Coht,
.
Wednesday morning, Jan, 13, 1864.
W. Lewis, Editor and Proprietor.
Our Flag Forever.
" I know of no mode in which a loyal Mi
tten may so well demonstrate his devotion to
Au country as by sustaining the Flag the
Constitution and the Union, tinder all circum
stances, and uNDRII•EVE.R.Y ADMINISTRATION
ItZGARDLISSS Or PARTY POLITICS, AGAINST ALL
SASAILANTS, AT MURANO ABROAD."—STSPLIEN
A. DOUGLAS.
A. Dead Look in the State Senate.
As was anticipated, in the absence
of Major White, who is confined in a
rebel dungeon, the Senate of Pennsyl
vania is a dead-lock. Let it remain so
forever before a Union man shall give
way to those who love separation and
treason better than union and freedom.
The will of a large majority of the pee.
ple of our loyal State is being over
slaughed, and, for the time, the minor
ity rule. Where is the boasted mag
nanimity the so-called Democrats prate
so - Leech about. If they loved their
country half as much as they pretend
to, they would not clog the wheels of
Government, by thus openly and avow
edly supporting the rotten Confedera
cy over which Jeff. Davis presides
against the will of a large majority of
those who live within his precincts.—
Lot "legislation be paralyzed, public
business neglected, rather than untie
it by submission to -the men who are
profiting by the sufferings of i brave
soldier." Never did the good Old
Heystorre suffer a greater disgrace.—
Neeer were a loyal people placed in a
tdOre humiliating position. What are
those men butknaves, poltroons, and
traitors. Aro they loyal when they
reject a resolution of thanks to Gene.
Grant and Meade, two of Pennsylva
nia's "favorite sons," and who are the
heroes of many of the hardest fought
battles of the war? Away with the
man, or set of men, who would, for a•
moment, reject a resolution of thanks
to the very man who drove back the
enemy from invading his household
and destroying his property. The
loyal masses are indignant, and their
just wrath will fall heavily upon the
heads of those who defy their will.
The House organized on Tuesday
last by electing the caucus nominees
we gave in our last issue. A. W. Ben
edict, Esq., was the unanimous choice
of the Union members for Chief Clerk.
They knew.the man. A better man
could not have been elected to so im
portant a position.
Free Labor for the South.
It may seem a little singular that
sentiments like the following, which
we take from the New Orleans Era,
should bo published as far south as
Louisiana. Of course it is only very
recently- that such a thing could take
place, but its occurrence now is an un
mistakable indication of the direction
and progress the sentiment of the south
is taking. It is a proof, and with oth
ers conclusive to otw•minds, that a Joy
al South can only bo ro•established
upon• an anti-slavery or radical basis,
end to that result things are rapidly
tending. There is a great deal of
sound philosophy in the extract from
the Era, which we give below:
"It has generally been believed,
heretofore, that the destruction of sla
very would impoverish the South.—
But this is one of the popular errors
which is destined to be overthrown by
the war. The value of slave property
was mainly fictitious; for, with the
money expended by the planter in
feeding and subsisting his slaves, a
smart business man would have pro
cured'as mach, and perhaps more work
by paid and willing Faber. After the
slaveowner had paid his thousand or
fifteen hundred dollars for his negro,
ho must feed and clothe him; and the
expense ofthis -would" about balance
the work he • got'ont of him/ Conse
quently, the use of this thousand or
fifteen hundred dollars was about the
same as thrown away; and if the ne
gro died or ran off and escaped, it was
gone wholly. - There are certain prin
ciples of cornmoßsensethat hold good
the world over; and some of these
have been very strangely overlooked
by the advocates of slave labor. No
thing is more self-evident than. that a
man will labor more willingly, hearti
ly, efficiently, with the prospect of
wages than he will under a whip,
without such prospect. The negroes
do not form an exception to this rule.
Enslaved- and, treated ae brutes, pos
sessing neither the feelirigs, the hopes,
nor the rights of human beings, they
necessarily become sluggish' a nd- cl e ba
sod, and shirk their task as much• as
possible. Nothing else could be ex
pected; human nature would be false
to herself if the result would be differ
ent. But treated as a human being,
and properly remunerated for his toil,
the negro becomes an effective and
willing laborer. Experience is estab
lishing this truth on the plantations of
Louisiana every day. A planter who
loses one hundred negroes may com
plain that he has•lost fifty thousand
dollars; but ho will learn, it goes to
work properly, that be has really lost
nothing. His plans and business may
suffer•disarrangement for a year; but
if he will try the free labor experiment
fairly, his supposed has can work him
110 further harm"-
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. ,
To the Senate and House of-Representa
tives of Pennsylvania :
GENTLEMEN :
The past year has afforded us new
cause of thankfulness to the Almighty
for the moral and material blessings
which be has bestowed upon us.
