Wbe fl3cMorfc inquirer.
Jl
B F McNEIL. Editor and Proprietor.
geSfcrfl Sfaqaim
IS PUBLISHED
Erery Friday Horning on Juliana Street,
OPPOSITE THE MENEE IIOI'SE.
BEDFORD, BEDFORD COUNTY, PA.
TERMS:
92.U0 a year if paid strictly in advance,
2.25 if not paid within three monthi, $2.50 if not paid
within the year
Rates of Advertising.
One Square, three weeks or less $! 25
One Square, ea. h additional insertion lews than
three months ; 30
3 Months. 8 Months, 1 Year.
One Square .. $3 50 $q 75 $S 00
Two squares 5 00 7 00 10 00
Three squares 6 00 9 00 15 Oft
i Column 12 00 20 00 35 00
One Column ... 20 00 35 00 85 00
Administrators' and Executors' notices $2.58, Auditors
notices if under 10 tines, Estravs $1.25, if but one
head is adrertiseii, 25 cents on every additional head.
One square is the SPACE occupied by ten lines of min
ion. Fractions of a square nnder fire lines count as a
half square, and all over five lines a full square. Adver
tisements charged to person# handing thein in.
PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS CARDS.
ENPYM. A LSI P.
ATToiiser AT LAW, BEDFORD, PA.,
Will faithfully and promptly attend to all business en
trusted to his care in Bedford and adjoining counties.
Military claims. Pensions, back pay. Bounty, Ac. spee
dily collected.
Office with Mann A Spang, on Juliana street. 2 doors
.,th of the Mengel House.
April 1, 1861.—tf.
J. It. DI'RBORRtiW.
ATTORNEY AT LAW. BEDFORD, PA.
tMlice one door south of the "Mengel House,"
Wgjl attend promptly to allbusiness Intrusted to his care
Collections made on the shortest notice.
Having, also, been regularly licensed to, prosecute ;
Claim# against the Government, particular attention will
!>e given to. the collection of Military claims of ail j
kinds: Pensions. Back Par, Bounty, Bounty Loans, Ac.
Bedford, apr. 8,136-1 —tf.
ALEX. KINS,
ATTOKXEY AT LAW.
And agent for procuring arrears of Pay and Bounty
money. Office on Juliana Street, Bedford, Pa.
April 1,1864 —tf.
KIH.F.LL A EI Nil ENFETTER.
ATTOBKEYB AT LAW, BEDPOED, PA.
Have formed a partnership in the practice of the Law
Office on Juliana Street, two doors South of the Mengel
House.
April 1,1864 —tf.
JOHN MAJOR.
SUSTICB OF THE PEACE, HOPEWELL, BEDFOKD COL'.YTT.
Collections and all business pertaining to his office will ,
be attended to promptly. Will also attend to the sale or
renting of real estate. Instruments of writing carefully i
prepared. Also settling hp partnerships and other ac- ;
counts.
April I, IS64—tf.
JNO. MOWER;
ATTORNEY AT LAW.
BEDFORD, PA.,
April 1,1864.—tf.
JOSEPH W. TATE,
ATTOBSET AT LAW, BEDFORD PA.
TXT ILL promptly attend to collections and ali business :
IT en trusted to his care in Bedford and adjoining coun
dies. Money advanced on Judgmen Notes and oher
Claims. Has for sale Town Lots, in Tatesville, and St. •;
■Joseph.s on Bedford Railroad. Farms and unim
proved land in quantities to suit purchasers.
Office oppositethe Banking House of Reed A Schell.
anr. 15, 1864—10 m.
JOHN LLTZ, •
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
A.ID
Pegularly licensed agent for the collection of Govern- j
ment claims, bounties, back pay. pensions, Ac., will give :
prompt attention to all business entrusted to his care.
Office with J. R. Iturborrow, Esq., on Juliana Street, j
Bedford Pa.
August 19th. 1864. —tf.
1. A. POINTS,
ATTORNEY AT LAW, BIDFOBD, PA.
Respectfully tender* his professional services to the
puldie. Office with J. W. Lingenfelter, Esq., on Juliana
street, two doors South of the "Mecgic House."
Bedford. Dec. 9, 3864-tf.
DENTISTRY.
I. N. BOWSER, Resident Dentist of Wood
bury,
X l""ILL spend the second Monday, Tuesday, and Wed.
YY nesdity. of each month at Hopewell, the remaining
three days at Bloody Run, attending to the duties of his
profession. At,all other times he can he found in his of
fice at U'oodburv, excepting the lest Monday and Tues
day of the nmc month, which he will spend in Martins
burg, Blair county, Penna. Persons desiring operations
should call early, as time is limited. AH operations war
ranted.
Aug. a,1864,-tf.
G. X. HICKOK. J. G. MIXXICn. Jb.
DENTISTS,
BEDFORD, PA. _
OJ/icc im the Bank Iluildin-j, Juliana Street.
