recruits, 25,557 Drafted men and substitutes, 10,651 n'tminiv: Jim Infantry, 19,862 Cava'rv, 2.834 Artillery, 799 Accredited to other States 889 91,694 Troops sent into the service of the Z r .States since the commencement oj the rebellion , including the ninety days militia in the departments of the Monongnhela and Susquehanna , m 1863 : During the year 1861, 430,594 Do Do 1862, 71,400 Do Da 18G3, 43,046 Do Do 1864, 73,826 Ue-enlistmcat of Pennsylvania volun* i teers 17,876 336,444 The twenty-five thousand militia of 1864 are nut included in this statement. I call the attention of the Legislature to the Deport of the Surveyor General, herewith pre sented, and commend the suggestions made by :hat officer to your consideration. This message is accompanied by full reports of all the military departments. They exhibit the large amount of service performed during the past year, and contain a full history of all the military operations of the State. Many valuable recommendations are made in them to promote the efficiency of our volunteers, and the comfort of the sick and wounded, which I com mend to your earnest and immediate attention. It affords me great satisfaction to bear my tes timony to the ability, diligence and fidelity of all the officers of these several departments. Before closing this message I desire to advert to the delay which has sometimes occurod in the passage of the general appropriation bill. It is necessary that this bill should become a law, as otherwise the action of government would be stopped. To delay its presentation to the Executive as was done at the last regular session, till a late hour of the night before the morning tix<"d for the final adjournment, is to deprive tho people of their right to have all acts submitted to tho revision of the Legislature before becom ing laws, in case the Executive should not ap prove them. If there had been time, I should probably have returned the appropriation bill vf last year for such revision, as when I had tho opportunity of deliberately examining it, I found provisions which I could not have ap proved, but that opportunity was denied mo be fore the bill had become a law, and, in fact, a the Legislature was on the point of adjourn ment, the only quesiion presented to me was whether that bill should become a law without amedment or the necessities of the government remain unprovided for. The gallantry of our soldiers in the BeM still sheds lustre on the Commonwealth, and that their merit is appreciated by a generous people is shown by the continued and cheerful liberality with which tbe men and women of the Stat* contribute of their moons for .their comfort nod welfare. May the blessing of God be on those brave men who bave stood by the country through the dark hours of her trial. A. G. CITKTXS. ikecutx* Chamber, Harrishurg, Jan. 4, 1863,