The balance in the Treasury
November 30.1862, *as, $2,172,844 10
Receipts during fiscal year end
' ing November 30, 1863 4,289,451 05
Total in Treasury for fiscal
year ending Nov. 30, 1863 6,462,295 75
The payments for tho same pe
riod have been 4,314,964 05
Buinnce in Treasury November
30, 1863 2,147,331 70
The operations of the sinking fund
during the last year hare been shown
by my Proclamation of the Bth day of
September lust, as follows :
Amount of debt Commonwealth
reduced •`054,720 40
As follows, viz:
Coupon Loan Act.
May 4, 1862 100,000 00
Five per cent. 790,716 50
Four and one•half
per cent. 63,000 00
Relief notes mold 963 00
Domestic creditors'
certificates 13 00
Interest certificates
paid 27 90
$964,720 40
Amount of public debt of Penn.
sylvania as it stood on the
let day of Decembt.r, 1862 $40,448,213 82
Deduct amount redeemed at the
State Treasury during the
fiscal year, ending with No•
vember 30, 1803, viz:
Five per et. stocks $888,499 78
Four and a half
per cent. stocks 63.000,00
Relief notes 109 00
Domestic creditors'
certificates 8 26
$931,617 04
Public debt December 1,'63,439,496,596 78
Funded debt, viz:
6 per cent. loans 400,630 00
5 per cent. Inane 35,709.986 45
4} per cent. loans 268,200 00
$36,378,816 45
Unfunded debt, viz
Belief notes in cir-
. - -
culatzon $97,2510D
Interest certificates
outstanding 15,356 83
Interest certificates
unclaimed 4,448 33
Domestic creditors'
certificates 724 32 •
$117,780,33
$36,496,596 78
NliMary loon per Act of :tiny
15th, 1861 3,000,000 00
Total indebtedness
By the act of 151,11 May, 1861, au
thorizing the military loan of • 83,000,-
000, a tax of one-half mill was laid on
real and personal property, to furnish
a fund for reedeeming the same. I re
commend that the commissioners of
the sinking fund be directed to invest
the proceeds of the tax in State loan,
so that it may be drawing interest, to
be in like manner invested, or that
they should apply such proceeds direct
ly to the purchase of certificates of the
military loan, and cancel such certifi
cates as shall be purchased.
Although our finances are still in a
healthy condition, it is necessary to in
vite the serious attention of the Legis
lature to the consideration of the
means of maintaining them unimpaired
in future.
By the act of 12th June, 1840, it was
provided that the interest on the State
loans should always be paid in specie
or its equivalent, and that whenever
the funds in the Treasury should be of
less value than specie, the difference in
value should be ascertained and certi
fied to the Governor, who should there
upon issue his warrant to the agents or
banks authorized to pay such interest
on behidf of the Commonwealth,. to al
low such difference to parties receiving
the interest, or at the option of the
parties pay the. same in specie.
Hy the act of 11th , Npril, 1862, it was
provided that for the purpose of paying
irr specie, or its equivalent, all interest
that should thereafter be due by the
Commonwealth, as required by the act
of 12th June, 1840, the several banks
who should avail themselves of the
provisions of that act, (of 11th April,
1802,) and who should refuse to redeem
their notes in specis i , on demand, at any
time within ten d igs upon °rafter the
time when such interest should become
due, should thereafter, when required
by the State Treasurer, by notice in
writing, pay into the State Treasury,
in proportion to the capital stock pale'
in of each bank, their ratable proper.
tion of such premium for gold or its
equivalent, as should have been actual
ly paid by the State.
By the act of 30th January, 1863, it
was provided that the State Treasurer
should exchange with the banks an
amount of currency sufficient to pay
the interest on the State debt filling
due on tl•ei first days of February and
August, 1863, for the same ainoant of
coin, and should give to the bunks spe
cie certificates of exchange, not trans
ferable, pledging the faith ofelle Slate
to return said. coin in exchange for
notes current at the time, on or before
the first Monday of Marcbl 1861, such
certificates to boar interest at the rate
of 23- per cent. per annum.
Under the provisions of the act of
1862, certain banks paid into the State
Treasury 8140,768 30 as aucquivalent
for coin for the payment of interest on
the public debt.
Under the act of 1863, specie certifi
cates Dave been given to the banks,
amounting in the whole to 81,968,904
97, which, with the accruing interest,
will fall duo on the first Monday of
March next.
As the provisions of this act were of
a temporary character, the only acts
now in force on the subject are those
of 1810 and 1862, above mentioned,
under which, it will. be the duty of the
State authorities to' pay the interest on
the let .of February, 1864, and thereat'•
ter, in coin or its equivalent, and look
to the banks that may be liable under
the act of 1862 for reimbursement of
the premium paid by the Common
wealth.
