T7 TTTTS "TXTTF TXT T V da v my ilixi yjr VOL. V-No 2G. PHILADELPHIA, TUESDAY, JAISTTJAiXlY 30, 18GG. DOUBLE S1IEET TilltEE CENTS. -U U U UJU I XlN JJ-V.b-X.JiJ LL 1,3 U , O i MESSAGE or ' ANDREW 0. CURT IN, Governor of Pennsylvania, To the Legislature, Jan. 30, 1866. Penhptlvania Executive CnAMBEn, I Hakrikbcbo, l'a., January 30, 18f!fi. ( To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of rennylvnnio. Gentlemen: We have cause to he thankful to Divine Providence for the blefflings of peace within our borders, aoundant crops, unanimity among our people, and that thus thii Common wealth has been enabled to do her full duty to the country, to herself, and to posterity. I apprised you in my Message of the 27th of November, IMS, and delivered to you at the bo ginning oi your session, of the necessity under the pressure ot which 1 was con, pulled, ' for the , restoration of my health, to sojourn for a lime in i warmer climate. I returned from Cuba re freshed and Invigorated, and have resumed the discharge of my public duties. I cannot omit to acknowledge, with protound gratitude, the kind, considerate, and atiectionate course which you pursued during my constrained absence. A heavy addition nas thus been miide to the debt which I already owed to the peoplo of the Com monwealtn and their representatives. , The ba ance in ibe Treasury, Noviuibor 80, mi 81,942,233 G3 Receipt dunii" fiscul year, ending No- vowberoO, 1806 6 219,939 67 Total In Treapiny for fiscal year, ending November 80, 18C5 8,1G2,193 30 Tbe payments tor tiie same period have been 6,788,52510 Balance inTicasury, Not. 80. 18GS. 2, 873 .068 14 The operations of the Sinking Fund, during the year ending, on the tirst Monday of Septeni-' Ixsr last, as staled in my proclamation, were as lollows: i , Amount of .debt reducei, $7i"tSll-20, a9 fol lows, viz.: Five per rent 436,824 62 Coupon loun 23 ) 009 00 "War loan 70 4)0 00 Interest certificates 2,008 64 Domestio creditor 678-00 The discrepancy bet ween tbe reduction of the public debt, as shown by the "tatemcnt at the clo.-o of the fiscal year, and that in my proclama- tion at the dot-e ol the Kinking fund year, arises ' from the fact that the one closes on the first Monday of September, the other on the 30th day . of November. Amount ol the public debt of Pennsylvania, as it stood on the first day ot December, 1864, $39,379,603'94. . Amount redeemed at the State Treasury dur ing the fiscal year ending w.ta November 30, 1(566, viz.: Five per cent stock $1,708 617 88 our-and-a-lialf per cent stocks 20,"tM 01 ' Domestic creditor certificate 678 00 ; .Military loan, act ol Muy 16, 1861 179,25j-O0 1.903 346 88 Puhlio Debt, December 1, 1865, $37,470,258 06. Assets in the Treasury: Bond Pennsylvania Railroad Com pany.. $0,700,000 00 Bonds I'hilauolpliia and Lrie Railroad Company 3,500,000 00 Inter en on Bonds I'hilauolpliia and trio Kailroad Company 1.050. 000 00 Ch in i tcusurj 2 878,638 14 18,623.668 14 Liabilities in excess of asset. .. 23,862,689 92 Liabilities in excess of assets, Novem ber 80, I860., 20,408,168-94 Liabilities in excess ot assets, Nov em ber 80, 1806 23,852,589 92 'Improvement in condition of Trea sury, s.nce Nov. 30, 1860 2,555,679 02 By the report of the State Treasurer, it will be observed that the extraordinary expenditures growing out of the war, not refunded by the General Government, have been $4,028,02721. This includes the direct tax paid to the United States by the State, which is not reimbursable. In the balance is included the $(i71,47l,43 paid to the militia, which, with a good portion of the remaining expenditure, is clearly due the State Irom the General Government. The necessity lor extraordinary expenditures having ceased with the suppression, of the late Kebclliou, measures should be taken to examine our resources, and relieve, as far as possible, the heavy burdens to which our people are aubiected. It has been the habit of late years to appro priate freely annual sums lor the support of local charities; and such appropriations are almost every jear increased in number and amount. Houses of Reluge, Institutions for the Deaf and Dumb and lor the Blind, Lunatic Asylunis these appear to me to be proper objects of State bounty, because a few ot them are sufficient lor the whole State, and to leave them to be provided for by the local authorities would, in fact, be to deprive of protection the unfortunate classes for whose benefit they are designed. But mere local charities, however meritorious and effective, should, I think, be left to the support of the benevolent parties who established them. It is unjust that the people of the Common wealth should be coerced to pay taxes, in order that part of the money so raised may be given to. the support of local charities, conducted by private associations, especially when it is re membered thut hitherto but a 'small proportion of the private charities in the Slute have asked for such appropriation. I recommend, therefore, that.no appropriation be mHde lor charities, beyond the institutions which I have above specified. The taxes at presem laid on corporations art unequal, and to a certain extent thereby unjust. I recommend the subject to the attention of' the Legislature, with a view to a revision of tbs system. Within a few years. acts have been repeatedly . passed directing the expenditure of as much money as may be necessary to effect named purposes, sometimes without clearly djsiguatlng by whom the money is to be expended, or how the accounts are to be examined. This custom is very recent, and has already led to abuses. I recommend that the practice be corrected, and that no appropriation be made without hav ing the exact sum appropiiated, the specific pur pose to which it is to be applied, ana desigcat- jng the officer by whom it is to be expended, and providing that the amounts shall be settled in ihe Auditor-General' office in the urual manner. Notwithstanding the lurgo expenditures by the State lor military purposes since the breaking out of the Rebellion, tho condition of the trea siirv is now $2.6,'i5.579,12 better tnan it was then: and I am proud to bo able to stute further, thut on the 1st nay ol ueeeniDer, ibuo, ine stute dent wae $f9,9')8-66 less than it was on the 1st of January. 