All operations pertaining to Surgical or Mechanical
Dentistry carefully and faithfully jmrformeu and war
ranted.
TERMS CASH.
jan6'6s-ly.
DR. B. F. HARRY,
Respectfully renders his professional services to the
citiiens of Bedford and vicinity. Office and residence on
Pitt Street, in the building formerly occupied by Dr. J. H.
Hofius.
April 1, 1864 U.
3. L. MARBOURG, M. D.
Having permanently located respectfully tender? his
ofe scion al services to the citizen* of Bedford and ri
nity. Office on Juliana Street, opposite the Bank, one
door north of Hall A Palmer"* office.
April 1, 1864—tf.
DANIEL BORDER.
PITT STTEF.T, TWO noons WEST or TBE BEDFORD HOTEL,
Bedford, Pa.
Watchmaker A Dealer In Jewel rj . Spirtnrli'S. sfrc
H e keeps ox hand a stock of fixe gold
AND SILVER WATCHES, SPECTACLES OF
Brilliant Double Refined Glasses, also Scotch Pebble
Glasses. Goid Watch Chains. Breast Pins.FiDger Rings,
best quality of Gold Pens.
lie will supply to order any thing in his line not on
hand,
apr. 8, 1864 —n.
U. S. HOTEL.
HARRISBURG, PENN A.,
CORNER SIXTH AND MARKET STREETS,
OPPOSITE READrSG It. R. PFPOT.
l>. H. HUTCHINSON, Proprietor.
UNION HOTEL.
VALENTINE STECKMAN, Proprietor,
West Pitt Street, Bedford, Pa.,
(Formerly the diet he If "tel.)
ffMIE public are assured that he has made ampe ar-
I rangement* to accommodate all that may favor him
with heir patronage.
A splendid Livery Stable attached. f ap'r6t.
EXCHANGE HOTEL,
HUNTINGDON, PA.
JOHN S. MILLER, Proprietor.
April 29th, 1664,—ft.
A LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWSPAPER, DEVOTED TO POLITICS, EDUCATION, LITERATURE AND MORALS.
AIMHIL MESS4CIK
OF THE
Governor of Pennsylvania.
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
During the past year the ptftple of this Common
wealth have had reason to be grateful to Almighty
, God for many blessings. The earth has been fruit-
I ful, industry has thriven, and with the exception of
< the injury suffered by the citizens of some of our
1 border counties, through the disgraceful barbarity of
' the rebel forces which ravaged parts of them, and ]
burned the town of Chatnbersburg, we have no pub- |
lie misfortune to lament. The year closes with a
train of brilliant successes obtained by the armies
! of the United States, inspiring hope in every ioyal
! mind that the accursed rebellion will soon be
j crushed, and peace be restored to our country.
1 The balance in the Treasury, Nov.
j 30, 1863, was $2,147,331 70
i Receipts during the fiscal year end
ing Nov. 30, 1864 4,733,318 02
j Total in Treasury for fiscal year end
| ing Nov. 30, 1864 $6,880,644 72
] The payments for the same period
have been 4,938,441 09
Balance in Treasury, Nov, 30, 1864 $1,942,203 63
The operations of the sinking fund during the last
i year have been shown by my proclamation of the
j 27th day of September last, as follows:
Amount of debt of
Common wealth,re
duced $268,569 50
As follows, viz:
Five per cent loan of
the Commonwealth $268,308 03
Interest certificates
redeemed 261 47 268,569 50
The fiscal year accounted far in the statement of
the Treasury Department, embraces the time from
■ the Ist of December, 1863, to the 30th of November,
1864. The sinking fund year commenced the first
: Monday in September, 1863, and closed the first
Tuesday in September, 1864. This will explain the
discrepancy between the statement of the Treasury
Department as to the reduction of the public debt
of the State, and the statement embodied iq the pro
clamation relative to the sinking fund.
Amount of public
debt of Pennsyl
vania, ask stood
on the first dav
of Dec., 1863 $39,496,596 78
Deduct ain't re- .
deemed at the
State Treasury
during the fiscal
year ending with
Nov. 30, 1864,
viz:
Five per cent.
stocks $104,722 73
Four and a-half
per ct. stocks... 10,000 00
Interest certifica
tes 2,270 11
Public debt De
cember 1, 1864 $89,379,606 94
Funded debt, viz:
Six percent loans
ordinary $400,630 00
Five per ct. loans,
ordinary 35,605,263 72
Four ana a-half
ordinary 258,200 00 36,264,093 72
Unfunded debt,
viz:
Relief notes in cir
culation 97,251 00
Interest certifica
tes out-standing 13,086 52
Interest certifica
tes unclaimed.. 4,448 38
Domestic credi
tor's certificates 724 32 115,510 22
36,379,603 94
Military loan per
Act 15th Mav,
1861... 3,000,000 00
Total public debt
Dec. 1, 1864 $39,379,603 94
The Commonwealth holds bonds received from
the sale of Public Work-, amounting to ten million,
three hundred thousand dollars, ($10,300,000 00) as
follows.