In the face of all difficulties, this
Commonwealth, actuated by a senti
ment which does its people honor, has
hitherto paid its interest in coin or its
equivalent.
Existing circumstances make it ne
cessary to consider now the fair extent
of her just ohligations,
The exigencies of the times have
compelled the Government of tho Uni
ted States to issue large amounts of
Treasury notes. for. circulation, which
are hot redeemable in coin, and which
form the great mass of our circulating
medium.
It is our duty as a. loyal State—zit is
our interest as a State whose Welfare,
and oven safety,. depend emphatically
upon the maintenance of the credit end
the success of the military operations
of the general governfifent—to do no
thing to impair its credit or embarrass
its measures. On the contrary, we
owe it to ourselves and to our poster
ity to give an active support to its ef
forts to quell the monstrous rebellion
which is still raging, and thus restore
peace to our distracted country.
It is our own Government, and we
could not, without gross indecency, at
tempt to refuse its. currency in pay
ment of taxes and other debts duo to
the Common wenl.h.
In 1840 the case was very different.
The difficulties then arose from the
suspension of specie payments by our
State banks, mere local and private
corporations, and the State very pro
perly by the act of thatyear, intended
to provide against loss to its creditors
by reason ofsuch suspensions. An ex
igency like the present could not then
have been foreseen by the Legislature
and it is to be inferred therefore that
they could not have intended to pro
vide for it.
We derive our system of public loans
from Europe, and the true extent of
our obligation is to be ascertained by
referring to the known established
practice of European governments pri•
or to the dates when our loans were
effected. I mean of course such of
those governments as were held to
have maintained their national credit.
It is believed to have been the uni
form practice of such governments to
pay their interest in paper currency,
however depreciated, during a legaliz
ed suspension of specie payments. An
observable instance of this is afforded
by the course of the British Govern
ment, which during twenty-five years,
from 1707 to 1822, during which the
bank was prohibited by law from pay
ing out coin for any purpose, paid the
interest on its public debts ir. bank
notes, which during a great part of
that time were at a heavy discount,
sometimes amounting to 30 per cent
or thereabout. Their-necessities then
were not greater than ours are now.
Among ourselves, at the present
time, ])Massachusetts (whose debt is be•
lieved to be very small) pays the inte
rest in coin. Ohio and Indiana pay
in eurrency. In New York it is not
known what will be done. Her Legis
lature, by concurrent resolution, or
dered the interest to be paid in coin to
foreign stockholders in April last.
At the present rate of premium on
gold, the sum necessary to pay on an
amount Ruff - Went to discharge the an
nual interest on the State debt, would
be more than $1,000,000, and to meet
this, additional taxation to that extent
would be unavoidable. The.demands
on the Treasury for other necessary
put-poses must probably he such as to
'render it imprudent to throw any part
of this expenditure on the existing stir
plus. To borrow money- from year to .
year to pay the interest on past loans
would, of course, be wholly inadmissi
ble. To leave the.act of 1802 in force,
and attempt to throw the payment of
this large premium annually on the
banks, would be not only ffagrontly
unjust, but quite impracticable. I re
commend the whole subject to the care
ful and immediate consideration of the
Legislature. Some legislation ought
to be had on it before the close of the
present month. In my opinion the
Commonwealth will have fulfilled her
obligations by providing fur the pay
ment of her interest- in the currency of
the Government. If the Legislature
should think fit to continue to pay it
in coin, it will be their duty to levy
tbrthwith the heavy taxes necessary
for that purpose. I must in passing
observe that the plait adopted by one
of the States in paying coin to foreign,
and currency to domestic loanholde:s,
appears to me to be wholly un wise, and
founded on no legitimate principle.
At the close of the last session, nine
teen bills renewing the charters of cer
tain banks for another period of five
years were presented to me Of these
I have (for reasons which will be here
after communicated,) withheld my sig
nature from one and approved the re
mainder. I have been led to sign them
by the considerations ,that the banks
of the Commonwealth ray a large rev
enue which the State can ill afford to
lose, and that in the present condition
of the country it would be impolitic to
drive so much capital out of active use
or force it into new employments.
If the National Banking system at
ford sufficient inducements, capitol will
voluntarily take that direction. It is
proper to-observe that the charters of
most of the banks in question expire at
an early period, while in consequence
of the invasion of the State, during the
last summer, they could not have been
reasonably expected to give the neces
sary notice of renend applications for
re-charter.
$30,496,596 78
I recommend an extension of the
time during which the banks are now
relieved from penalties for not paying
their obligations in coin.