1861. These are truly gratifying Iact9. Under these circumstances, ll may be possible, with entire mletv to our finances, to reduce or even repeal the ordinary State tax of two and a half mills on real estate. The tax of one-half mill laid by the act of Way 10, 1864, was by that act exprcHbly pledged for the repayment of the . loan of $3,000,000, thereby authorized, and of course cannot be repealed or reduced until that repayment shall have been made. I recommend this suhlect to the careful mwl deliberate con sideration and Judgment of the Legislature, and if it should be found that the tax can be re pealed, I recommend that all laws autuoriziog the levying of local taxes on bonds, mortgages, loans, and all property of that kind be also re pealed. Such a repeal would lamely euceurage the Investment ol cardial in this State; and add immensely to the wealth of the State, while the local authorities would 1osj very little, as it is notorious that, from the difficulties of assess ment, they receive very little from these sources. In case of such repeal, I recommend the adop tion of some effectual measures for enforcing correct returns ot such oojects of taxation, with appropriate penalties for the neglect or refusal to make them. I make these recommendations, believing that it will lead to more equitable local taxation, and to greater economy in their disbursement. Many acts are on our statute books incorpo rating companies for various purposes, which companies have never been organized or gone into operation. I recommend that all such acti be repealed by a general law, and that provision bo made, that in future every act authorizing a corporation shall become void, unless the corpo ration shall organize and use its franchises nithin a limited time. Since my last annual message the war against armed treason has been brought to a close. - Of tho largo contributions made by Pennsylvania to the national army, but a tow of tbe men now remain in tbe pcrvico. The spirit which animated our people at the outset of the Rebellion has never flagged; and we can look back with pndo and satiaiaclion to the part taken by this State In aiding to maintain the unity of the Govern ment and in its defense against the assaults ot its enemies. In my first inaugural address, I took occasion to declare thai Pennsylvania would, under any circumstances, render a full and determined support of the free institutions of the Union. The pledge so made was based upon my know ledge of the solid patriotism ot her citizens. At that time danger threatened, but no one antici pated that it would break forth so suddenly, nor grow to such fcarlul proportions as it in a brief time assumed. My confidence in Pennsylvania, in her even yet stubborn will, her ability and resources, has been fully justified by the manner in which she has done her duty during the late eventful period. On the request of the President of the United States, I made a communication to the Legisla ture, on the 9th day of April, 1861, setting forth that military organizations ot a lorinidable character, which did not seem to be demanded by any existing public exigency, had been formed in certain of the States, and that,' whilst Pennsylvania yielded to no State in her respect lor and willingness to piotect by all needful guarantees the constitutional rights and consti tutional independence ot her sister States, no contemplated attempt to resist the enforcement ol the national law could meet with sympathy or encouragement from the people of this Com monwealth, and asked for authority and means to organize a military bureau at the capital, and to so amend and modify the militia laws as to give vitality and energy to the military organi zations of the State. On the 12th day of tbe same month, I signed a bill providing for the purposes indicated in my messuge. It will be remembered that this patriotic action of the Legislature occurred before it was 1 , I. . . . 1 .1 a 11.. 1 nuu'vu iiihu uoBiimies uau ucuiuuy cuiiiuiuuceu, and i believed to be the tirst action by the auihorit es of anv State, or bv the National Legislature. 'Ihe hrst call made by tho President for troops to aid in suppressing the Rebellion was on the 16th of April, 1861, for seventy-five thousand men; and that of this number the quota of Penn sylvania was settled at fourteen regiments, to serve three morths, unless sooner discharged. With unsurpassed alacrity and earnestness, volunteers answered to this call in such numbers as manifested the intuitive conviction of the peoplo that the rnonstioua wickedness which had conceived an armed rebellion against the Constitution and the laws could not be sup pressed but by a colossal force. Maior-General Robert Patterson was assigned. by the General Government, to a command, which included the lorces raised in Pennsylva nia. Within a week after the call ol the Presi dent, communication with Washington was almost entirely cut off. General Patterson. prompted by the necessities of the situation, maae, on tne zotn ot April, a requisition upon me for twenty-five additional regiments of intantry and one of. cavalry, to be forthwith musteied into the service of the United States. Under this requisition, 1 accepted, from amongst the many pressing to be admitted into the ser vice, a sufficient number of companies to fill It; care being taken to allow to each county, as nearly as possible, a fair representation. Ouly eleven regiments, however, in addition to the lourteen canea tor ny tne president, were