Pennsylvania Railroad Company
bonds $6,800,000 00
Philadelphia and Erie Railroad Com
pany bonds S, 500,000 (X)
$10,300,000 00
These bonds are in the Sinking Fund, and reduce
the public debt to $29,079,603 94.
The tax on tonnage imposed by the acts of 30th
April and 25th August 1864, has yielded something
less than $200,000 —a much less sum than was an
ticipated. I recommend a revision of these acts for
the purpose of rendering this source of revenue
more productive, and amending other defects in
those bills.
The revenue derived from the tax on hanks during
the year amounts to $539,606 67. but under the en
abling act of the State so many of our banks have
become National Wnks under the act of Congress,
that this source of revenue may be considered as
substantially extinguished, and it will be necessary
in some way to make up deficiency from other sour
ces.
The act of Congress authorizes the taxation by
the State of the stock in the National bank in the
hands of the holders, not exceeding the rate of tax
ation imposed on other similar property, and part of
the deficiency may be thus provided for.
Tbe amount of debt extinguished-by the Sinking
Fund during the year is unusually small, which is
to be accounted for by tbe extraordinary expenses
which have been incurred. Seven hundred and
I thirteen thousand dollars (713,009) have been paid
i to refund to tbe banks the money advanced by tnem
to pay the volunteers in service during the invasion
of the State in 1863. One hundred thousand dol
lars (slUU,"oi>j have been distributed among tbe
inhabitants of Chambersburg, suffering by the rebel
destruction of their town. About two hundred
thousand dollars ($200,000) have been expended
under the acts providing for the payment of extra
military claims, and in addition to these extraordi
ary outlays, the amount appropriated to charities
was last year larger than usual.
In my opinion this matter of donations to chari
ties is fast running into a great abuse. Houses of
Refuge, and Insane, Blind and Deaf and Dumb A
sylnms, appear to be proper subjects of State bourn
ty. because their objects are of public importance
and to be useful, and well and"economically managed
it seerhs to be necessary, that they should be more
extensive than wonlld be required for tbe wants of a
particular county. But in our system, ordinary lo
cal charities are left to the care of the respective
localities, and to give tbe public money for tlteir
support is really to tax the inhabitants of all- the
counties for the benefit of one.
The national taxation is heavy and must probably
be made heavier, and the local taxes authorized by
unwise legislation and paid by our people are
give. In view of these circumstances, we should
endeavor to avoid increasing their burdens by mak
ing undue appropriations for any purpose.
It being alleged that the Atlantic and Great Wes
tern Railroad Company has not in various particu
lars obeyed the law by which it was incorporated, tbe
Attorney General (on the suggestion of parties
claiming to be thereby injured has filed an informa
tion in equity against that company, seeking an in
junction to prevent a continuance of its past, and
the persistence in it* intended ilioca! Course.
Since my last annual message on the report of
John A. Wright. Esq., that the Snnbury and Erie
railroad was finished, 1 ordered the bonds remaining
in tb# treasury to be delivered to the company.
It is a subject of a just pride to the people of this
Commonwealth, that this great work is completed,
BEDFORD, Pa., FRIDA\ JANUARY 13, 1865.
and whilst it opens a large and wealthy part of the
State to the commerce of the seaboard, and unites
capital and enterprise within our borders, it secures
to the Commonwealth the payment of the sums due
her from the company.
In my special mc-ssage of 30th April Inst, to which
I refer. I communicated to the Legislature, in some
detail, the circumstances connected with the advance
by banks and other corporations of the funds to pay
tne volunteer militia of 1808.
It is not necessary her? to recapitulate them at
length. The case was peculiar, and it is believed
none quite like it has occurred. Thedhll for volun
teers was made by the authorities of the United
States, but it being found that men eould not be got
under that call, the form of a call by the State au
thorities for the defence of the State was, with the
assent of the President, substituted. The United
States agreed to furnish the arms, subsistence and
supplies, but it was alleged that CongTess bad xnadt
no appropriation covering the pay. In this state of
tilings, the emergency being great, the Secreta-ty of
War telegraphed me, thus :
WASHINGTON, July 22, 1868.
To His Excellent Gov. A. G. Cttrtin :
Your telegrams respecting the pay of militia, call;
ed out under your proclamation of the 27th of June,
have been referred to the President for instruct ions
and have been under his consideration. He directs j
me toAay, that while no law orappropriation author
izes tne payment, by the General Government, of
troops that have not been mustered into the service
of the United States, he will recommend to Congress
to make an appropriation for the payment of troops
called into State service to rebel an actual invasion,
including those of the State of Pennsylvania. If, in
the meantime, you can raise the necessary amount,
as has been done in other States, the appropria
tion will be applied to refund the advance to those
who it. Measures 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 of this department, to you
as Governor_of the State, will be given directly to
yourself, whenever the department is prepared to
make answer.
(Signed) EDWIN M. STANTON.
Secretary of War.