The incroased expenses of living in
vite attention to the salaries of our
public officers. Those of the Secretary
of the Commonwealth, Auditor Gene
ral, and State Treasurer, and of the
Clerks-1n their - employment are, in my
opinion, too low, espeoially as• the ex-i•-
goncies of the times• have• greatly en
hanced the labors anchresponsibilitios
of all, and in the case of the heads of
those departments, enforce a constant
attendance at Harrisburg, which was
not formerly required.
Under the Act of 16th April, 1802,
and its supplement passed 22d April,
1863, the Adjutant General, Quarter
master General and . Commissary Gen
eral have been acting as the Board of
Military Claims. They have, up to
this time, approved claims to the ant
ount of 8166,415 81, and others have
been already presented to the further
amount of 8332,120 29, which have not
yet been acted on.
- Under the Act of 22d April, (P. L.
529,) the Court of Common Pleas, tip.
pointed three appraisers to ascertain
the damage done in the counties on
the Southern border by the militia call
ed into service In September, 1862, by
the Anderson Cavalry in• the same.,
month, and by the :Rebels in, thoi r raid
on the 10th and 11th Obtober, 1862.
The Appraisers have not yet coin
pleted the performance of their duties.
till= their report shall havo boon
made to the Court of - Common'Pleas
and affirmed•, in whale or in part, by
that court; it Will be the duty of the
Clow:Prior to chiim the payment of the
amoun ts Gin nGeneral Government,
and Oti failure tti secure the Same, then
to report to tile next Legislature, re
commending such action - as he may
deeni just and proper.
The eicpenies of the Transportation
and Telek, , raph Department during the
past year have been as follows:
Paid on of tippropriation
made by Military Loan
net of 1861 • $13,653 37
Unpaid (the appropriation
being exhausted 15,764 79
Outstanding liabilities, esti
mated at 5,000 00
These expenses have been mainly
ineurmd in keeping up the necessary
correspondence of the military dolma
ments and in the transportation of sick.
and wounded and the dead bodies of
our volunteers, as will be seen by the
report or the Chief' of Transportation,
herewith comMUnicated. I recom
mend an appropriation to meet the
deficiency ; and also to carry on the
service of this department hereafter.
By the thirteenth section of the act
of the 15th May, 1861, the sum of 620,
000 was appropriated to be expended
by. the Governor for the compensation
at' such persons as ho might require to
serve the Commonwealth in the mill-
Attry organization of the State or the
General Government, and for the ex
penses incident to the business in
which they might be employed.
I have, aceortling to law, settled an
unal accounts of the expenditure of
this fund in the Auditor General's
office, to which the Legislature is re
ferred. The unexpended balance is
now $4,521 BS.' A further sum should
be appropriated in like manner. Out
of this fund I have paid the persons
whom I found it necessary to employ
in the military department., and the
expenses of the agency which I was
compelled to establish at Washington
to attend to the interest and welfare
of our volunteers. The continuance
of this agency and the establishment
of a similar one in the West are of vi
tal importance to them. I recommend
the passage of an act authorizing the
appointment of agents at Washington
and Nashville, and defining their du
ties, which should inclnde the collec
tion of all bounties, back pay, pensions,
etc., due to Pennsylvanians. •
On this subject I refer the Legisla
ture to the report of Colonel R. Biddle
Roberts, late Agent of the State; at
Washington, herewith communicated
and commend it to your careful exam ,
ination.
On the invasion of the State during
the last summer, the President made a
call for militia, and with his assent I
subsequently made a call for volunteer
militia for the defence of the State.—
Under these calls men were assembled
and organized with promptness, -after
the reality of the emergency came to
be understood by our people. The
General Government clothed, and sub
sisted this force, and agreed to pay it,
but as no appropriation for that pur
pose had been made by Congress, the
President and*Secretary of War prom
ised if the money should be advanced
from other quarters to recommend its
immediate repayment on the meeting
04' Congress. It is understool that
steps have been already taken to fulfil
this pledge. Several of the banks
cheerfully and, readily advanced tire
necessary fundi to-the amount 0ft87.1,-
476,43, on my Prhthise to recommend
to thelegislature an appropriation to
repay them in case Congress should
fail to' mak e ode:" I accordingly make
that recommendation most emphati
cally. Should it he necessary, I will
hereafter in a special message give the
detail's and correspondence relating to
this subject.
New York and New ,Tersey, tinder
the President's call, sent regiments to
assist in our defence, for which our
thanks are duo to those States, our
good neighbors.
After the battle of Gettysburg, in
which loyal volunteers from eighteen
States, including Pennsylvania, *ere
eN,aged, it appeared tog me proper that
all those States should unite in estab
lishing a cemetery on the spot, in
which their soldiers who had fallen in
that conflict, should be honorably in
terred. I accordingly 'appointed Da- -
vid Wills, Esq., of Gettysburg, my a
gent, and through him, a site was pur
chased at a cost of $2,475 87; and the
conveytinces made to the Slate.—
On communicatidg with the authori
tiesof the other States, they all *readily
agreed to become parties to the ar
rangement, and on the 19th day of-No
vember last the cemetery was dedica
ted with appropriate ceremonies in the
presence of the President of the United
States, the Governors of the States
concerned, and other high officers, Nrt
tional and State. *On the 19th day of
December, on the invitation of Mr. D.