organized and mustered into the service, betore the order ol General Patterson was counter manded by him, under instructions from the War Department. On the 14th day of May. 1861. the Secretary of War. in a letter communicating the clan of organization for three years regiments, con- nrmea tne revocation or tne order in tne toitow ing language: "Ten regiments are assigned to Pennsylvania, making, in addition to the thir teen regiments of three months militia, already called lor, twenty-three regiments. It is im portant to reduce, rather than enlarge this num ber, ana in no event to exceed it. Let me earnestly recommend to vou. therefore, to call lor no more than twenty-three regiments, of wmcn only ten are to serve during tne war, ana if more are already called for, to reduce the number by discharge." Tho twenty-five regiments raised as above 6tated comprised 20,979 men. The ardor of our people was unabated. Many of the companies, under my order, had arrived in camp at llarrls burg, and others maintained their organization at home at their own expense and by contribu tions Irom their neighbors and Iriends. In the critical condition of the country, and anticipating that, in case of reverse to our arms, the borders ot Pennsylvania would be the portaie to tne ricn granaries, manuiactories, ana storehouses ot the North, I deemed it my duty to convene the Legislature, that adequate pro vision might be made to enable me to render the military power of the State as available and efficient as it should be, lor the common defense of the State and the General Government; and accordingly, on the 20th ot April, 18G1, issued my proclamation, culling for a meeting of the General Assembly on the 30th of the same month. In mv niessaup to the Lceuduture at its ooen. ing, I recommended the immediate organization, disciplining, and arming of at least lilteen regi ments, exclusive ot those called into the service ot the United States. The Legislature acted nromntlv unon this sug. edition, and made full wovisions for it effectual accomplishment. , The result was the early and complete organization, clothing, and enuiriinent of the Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteor Corps, Tiiiu iia luuiccu xvLiiicjiis oi luiauu y, oue ui light artillery, and one of cavalry, uiid'T the supervision of George A. McCall, who was selected to command it, with the commission ana rank of Maior-General. This coma con tained 15,8.06 men, and tho whole expanse of luiBiut;, uiuiuiug, eijuimjiau;, Bungisumr, ana paying them, until their enlry into the United States service, was $S5.r),444,87. They were encamped in different parts of the State, excepting two of the rcgiim-ntn. com manded by Colonels Charles J. Biddle and Se neca u. Bimmons, and two batteries ol artillerv, under the command of Colonel Charles T. Campbell, which, at the request ot the War De partment, were sent on the 2'2d of June, 1861, to the relief of Colonel Wallace, at Cumberland, Maryland, and remained for about six weeks there, and in Western Virtrlnia, engaged in ac tive operations. Towards the close of July the w noie corps was cauua ior ana taken, on a re quisition, into tbe service of the United States. Within four days alter the disaster at Bull Run, eleven regiments, In all respects ready for activj service, were In Washington and Baltimore. t The troops sent to Western Virginia were re called, and with the other ttvo regiments of tho corps, forwarded to Washington. On the 26th of July, 1861, the Secretary of War expressed his gratification and thank for the prompt response fiom Pennsylvania. The wbdom of the Legislature in providing for tho lormatlon of this corps, lor the intcresw of the State and tbe nation, was hilly shown ov subsequent events. Most of the men who tilled its ranks bad been accepted by me under tho call lor twenty-five regiments, which was afterwaris rescinded. Thev had left their families and homos under a deep sense of duty to their country, and to have sent them back unaccepted would have caused serious difficulty in making future en listments. By the acta of Congress of 22d and 25th July. 161, the President was authorized to call upon the several States for volun'ecrs to servo for three years. Under this authority requisitions were made on this State, and lourteen regiments were promptly furnished. In the meantime ail thoiilies had been uranted by toe l'rcnidcnt and the War Department to a number ot individuals to raise regiments in ditierent parts of tho Stute, wbieh seriously interfered with the action ot the State authorities in tillimr requisitions regularly made under the acts of Congress. Ihe embarrassments arising from thib conflict of authorities became at length so serious that I was constrained to call the attention of the Pre sident and Secretary of War to the subject, by a communication dated tho 1st of August, 1861, and on the 2uth ol September following, an order was issued requiring these independent regi ments to report to the Govcruor, and placing luem under ms autnoriiy ana control. Acting under this order, many of the independent regi ments were filled up, others consolidated, and seventy-three regiments, with an aggregate strength of 89,048 men, were promptly sent for ward. Dnrinir the rear 1862 a draft was ordered 5hv the General Governmeut, which was executed under the State authorities. Ol the quota ol the State, under the call of July 7, 1862, fort.ythrce regiments of volunteers, aegregating 40,3S3 men, weie put into service; and under the draft ordered August 4th, of the snmo year, fittceu regiments, containing an aggregate force of 15.000 men, organized and sent lorward. During the same period nine inde pendent batteries ol artillery were organized in the State, with an aggregate strength of 1358 ollicers and men. It will be remembered that tho ardor and promptness of our people, under such trying