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 <haf and
dumb asylums, appear to be proper subjects <>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 (<m the sug
gestion of partibs claiming to be thereby injur
ed) has filed an information in equity against
that company, sec-king an injunction to prevent
a continuance of its past, and the persistence
in its intended illegal course.
Since my last annual message on the report
of John A. Wright,
and Eric railroad was finished, I ordered the
bond# remaining in the treasury to l> delivered
t<o the company.
It is a subject of just pride to the people of
this Commonwealth, that this great work is
completed, and whilst it opens a large and weal
thy part of the State to the commerce of the
Seaboard, and unites capital and enterprize with
in our borders, it secures to the Common wealth
the payment of sums due her from tho company.
la my sj>eciai 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,