IVills, eumm'ssioners representing the
States interested in the cemetery, met
in Harrisburg and agreed upon a plan
for its improvement and care in the
future, mid the. apportfonment of the
sum of money required, to the several
States, which is herewith communica
ted. The expenstis attending the es
tablishment of this cemetery, including
the cost of the site and of removing the
bodies of the shrill, have thus far am
ounted to 85,209 38, and an appropria
tion will be required to pay these ex
penses, and to meet our portion of
those attending its'future maintenance
It will appear by the proceedings of
the cotmnissiimers , that their duo pro- -
portion of the expenses already incur
red aro to be refunded by the States on
whose account they were made. It is
just to say that Mr. Wills has dischar
ged his delicate and important duties
with fidelity and to my entire satisfac
tion.
The act for the relief of families- of
vol au Leers in service-may require some
revision. It is alleged that in some
parts of the State the county authori
ties arc backward in executing.tbe
If this be so, the members: from the
different counties Will be aware of the
fact, and will bo Most; ready to make
such further enactments as may be
proper.
I commend to the prompt attention
of the Legislature the subject of the re
liefof poor orphans of our soldiers who
have given, or shall give, their lives to
the couatry daring this crisis. In my
opinion, their maintenanoo and-educa
tion should-he provided'for by the State
Failing other friolids or natural'
to provide for them, they should; be
honorably received , and fostered. as
children of the Centmonwealth. The
e 50,000 heretadre:livild by the Penn
sylvania Railroad Gni hy, referred
in my last annual Messlige; is still un—
approoriated, and I Vecoininend that
this sum, with such caber means as the
Legislature intik thitik fit, be applied
to this end, in such Manner ifs may be
thought most expediebi Mid effective.
In anticipatml of the addptioli of a
more perfect system, I recornmend
that provision be made for Bei-tiring
the admission of such children into ex
isting educational establishments, to
be there clothed, nurtured and instruc
ted, at the public expense. I make
this recommendation carrlestly, feeling
assured that in doing so, I represent
the wishes of the patriotic, time benev
olent and the good, of the State.
I invitd the attenticth Lithe Legisla
' tote to tho t;tindition of the loyal peo
pie of East Tenth:Agee; Which is repre
sented to be most deplorable, mid ap
peals with- irresistible force alike to
your sympathies and your sense ofjus
tice. Their whole country has been
laid waste by the contending armies of
the Government and the rebels. Pour
times large armies have passed over
that district, destroying or carrying off
all that had been gathered for the ap
proaching winter, and now the women
and children aro loft in a state or des
ti tut ion.
$34,423 66
The representations made by Sun
dry gentlemen of tho highest respec
tability, from that State, are of the
most heart rending character. Star
vation, actual and present, now exist.
Can we, in the midst of affluent abun
dance, for a moment hesitate as to
what our action shall be towards the
people whose only crime has been
their loyalty and devotion to the Gov
ernment? Even if a 'portion of our
chority should reach the starving fam
ilies of those in sytnpathy with the re
bellion, better it should, than that
these devoted, self-sacrificing people
who have so unhesitatingly adhered to
the Government, be left to suffer.
Whenever pestilence and famine dis
tressed the people of Iffy portion of
our country, we have always been
foremost in relieving them, and the
people of Pennsylvania have offended
their open handed benevolence and
broad charity to the starving people
of forekgn countries. Shall It be said
that the appeals of these people for
bread fall upon the heart of Pennsyl
vania in vain, and that we who have
so recently given thanks for our ab
undance have no relief for them in
their extremities 1 I command the
subject through you to the people of
the State, as worthy the immediate
attention and active exertions of the
charitable and the liberal.
I should be glad if the Legislature
would make a general revision of our
Revenue Laws, with a view to their
increased produetivene3s. It ought
to be observed that for a -period of
more than twenty
,years, no material
change has been made in the Revenue
Laws of this Commonwealth. During
that time some interests have grown
into new importance, and should be
made to bear their just proportion of'
the public expense, since all taxation
should as flu• as possible, press equally
upon the property and employments
ot• oar people.
Failing such revision, I recommend
to the consideratiooof the Legislature
the fothrwi‘mg suggestions connected•
with the subject.