cir cumstances, in pressing tho troops forward, was such as to call from the President especial tuanks, and to request me to express them to the people of the State. During the year 1H6J lortv-three thousand and forty-six (43,046) men were furnished lor the service, piincipally to ml regiments tu the field which had been reduced by the exigencies ot the war. During the year 1864. under the various calls of the General Government, thirty-two regi ments, two battalions, and eiuht unattached companies, of different arms of the service and lor various periods, were organized and sent to the Held, aggregating, with re-eulistinonts in the field, amounting to 17,876, an aggregate torce ol 91,704 men, lurnisnea lor that year. Hn mv uiirrrrnat irvrt hn rt1iv rf fntiunl ftat'nc our reduced regiments, and filling them up by the assignment of new companies, was adopted, and in 1865, under this system, besides organiz ing three entire new regiments, seventy-flvo companies were assigned to reduced resnmonta. by which they were agsin filled to the regimen tal standard . These three new regiments and seventy-five comp anletr,- w IflT'v WW U tve fteettmar lor regiments in tne field, reported by the super intendents of that service, amounted, in the ag gregate, to 25,790 men for this year. in tne montn ot septemDer, isuz, oner tne second disaster at Bull Run, it beca.ne evident mat the enemy Had adopted an aggressive policy, and was about to invade the Northern S'ates throuerh Maryland and the southern bor der of Pennsylvania. Under the sanction of the President of the United States, on tho 11th day ol that month, I issued my proclamation, calling into immediate service titty thousand ot the freemen of this State. Under this call twenty five regiments and four companies of infantry. lourteen unattached companies ot cavalry, ana lour batteries ot artillery, were immediately organized and sent to the border, the greater portion advancing beyond the State line into Maryland. General John r. Reynolds, at that period commanding the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps. was temporarily assigned, Dy tne secretary ot War, to ihe command ot these troops by whose oi der thev were returned to Pennsylvania, and by my proclamation, disbanded on the 24 th of tne same montn. in acknowledgment ot tne services rendered by the men of Pennsylvania. Major-General McClcllan, commanding the Army of the Potomac, by letter dated the 27th of Sep tember, 1862, acknowledging the service and thanking the State, uses the following lan guage: , ""Tbe manntr in which the people of Pennsylvania responded to your ca t, and hastenod to toe defense of their frontier, no doubt exerclaed a great influence upon the enemy," and the Governor of Maryland, His Exeellenoy A. W. Bradford, in an order dated heptember 29, 1862, used the following language in regard to these troops: "tbe readiness wltn which they crossed the border and took their stand beside tbe Maryland Brigade, show tbut the border as, in an respects, nut an weal nne. ana tnat in sacn aeaoBets now unites us, rennsyiyama wna Mary, land are but one." i In the month of June. 1863, it again became evident that the Rebel army was advancing North, -threatening also the western border of Pennsylvania, and on the 26th of that month. I again issued my proclamation, calling the militia oi the State into immediate service. In the De partment of the Mocongahela, five regiments of iniantry, one company ot cavalry, ana one Dut tery of artillery, lor ninety days' service, and one battulion ot infantry, one battalion ot cav alry, and one battery of artillery, for six months' United States service, were organized. In the Department ot tbe Susquehanna, twenty-three regiments ana nvc uuauucueu companies oi in funtrv. and two unattached companies of cavalry. for ninety days; one battalion of infantry, one battalion of cavalry, and lour independent bat teries ot artillery, lortnree montns; tnree reel incuts of cavalry, two battalions of intantry. and three independent batteries of artillery, for v mintlia Tin it oH yi a f oa uorvir',. wprp nrrra 11 1 1 There were also organized in this department. for tbe "emergency term," eieut regiments, one battalion and a number ot unattached com nanios of intantry, two independent batteries of artil lery, and two companies of cavalry. In the Depaitmeut of the Alononcahcla, the troops under this call were commanded by Ma.ior-Geueral W. T. H. Brooks, and in tbe De partment of the SuHquehanna, by ilajor-Geuerul I). N. Couch, severally detailed by the War Department. The details of tho services of tho militia on these occasion, as well as tho generous assist. ance rendered by the militia of the States of New York and New Jersey, have been fully recognized in previous messages. Acting under orders, they did not hesitate to cross the State lino, and enter Ohio an I Western Virginia, in tho West; and in the East, they de fended the line of the Susquehanua, were at Gettyshurg belore the advance of the Army of the Potomac, aeienaea uanisio successtuuy when attacked bv a superior force, miido long marches, patiently suffering great privations tor tho want of sufficient means of transportation, crossed into Maryland, when ordered, and at tacked tho enemy successfully, and saved the Capital of their State from destruction. When the history of tho Rebellion is truly written, no part which relates to Pennsylvania will relloct more credit on the patriotism, courage, ana fidelity of her people, than their prompt answer to the can maae ior military service tor aomcstio protection. It is a record of whch the great body ol the people are a party, and of which they may all be proud. in July. 1N64, aitebci army again crossed tne Fotomac, threatening the southern border, and marched to Washington. Under the pressing demands of the national authorities, all the organized troops in