The banks and other corporations refused to ad
vance the money unless 1 would pledge myself to
ask an appropriation from the legislature to refund
it. It will be noticed that the pledge of the Presi
dent is clear and distinct but, notwithstanding the
money was paid and the accounts settled and placed
in the hands of the President before the meeting of
Congress, no such recommendation a? promised me
was made, and for that reason the bill introduced
for that purpose failed. The men were raised and
placed under the command of Major General Couch
and the other U. S. officers in this Department.—
The troops were held in service longer than the
emergency for which they were called out required.
Several of the regiments were marched immediately
into the distant parts of the State, by order of the
officers of the army stationed in Pennsylvania, a
gainst my repeated remonstances. They were re
tained. as was alleged, to preserve the peaee and
enforce the draft. if not quite, one-halt the
money was paid to troops thus held, ana after the
had expired. Finding that the appro
priation was likely to fail in Congress, I laid the
matter before the Legislature, just prior to their ad
journment, in May last, and an act of Assembly was
immediately passed to refund the money out of the
State Treasury, which, as above stated has been
done. I oughtto say that the appropriation by Con
gress was vigorously supported by all the members,,
from this State, in both branches. Hat ing done
everything in my power to procure the payment of
this lust claim of the State, 1 now recommend that
the Legislature take the subject into consideration
with a view to induce proper action by the President
and Congress.
By the act of August, ISovl, I w
to cause an immediate enrollment of the militia to
be made, unless that recently made by the
United States should be found sufficient, and to raise
by volunteering or draft a corps of fifteen thousand
men for the defence of our Southern border. Ihe
United States enrollment being found very defective.
I directed an enrollment to be made, which is now
in progress under the charge of Colonel Lemuel
Todd, whom I appointed Inspector General- A
draft by the United States w : as then in progress, and
it was not thought advisable to harraes our people
by a contemporaneous State draft, even if a draft
had been practicable under the present law. Volun
teers could not be obtained, there being no bounties
and the men not being exempted by their enlistment
in that corps from draft by tbe I nited States. For
tunately the United States placed an army, under
General Sheridan, between us and the enemy, and
thus provided effectually for our defence- With
such adequate protection as proved by the brilliant
campaign of that army, 1 din not think it right to
incur the expen • the State of an independent,
army, and the withdrawal of so many of our people
ironi their homes and pursuits. Meanwhile arrange
ments have been made with the authorities at Wash
ington for arming, clothing, subsisting and supply
ing the corps at the expense ol the L nited Sta'es.
andan 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 privileged not to exceed 5,G00 men. It- is
mv intention to raise S.(XX men during the winter,
and J have already adopted measures to that end.—
There mav occur irruptions of irregular bodies of
the rebels, and it is well to be provided against them.
The number proposed to be so raised and put into
actual service, will, in my judgement be sufficient,
and a regard to economy requires that no more than
are sufficent should be placed on pay. The remain
ing 10,000 will be organized, and ready for service
in ease of necessity. I invite your immediate atten
tion to the very able report of the Inspector Gener
al. which sets forth the defects in the law- which he
has discovered in his preparation for carrying it into
practical effect.
The State agencies at Washington and in the
South-west, are in active and successful operation.
I communicate herewith the reports of Col. .lordau,
at Washington, and Col, Chamberlain, agent for the
South-west. The provisions of the law renuiring
the agents to collect moneys due by the United
States to soldiers, have been benificent. A refer
ence to ther reports will show the magnitude and
usefulness of this branch of their service. I desire
to invite the attention of all our volunteers, officers,
and soldiers and their families to the fact that the
State agents will collect all their claims on the Gov
ernment, gratuitously, as I have reason to believe
that many are slit' ignorant of that fact, and are
greatly imposed upon by the exorbitant commissions
charged by th.* private claim agents.
Under the act of the 6th of May, 1864, I appoint
ed Hon. Thomas 11. Burrowes to take charge of the
arrangements for the education of the orphans of
soldiers. I communicate herewith a copy of his re
port on the subject. He has discharged his duties
with commendable zeal, fidelity and efficiency. 1
earnestly recommend that a permanent and liberal
appropriation be made to support this just and
worthy scheme of benificence.
I recommend that an appropriation be made lor
pensions to tlfo volunteer militia men, (or their
families.) who were killed or hurt in service in the
years 1882 and 1863. As soldiers sometimes ar
rive here who are insane and who should be pro
tected and cared for. I reecommead that provision
be made for their Vicing placed in the State Asylum
for the Insane, at this place, and kept until notice
can be given to the authorities of their respective
counties, who should be required to remove and
care for them.