1. There are several companies in
the State which, in addition to large
mining privileges, have the control of
the routes of transportation, by which
alone the products of the mines of in
dividuals' in their respective districts,
can 131101 a market. Those compa
nies thus enjoy substantial monopolies
by means of which they not only re
cieve the fair profits of their• own
property, but are enabled to make ad
ditional heavy gains at the expense
of individuals. In my opinion such
privileges ought never to have been
granted, but as they exist it appears
to be just that the class of companies
which enjoy them, should pay there•
for an additional specific til 24.
2. Very largo sums are duo to tho
Commonwealth fin• übpatented lands
Forbearance, clemency, and liberality
have been in vain tried in the numer
ous attempts to procure the payment
of' at least a part of this debt, from
the larger portion of those who a•e in
debted on that account. The contin
uance of this stato of affairs is unjust
to the Commonwealth and to the vast
majority of her people who have hon
estly paid for their lands.. It has be
ponce unendurable. I recommend that
the Legislature provide that the Sur
veyor General shall filo of record in
the office of the Court of Common
Pleas- a each county, a description of
the. lands subject to the lien of the
Commonwealth for purchase' money,
and a statement of the amount of
principal and interest now due to the
Commonwealth together with. the
•patent fees on each tract and ten per
cent on the amount so duo for the la
bor and cost of making and filing
such statement, and the aggregate a
mount thus stated, for each tract, shall
be held to be the amount now due
thereon to-the Commonwealth, which
shall bear interest at the rate of twelve
per cent per annum, till paid, and shalt
continue to be the first lion on tare
land, till paid, wind shall not be dives
ted by any judicial or other• sale what
ever. I also recommend the adoption
of a suggestion contained in the Sur
veyor General's report that a specific
tax be laid on all unpatentedr
3. By existing laws-municipal cor
porations are regeircd• to- deduct and
pay into the Treasury the tax on ail
loans contracted by them. It is belie
ved that a largo addition would ac
crue to the revenue by the extension
of this provision to all counties Und to
all corporations private or public.
I- recommend that, it be so extended.
4. A tax on the gross receipts, of
all railroad and canal companies would
it is believed, be productive and not
oppressive.
Upon satisfactory reports, according
to law, made by Colonl John A.
Wright, 1 hay cdt•awn- my warrants
for the delivery to , the . Philadelphia, &
Erie Railroad , company of another
million of the bonds deposited in the
State Treasury. Four millions of said
bonds have therefore been now deliv
ered. There can be no reasonable
doubt of die early.completim of the
work, and; when complbfed, it 16"0011fi•
timid.). expected that the bonds , held
by the State, secured on the road, for
6.3.500,00; will become good; in terost
payi»g secnri ties.
renew most earnestly tlie. recom
mendation made• io my last, anuttill,
inessiige .
.bf of th - el militia
laws;, They al6 i present, sfifileful
ly defective. Indeed, if by a militia
lai+ is meant a law intended to
_pro
vide .i'dV atid _ brganizmg
the military force of the State that it
may be put into service when requir
ed,-we may be said to have no militia
law. In each ctftlits last, two years I
have been obliged to all Lint the mili
tia but in fact those MA obeyed the
call were volunteers and, with seine
exceptions, were wholly unorganited;
so that almost in face of the enemy;
time had to be consumed in
ling the men into companies and.regi
ments, in electiag officers and in othef
preparations for effective organization.
In the report of the. Adjutant Gen
eral will 'be found a list of the Penn
sylvania regiments and a statement
showing the several armies and. de
partments in which they are now ser
ving. In this connection, I suggest
the propriety of' legislative authority
being given thr the preparation of a
history of each of our regiments and
other organizations, td' he preserved
among our archives. The necessary
documents are new accessible, and as
they may ill time be hist - or destroyed
the making of such d record as I. pro;
pose should hot .be deferred. It is due
alike to the living and the dead that
this subject should be promptly acted
on.
•
recommend that the pitipesed ant- '
endments to, the Constitution,` giving
to citizens in the public service out of
the State, the right to vote, be passed
promptly and submitted to a vote of
the people at as early a day as poesi•
ble, so that such citizens may .exer
cise their right of suffrage at all future
elections. This would be only doing
justice to the brave men who are per-
MN?, their lives in our defence.
It is highly important that we sh'ld
replenish the ranks of our regiments
in the field and supply the places of
those volunteers whose terms will•
soon expire and who may decline fur- .
ther service. lam happy to say that
a large proportion, of our - regiments
are re-enlisting. Efforts are making
by myself and by the people in vari
ous portions of the State to procure a
sufficient uumber of volunteers, and
with a promise of success, proVided a
reasonable time be allowed for the
purpose. Meanwhile persons prOfes
sing to be offisors and agents from
some (Abet' States ate' ratost itiiproper
ly endeat tiring to Seduce our citizens
into their service by extravagant boun
ties and promises.