Pennsyl vania were immediately sent forward. The Rebel army was debated and driven back. A Rebel column of three thousand men had, how ever, crossed the border, and, on the 30th of July, burned the town of Chambcrsburg. In my Message of last year, I stated in dotal the movements ol the enemv, and the circumstances attending the destruction of that boroueh. Although the people of all the southern border Buffered much from annual incursions of the enemy, Chambersburg is the only town entirely destroyed witnin our border, and, it is believed, in any loyal State. The citizens ot tho town were suddenly re duced to poverty, and, for a time, were sustained by the active benevolence of the people ot other parts ol the State, aided by au appropriation ot one hundred thousand dollars Irom tho Com monwealth. They have struuglcd energetically to revive fiom this calamity, but it is now tearod that lew ot them will be able to succeed. I sub mit, therefore, to the wisdom of tho Legislature, whether It woupi not ne proper ta extend to that people same additional relie'. me nutnuer oi iroopg lurnis'iea r:ie service, from Pcnnslvaiila, during the Rebellion, may be stated as mllows, viz.: During tho year 1801 131 694 xi o do jm2 , n l it) Do do 1M63 41 046 Do do 114 91 704 Do do 1865 25,840 862 2H4 This statement is exclusive of militia and enlistments tor the United States now. 1 rcler. for more perfect details of all the mili tary operations of the State, to the reports of tho Adjutant-General, of the other military depart ments oi tne state, and to my previous annual messages, ibis brief military record would be imperiect if I failed to commend the fidelity, ze-il, and industry of the military departments ol the State, and to express my personal obliga- t ons lor the ready obedience and constant sun- port I have uniformly received from the chiefs ot tne departments una officers ot my personal staff. An approximate ludgment of the amount of labor pcrlormed by these departments, and in tho office of the Secretary of theCoramon wealth, may De muae, wnen it is stated mat lorty-three thousand (43,fi00) military commissions were issued during tbe war. The first reaucst for troops from this State was dated at Wahbington, on tho 16th of Acril, 13ol, and on the 16th tbe telegraph announced t the War Department that over four thousand men were at Hairisburg, awaiting marching orders. it is our rjroud unviiege to nave it remem bered, that tbe first military aid from the loyal (States wbicn reached wasnington, was the lorce of 460 Pcnnsylvanh.ns, who arrived there on the 18th day of April, and that, when tho capital ol the nation was the second time threatened, alter the battle of BuilRun, the regiments of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps were the first troopB sent forward. from the beginning ot the war to its close tbe State has never tailored in its support oi the Government. Proceeding in the strict line of duty, the re sources of Pennsylvania, whether In men or money, have neither been withheld norsquan- aerea. xne nistorv of tne conauct oi our neon a in the field 1b illuminated with incidents ot heroltfrfl worthyot -ewasfTcuorrr nottoet" but IH wouia De impossible to mention tnem in the proper limits of a messaee without doing injus tice, or, perhaps, malting invidious distinctions. Arrangements are in progress to have a com plete history of our regiments, such as has been contemplated and is provided lor in an act ot Assembly already passed; and on this subject I commend the report of the Kxecative Military Department to your favoruble consideration. it vt ould be aiike impossible to furnish a his tory of the associated benevolence and of the large individual contributions to the comfort of our people in the field and hospital, or of tbe names Mid services, at all times, of our volunteer surgeons, when called to assist in the hospital or on the battlefield ; nor is it possible to do justice to the many patriotic Christian men who were always ready to,respond when summoned to the exercise of acts ot humanity and benevo lence. Our armies were sustained and strengthened in the field by the patriotic devotion of their iriends at home; and we can never render full justice to the heaven-directed, patriotic, Christian benevo lence of the women of the State. During the war I had occasion, from time to time, to communicate freely with the Legislature on subjects bearing upon the interests of the men representing the State in the armies of the republic. It is with a sense oi unfeigned gratitude that I Acknowledge how cheerfully and promptly the Legislature and the people actea upon mv sug gestions, whether tor the support ot the Govern ment, the enlistaient and organization of troops, or for the comtoit of our people already in the field. Without this generous confidence and liberal support, the labors of the Executive would have been in vain; the treasure that has been ex pended would have been wasted, precious lives lost would have been an empty sacrifice, the bruised hearts of kindred and friends would have been without solace, the strong men, whose health has been broken and whose bodies have been maimed, would have been monuments ot heroism wasted, and the honor of this great Commonwealth would have boon degraded amidst the fallen ruins of the institutions of the republic. The report of the Hon. Thomas II. Burro wes, shows the gratifying result, under his active management, of the system adopted by the State for the maintenance and education ol tho orphans of our soldiers. His report exhibits the fact, that 1242 orphans are now actua'ly admit ted to the schools, and that 1846 applications in all have been allowed, and order issued for their admission, many of whom have been admitted 6ince his rcoort. It will also be seen, that the largest appropriation that ever will be required, will be for this and