American volunteer. (Carlisle [Pa.]) 1814-1909, January 21, 1864, Image 1

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if paid within tho
V Cents, tf not paid
will l»c rigidly ad
o subscription dis
rtre paid unless at
icd by tliecA«n, and
bo inserted tlirco
r-tlve cents for each
n greater length in
■hills. Posting-hills
Ac.. executed with
ice.
iSSAGE
ftrpri'senfotives of
nxylvanin.
d us new enuse
hnighiy for the
•m which he has
,$2,172,844- 10
4.280,451 G 5
0,402,203 75
4.314.0G4 05
2,1 *1 7.331 70
nking fund ' cln!-
*n shown by my
,\y of September
$954,720 40
$954,720 40
,$40,4-18,213 82
$051,017 04
S3o,4;io,:ji)d 78
$30,378,810 45
1 00
iG 03
•1 42
Si 17,780 33
$30,400,500 78
53,000,000 00
,$30,400,ft9G 78
18i>l authorizing
D.noo, a tax of one
•cal ; 111 rl personal
ini lor redeeming
Unit Hie com niis
md be directed to
tag in State loan,
r interest, to bp in
• i11..t they should
tly to the purchase
ary lo in. an.l can
i ill be purchased,•
re still iu a healthy
to invite the seri-
dalure lo the eon
maintaining them
1840, it was pro
,ll the iState limits
> or its equ i v
tlio funds iu the
; value than specie,
should he ascer-
,!ie the Governor,
isue his warrant to
inrized to pay shell
Commonwealth, to
opirties receiving
ition of the parties
;i, 1802, it was pro
>e of paying in spe
intcrest tlakshodld
Commonwealth, as
3th June, 1840, the
Id avail themselves
, act, (of Xlll/ April,
fuse to redeem their
mind, at any time
after the time when
L'cotne due, should
1 by the Stale Treas
pay into the Stjite
to Lite capital stock
ir rtaable proportion
Id or its equivalent
dually* paid fiy th
:h January; 1803,
State treasurer
he banks an amounl
> pay the interest on
tie* on the first days
;tf \HG'd, tor the same
uld give to the banks
change, not trahsfer
h of the State to re
ngc for notes current
c the first Monday of
March, 1864, such certificates to benr inter
est at the rate ot 2J per cent, per annum.
Under the provisions of the act of 18G2,
certain bunks paid into the State treasury
$140,7G8 30, as an equivalent for coin for
the payment of interest on the public debt.
Under the net of 18G3,/-specie certificates
have been given to the banks, amounting in
tho whole to $1,064,004 07, which, with the
nccuring interest, will fall due on the first
Monday . f March next.
As tlio provisions of this net were df n
temporary character, the only nets now in
force on the subject arc those of 1840 and
1862, above mentioned, under which it will
be the duty of the Slate authorities to pay
the Interest on the Ist February, 1804, and
thereafter, in coin or hi equivalent, and look
to the banks that may be liable under the
act of 1802 for rembursem mtof the premium
paid by the Commonwealth.
In the face ofali difficulties, this Common
w allh, actuated by u-sentiineiit which docs
la people hon/jr, has hitherto paid its inter
est in coin or its equivalent.
Existing circumstances make it necessary
to consider now the fair extent of her ju*t
obligation.
The exgencies of the times have compelled
the Government of the United States to is
sue large amounts of Treasury notes for cir
culation, which are not redeemable in coin,
and which from ih great mass of ourcircu
lating medium.
It is our duty as a loyal State—it is our
interest ns ns u State whose welfare, and
even safety, depend emphatically upon the
maintenance of the credit and the success of
the mililnry operations of the general gov
ernment—to do nothing to impair its credit
or embarrass its measures. Un the contra-
•y, we owe it to ourselves and to our pos-
terity lo give an active support to its efforts
lo quell the monstrous rebellion which is
ctill raging, and thus restore peace to lo our
distracted country. .
.It is our own Government, and we coni
not, without gross indecency, attempt to re
fuse its currency in piryme. t of taxc? and
other debts due lo the Commonwealth.
In Idn'J the case was very different. The
diflleullies then arose from the suspension
ti'f sp cie payments by our Stale banks, mere
local and private corporations, and the Stale
very propi-rl} by the act of that year, intend
ed lu provide agaidst loss to its creditors by
rjas-o’a of such snap nslons. ' An exigency
like tfie present could not then have been
foreseen by the Legislature, and it is lo be
Inferred therefore th it they could not have
intended to provide for ill
\W* derive our system of publ ie loans from
Europe, and I he true extent o' our obligation
is to lie ascertained by referring id the known
established practices Of European govern
ments prior lo the dates when our loans
were effected. I mean of course such of
tho-e governments as were held to have
maintained their national credit.