The 12th section of the act of 15th
May, 1861, prohibits any volunteers
from leaving the. State without the
authority of the Governor, and I now
recommend the passage. of alaw „ im
posing penalties by fine and imprison
ment on all individuals who IJ hall en
deavor to procure or aid and assist in
procuring any person in this State to
enlist in the volunteer service of any
other State. ' Many of our counties
and townships have filled their quotas
at a largo expense, and in others they
are in course of doing the same by of
fers of liberal bounties and provisions
for the families of volunteers, and it is
not right that these patriotic efforts
should be embarrassed by interference
from beyond our borders, especially as
wo cannot, hi these eircamstan (JCS of
fer bounties by thes State; without the
injustice of compelling. the eoutities
and townships xvhiclr fra-te already
contributed largely is rbot, way, to as
.sist in paying, by takmation, for the do.
fieieney of others.
I feel it to be my duty to call your
attention to the pernicious practice of
leaving many bills to be hurried tbro'
at the close of the session. During
the last ten days of the last session,
390 bills were presented fbr my signa
ture, many of them of the most impor
tant character. The whole number
of bills presented to me during the ses
sion was 713._ In consequence of:this
habit not only are bills passed without
an opportunity to either House for a
proper consideration of their provis
ions, but the Executive is compelled
either to sign thorn without examina
tion, or to hold them over perhaps to
the public inconverionce. It may of
ten happen that a bill not approved by
reason of a single obnoxious clause,
might if there were time, be repassed,
- omitting the objectionable provision.
In connection with the subject of Leg
islation, I must refer to another mis
chief. General laws have been passed
to give relief in certain cases which
formerly required a special act in each
case. As for instance the sale of hinds
by executors, administrators.and trus
tees, the adoption of children, the ere
:Wen of mining and manufacturing
corporations, and- so forib. These
laws- were passed% to. 'ensure such an
examination krona. case as would en
able justice to' be done' to the parties
and to the public, and alsO to save the
Limo and expense consumed in private
legislation. They have hitherto effec
ted neither purpose, but I do seriously
urge on the Legislature the considera
tion that Whoever applies for a.'speeial
aet under such circumstances must ei
ther' fear the result of an in yartial in
quiry or (if the application be for a
charter) must desire the omission or
insertion of some provision contraty
to what the Legislature• h'lrsloterlain
ed after mature consideration to be
just and legitimate.
I refer to the Auditor General's and
State Treasurer's report's for tho de
tails of our financial affairs, and to the
reports of the Surveyor eneral, Ad
jutaat General, Quartermaster GMnir
al, Commissary General,-Surgeon Gen ,
cm!, Agent at Washington, Chief of
Transpo-tation and Telegraph Depart
ment, and Superintendent of Common
Schools, in regard to their several de
partments. •
In May last it was believed from in
formation received., that General Lee
intended to invade this State. Com
munications on the subject were im
mediately sent: to• Washington, urging
that preparations for effective' defence
shobld not be delayed. Accordingly
the War Department erected two, new
military departments, viz: The De
partment of the Monongahela, inclu
ding that portion of the State lying
west of the mountains, to be comman
ded, by Mhj'. Gem Brooks, and the De
partment: ofe - Susquehanna', compri
sing, t rinintifidtir of the St to, and
to•he'commandell by Mhj. Gen'. Couch.
Early in Juno, .)1 aj. avni tOtich itr.!
rived at Harrisburg and assumed coin:
wand of hi, 013partillopt, which he has
since exercised with' the soldiorlike
pmn !An ess. orgy mid discretion
which were to ho , oxpouted•frem- his
known cbarneter:•
Abels having-actually- entered:
the Fatti iii Some force, and the ap
proacklif their whole army being im
minent; We President made a requisi
tion for AIWA from this' and - some of
the neighlYo'ring States, and several
regimentifPoni New 'York and New
Jersey were Prdießy sent, and our
own volunteer niildid began to assem
ble, but some embarrassnients
the President assented 01earthy the
Executive of the State, wFl . 6li. teas ac
cordingly made. 'Under the : 4 calla
5,166 of the men of Pennsylvania were'
assembled in the Department of (len.
Pewits, rind 31,422 in that of General - ,
Couch. To give the details, or even
' u summary of the operations which
ensued, would be impracticable with=
in the Naiad of' ii message. It is tin=
necessary to damn:is-I have -recom
mended the adoption of nieasures fox ,
preserving the 'our several
regiments and other 61adziatibias,
and in that history the,' tents 'to
which I have reterred b'er f•Wrcl . -
ed. 'lt is due, however, to the men
who came forward, that I,should
now that they made long and labori
ous marches l in parts of this mind other'
States which had been plundered by
the rebels, suffered great privations, -
and were frequently in conflict with
the enemy; and on all occasions act
ed in obedience to mili.tary
and order ' s} and with courage and en- -
durando.