the two ensuing years, and that then the amount will be gradu ally reduced. I have heretotore commended this charity to you, and I deem it unnecessary to add another word, in asking a cont'nuation of an appropriation which is to provide tor and educate the best blood of the State, and support the living legacies which have been bequeathed us by the men who laid down their lives for the country. W hen we remember that every sort ol pubiic and private pledge that the eloquence of man could devibe or utter, was given to our soldiers as they went forward, that If they fell their crphans should become the children of the State, 1 cannot lor au instant suppose that you will hesitate to continue an appropriation which is to bless their little one, providing comfortable homes, instead of leaving them in want and destitution, many of them to fall vic tims to vice and crime. At the time of the invasion ot the North, in 18( 3, bv the Rebel army, the Prebident made a requisition on me tor militia to erve during the emergency. The men came forward prornpilv, to the number of 30,6Hrt, of whom upwards of 25.0110 refused to be mustered into the service of the United States, In consequence of circumstances of prior occurrence not neces sary to be here stated. In this embarrassment, the emergency boing very pressing, attor cousultittion with the Presi dent he authorized and requested me to call then! on behalf of the State, and lor the defense of the State, the United States paying all the expenses of their clothing, equipment, subsist, euce, etc. It was, however, alleged that there! was no sppropriatton for their pay. To remove this difficulty the General Government apolied to banks and other moneyed corporations in Philadelphia to advance the amount ol the pay, on a pledge that, when Congress met. the pas sage of a bill to reimburse them should be recommended. , Thwo Institutions declined this proposition, but expressed tbeir willingness to make tho ad vanees if I would pledge myself to recommend to the Legislature tbe passage of such an act in case Congress should not provide for reimburs ina theai. Under these circums'ances I received irom tho Kxecutive of the United States tho pledge which ho had proposed to eivo to tho banks, ct. and upon that I eave the necessary pledge to tnem, and they advanced the required funds accordingly. The following telegram trotn the Secretary of War will Bhow in ptrt the ground on which I acted: Washibotok, Jay 2 1868. To bis Excellency Governor A. U. Curtin: Your to'eerams respecting tbe pay oi militia called out under your proclama tion ol the 2'itb ot June bare been reluried to tuo Pre-itlont lor instruction, and have been under bis conaiutiation. lie direct mo to nav toat, wnite no law or appropriation authorize the paviwut by tlio General Oovernnent of tioous tnat have not ue :n pumurcd it to tho service of be United State, ha wlil recommend to 'onirrcaR to make an appropria tion lor IK' payment of iroooa called into 6! at a ser vice tori-ei an actua invasion, inoiunlng tbute ot tl o Maie of 1 enncylvanla it, in the mn.ime you can rai'O n.o necranarv amount, at Inn been done in other States, tbe appropnaiiou will be applied to lefeiul tie advauco to thone who miido iu -IKai-uies have been taken lor tho payment of tnoia mustered into tho Lniied State service as soon as tho ri.uelrr and pav-roll are made out. Tho aiiower ol this Department to you. a Governor of tlio fctulo, will be givon direct' y to youim.ll wbenover tne Departmiint is pieuared io mnke answer. (Simed) tuwiN M.ititon, becro ary of War. When Congress met, the Exeotitive of tho United Slutes did not recommend the passage ot the necessary act. I have understood that the subject was called to the attention of the pioper committee, by the Secretary ot War, but as the President did not send a message ex plaining the circumstances of the case, the appropriation failed, as the members of Congress hi.d tnus no means of explaining to their con stituents the difference between this case (which was in suostauce a loan to the United Stuics, upon the pledge ol the Executive for it retavnicnt) and the case of the voluntary ex peiidiu.ro of money lor military purpose by Pennsylvania and mostol tlio other State. 1 will add, tnat the men came into tho service tor the cmerceucy only, und on the faith that they should be discharged as soon as, in my Jiiucment, the emergency should have ceased. Ihe emergency ceased immediately after tho battle ol Gettysburg, which commenced on tho 1st of July, 1863; yet the men, against my urgent and repeated remonstrances, were kept m the ei iee lung afterwards, and usd by the United Slates for various purposes. The lust, of thein vi tie tot aiscnarged uu in sscptemoer. 1 recommend thut tho Legislature adopt mea sui cs to briug the subject again beforo Congress. nr.d obtain repayment of this sum, amounting to iU.4V6'43, witn interest on tbe same, which tuo General Government has tnus lar so un warrant' ably withneld. (i cat injustice has been done to private sol diers, who went into service under the provi sions of the act ot Congress, by refusing to pay them the full bounties offered by the terms id' tbut act. The following letter, which 1 ad dressed to tho Secretory of War, sufficiently ex plains the position ot tuts aituir: 1 xircTiVB Cuamubr, Uarmbbdbo, Th , Juno 6, 1866. Sir: Tbere are two subjects connected Willi tho discharge of volunteers which are of o much importance that 1 feel justiiiod in calling your auention to lliom. '"Jun'. 