It is believed lo have been the uniform
practice of such governments to pay their
interest i a paper currency, however depreci
ated, during a legalized suspension of specie
payments. An observable instance of tin
is afforded by the course of the Brills h Gov
ernment, which daring twenty-live y ars,
from 17'J7 to 1822, during which the bank
was prohibited by law from paying out coin
for any purpose, paid the interest on itspnb
lic debts iu banknotes, 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 arc now.
.Among ourselves, at tiie present time, Mas
sachusetts (who.-e debt is believed to be ve y
6.nail ) pays the interest in coin. Ohio and
Indiana pay in currency. , la New York it is
not known what will be done. Her Legisla
ture, by concurrent resolution, ordered the .
iillerest to be paid in coin lo foreign stock
holders, in April last.
At the present rate of premium on gold,
the sum necessary to pvy on an amount sqtV
ficienl to discharge annual interest on the
Slate debt would be mare than $1,000,000,
and to meet this, additional tax ition to that
extent would be unavoidable. The deman Is
on the Treasury for other, necessary purpo
ses must probably be such as to render it
imprudent to tllraw any part of this expen
diture oh the existing surplus. To borrow
money from year to year to pay the interest
on past loans would, of course, whody in
admissible. To leave the act of 1802 in force,
and -attempt to throw the- payment of
this large premium annually on ;hc banks,
would lie nut only flagrantly unjust, but qni lb
impracticable;' Irccorfimend the whole sub
ject to the carcftll and immediate considera
tion ol the Legislature. Sonie legislation
ought &be had on it before the close of the
present mouth. In my opinion the Common
wealth liai'c fulfilled her obligation by pro
viding for the payment of her interest in. the
currency of the Government. If the Legis
lature should think fit to continue lo pay it
in coin, it will be their duty to levy forth
with the heavy taxes necessary for that pur
pose. I mtiit in passing observe that the plan
adopted by one of the States of paying coin
to foreign, and currency to domestic loan
holders, appears to me to be wholly unwise,
and founded on rib legitimate piinciple.
At the close of the last session,’ nineteen
bills renewing the charters of certain banks
for another period of five years were pre
sented to me. Of these 1 have ( for reasbhs
tfliich will be lie a rafter totnmunicatcd, )
Withheld my signature tnm one and Ap
proved the remainder. 1 have been led to
sigiutheiri by the considerations that the
banks of the Commonwealth pay 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 BankingsyStem afford suf
ficient inducements, capital will voluntarily
take that direction. It is proper to observe
"OUR COUNTRY—MAY IT ALWAYS BE RIGHT—BUT BIGHT OR WRONG OUR COUNTRY.’*
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 renewed applications for re-'
charter.
I recommend an extension of the time du
ring which the banks are now relieved from
penalties for not paying t icir obligations in
,f k
coin.
The increased expenses of living invite at
tention to the salaries of our public officers.
Those of tho Secretary of the Commonwealth
Auditor General and State Treasurer, and of
the Clerks in their employment are, in my
opinion, 100 low, especially as the exigencies
’of the times have greatly enhanced the la
bors and responsibilities of all, and in the
case of the heads of those departments, en
force a constant attendance at Harrisburg,
which was not formerly required.
Under the Act of IGth April, 18G2, and it-?
supplement passed 22ud April 18G3, the Ad
jutant General, Quartermaster General and
Commissary General have been acting as
tlrtr-Board of Military Claim*. They have,
up to til's time, approved claims to the
amount af $1GG.415.81. and others have been
already presented to the further amount of
$332,120,29, which have not yet been acted
Under the Act of 22nd April, 1803, (P. L.
520,) the Court of (Common P!oas, appointed
three’ appraisers to ascertain the damage
done in the counties on the Southern border
by the militia called 'into service in Septem
ber, 1802, by the Anderson Cavalry in the
same month, and by the Rebels in their raid
on the lOih and 11th October, 1802.
The Appraisers luve notyet completed Hie
performance of their duties. ’When their
report shall have been made lo the Court of
Common Pleas and affirmed, in whole or in
part, by that court, it will be the duty of
Governor to claim the payment.of the
amounts from the General Government, and
on failure to secure the same, then
to the next Legislature, recommending
action as he may deem just and -proper.
The expenses of the Transportation and
Telegraph Department during the past year
have been ns follows :
aid out of m proprinlion made
by Military [man act of ’01). $13,058 ,87
Unpaid (the appropriation ’be
ing exhausted ) 15,704 79
Outstanding lialMlities,cstimu
led at ■ &.OUO 00
These expenses have been mainly incurred
in keeping up the necessary correspondence
of the military departments and tube trans
portation of sick and wounded and tin* dead
bodies of our volunteers, as w ll be seen by.
the reporrof the Chief of Transportation,
herein communicated. I reccommcna tin
appropriation to meet the deficiency, ami
also to carry on the, service of this depart
ment hereafter.
By the thirteenth gcction'of the net of the
15:h May, 1801, the sum o' $20,000 w i\i ap
propriated to be expended by the Governor
for the compension of stlclt persons ns he
might require lo serve the Commonwealth in
the military organization of the State or the
■General Government, and for the expenses
incident to the business in which they might
he employed.
I have, according to law, settled annual
accounts of the expenditure of this fund in
the Auditor General's office, to which the
Legiedattire is referred. . The unexpended
balance is now $4,521 08. A further sum
should be appropriated in like manner. Unt
of ill is fund 1 have paid the persons whom 1
found it necessary to employ in the military
department, and the expenses of the agency
ivhich 1 was compelled lo establish at Wash
ington to attend lo the interest and welfare
of uur volant cr-v Mho continuance of this
agency ami the cslaMisbm ml of a similar
'one in the West are O vital importance to
lllerii. I recommend the passage of an act
authorizing thr appointment of agents at
Washington and Nashville, and defining their
duties, which should include the collection
of all bounties, hack pay, pensions, etc., due
to Pennsylvanians.
On this subject I refer the Legislature to
he report of Colonel U. Biddle Roberts, lute
Agent of the Slate; at Washington, here
with commaaic ited and commend it toyour
Careful examination
On the invasion of the State during the
last summer, the President made-a call for
militia, and with his assent 1 s bscqucntly
made ft call for volunteer militia for the de
fense of the State. Under these calls nien
were assembled and org mixed with prompt
n ss, after the reality of the emergency came
to be understood by our people. The Gen
eral Government clothed, and subsisted this
force, ancf agreed lo pay it, but as no appro
priation for that purpose had been made by
Congress, the President and Secretary of
War promised if the money should .be ad
vanced from other quarters *o recommend
its immediate repayment ori the meeting of
Congress. It is understood that steps luivc
been already taken to fulfil ibis pledge.—
Several of the banks cheerfully and readily
advanced the necessary fun iS to the amount
of $071,470,44, on my promise to rcccora
mend to the Legislature nh appropriation
to repay them in case Congress should fail
to make. I accordingly make that .recom
mendation most emphatically. Should it be
necessary, I will hereafter, in a special mes
aage, give the details arid correspondence re
lating to this subject.
..New York and New Jersey, under the
■President’s call, sent regiracrits- to assist in
our defence, for which our thanks are due
to those State, our good neighbors. .
After the battle of Gettysburg, in which
loyal volunteers from eighteen States; inclu
ding Pennsylvania, were engaged, it appear
ed Id me proper that all those States should
unite in establishing a cemetery on the spot
CARLISLE, i'AM.TfiURSRAYvUN'UAKYSI, 1804.
in which their soldiers who had fallen in
that conflict, should he honorably interred.
I accordingly appointed David Wills, E j q.
df Gettysburg, my agent, and through him,
a site was purchased at a cost of 4 $2,475 87.
and the conveyances made to the Common
wealth. On communicating with the au
thorities of the other States, they all rcndilyi
agreed to become parties to the arrange
ment, and on the 19th day of November last,
the cemetery was dedicated with appropriate
ceremonies in the presence of the i’re.-idcii
of the United Slates, liie Governors of the
Slates .concerned, ami other high officers
State pud National. (M liie 19th day of
December, on the iuvii.uion of Mr. Will ,
commissioners representing the States in
terested in the cemetery, met in Harrisburg
and agreed upon a pl.ui for its improve
ment and care in the fmi-rc, and the appor
l onim-nt of the sum of money required, to
the several States, which ia herewith com
municated. The expenses unending the
establishment of this cemcirv. including the
cost of the site and of removing tin* bodies
of the slain, have thus far am-muted to $5-,
2u9 38, and appropriation will be required
to pay tlies-e expenses, ami to meet our pnr*
ton attending its fa tare in lint e
nance. It v\ : 11 appear by the pruc -.-di .igs of
the commissioners ihat thcii din- proportion
of the expenses already im‘nrr' , d me to be
refunded by the Sta.te* on who-.!) accutiut
11*oy were made. It is juat f : uy tii.it Mr.
Wills inis discharged his deio-ale mi l im
puitmil duties wall fidelity mid fu mj entire
.satisfaction.
The < - t for the relief of’ families of vo'nu
teers in service in iy n.quire -,o:ne r-vi ion.
It is alleged that in some purls of the -S' ite
the authorities are b.v k ward in executing
the law'. If this hose. the. members ir-nin
different co lilies w.ll In-nuare of the fact,
nfid will be must ready to make such farther
enactments as may Vie proper.
I romnvnd to the jirompt attention of the
iture the -•object of th * relief of p >or
orplian • iif our soldier,-, who have given, or
shall give their lives to the epmilry during
this crisis. In my op nion. t! jt?ir m.i'nte
nance and education should fu* provided for
by the State. Failing other natural friends
of ability‘to provide fir mem. they >h mM
be huilorabjy receive 1 and fo acred as « Oii
dmi of the Common a <*.ihh. Tile £r>'v’o..i
heretofore given h'y th* Transylvania U’d
road Tompanv. refer l- - do- ;n my last anon
n! mes-age is still a mppeopri.. t ed, and 1
rce.oninend tbit tb’i' • | N- "ah >nvh other
nu*.ios as llic; Legisln ; ;ie i.iiy think lit. be
$34,423 00
applied to tills end. : > -a- h m inner as in iy
bethought liiii.-t e.v'i at aod*• fl ’v e In
untirji.ilion n!* tin* ad • ;»ti• im ut ain ir* 1 :* -*r
fct -vucm, I rei'-'niii ;) n d provision h
made for sm-uring ti«•• .>>iui - «*u of such
c ildren into existing <*dac..i un- 1 cstnhlish
nv*in s. tu be ibvr m cbih-d. a u if d and in
s(rn--('*fl at the publitr cxpciix*. I make this
reconimcndntion r*.ijvi--;! y. wo .wi h f .vs-nr-'d
tliat in doing '<i. I r. pre-- ui >i.< wishes of
patriotic, the benevolent .n. i uu* g"yd.
of llit* Slate.’ ' I
I invite tile at ten tin *i of Ihe I. p.:-* 1 uutc (o ,
the condition 'of ill •* loyal p» >Mm* j
Tennessee, which ia represented m In- most j
deplorable, and appeals wnh iiresistible .
force alike to your M*rnp iihlt-' :un*. your j
sense of justice. Then* a hole cuuniry Ims
been laid waste by the contending nmi.es |
of the Government and the udi.ds. Four i
limes large annio have psis.-t d over that -
district, destroying-'i 1 carrying u!f all th it
bad been uiuhcred tor the ;\ppi".'ch;i\g "in
<ter, and now the women ami children are
left in a state of de a. lotion.
The repre.soctiUiou-5 mule hy sundry gen
tlemen of the highest respectability, from ;
that State, are of the mo-t heart-rending J
ch ira *?e *. S it*v iti >i, ic: iil i» I pi* u’ it j
now exist. Can we in the midst of affluent 1
abundance, for a moment hesitate as to what
onraction sh.ilhbe toward' tile people whose
only crime has ban iheir loyalty and
deVotinn, to the (Tn ernment. 7 Cvon it a j
portion of charity di iiM reach the starving
faift lies of those in sy.ap n h v with tile rebel
lion beMer-it should, th mllrii ihese do voted (
enticing peopl: who h ive so unhesitatingly
adhered to tlie Govenun-nt. he left to Mil
fur. Whenever p 'lilea' can 1 fainiiiG dis
tressed Uv* people o' any portion of oiir
country, 'be hive always been foremost in
relieving them, ami tin people ofCcnnsyl
vauia have extended ill *ir open h uided be
nevolence and broad .charl y lb the start -
ing people of foreign cuuntiies. Shall it be
said hat the appeals of iheßc people for
bread shall fall upon the heart of I’ennsyl, j
vftnia in vain, and that we who have so re- j
tenth* given thanks for our abundance have )
no relit* for ihenMn their extremities? lujI u j
commend the subject through you to- thc
people of the State, as worthy the immedi
ate attention and active exertions of the
charitable and the bbe al.
I should be glad if the Legislature would
make a general jv*>isiou ul our Ueycuue
Laws, wall a view to their increased pro
ductiv. ness. It ought to be uhservea that
for u period of more than twenty years, ho
mater-al change lias been made iu the Rev
enue Laws of this L\)minonwj-ealtli. Paring
that- tune some interests have grown into
ne.v importance, and should be m ule to bear
their just proportion of the'juiblic expense,
since all taxation should as..far as possible,
press equally upon the property and employ
ments of our people.
• Failing such revision, .1 recommend to the
consideration of the the lollop
ing suggestions connected with the subject,.
1. Tncrc arc several companies, .in the
Stale which, iu addition to huge mining
priviliges, imva'thcconirol of the routes of
tr importation, by which alone the products
of the ,mines of iddi vidnals in their respec
tive districts, can reach a market. ■ These!
companies thus enjoy substantial monopo
lies, by menus of which they not only re
ceive the fair profits of their own property,
but are oaaUe<i_to make additional-heavy
:..~ ~
gains at the expense of individuals. In my
opinion such priviligcs ought never to have
be»*n granted. but a? they exist it appears to
bo just that the class of companies which en
joy them, should pay therefor an alditional
specific tax
n
Very large sums arc due to the Com
monwealth for undated lands. Forbearance
clemency, nnd liberality have been in vain
tried jil the numerous attempts to procure
iht payment of at least a part of this debt,
from larger portion of those whoare indebt
ed on that account. The continuance of
lids state of affairs is unjust lu the Common
wealth and to the vast majority of her peo
ple who have honestly p*iii for their lands,
.t lias become unendurable.' I recommend
that ilie Legislature provide that the Sur
veyor (/cnerai sliall file of record in the of
fice of the Court of Common Fleas of each
county, a description of the Inlida' subject to
the lien of the Commonwealth for'purchase
money, and a statement of the amount of
prinef'pic’and interest now* due to the Com
mon w-ali h. together with the patent fees on
each tract and ten per cent, on the amount
so due for the labor and cost of making and
filling such statement, and the aggregate
amount thus’staied, for each tract, shall be
held to be the amount now due thereon to
the Commonwealth, which sliall bear inter-
cst .a the rat-* of twelve per 'cut,' nn*
nuiii, l!!l paid, and .shall continue to-be the
first lien on the Kind, till'pald, am] •shall not
bo diverted by'any jmiici.l or other pale
Will' tfM'O
I ulso r':com'm*mJ the adoption
of si coiitunß-il in the Surveyor
report that u spci;ilisi tax be'lmd
on ali uii |»;i lciitc«l lauds.
Jly ex-sling l.ivvs mu:jicip il co r pora l *ns
are required to deduct mid pay into the Trea
sure the tax ou all loans contracted by them.
U ia belli.-veil that a large addition would
ac-.-ioe l" the lew.-nue by the extension to
this provision to all counties a-.d to all-
corput a t ion* private or public.
I r>*cotninend that il be so extended
4. A tax on the gr as receipts of all rail
road and canal companies would, it is be
in-icd. be ptudac ivcajul not oppresaite.
(,’poii satisfactory reports, according to'
■ l-.w, made by Col. John A. Wright, I have
jc drawn my warrants for the delivery to the
iMiibuUdpiiia and Erie Railroad Company of
,iu.;tlm: mill.cn of the bond.-* deposited in
thr Slate Treasury. Four, millions of said
b.mdh have therefore be.-n now delivered.—
Thv re can be iu> reasonable doubt of the
carl* - completion of the work, and, wlicn
completed, it js conlidenii y <-x[>ectr*tl that
the bond'-j-hcld by m-cu cd on tin*
road tor Sh aoO.orcj. will become good inter
est-pnu .tig securities.
I renew most .e.arneslly the recommenda
tion made in my last annual message ot n.
revision of the militia laws. They are at
present shamefully defective.. Indeed, if by
a in.Htin law is meant a law intended to
piovi.ic lor so enrolling and organizing the
military force of the State that it may he put
into ■'Crviee when’ mjnired, it in iv he said
tw h.»v,e no militia law. In each of the la-l
two years I
' !acilho;e who'obeyed
the m'.Ullsi, bill ia
the call wee volunteers, nml, with some ex
ceptions, where wholly unorganized, so that
aim »sl lu face of the enemy, time had to he
in distributing the men into com
panies and regiments, in electing odicefa
:im| inother preparations for directive org in-
i^aiion
In the report of the Adjutant General will
be found a list of the I’cnnsi Ivania regi
ments and a st itcm-nt showing the several
armies and depirtmenti in which they are
now serving. In, this connection. I suggest
the 'propriety of legislative authority b *it,
given for the preparation of the history of
eaeh of our regiments and other organiza
tions, to be preserved among our nrelucves.
‘The necessary documents are now accessi
ble, and as they may in lime be lost or de
stroyed, the making of such a record as I
propose ‘diould not be deferred. It is due
alike to the living and the dead that this
subject should he promptly acted on.
I recommend that the proposed amend
ments to the Constitution, giving to citizens
in the public service out of the State, the
right to vole, he parsed promptly and sub
mitted to a vote of the people at as early a
day as possible, so that such citizens may
exorcise, thei r right of sullVage at nil future
elections. This wow'M be only doing justice
to the Hrafcmcii who are periling their lives
in our defence.
U IS highly imi>ort:int that we should re
plenish the ranks of our regiments in the
field and supply the places of those volun
teers whose terms will soon expire mid who
may decline further service. lam happy to
suv that a largo proportion of our regiments
arc re-enlisting. KdVirls are making by my
seltaud hj- the people in various pardons of
the State to procure a sufficient number of
volunteers, and with a promise of success,
provided a reasonable tpne be allowed for
the purpose. Meanwhile, persons professing
to be odicers and agents from some other
Slates‘'are niost improperly endeavoring to
seduce our citizens into their ser.vicu by ex
travagant bounties and promises.
The 12th section of tile net of ISlh May,
IHBI-, prohibits any volunteers from leaving
the Slate withodt the authority of the Gov
ernor,-and I now recommcncT the passage of
a law imposing penalties by fine and im
prisonment on all individual’s who shall en
deavor to procure or aid and assist in.pro
curing any person in this Slate, to enlist in
the .volunteer service of any other State.—
Many of our - counties and townships have
filled their quotas at a large expense, and
in others they are in course of doing the
same by offers of liberal bounties and pro
visions 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 can
not, in these circumstances, 1 offer-bounties
by the State, without the Injustice of com
pelling the counties and townships which
hav'e already contributed largely in that way,
to assist In paying, by taxation, for the de
ficiency of oiliers.
I feci it to be my duty to call your atten
tion to the practice of leaving many bills to
be hurried through at the close of the sess
sion. During the last ten days Of the last
session. 390 bi.ls were presented for my sig
nature, many of them of the most important
character. The whole number of bills pre
sented to me during the session was 715.
In consequence of this In bit not only arc
b.llsv passed without nn opportunity to cither
House for a proper consideration of their
provisions, hut the Executive is compelled
either to sign them without examination, or
to hold them over perhaps to the public in
convenience. It in iy often happen that a
bill not approved by reason of a single ob
noxious clause, might, if there was lime, be
re-passed, omitting the objection ible p/ovi
iod. In connection with the subject of
legislation. I must refer to another mischief
General laws have been passed'to giveTclicf
in certain cases which lurmerlj required a
special net in each case. As-for instance,
the sale of lands by executors, administra
te s and trustees, the adoption of children,
ille creation of mining and manufacturing
cor i ovations, and ‘■o forth. The;* laws were 1
passed to ensure sqrh an examination In
each case a 3 \v m;M cu ibl>*. u -t'ce to be done
to the parties and to the public, and also to
save the lime an 1 expense consumed in pri
vate legislation. They have hitherto effect
ed neither purpose, but I do seiionsly urge
on the Legislature the consideration that
whoever applies for a special-act under such
circumstances must either fear the r suit of
an impartial inquiry, or (if the npplitat’on
be for a charter) must desire the omission or
insertion of some provision contrary to what
the Legislature has determined after mature
consideration to lie just and legitimate.
I refer to the Audi or Gi ncral’s and State
Treasurer's reports for the details of our
financial 'affairs, and- to the reports 'of the
.Surveyor-General, Adjutant General, Quar
termaster Gen ci aI, Comm Usury General,
Surgeon General, Agent at Washington,''’
Chief of Transportation and Telegraph De
partment, and Superintendent of Common
• School-;, in icgard to their several depart-
inents
In May litst it was believed from Informi
lion rectiv ed. that General Lee intended to
ius'ade tins Shitp. Comm tnicufinn* on th-*
subject were immediately -e.il to Wa ning
tmi, urging that |»rop:trsti io.i s for eilVedve .
ilefence should not he delayed. Accordingly
the Wair Department creeled two new mUi
lary departments, via : ill- Department of
the Monongahela, including Dial portion of
the Slate lying west of the mountains, to he
commanded by Major General lirooks, and
the Department of the Susquehanna, com
prising, the remainder of the State, and to
be,commanded by Maj. Gen. Couch.
" Early in June, Maj. Gl*u. Couch arrived at
Ilamahurg ami us. umed command of his
department, which he* has since excrci3.('tj
y, ith the soldier-like promptness, energy and
discretion which were to be expected Irum
his known character.
The rebels having actually entered the
State in some force, and the approach of
t'-eir whole army being imminent, the Pre
sident made a requisition for militia from
this and some-ofthc neighboring States, and
several regiments from New \ork and Ni
Jersey wore promptly sent, anil unsown vol
unteer militia began to assemble, but some
embarrassment arising, the President assent
ed to a call by the Executive of the Slate,
which was accordingly made. Under the. c
calls j,lGb of tlie men of Pennsylvania were
assembled in the depai linenl of Gen. Proofs,
and JI,4PJ in’that of General Gouco. To
give the details, or even a summary ol the
’’operations which ensued would be imprac
ticable wilhihthe limits of a message. It is
unnecessary to do so, as I have recommend
ed the adoption of measures for preserving
the hisloiy of our sever.il regim- tus and
other organizations, and in that history the
events to which 1 have referred will be re
corded. It is due, however, to the men who
came forward, that I should say now that
t'hfey made long and laborious marches lit
parts of this and other Stales which had
been piuhd.red by the rebels, sulTered great
privations, and were- Irequeutly in coullict
with tlie enemy ; and on all occasions acted
iu obedience to mihury rliscipl.ue and or
ders, and with cour ge and endurance.
Some of the militia called iu IBU2, and in
Ibti-j, were killed and others disabled, hi
all these cases, where there are no laws for
the relief of theefc men or their fami.ieß, I
recommend the enactment ol u law lor that
purpose. •
The campaign on our soil was dosed by
the victory of Gettysburg, gained by the
veteran Anny of the Potomac, under the
'command of Major General Meade, the offi
cers and men of which displayed all their
accustomed valor and endurance in the con
flict, and in the forced and rapid marches
which immediately preceded it.
Under Uivinc Providence, to them and to
the military genius and unsurpassed energy
of General Meade, and the promptness and
self-sacrificing gallantry of Gen. Reynolds,
we arc indebted tor success on that bloo.dy
field. ■
We 'arc proud to claim Generals Meade
and Reynolds as sons of our own Pennsyl-
vania,
The first lives to enjoy Ihr most precious
of nil rewords,- the gr.t'-Tul «i ufc.-latiou of
his'countrymen. • The
front of the buttle, and w
- age to bis memory. v v
been at anytime cievi : J corairicriiorule
the virtues ol a jnitri' •--- ’ a true,
loyal citizen and A so.—. be bus abundantly
deserved.
His surviving compa-. . .ns in arms claim
the right, of themselves erecting a'monument
to him pn the field on which he fell, and it
would not be w- 1! to Interfere with their pi
ous intention. But I hope that the'Legisla
ture will place upon the records of the State
some appropriate testimony of the public
gratitude to him nn-i bis surviving comman-
It would be unjust to omit referring again
to the loyal spirit of our people, which has
been evinced in every mod' since this war
commenced. Not only have they sent 277,
409 men for the general and special service
of the Government, anti supported with
cheerfulness the burdens of taxation, but our
storehouses,and depots Imve literally over-
flowed with comforts nnd necessaries, spon
tmcously contributed by • th-ni, under tho
active care Of thousands of our ’women
(faithful until death,) for the oiclt and
wounded and prisoners as well as for our
armies in the field. Their patriotic benevo
lence, seems inexhaustible. To every new
c ill, the response becomes more and more
liberal. When intelligence was received of
the barbarian starvation of oar prisoners in
Ri.hraond, the garners of the whole Stale
were i stantly tl r >wn open, nnd,before Any
similar movement h,id been rnade'cl.-ewhere,
1 was already employed on behalf of our
people in efforts to secure the admission
through the rebel lines of the ahnndanVaup-
plies provided for the relict of our suffering
brethren. Those of, our caucus who have
fallen into the habit of UN para gi ng our great
Common wealth and the unsurpassed efforts
of her people should blu»li when they look. ,
on this picture.
That this unnatural rebelli rt may bo «pee
d ly and effectually crudie 1. vre lie—all un
d?r the obligation of the one paramountcut.C
—that of vigorously supporting our Govern*
m Tit in Its measure-* to that end. To the
full extent of my ollicial ami individual abil
ity it shall be so supported, ami Truly heart
ily on your co-operation. I aui ready for u'J
proper measures' to strengthen its arm—to
encourage its upholders—do stimulate, by
public liberality, to themselves and their
families, the men who give to it their per
sonal service—ln every mode to invigorate
\Yc arc lighting the great battle
.truth —of right—ofliberty. The
us no lit *o tluil can favor our
savage ami degenerate enemies. Xo people
can submit to territorial dirfinembcnnoul
without becoming., contemptible ia its own
eves ami in the those of the worM. Hut it
is not only against territorial di.-oneiuberment
that we are struggling, but against the de
struction of the very ground work of our
whole political system. The (intimate ques
tion truly at iss’.e is the possibility of the
permanent existence of a powerful llcpubhc.
That is the question to be now solved, artd
by the blousing of God, we mean that it shall
not be our fault if it be not solved favora
ble.
We have, during the past year, made mighty
strides toward such a solution and to all hu
uiun appearance wenpproacli its completion,
lint what reverses may happen—whatever
blood and treasure may still be required—
whatever sacrifices may be necessary theie
will remain tlie inexorable determination of
ouv people to fig! t out this thing to the crid*
lo preserve and perpetuate this Union.—
They have sworn that not one star shall be
reft from the constellation, nor its clustered
brightness he dimmed by treason and saV>
a»vrv, and they will keep their o.th.
A. G. UniTIN.
The thieves who are plundering the peb
ple.i’Treasury, both in and out ul Congress,
are in cover.up their VA-blility by
eicry means in their power. They scout
determined to reverse the nH moral rule,
which held that honesty, though iu rags,
\va> W'rthv o| esteem; while now, under
tt.e L oeoiA d spens..ti >n, thrifty rascality
Mieucto e c id /| as pin*: to res.ie.ita
liilov. G -ni-rcjs. it npoeai’s, is determined,
so lar a> i iu i, m (not- c all me thieve**,
both cn 1 amt military. from exposure;
at least Midi is the iideronen from the Ac
tion ol tin* llou>omi the llth .inst. On
that dav llqn. F»*mnndo Wood, ot New
1l rk, offered the following preamble ami
resolution : .
HV/cm/.v, Accusations seriously affecting
dm official integrity of Major General Uen
ja.nin F. Under, in the discharge of bisdu
t,es wlnleMn (oinmand of New Orleans,
havt! been publi.mlly made; and Whereas,
oiler military officers have been charged
with delimjn* n-y. "ppre-ki/e oo ulujt and
conn mug in frauds
Whereas, It « stated that there. hay 6
been collu-ions for prouring supplies in
the miliiarv and Navy IVpurtmenis. And
H'Aertaxi Kcc.mit disclosures show that
in the (jlisti-m (imise of New York and
other branches of the Treasury [lepartiiienk
tlie revenue has been defrauded, and trea
sonable aid given to disunionists. And
Il’/or an. It ie uppare* l that general de
moralization and incapacity pervade tlie
Kxcciit v j branch ni the G >vernmeut to an
extent which calls for the interposition and
preventive legislation of Oo igress ; fherd
fore, be it f • .
ifeso/c i’d. That, n Committee of nine
members he apnoiuted to investigate and
in-certain the foundation fir these accusa
tions. with power to semi for persons and
miners, to tnkp testimony under oath, to
ma te recommendation of necessary reforms,
an report at any time.
IVO sooner was this proposition made than
Mr. Stevens, m Pennsylvania, the Abolition,
leader of the Hoi se, moved to lay it on the
tifhle ; and the whole Aholitinn party in tile
House, wit h, perhaps a fcwexceptioiis, uni
ted witli him in this disreputable procee
ding, and thus stifled the investigation of a
mass of fraud so monstn ns and putrescent'
tiiat it stinks in the nostrils of the-whole
country. The industry of these, rascals in
robbing the country, is only equaled by their
faithfulness in protecting and screening
eacli other. They are bo afraid of expo
sure. that they carefully close every avenue
through which light thay be shed upou
their misdeeds.
. he very
-y hom
l. . have
BZr’ Nature protects sheep well against
the cold, Imt they suffer from soaking rains.
They are healthier il they have open, dry
shed's to stand or lie under in wet weather,
and a good dry yard. , fchcop are seldom
diseased if they are thus treated, have ad ;
cess to salt, and have enough goad feed*
NO. 32.
Afraid d InYcsugaiian ?