I feel it to be ray duty to invite joar serious at
tention to the fcviis growing out of the system of
passing acts of incorporation, for purposes which
are provided for by general laws. lie have passed
acts authorizing charters to be obtained without
special legislation. These acts have been-generally
prepared with some care, and contain the provisions
which the Legislature thought necessary to protect
the Com man wealth and her citizens. If these gen
eral laws are not found to answer such purpose,
they should be amended and perfected. 11 any
comjiany desires to lx- incorporated with greater
privileges than are conferred, or to be relieved from
any of the conditions imposed by these acts, it ap
pears to me that it should be required lirst to obtain a
charter under the general laws, and then apply to
the Legislature for an act making the changes which
are desired. The attention of the legislature wilj
thus be drawn to the specific object, and a judge.
mat *-an be formed of its propriety. I would also
oferve that great evil results from the habit of
ginting privileges to a corporation by a mere refer
eirC to other corporations, sometimes without even
i giiug the date of Uiese acts. All these practices
at bad. and although they inay sometimes be pur
eid by parties having no bad intention, yet they
cefiiiiily originated in the design of surprising the
! Cjnmonweakh into grants of privileges which it
; wi known could not be obtained if their extent
wfe understood, and they are often followed now
fij the same fraudnlcnt purpose.
! strongly reenmmena the repeal of the act passed
J rlt lfth day of r July, A. P. 1863, entitled "An act
rdating to corporations for mechanical, manufac
j tiling mining, and ouariying purposes."
Its provisions are tound to be practically so in
♦•(hsistent with the due protection of the citizens and
wjh the just policy of the Commonwealth, that it,
oight not, to be allowed to stand longer on our stat
ntt book. I approved the act in question with
grttf rekictancc. and subsequent reflection and ob
-cration have satisfied me of its mischievous charac
ter,
J also reeo.mmend the repeal of an act passed the
2% day of July, a. f>. 1863, entitled "A farther sup
plement to enable joint tenants and tenants in com
mci, and adjoining owners of mineral lands in this
Conmonwealth, to manage and develop the same."
phis act allows foreign corporations to Lold three
kindred acres of land in this State for mining pur
ples. It was passed, it is believed, for the purpose
onmabling companies near our border engaged in
tht manufacture of iron, to hold land as ore banks.
BiJ under the idea that the sinking of an oil well is
! iiijiing. it is believed that companies have already
bdtn organized under the laws of other States, and
tnqre will be. for the purpose of holding lands and
•■atrving on the oil business in this State. It would
be bitter to remove all doubt on this question by re
pealing the act. These companies, being foreign
corporations, are not within the control of onr laws
to the extent that they ought to be for the purposes
of taxation and regulation.
The immense development of wealth in some of
out western counties by the discovery of oil. has ad
det vastly to the resources of tie Commonwealth.
J have made efforts to ascertain the value of this
product during the past year, but have failed in pro
eiring information sufficiently accurate to justify me
in. estimating its amount. It is already vast and is
rabidly increasing.
The productions and manufactures of the State
have become so diversified and abundant that some
measure should be taken for an accurate ascertain
ment of them, so that their extent may be generally
known, and also that the necessary taxation may be
intelligently imposed. I recommend for these pur
poses the creation df a Bureau, of which the Auditor
General and State Treasurer shall be members, and
the head of which shall be a new officer, to be styled
Commissioners of Statistics, or designated by any
other appropriate title.
The act of2stb August. 1864. providing for the
voting of soldiers, should be carefully examined,
with a view to its amendment, and, indeed, a revis
ion of our whole election laws would seem to be desi
rable. 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 tyid correct returns
of the wfes actually polled. I communicate here
with the opinion of the Attorney General on the
conflicting returns for the 16th Congressional Dis
trict, -which will show some of the practical difficul
ties which rise under the existing system. Without
undertaking to recommend the adoption of particu
lar plv.i- 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 measure
which will produce the result so essential to the ex
istence of a free government: that votes shall be
fairly taken in the first instance, and fairly counted
and "returned afterwards.
1 bp,* 4 - '*de&vored since I came into office to exer-
PViuffottsr? as posit>ie nw powers connfieiJ to
the Executive, and avoid usurping any. I shall en
deavor 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 local bounties which
was begun, in an emergency by the voluntary and
generous loyalty of cur citizens, before the passage
by Congress of the enrollment act. and has since
been continued 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 some counties and town
ships, it is believed that the bounty tax during the
last year exceeded the average income derived from
tbe land. The iarge sums offered in some places in
the competition foi men, have demoralized many of
our people, an 1 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 rich
er localities paying heavier bounties. The system
as practiced lowers the morale of the army itself. In
putting into the ranks men actuated by merely mer
cenary motives, and who are tempted to desert by
the facility of escaping detection, and the prospect
of new gains by re-enlistinent. a process which thev
expect to be able to repeat an indefinite number of
times. Of the number of men for whom bounties
have been paid, it is believed that not one-fourth
have been actually placed in the ranks of the army,
and jeven-those who have joined it, have probably
not on an average received for their own. use one
half of the bounty paid for them. Immense sums
have thus been appropriated by cheats and swindlers
in many cases believed to be acting in complicity
with agencies of the Government.