1 be men are boing paid only to the day of tlx ir arrival at tho place thev a.e to bo discharged Tins will cause tbvni to lose a tew days' pav, dopeud- iur rincii a.iy npon tne promptness ana Ulspo-itlon of the ollicers ot the United button having the matter in charge. It is a mattor of little moment to tho Government, but the men lelt it to bo an injustice. and il, under the acts ot Congress, they can be paid until dipoliargcd, 1 think you will arree with itieiu. - r-ecoud. In Circular No. 19 rom Vrorodt-Uarsbat Central' Office, dated July 19, 1364, "under wuioh tbe volunteer now to be discharged were raised." itiBstaud that the bounty provided by law is as lonowg i "For recruits, including representative recruits, white oi eo oied. $100." And it is turther added, that the first Instalment ot tbe bounty will be paid when tbe recruit la mug. tered In, a follow : "lo a recruit wno enlisted in tho army for one Tear. S38-H8." On these terms the men endsted, and they are of opinion that tbey are entitled to tne iwmainuer ot Iboir bounty when disonanred from e vice. It i proposed, however, to pay them but a part of thi remainder, because the Government doe not require theT service lor the full term of their on lihtrueiit, and appear to bo a breach of tbe contract bciwoen tne uovernment ana tne men. rue bounty wns beia out by tne uovernment a an inducement to enlist, not a additional pay for servioe to be rendered. 1 be men became entitled to it by tuo fnoc ot enlistment, and could only lorfoit wiiat re mained unpaid by some misconduct, of which suob icrieituie snouia is a ierai penalty. Ti.fse matt on are or ating uiuoh unpleasant 'eo lrjjr among the men. 1 need not say to you, tboy have behaved gallantly, and the country owe them fevervtiiintr: and if it can coasiblv be avoided, tbey oucrni not to De rem nome unaor tne leeung mat tne Government, when tneir service are no longer re quired, take the first opportunity to treat them un. justly and violate it contract with tbem. 1 assure you that unless these dilUoultie are re lieved, theie will be created a reuorul discontent, wbich will b injurious hereafter ; and It is my fer vent desire for the success of your administration which lead me to bring them directly to your notioe. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. U. CUKTIS. To the President. The refusal has been persisted in. under an opinion of tho Attorney-General of the United States, a copy of which was seut to me. I recommend that the Legislature maice proper efforts to have this injustice corrected. The report of David Wills, Ksq., President of the Soldiers' National Cemetery, at Gettysburg, herewith transmitted, shows the present condi tion of the cemetery. As the battle of Gettys burg resulted in a glorious victory, and was in lact the beginning of the end of the war. and occurred on the soil of the Commonwealth, I think it would be well that it should be com memorated bv an historical painting, to be plated in the Capitol of the State; and I recom mend that the Legislature take measure for that purpose. The State of Maryland has proposed to her sister States that they unite with her in esta blishing a cemetery tor our soldiers who fell at, Antictam. 1 herewith transmit copies of the Maryland statute, and other document on thi subject, and recommend tbe passage of an act heartily accepting the proposition of the State of Maryland.' All tbe States having promptly and-geuerously responded to our proposition to have a cemetery at Gettysburg, it would seem pioper that we should reciprocate, and unite in this. The duty is made more sacred when wo remember that more ot Pennsylvania's sons fell in that battle than these of any othor Stale. - i The report of the State Agent at Washington, herewith transmitted, shows that under his efti cient management the claims of our soldiers are prornpMy;exaniined and paid. Every etlort has been made to apprise our otlicer ana men that their cluiius will be collected by the Stut Agent (Colonel Jordan) without expense to tbem ;' yet it is Jeared tnat many of them contiuuo to employ private claim agents, whose fee bear heavily on the clalinanU. Since my last annual message I have erpended of tbe secret service fund the sum of four thou sand tbrco hundred and thirty-three dollars aud twenty cents, out ot which I have paid my per sonal staff" and other extraordinury expenes.' No appropriation is required for tho increase of this I und. I invite your attention to the reports of the MiliUry Departments of the Stute, to the report of the Superintendent of Common Schools, which exhibits the prosperous condition ol our system of public education, and to the report of the Purveyor-General; ana recommend to your favorable consideration the many excellent sug gestions made by that officer. 1 commena to jour earnest consideration tne suggestion made by the Surgeon-General In his report, herewith transmitted, on the propriety of legislation for the protection of our people,, by proper sanitary measures, from the ravages of the . cholera, , which is now approaching our shores. , 1 comment! to the wisdom of the Legislature the subtect of providing for the relief of onr many maimed and wounded soldiers. Possibly this might be done by continuing and enlarging the acts providing for boards of relief in the several counties. I recommend the adoption bv the Legislature of this or some other plan for doing tustlee to the class of men in question. By the joint resolution of May 16, 1861, authori zing me to give flags to our regiments, it was made the duty of the Executive to receive the nags wnen tbe regiments returned, in is nas not been hitherto done, inasmuch as tbey have tiot yet all been mustered out. As soon as this shall have taken place, tbe flags will be received with appropriate ceremonies, and I recommend that the Legislature make provision lor causing tnem to be bung in the new Ltorary. I refer to the suggestion of Brigadier-General Todd, Inspector General, on th? subject of the militia, l am not prepared to make any recom mendation, on this subject, as I observe, with great pleasure, that Congress is pronosing to establish a uniform system through jut the United States. The arsenal at Ilarrisburg Is decaying and un