Some of thd militia called in 1862,
mind in 1863, were killed and others
disabled: In ail. these cusesi. whore
there are no kiwi fm the relief of these
men ;or , their families, I recdniniepd
the enactment of a law for thatpaii:pose
The campaign on our4nil Wag cies
t;d-:by'the victory of Gettysburg,
ad by the veteran Army of the • Pete
mac, under the command of Maj - ir
General Meade, the officers :end -mid
of - which displayed all their-aecustoin
ed valor and endurance in - the conflict
and in the forced and rapid marcher;
which immediately preceded
Under Divine PrevidedcV, id theni
and to the military genius and nnsu r
passed met& of General Meade, and
the promptness and self-sacrificing , gal-lantry of , General Reynolds, : „lard
-- indebted for 'success on ' that blOodY
field.
We 'are proud to claim Geri. 3feado
and Reynolds as sons of our '-own
Pennsylvania.
The first lives to enjoy the most
precious of all rewards,' the 'grateful
appreciation of 'his countrymen. The
Latex fell in the very front of the: bat:
tie, ali-- can' only - - pity homage to
his memory. Whatever honors have•
been at any time devised to commem
orate the virtues of a patriot—of a,
true r fea,rlessi loyal citizen and soldier
ho has abundantly'deserved.
His surviving companions - in_ arms ,
claim the right, of themselves, erecting
a monument-to him on the - field . on
whichbe ra j . and it would not be welt
to interfere with their pious intention:
But I hope that the Legislature will
place upon the records, of the State
some appropriate testimony •of the
public gratitude to him and 114811 TO.:
wing commander.
It would be unjust to omit referring'-
again to the-loyal spirit of oU'r people,
which has been evinced in every mole.
since this war commenced. Not only
have they sent 371,400' men for the
general and special service of the Gov
ernment,. and supported . with cheerful
ness the' bdrdens of taxation. but our,
storehouses and depots have literally
overflowed with comfbrts 'and rieeeSsa ,
ries, - spontaneously ,contributed by.
them, under the active care of thous";
ands of our Women, (lltithful unto .
death,) for the sick and wounded and
prisoners, as well as fur our armies in
the field. Their patriotic benhvelenee
seems to be inexhaustible. To °vet).-
new call, the response beeffin34 More
and more liberal. W hen intelligence
'was received of the - barbarian starva
tion of our prisoners it) Richmond, the'
garners of the whole State were in
stantly thrown open, and before any
similar movement had been made else
where,
I was already employed on be
half of our people in efforts,. to seeure .
the admission throngh the rebel lineS
of the abundant supplies provided *-
the relief of our' suffering brethrent•
Those of our citizens who have fallen:
into' the habit of disparaging our great
Common - wealth and the anstirpasseit
efforts of herpeopieshouid blush when
they look on this picture.
That this unnatural rebellion may
be speedily and effectually unshed;
we lie—all—under the •obligation of
the one paramount duty—that of vig
orously supporting our Government
in its measures to that end. To the'
full extent of ray official and individts4
al ability it shall be so supported, and
I rely heartily on your co-operation.
I am ready for all proper measures to
strengthen its arm—to encourage its
upholders—to stimulate by public, lib
erality, to themselves and their.faad
lieS,-the ineri' who 'give to it their - Per--
sena' service—in every mode to invig--
orate its action. We are fighting
great battle Of Goll'-ef truth—ofright---
of liberty. The Almighty has no at-
tribute that can fits or our sava ,, e and .
degenerate enemies. No people can
submit to territorial dismemberment.
without beet:ailing Centehiptible in its
own eyes and in those of the world.-
But it is not only against territorial
dismemberment that wear() i.trifggli;ng: .
but against the destruction of the very
ground work of our whole political
system.. The ultimate question, truly
at istuels the possibility of pernue.
nent existence of a powerful Republic.
That is the question to how solved,
and by, the biessing., of GO, wenietti”
that it Shall not be our faUlt if it tio•
not solved favorably.' • '
Wo have, during the past year,
made mighty strides toward such a,
solution and to all human appearance"
we approach its completion. - But
whatever reverses may happen—what , -
ever blood and treasure may bo'
required—whatever sacrifices may-be
necessary- 7 there will remain the in
exorable determination of our people
to fight out this thing to the'endto'
preserve and perpetuate this Union.
They - halm swo'a that not one star
shall' he- reft front the constellation,.
nor its clustered brightness bo dimmed
hy_treaSon and, savagery, and they
with keep their ()mil l .
A. 0% 1 C
.. A lido follow not more than'
'five years of age, hearing some gentle
men at :As-lather's table . diseusstn4o-.the•
familiar• lino; "An honest inan 4 s 4 the'
noblest, work of God," said.4e lnloty it•
wasn't. true; his mother Nag :better;
than any man that- wa , s ever 'nuclei,.