An effort was made to prosecute some of the par
lies concerned in such frauds under the act of As
sembly of 14th August last, and they were bound
over bv the Mayor of this city, but after the witness
es had come here on the meeting 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, undpr the receut call, 66,999, but I am not
informed of the principle on which the draft is to
be made.
It appears from the President's proclamation that
it is made chiefly to supply an alleged deficiency in
former calls, lam surprised at the amount of this
:arge deficiency, and can only account for the dif
ference between the number of men furnished by
the State and the deficiency alleged to exist in the
assignment of the present quota by the assumption
that the men never reached the array, although en
listed and mustered after the payment of bounties
by the localities to which they were supposed to lie
credited. It is probable tbr.t there are very few
counties in the State which have not paid large
'Otinties for a number ot men sufficient to fill their
former quotas.
Taking the local bounties at the low average of
four hundred dollars, it is believed that it can be
demonstrated that the people of Pennsylvania have
thus been robbed of more than twelve millions of
dollars during the past year. This estimate does
not include the money fraudulently taken from men
who have actually gone into the service.
The continuance of these" monstrous and unparal
leled abuses cannot be tolerated.
Certainly more men aije required to aid our gal
lant soldiers in the field in crushing this rebellion,
and every consideration of patriotism and of regard
for our brothers who are now in the face of the ene
my, obliges us to spare no effort to raise the neces
sary force.
fn June last I gave letters to a committee of the
prison society cf Philadelphia, requesting that the
members of the committee might be allowed to vis
it and examine the prisons aud poor-houses through
out the Commonwealth. I transmit with this com
munication a copy of the report made P) me by the
society of the results of their labors- and commend
the same to your attention with a view to the adop
tion of proper measures to reform the abuses
which have been found to exist.
In oonnection with this subject. I again call your
attention to the expediency of providing for the re
ception in the penitentiaries, of persons convicted
of murder in the first degree, ana who may be par
doned on condition of serving a limited time there
in. It has become a custom that an incoming Gov
ernor should not issue a warrant of execution in
eases left unacted on by his predecessor, audit not
i unfrequentiy happens that even in cases which are
recent* while gome punishment should he inflicted*
that of death may appear to the Executive to be too
severe. The result is that there are at this time, ID
the various prisons, some eighteen or twenty per
sons under sentence of death, and who may lie there
for an indefinite period of time.
The vast amount ol additional labor which has
been imposed upon the Secretary of the Common
wealth oy the existing state. of affairs renders it
absolutely necessary that the clerical force of his
department should be increased. The marking out
of commissions for onr large army of volunteers in
the field, and the preparations of election blanks
required by law to be sent to the army—the receipt,
filing and recording the returns of the yearly in
creasing number of acts of Assembly, and of char
ters obtained under general laws and the making
out ot letters patent for them —all these together
with the previous heavy duties of the office —from
an aggregate, the weight of which must ultimately
breaK down his few subordinates, diligent, faithful
and enduring as they are. I recommend, therefore,
that provision be promptly made to meet the neces
sities of this case.
It is a subject of just congratulation that notwith
standing the distracted condition of the country,
our system of common schools continues to flour
ish. The report of our Superintendent, which I
herewith transmit, shows that there has been an in
crease of scholars during the past vear. It is im
portant 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 consideration
the expediency of making out of the school fuodfi
itself some provision for the support of such teach
er* as shall after a given term of service become
superannuated or disabled while in the perform
ance of their duties. .
Of the fund placed in my hands bv Ihe act of the
I6th May. 1861. and of the 4th of May, 1864. and
to be appropriated in my judgement in military ser
vice. 1 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 oi the Auditor General. •
No similar appropriation will be requnred 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 ascertain the dam
ages done in the counties of Bedford, Fnlton.
Franklin, Cumberland, York and Adams, by the
rebel ariny in 1863. which failed in the Senate for
want of time.
I commend to your consideration the propriety of
the passage of such a bill during the present ses
sion. It is just to the people of these counties who
have suffered, as well as to the Government that
these damages should be fairly ascertained and the
evidence perpetuated, whatever may be the view to
be taken on future consideration by the United
States or State Government as to the propriety of
paying such claims.
Major General Hancock has been authorized by
[ the War Department to raise a corps of veterans,
to be called the First Corps. One of the regula
tions is that an application by the Governor of anr
State, recruiting officers will be designated for such
State. I have been requested by General Hancock
to make such application, but have hitherto de
clined to comply with the request. It appears to
me that the families of men raised on the plan
adopted by the War Department would probably
not be entitled to the relief provided by our own
laws for the families of volunteers. I have inquired
of General Hancock whether the proposed corps
is to form part of the regular army or of the volun
teer force, and if the latter, under what act of Con
gress it is to be raised. He has referred that com
munication to the War Department, from which I
have as yet received no answer to it.
The following letters have passed between General
Hancock and myself on this subject:
PESXSYLVASIA EXECUTIAE CHAXBER,
HARRISBURG, Pa, Dec. 29th, 1864.
GENERA;. :—I received your letter at the moment
of my departure for Philadelphia on Monday last.—-
I returned this morning and hasten to reply.
Having no knowledge of the organization of the
corps you are to command than what appears in
the newspapers and orders. I will be obliged if you
will inform me if it is to be regarded as a part of the
regular army of the United States or as part of the
volunteer service.
If it is part of the army of the United States. I
certainly have no connection with it, as Governor of
the State. If it is organized as volunteers, be pleas
ed to inform me nnder 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 manner and according to the act of Con- j
gress, 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 vete
rans to go to the District of Columbia to enlist. I
certainly will do nothing to embarrass the plan pro
posed.
We have benefits, by general and special legisla
tion in Pennsylvania, which attach to the volunteer
and his family. While I will do nothing to deter the
veterans of the State from entering your corps, 1
hesitate to connect myself with a mode of enlistment
which may deprive them of such benefits, unless it
is my duty unaer the law.
I am. General, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
A. G. CURTIN.
Major General WINDFIEU) S. HAXCOCK.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST CORPS, )
WASHINGTON. D. C-, Dec. 31, 1864. /
To Hi* Excellency Hox. A. G. CURTIX. Governor of
Pemisyltania:
SIR :—I have the Hbnor to acknowledge the receipt
of your communication of the 29th inst., and have
referred the same to the War Department. I thank
you for your kind expression of personal good will,
and regret that there should be any occasion for hes
itation on your part to lend your official influence,
as Governor, to the raising of the corps as proposed
by the War Department.
"It is not within my province, perhaps, to discuss
the plau of organization, as I am acting under the
direct orders of the War Department, and my own
views, therefore, are of no practical moment- "l may
say. however, that I have no knowledge of the organ
ization other than what I have derived from the or
ders and circulars of which I mailed you official co
pies December sth.
I cannot see bow volunteers for this corps from
your State lose any of the; advantages attaching to
those for other organizations.
Thev are credited to the localities where they or
their families are domiciled, and count on the quota
of vour State.
Jt should be borne in mind that this is an effort to
get men into service who are not subject to a draft.
I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your
obedient servant.
WIN'FIELD S. HANCOCK.
Major General U. S. Volunteers, commanding First
Corps.
The only act of Congress for raising volunteers
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
lie formed into organizations of the respective
States, and it is proposed that its officers shall be
appointed by the general government. I know of
no act of Congress or of Assembly under which men
so raised will,be entitled to pensions or their fami
lies to benefits from the United States or State Gov
ernment. In addition. I will observe that without
any feeling of jealousy, I am still not ready to parti
cipate actively in transferring to the United States
illegally the right of appointment vested in the State,
and which the State authorities can exercise with
more discrimination by reason of having a greater
familiarity with the merits of the citizens of their
own State, than the United States authorities can
possibly have. I will transmit any further commu
nication that I may receive on this subject. It will
be perceived by reference to the correspondence,
that I have offered to raise, in the manner provided by
law. two or three regiments of veteransfor Hancock's-
Corps. My desire is to assist the Government in
every legal mode in raising men, and especially to
facilitate an officer—a native Peunsylyanian —so dis
tinguished as General Hancock, in his efforts to or
ganize a new corps.
I shall throw no obstacles in his way on the prcs
| ent occasion, but I cannot, certainly, be expected to
invite violation of law in carrying put apian which
sacrifices the rights of the State under existing laws,
and would leave the men unprotected under them,
so far as concerns future provision for their comfort
and that of their families.
I will further observe that it appears by the report
of the Adjutant General, herewith transmitted, that
the State, under the system established by law, has
pet into the military service of the United States,
since the commencement of the war, the following
number of men, viz:
Troop* ment Mo serrfce during 1864.
Organizations for three years' term 0,867
Organizations for one hundred days*
term - 7,675
Organizations for one year term 18,094
Volunteer recruits - 26,567
Drafted m*n and substitutes .l£i6ol
Recruits for regular army 27974
Re-Enlisted Pennsylvania Volunteers :
Infantry 15.862
Cavalry 2,83*
Artillery - 799
Accredited to other States 389 17,876
91,704
Troops sent into the service of the United States since
the commencement, of the rebellion, including the
ninety days" militia in the department of the Mo
nongahelaand Susquehanna tn 1863*
During the year 1861.... 130,594
1862 - 71,100
" 1863 - 43,046
" 1864 73.828
Re-enlistment of Pennsylvania volunteers 17,876
336.444
The twenty-five thousand militia of 1862 are not in
cluded in this statement.
I call the attention of the Legislature to the Report
of the Surveyor General, herewith presented, and
commend the suggestions made by that officer to your
consideration.
This message is accompanied by full reports of all
the military departments. They pxhibit the large
amount of service performed during the past year,
and contain a full history of all the military opera
tions 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 1 commend to your earnest and immediate at
tention. It affords me great satisfaction to bear tnv
testimony to the ability, diligence and fidelity of all
the officers in these several departments.
Before closing this message I desire to advert to
the delay which las sometimes occurred in the pas
sage of the general appropriation bill. It is neces
sary 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 fixed for the final adjourn
ment. is to deprive the people of their right to have
all bills submitted to the revision of the Legislature
before becoming laws, in case the Executive should
net approve them. If there had been time. I should
have probably returned the appropriation bill of last
year for such revision, as when I nad the opportuni
ty of deliberately examining it, I found provisions
which I could not have approved—but that opportu
nity was denied me before the bill became a law. and
in fact, as the Legislature was on the point of ad
journment. the only question presented to me was
whether that should become a law without amend
ment or the necessities of the government remain
unprovided for.
The gallantry of our soldiers in the field 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 the men
and women of the State contribute of their means
for their comfort and welfare. May the blessing of
God be on those brave men who have stood by the
country through the dark hours of her trial.
A. G. CURTIN.
KißcvnraCitkMWEa, 1
Harrisburg, Jan. 4, 186-5. j
THE OIL PB0DI(T"F PE.miLYAJfIA.
From the Cleveland {Ohio) Leader.
To those who are unacquainted with the facts in
connection with the discovery and development of
oil in Pennsylvania, an exhibit of the actual pro
duction of oil furnishes material important re
flection.
The business has already become so extensive
that petroleum, furnishes that medium of exchange
with foreign countries, which was lost in the cotton
kept out of market by the rebellion. In 1862, the
entire exports amounted to 10,182,020 gallons; in
ten months of 1863, to 26,070,569 gallons; and
since the first of January, 1864, to 30,182,020 gal
lons. In its magnitude it alreaey competes with
the coal andiron interests of that State. The esti
mated value of the petroleum found in Pennsyl
vania daring the last twelve months, is two millions
of barrels, wttich at eleven dollars a barrel, a high
average, was worth at the wells, twenty-millions of
dollars.
The pig-iron interest of Pennsylvania during the
same time amounted to 700,000 tons, which at an
average of SSO per ton, produced $37,500,000. —
The coal product for the same time is estimated at
12,000,000 tons. This at an average price of $6.50
a ton. would make $78,000,000. Ihe grand total of
coal, iron and oil would therfore reach the enor
mous sum of $130,000,000.
These figures show that petroleum, which has
been comparatively but a few months in develop
ment, promises in the course of the nexjt year to
take precedence of both iron and coal in the State
of Pennsylvania.
Arrangements are being made for sinking a vast
number of wells during the coming summer, so that
in one year from this time the number of wells in
operation will be three or four time 3 those now
pumping or flowing. In addition to this are the re
gions in Southern Ohio, Western Virginia and Eas
tern Kentucky, that promise to make vast additions
to the amount of oil already produced. No one can
form any adequate idea of what will be the result
when the productions of oil reaches a point far be
yond its present position. It will, if we are not
much mistaken, attain during the coming year, a
value four times the present annual aggregate, and
thus materially aid in keeping down foreign ex
change, beside adding immensely to the material
interests of the country. As yet there have been
no statistics that have shown the actual amount of
oil produced. It is estimated at from four to five
miluons of barrels.
REMARKABLE EXPLOSION* OF AN OIL WELL.—
As Mr. Jacob Crowe, of George's Creek Fayette
Co.. Pennsylvania, was engaged on Monday week,
in boring for oil on his farm, the augur struck up a
a deposit which began atonce to rushupward with
irresistable force, flowing over_ the ground and
Saturday everything in the vicinity. A stream ot
hvdrogen tras accompanied the ou, making a loud
noise and tilling the atmosphere. Finally, warning
into contract with a sfcovfc in a slianty a little dis
tance off. a terrific explosion ensued, fortunately
injuring no one. The flames darted into the air
sixty feet high, threatening a general destruction.
It soon gave in, however, and the men succeeded
in extinguishing it before any serious damage was
done. For some time the most lively alarm pre
vailed, and it is safe to predict that the engineers
boring on George's Creek for oil will take the
precaution in future to put out all the fires in the
neighborhood while at work.
THE YO- S KM ITR SCEX KKT SURPASSED.— Prof. Whit
ney's party of geological explorers in California have
found, during the past season, even more wonderful
regions for mountain aud rock sc qnery than the
mous Yo-Semite, and a grove ol Digger trees thfit
those of Calavares, which have heretofore been the
pride of California for natural wonders and curiosi
ties. and the great object of interest to all travellers
to the Parificfctates. These newest, rarest wonders lie
farther south in Tulare County; they include moun
tains 15.000 feet high, the highest in the limits of the
whole United States territory, and higher than tha
king of the AlpiS. Mont Blanc; also perpendicular walla
i of rock 7,000 feet high, or twice as high as those that
| give such grandeur and fame*to the Yo-Semite valley,
and a grove of big trees—bigger than those into whose
I hollow tronks three horsemen ride abreast, and on
whose stumps the Californium hold in ass meetings
—which is 25 miles in extent. These new discove
ries are in the valley of the Ken River.— Springfield
Republican.
Vol 38: No. 3