a!e. The arms and munitions ot tne State there deposited arc ot the value probably ot half a mil lion of dollars. I recommend that provision be made for recalling it, or that, a new arsenal be constructed in this vicinity, tor the purpose of securing their preservation. Since my last annual message the late Presi dent of the United State has fallen a victim to the most foul and base assassination recorded in history. It will affordme pleasure, and 1 will heartily unite with you in any expression of Indignation at the crime, aud of appreciation of the dublic virtue and f-ervn o) ot its victim, Abraham Lincoln. My uniform course during the late war was to avoid the discussion ot tho policy of the General Government, wbllo giving a hearty support to the national authorities in all tbeir measures to suppiess the Rebellion. I shall continue to pur me the same course during the embarrassments necessarily connected with the entire restoration ot the country. The principles expressed in the mefsage of the President at tho commencement ot the session of Congress will receive my cor dial support. During the last five years the people of this State have suffered deeply Irom the calamities ot war. Thousands of her men have been slain, and others aro maimed and broken. Almost every iamily has been stricken, and everywhere there are widows and orphans, many of them helpless and in poverty. It is a subject of sin cere congratulation that peace has at last re turned. 1 am not aware of the existence of any diffi culty with other nations which muy not be ami cably adjusted, and therelore venture to express the hope that long years of tranquillity and hap piness are before us. A. G. Cuktin. THE WEST INDIES. Tbe Late Revolution la Ht. Domingo Against Prkllent Buck Capture ol Salunve ttiaaMilBfaeilon ot ! INopl. vtltn the Present Administration Vlu- tctlTnNK and Unnopnlttritjr of Baea -The Cholera lu the Interior of Gnada loupe Over Eleven Ttaoonand Deaths. By the arrival of the steamship South America we have St, Thomas dates to January 23. The chjleta, which had somewhat abated in tbe principal towns of Gaudaloupe, retained its full force in the interior of the country, and there has been no diminution ot deaths. Accord ing to official reports the deaths have amounted to eleven thousand two hundred in alL All Consuls named by the Dominican Govern ment have been suspended until new treaties are formed with the diflercnt countries. Sr. Domingo, January 0. It has been ascer tained that General Luperon and several others I the leaders in the late revolution at Puerto Plata against the Government of President Baez escaped to Turk's Island. Salnave, who figured so prominently at Cape Haylicn, was among the revolutionists. lie is now a prisoner at Puerto Plata, and will shortly be si nt to tbe city of St. Domingo. Altr-ough this revolution ho been so easily quelled, yet there are doubts about Mr. Baez remaining in power. A coup d'tat effected his elevation to the Presidency through the treason ot General Cabral, the only other candidate, who, knowing his own incapacity to occupy that high position, suddenly, and at the last moment, relinquished his pretensions in favor of Mr. Baez, who was further aided by the armed force ol a man named Pedro G uillermo, Cabral com promising many of the most respectable citizens, who had pluccd all confidence in him. Recent events clearly show that the majority ot the nation are not in favor of the administra tion of Baez, and nothing but the approaching tobacco crop could have fru'trated the attempt to overthrow his power at Puerto Plata. The people cannot understand what right he has to the first magistracy, lor durlna the stniegle with Spain, while they were fighting ior their inde pendence, Mr. Baez calmly watched the event occurring in Europe, he being at the time a Field Marshal, in tne pay of thi foe to the Re public, and this rank he only resigned after the evacuation of the island by the Spanish troops. At the present moment the different Consulates in the city of St Domingo afford a scanty pro tection to a number of persons perse cuted by him upon suspicion of being implicated in the not at Puerto Plata; that this is a measure of revenge in consequence of their opposition to his iormer rule cannot be doubted. The prisons are crowded with those who had not the good iortune to reach the shelter of the Consulates; many who Lad been absent, arriving U the moment, were conveyed from the lauding to prison. Although fair promises had been given that those poiiiical animosities would be buried in oblivion, yet Mr. Baez proves by his acts the falsity of such promises. A general rising is expected, from tuo fact that the population are greatly incensed at the acts of his administra tion. It is reported that the President has not been seen in the streets since ihe day of hi inauguration. - Moreover, Mr. Baez' residence n Europe has influenced him to lean towards French policy, while the inhabitant sympathize entirely with the policy of the United States. The health of 1 he islaud is good. Tho tobacco crop in the northern part of tbe Island will be exceedingly large in comparison . itli former years. iV. Y. Met aid. Breakino Open Mabket Stalls. Walter Rowland, aeed fourteen yearR, was ar retted, yesterday, upon the charge of breaking into the stalls in the Eleventh street market, lie has been engaged iu thi practice for ab;iut six months, and when arrested he had a Hrge bunch of keys in his pobesfion. He was com mitted to the House of Reluge by Alderman Tittermary. Timely Disco veb y. This morning, about 2 o'clock, Officer Hilton, of the Nineteenth Ward, discovered a Are on the roof of Thomas Harrison's laboratory, at Fiddler and Harrison streets. The flames were extinguished by the workmen without the abslstauce of the fire companies. i i
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers