Aiiifiiian iMiii i oluuteer.
VOL, 51,
AMERICAN
tntillßßD EVEBV TltDnaOAT HOnsmO IT
I ' lOHH B. BaATTOS.
TERMS-
MwMOWFTtex.—Two Dollars if paid #Uhln ttio
tMr; and Two Dollars and Fifty Oonts, if not paid
Within tho yoar. These terms will be rigidly ad
hered to in every instance. No subspriptinn dla
nontinued until all arrpsragos ate paid ablest at
the option of the Editor.
ADTEanannEwre—Accompanied by UWBAsh, and
»ot exceeding one Squar*, drill bn inserted three
limes for $1.60, end twenty-five cents for each
additional insertion. Those of a greater length in
proportion.
. Joe-PBiHtma—Such an Hand-bills, Posting-bill*
Pamphlets, Blahhs, Rabbis, Ac. Ac., executed with
. eonraoy and at the shortest notice.
jjfotflful*
* CBlillE MOf TUB POOR.
BY CHARLES DICKENS,
Hurt), I cannot bear to set thee
Stretch thy tiny hands in vain;
Z have got no bread to give thee—
Nothing, Ohild/ to ease thy pain.
\Vhen God sent thee first to bless me
Proud and thankful,-too, was I;
Now my darling, !, thy mother,
Almost long to see thee die.
Sleep,my darling—thou art weary;
God is good, but life is dreary.
I have soon thy beauty fading,
And thy strength sink day by’day;
Soon, £ know, will want and fever
Waste thy little life away,
famine rtiakos thy motnor reckless,
Hope ami joy arc gone from mo ;
X could suffer ftll; my baby;
Had I bilt ft fctust for thee.
Sloop, my darling, thou art weary;
God is good, but life is dreary.
I am wasted, deir, with hunger,
And my brain is sore oppressed;
1 have scarcely strength to pross thee,
Wan. and feeble, to my breast.
Patience, baby, God will holp us—
Heath will aomo to thee and mo;
Ho will take us to His Heaven,
Where no wade nor pain can be.
Sleep, my darling; thou art weaty,
God is good,but lifo is dreary;
Tuk Cultivation or 'agri
cultural society has been established at Pia
nitz, in Saxony, under the title id “Society
fur the cultivation of Potatoes.'* The socie
ty has already published a number of re*
porta. One of chord states that the best spe
cimens of potatoes grown in sandy soil have
quickly degenerated and given only an indif
ferent crop in the strung clayey land and in
the neighborhood of Pianitz. Since the foun
dation ut tiro society, in 1800 the members
have made numerous experiments bn strung,
light, clayey, gravelly, and stony soils. The
society procured samples of every description
of potato sold, and they propogated those
which produced the best results. After a
year's trial they have generally found that
the greatest number of potatoes succeed best
in light and slaty land. They found, howev
er, chut the long potato from Algiers become
rotten in sandy soil, and produced large and'
perfectly sound potatoes in strong land. The
white Knglish Kidney potato planted in stony
ground, produced potatoes quite red. . The
society has lately offered 10 kilogrammes of
seed potatoes to any farmer who will contri
bute 6 francs annually, on the solo corfoition
that he will turnish che societywHn a state
ment setting forth the quantity nfpotfltoes pro
duced and the nature of the soil in which
they were planted. The cultivation of tno
tmtato is of such importance to the Saxon
population, that the number of subscribers
to the society is rapidly increasing.— Worth,
British Agriculturist.
A Country Without a Reptile. —Captairt
hardy, R. A., writes an interesting letter to
the Field newspaper, commenting on a state
ment that in Newfoundland there is not a
. snake, toad, frog ,or reptile of any sort; nor
any squirrels, porcupines, mink or mice.—
Captain Hardy says:
“ Besides the above mentioned deficiencies,
1 found, when visiting Newfoundland last
summer, several others. It was midsummer,
hnd the fireflies were scintillating in myriads
in the warm evenings over every sWamp in
Nova Scotia; here not one could be seen, nor
Was there another pleasing summer visitor
of our neighboring primness—the night
bawki .
Considering the immense portion of this
island which is claimed by hogs and swamps,
1 think the absence of all reptiles very curi
ous; and I plodded long and often round the
edges of ponds and swamp s, hoping to see
some litt'o croaker take a header from the
bank; and by sunny elopes in the woods.
Where, on the mainland, they might bo seen
at every step in search of snakes, but all in
Vain. I believe some of bur common green
headed frogs were recently transported to
this island, and turned out into o swamp, such
as would be a grand residence for them at
home but in a few days alas 1 they all lay
stiff on their backs. In laot,_ Newfoundland
seems to be destined to remain as it now in
dubitably is—a obuntry without a reptile 1
Foubiebn Wats bv Which Psoplb Qst
Sick. —lst. Sating too fact, and swallowing
food imperfectly masticated.
2d. Taking too much fluid during meals.
3. Drinking poisonous whiskey and other
intoxicating liquors.
4th. Keeping late hours atnight, and sleep
ing too late in the morning.
sth. Wearing the clothes so tight as to im
pede dirculation.
6th. Wearing thin shoes.
7th. Neglecting to take sufficient exercise
to keep the hands and feet warm.
Bth. Neglecting to wash the body sufficient
ly to keep the pores of the skin open.
9th, Exchanging the warm clothing worn
in a.warm room during the day for the light
costumes and exposures incident to evening
parties, s.r
10th. Starving the stomach to gratify a
Tain and foolish passion for dress.
, 11th. Keeping up a constant excitement
by fretting the mind with borrowed troubles.
12th. Employing cheap doctors, and swal
lowing quack nostrums for every immagina
*y ill.
13th. Taking the meals at irregular inter
vals.
14th. Reading the trash and exciting liter
tie 1 * “f l /’ nn( l going orasy on poli-
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
fo He Senate and Souse of Representatives ;,
baring tho past year tho people of this
Commonwealth hnV o had treason to be grate
ful to Almighty God for many blessings;—
The earth has been fruitful, industry has
thriven, and With the exception of the inju
ry suffered by the Sititens of some of our
border Counties, through the disgraceful bar
barity Of the rebel forces which ravaged
Saftj of them, and burned the town of
hambersbilrg, we hare no public misfor
tune to lament. The year closes with a
train of brilliant successes obtained by the
armies of tho United States, inspiring hope
in ovhry loyal mind that the accursed re
bellion will soon be crushed, and peace be
restored to our country.
The balance in the Treasury, Nov. •
30, 1868, was $2,117,331 70
Receipts during fiscal year ending*
Not. 30, 1864, 4,733,313 02
Total in Treasury for fiscal year
ending Nov. 30, 1864, 0,88O;d44 72
The payments for the same period
have been 4,038,441 09
Balance id Treasury, Nov. 30,1864, 1,942,203 63
The operations of the sinking fund during
the last year have been shown by ray. procr
lamation of the 27tbday of September last,
t*s follows:
Amount of ddbt of Commonwealth,
reduced, $268,569 50
As follows, vit: •
Five per cent, loan of the
Commonwealth, . $268,308 03
Interest certificates re
deemed, 261 47
268,569 50
The fiscal year accounted for in the state
ment of the Treasury Department, embraces
khc time from the Ist of December, 1863, to
the 30th of November, 1864. The sinking
fund year commenced the first Monday in
September, 1863. This will explain the
discrepancy between the statement of the
Treasury Department as to the reduction of
the public debt of the State, and tbo state
ment embodied in the proclamation relative
to the sinking fund.
Aniohfct Of public debt
of Pennsylvania, as
it stood on the first
day of Dec. 1363, $39,496,596 78
Deduct amount re
deemed at the State
Treasury during the
fiscal year cooing
with 'Nov. 30, 1864,
viz :
Five per coot, stocks, $101,712 73
Four ivuda hali per ct.
stocks, 10,000 00
Interest certificates, 2,270 It
116,992 82
Public debt Dec. 1. 1864, 39,379,603 94
Funded debt, viz :
Six per cent, loans,
ordinary $400,030 00
Five per coni, loans,
• ordinary, 35,605,263 12
Four and a-half per
centum loans, or
dinary 258.200 00
536,246,003 72
Unfunded debt, Viz:
Relief notes in circu
lation, $97,251 00
Interest certificates
outstanding 19,086 52
Intorosteertiacates un-
claimed 4,448 38'
Domestic ■ creditors’
certificates 724 32 115,510 22
Military loan, per act
Jsth May, 1801,
Total public debt
Deo. 1, 1864, .
The. Common wealth holds bonds received
from the sale of public works, amounting to
ten million three hundred thousand dollars,
(10,300,000,) as follows t
Pennsylvania railroad compa
ny bonds, $6,800,000 00
Philadelphia and Erie railroad
• company bonds, , 3,500,000 00
10,300,000 00
'these bonds are in the sinking fund, and
reduce the publio debt to $29,079,603 94.
The tax on toanage imposed by the acts of
30th April and 25th August, 1804, has
yielded something less than $200,000 —a
much less sum than was anticipated. I rec
ommend a revision of these aots for the pur
pose of rendering this, source of revenue
more productive, and amending other defects
in those bills. The revenue derived from the
tax on banks during the year amounts to
639,000 07, but under the enabling act of
the State so many of our banks have become
National banks under the act of Congress,
that this source of revenue may be consider
ed as substantially extinguished, and it will
be necessary In some way to, make up the
deficiency from other sources. _
The act of Congress authorizes the taxa
tion by the State of the stook in the Notion
al banks in the hands of the holders, not ex
ceeding the rate of taxation imposed on other
similar property, and part of the deficiency'
may be thus provided for.
The amount of debt extinguished by the
sinking fund during the year is unusually
small, whioh is to be accounted for by the
extraordinary expenses whioh hive been in
curred. Seven hundred and thirteen thou
sand dollars ($713,000) have. boon paid to
refund to the hanks the money advanced by
them to pay the volunteers in service during
the invasion of tha State in 18G3. Cue huu*
dred thousand dollars ($100,000) have been
distributed among the inhabitants of Chatn
bersburg, 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 ex
traordinary outlays, the amount appropria
ted to charities was last year larger than
usual.
In my opinion this matter of donations to
charities is fast tunning to a great abuse.—
Houses of Refuge, and Insane, Blind and
Deaf and Dumb Asylums, appear to be prop
er subjects of State bounty, because their ob
jects are of publio importance; and to be
useful, and well and economically managed,
it seems to be necessary that they should be
more extensive than would be required for
the wants of a particular county. But In
our system, ordinary local charities are left
to the care of the respective localities, and to
give the publio money for their support is
really to tax the inhabitants of all the coun
ties for the benefit of one.
The national taxation is heavy and must
probably ho made heayier, and the local
taxes authorized by unwise legislation and
paid by our people are excessive. In view
of these oiroumstanoes, wo should endeavor
to avoid increasing their burdens by making
undue appropriations for any purpose.
It being alleged that the Atlantic and
Great 'Westetn railroad company has not in
various particulars obeyed the laws by which
it was incorporated, the Attorney General
(on tho suggestion of parties claiming to be
hereby injured) lias filed an information in
equity against that company, seeking an in
junction to prevent a continuance of its past,
and the persistence in its intended illegal
course.
Since my last annual message on the re
port of John A. Wright, Esq., that tho Sun
bury and Erie railroad was finished, I or
dered the bonds remaining in the treasury
to be delivered to tho'oompany.
It is o subject of just pride to the people
of this Commonwealth, that this groat work
is completed, and whilst it opens a large and
wealthy part of the State to the commerce of
the seaboard, and unites capital and enter
prise within our herders, it secures to the
Commonwealth the payment of sums doe her
from the company.
In my special message of 30th April last,
to which I refer, I communicated to the Leg
islature, in some detail, the circumstances
connected with the advance by banks and
other corporations of the funds to pay the
volunteer militia of 1863,
It is not necessary here to recapitulate
them at length. The case was peculiar,and
it is believed none quits like it has occurred
The call for volunteers was mads by the au
thorities of the United States, but it being
found that men could not be got under that,
call, the form of a call by the State authori
ties for the defence of the State was, with
the assent of the President, substitUtedi The
United States agreed to furnish the arms,
subsistence and'supplies, but it was alleged
that Congress had made no appropriation
covering the pay. In this state of things,
the emergency being great, the Secretary of
yf ar telegraphed mo, thust
Washington, July 22,1863.
To Sis Excellency, Gob. A. G. Curtin;
Your telegrams respecting the pay of mi
litia, called out under your proclamation of
the 27 th of June, have been referred to the
President for instructions, and hate been
under his consideration. He directs me to
say, that while no law or appropriation au
thorizes the payment, by the General Gov
ernment, of troops that have not been mus
tered 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 te repel an actual
invasion, including those of the State of
Pennsylvania. If, in the meantime, you
can raise the necessary amount, ns has been
done in other States, the appropriation will
be applied to refund the advance to those
who made 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)
Tbo banka and other corporations refused
to advance the money unless I would pledge
myself to nek an appropriation from the Leg
islature to refund it. It will be noticed that
the pledge of the President is clear and dis
tinct, but, notwithstanding the money was
paid and the accounts settled and placed in
the hands of the President before the meet
ing of Congress, no such recommendation as
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 palled out
required. Several of the regiments were
marched immediately into distant parts of
the State, by order of the officers of the army
stationed in Pennsylvania, against my re
peated remonstrances. They were retained,
as was alleged, to preserve the peace and en
force the draft. Nearly, if not quitef one
half.thc money was paid to troops thus held,
and after the emergency had expired. Fin
ding that the appropriation was likely to fail
in Congress, I laid the matter before the
Legislature, just prior to their adjournment,
in May last, and an act of Assembly was im
mediately passed to refund the money out of
the State Treasury, which, as above stated,
bos been done. I ought to say that the ap
propriation by Congress was vigorously sup
ported by' all the members from this Stats,
in both branches. Having done everything
in my power to procure the payment of this
just claim of the State, 1 now recommend
that the Legislature take the subject into
oonsideration with a view .to induce proper
action by the President and Congress.
Bv the act of 22d August, 1864,1 was au
thorized to cause an immediate enrollment
of the militia to be made, unless that recent
ly made by tbo 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. The United
States enrollment being found very defective
1 directed an enrollment to be made, which
is now id progress under Charge of Col.'
Lemuel Todd, whom I appointed Inspector
General, A draft by the United States was
then in progress, ana it was not thought ad
visable to harass our people by a contempo
raneous 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 the United States. Fortunately the Uni
ted 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, I did
not think it right to inour the expense to the
State of an independent army, and the With
drawal of sajmany of our people from their
homes and pursuits. Meanwhile arrange
ments have been made with the authorities
atWashington for arming, clothing, subsist-'
iog and supplying the corps at the expense
of the United States, and an order has been
given by the authorities of the United States
to furlough suoh volunteers in the corps as
may be drafted by the United States. The
aorpe so privileged not to exceed 5,000 men.
It is my intention to raise 5,000 men during
the winter, and I have already adopted
ures to that end. There may occur irrup
tions of irregular bodies of the rebels, and it
is well to be provided against them. The
number, proposed to be sa raised and put in
to actual service, will, in my judgment, be
sufficient, and a regard to due economy re
quites that no more than are snffioienfshould
be placed on pay. The remaining 10,000
will bo organised, and ready for service in
case of necessity. I invite your immediate
attention to the very able report of the In
spector General, which sets forth the defects
in the law which ho has in his
preparation for carrying it into practical ef
fect.'
30,379,603 94
3,000,000 00
39,379 603 94
The Slat# tgonoiea at Washington and in
the Southwest ora in active ana successful
operation. I communicate herewith the re-
"ODE COUNTRY—MAY IT ALWAYS BE RIGHT—BUT RIGHT OR WRONG OUR COUNTRY.”
CARLISLE, PA., THURSDAY, JANUARY &,18G5.
porta of Col. Jordon, at Washington, and Col,
Chamberlain, agent for the Southwest, Me
provisions of the law requiring the ngdnts to
collect moneys duo by tho United States to
soldiers, have been boncfioont. A reference
to thoir reports will show tho magnitude and,
usefulness of this , branch of their service I
desire to invito the attention of all our voldn
unteers, officers, soldiers and their families to
the fact that tho State agents will collect nil
thoir claims on the Government gratuitously,
as X have reason to believe that many are
still ignorant of that fact, and are greatly
imposed upon by tho oxorbi'ant commissions
charged by private claim agents.
Under the act of tnc Gth of May, 186 1, I
appointed Hon. Thomas U .Bnrruwes to fake
charge of the arrangements for the education
of the orphans of soldiers. I communicate
herewith a copy of his report on the subject.
He has discharged his duties with commen
dable zeal, fidelity and efficiency. I earnest
ly recommend that a permanent and liberal
appropriation be made to support this just
and worthy scheme of beneficence.
I recommend thatan appropriation be made
for pensions to tbs volunteer militia men,
(or their families,) who were killed or hurt
in service in the years 1862 and 1803. As
soldiers sometimes arrive here who are in
sane, and who should bo protected and eared
for, I recommend that provision be made for
their being placed in the State Aaylhm for
the Insane, at this place, and kept antil no
tice can be giyeni to the authorities of their
respective counties, who should be required
to remove and care for them.
I feel it to ha my duty to invito your seri
ous attention to the evils growing out of the
system of passing-acts of incorporation, for
purposes which pro provided for by general
laws. Wohave passed acts authorising char
ters to beobiainca without special legislation.
These acts have been generally prepared with
some dare, and contain the provisions which
the 1/egislature thought necessary to protect
the Commonwealth atld her citizens. If these
general laws are not foi»nd to answer such
purposes, they should be amended and perfect
ed. If any company desires to be incorpor
ated with greater privileges than ore conferr
ed, or to ho relieved ffom any of the condi
tions imposed by these acts, it appears to me
that it should' be required fi'-st to obtain a
charter under the general laws, and then ap
ply to the Legislature for an adt making the
changes which are desired. The attention of
the Legislature will thus he drawn to the spe
cific object, and a judgement can ho formed
of its property. I would also observe that
great evil results from the habit of granting
privileges to a corporation by a mere refer
ence to Borne former private act relating to
other corporations, sometimes Without even
giving tho date of these acts. All these prac
tices aio bad, and although they may be pur
sued by parties having no had intention, yst
they certainly originated in tho design of
surprising the Commonwealth into grants of
privileges which it Was k sown could not bs
obtained if their extant were understood, and
they are often followed now for the same frau
dulent purpose.
I strongly recommend the repeal of the act
passed tho 18th day of July, A. I). 1-Sim, en
titled “An not relating to Cotporiltioris for
mechanical, manufacturing, mining and quar
rying purposes.”
Its provisions are found te ho practically
so inconsistent with the due protection of tho
citizens and with the just policy of the Com
monwealth, that it ought not to bo' allowed
to stand longer on our statute book.—
X approved tho act in question with groat re
luctance, and subsequent reflection and obser
vation have satisfied me of its mischevous
character.
E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
I also reoomraondecl tho repeal of an act
passed the 22d day of July, A. D. 1803. en
titled ‘A further supplement to on act passed
the 22nd day of July, A. D. 1801, entitled
“A further supplement to on act to enable
joint tenants and tenants in common, and ad
joining owners of mineral lands in this Com
monwealth, to manage and develop the same. ’
This act allows foreign corporations to hold
three hundred acres of land in this State for
mining purposes. It was passed, it,is be
lieved, for the purpose of enabling companies
near our. border engaged in the manufaotnro
of iron, to hold lands as ore banks. But
under the idea that the sinking of an oil well
is mining, it is believed that companies have
already been organised undar the laws of
other States, and that more Will, be, for the
purpose of holding lands and carrying on the
oil business in this State. It would be bet
ter to remove all doubt on this question by
repealing the act. These Companies, being
foreign corporations, are not within the con
trol of our laws to the extent that they ought
to be for the purposes of taxation and regu
lation. . ' , , .
The immense development of wealth in
some of our western counties by the discov
ery of oil, has added vastly to the resources
of the Commonwealth.
I have made efforts to ascertain the value
of this product during the last year, hut have
failed in procuring Information sufficiently
accurate to justify me in estimating its
amount. It is. already vast, and is rapidly
inoreasingi „
The productions and manufactures of the
State have become so diversified and abun
dant that some measure should he taken for
an accurate ascertainment of them, so that
thdir extent may be generally known, and
also that the necessary taxation may be in
telligently imposed. I recommend for these
purposes the creation of a Bureau, of which
the Auditor General and State Treasurer shall
be members, and the head of which shall he
a now officer, to ho styled Commissioners of
Statistics, or designated by any other approx
priate title.
The act of 25th August, 1864, providing
for the Voting of soldiers, should bo Carefully
examined, with a view to its amendment, and,
indeed, a revision of our whole election laws
would seem to be desire We, with a vievrto
tho two essential objects of, 1. The admission
of legal and exclusion of illegal votes at tho
polls; and, 2. Faithful and correct returns of
the votes actually polled! 1 communicate
herewith tho opinion of the Attorney General
on tho conflicting returns for the Sixteenth
Congressional District, which Will show some
of the practical difficulties which arise Under
the existing system. Without undertaking
to recommend tho adoption nf any particular
plan, I submit tho whole subject to your
careful and earnest consideration, in, the hope
that in your wisdom you will be able to de
vise some measure which will produce the
result so essential to the existence of a free
government; that votes shall be fairly taken
in the first instance, and fairly Counted and
returned afterwards. _ '
I have endeavored since I came into office
to exercise as cautiously as possible the pow
ers confided to the Executive, and avoid
usurping any. X shall endeavor to persist m
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 evilr
which' have resulted frouifabuaes of the aye-,
tern of local bounties Which Was began, in an
emergency, by the voluntary ond generous
loyalty of our citizens, before tbe passage by
Congress of tbe enrolment act, and has since
been continued by sundry acta Of Assembly,
Tho result has been to tho last, degree op
pressive to our Citizens; add Unproductive of
corresponding benefit to the Government.—
In some counties and townebips it is believed
that tho bounty tax, during the lost year,
exceeded the average income derived from
the land. The large sums offoredin some
places in the competition for men, have de
moralized many of oifr pfeople, and the' most
atrocious frauds connected with the system
hare become common, The men'of some of
the poorer counties have been nearly exhaus
ted l>y their volunteers being credited to rich
er localities paying heavier bounties. The
syafem as practiced lowers the morale of tho
aruly itself, by putting into the ranks men
actuated by merely mercenary motives, and
who are tempted to desert by the facility of
escaping detection, and the prospect of nsW
gains by re-enlistment, a process which they
expect to be able to repeat an indefinite num
ber 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 tho ranks of the army, and even those who,,
have joined it have probably not on an aver
age received for their own use one-half of the
bounty paid for them. Immense sums bays
thus been appropriated by cheats and swind
lers, in many, cases believed to bp noting inj
complicity with agencies of the Government. -
An effort was made to prosecute eome of
the parties concerned in suoh frauds under
the act of Assembly of 14th Augustlast, and,,
they were bound 'over by tho Mayor of tins'
city, but after :thc witnesses. had come here
bn the meeting i)f the court; they disappeared
from the public eye. I recommend the whole
subject to yout; careful consideration, thattho
system may be purged of theseovils. - '
lam officially informed that tho quota of
this. State, under the. recent call, is 69,999,
but 1 am not informed of the : principle on
which the draft is to ho made. -
It appears from the President’s proolama
mation that it is made chiefly to supply an
alleged deficiency in former calls. lam sur
prised at the.amount of this large deficiency,
andean only account for the difference be
tween the number of men furnished by the
State and the deficiency alleged to exist in
the assignment of the present-quota, by the 1
assumption that the men never reached the
army) although enlisted and mustered after
the payment of bounties by the localities in
the State to which they wore supposed to bo
.Credited. It is probable that there are very
few counties in the State which have not paid
largo bounties for a number of men sufficient
to till their former quotas.
Taking the local bounties at the low aver
age of four hundred dollars, if is believed
that it can be demonstrated that the people
of Pennsylvania have thus been robbed of
mors than twelve millions of dollars during
the past year. This estimate does not include
tiie money fraudulently taken from men who
have actually pmc into- tbu-ovrriooi-
Tim continuance of these monstrous and
unparalleled abuses cannot bo tolerated.
Certainly more men are required to aid our
gallant soldiers in the field in crushing this
rebellion, and every consideration of patriot
ism and of regard for our brothers who are
now in the face of the enemy, obliges Us to
spore no effort to raise the necessary force.
In June last I gave letters to a committee
of the prison society of Philadelphia, reques
ting that the members of the Committee
might be kllowed to visit and examine the
prisons and poor-Housos throughout the Com
monwealth. . 1 transmit With this dommuni- ,
cation a copy of the report 'made to me by
‘the society of the results of their and
commend the same" to your’ attention with a
view to the adoption of proper measures to
reform the abuses which have been found to
exist.
In connection with this subject, 1 again
call your attention to the expediency of pro
viding for tho reception in tho penitentiaries,
of persons convicted of murder in the first
degree, rtnd who may be pardoned on condi
tion of serving a limited term therein. It
has become a custom that an incoming Gov
ernor. should not issue a warrant of execution
in coses left unacted ou by his predecessor,
and it not unfrequently happens that eyen
in cases Which are recent, while some punish
ment should be inflicted, that of death may
appear to tho Executive to be too severe.—
The result is that there aye at this time, in
the various prisons, some eighteen or twenty
persons' under Centenos of death, and Who
may lie there for^tTTindefinite period of time.
, The vast aipmmt of additionol labor which
hss been imposed upon the Secretary of the
Commonwealth by the existing state of af
fairs renders it absolutely necessary that the
clerical force of hie department should be in
creased. The making out of commissions for
our large army of volunteers in tho field, and
the preparations of- election blanks required
by law to be sent to the army—the receipt,
filing and recording the retasns of the of sol
dier’s Votes —the enrolment of the yearly in
creasing number of acts of Assembly, and of
charters obtained under general laws and the
making out of letters patent for them—all
these, together with the, previous heavy du
ties of the office—form an aggregate, the
weight of which must ultimately break down
his few subordinates, diligent, faithful and
enduring as they are, I recommend, therfore,
that provision be promptly made to meet the
necessities of this ease.
It is a subject of just congratulation that
notwithstanding the distracted condition of
the country, our system of common schools
continues to flourish. .The report of the Su
perintendent, which I herewith transmit,
•hows that there has been an increase of schol
ars during the past year. It is important
to secure as teachers a sufficient number of
men of suitable education and ability, and
with a view to this object, I suggest for your
consideration the expediency of making out
of the school fund itself some provision for'
the support of such teachers as shall after a
given term of service become superannuated
or disabled While in the performance of their
duties.
Of the fnnd placed in my hands by the acts
of the 16th May, 1861, and on the 4th of May,
1864, and to bo appropriated in my judgment
in military service, I have expended in the
last year §5,124 68 in support of the agency'
at Washington—up until the 30tb of May last
for my personal staff and other military ser
vice, an account of which is settled in the of
fice of the Auditor General.
No similar appropriation will be required at
this session. . '
. A bill was introduced and passed the House
St tho last session of the Legislature provi
ing for the appointment of a_ oommission to
ascertain the damages done in the ceuntiee
of Bedford, Pulton, Franklin, Cumberland,
York and Adams, by the rebel army in 1863,
wbiob failed in the Senate forwent of time.
I commend to your consideration the pro-
priety of the passage of auoh a bill during
the present session. It is just to the'people
of these counties who hare suffered, as well
as to the Government that these damages
should be fairly ascertained and the evidence
perpetuated; whatever may be the view to bo
taken on'futtlte consideration by the United
States or State'Government as to the pfopri
bty of paying SUch claims..
Major General Hancock has beeh authori
sed by the War Department to raise a corps
of veterans, to he failed the i'irat Corps.—
One of the regulations is that on application
by the Governor of any State, recruiting offi
cers will be designated for such State; 1 have
been requested by General Hancock to moke
such application, but have hitherto declined
to comply with the request. It appears to
me that the families of men raised on tbe
plan adapted by the War Department wottld
probably not be entitled to tbe relief provided
by our own laws for the families cl volun
teers. • 1 have inquired of General Honoeck
whether the proposed corps is to form part
of the regular army or of the volunteer force,
and if the latter, under what aot of Congress
it is to be raisod. He has referred that com
munication to the War Department, from
which I have as yet received no answer to
it. ■ ,
She following letters have passed between
General Hancock and myself on this subject:
Pennsylvania Executive Chajidbr, 1
' .Harrisburg, Pa., Deo. 29th, 1804. J
■General:—l received yonr letter at the
moment of my departure for Philadelphia on
Mbuduy last. . I returned this morning and
fasten to reply.
• Having iio knowledge cf the organisation
of the corpS yon are to command than what
. appears in tlie newspapers and orders, I.will
lie obliged if you will inform me if it is to bo
regarded as a part of the regular army of the
United States or as part of the volunteer ser
vice, v :
... 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 pleased to inform ms under
what act of Congress.
I need not say, General, that I would be
most happy to do all in my power personally!
and officially to raise a force to be Comman
ded by you. Can we not raise .you two or
three regiments in Pennsylvania, in the usual
manner and according to the act of Congress,
.for your corps? Of course, I would consult
you in the selection of officers and only commis
sion where'you approved.
I cannot understand the importance of my
asking that persons be slot to Pennsylvania
to induce veterans to go to the District of Co
lumbia to enlist. I certainly will do nothing
to embarrass the plan proposed.
We have benefits, by general and special
legislation 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, I hesitate to con
nect myself with a mode of enlistment which
may deprive them of siloh benefits, unless it
is my duty under the law.
I am, Qenferal, very respectfully, your obe
tlicmt servant, ’" — '
A. G. CURTIN.
Major General Winfield S. Hancock.
Headquarters First Cores, 1
Washington, D. 0., Deo. 31,1864. J
To his Excellency Mon. A. G. Curtin, Gover
nor of Pennsylvania;
Sin; I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your communication of the 29th
insti, and have referred the same to the War
Department, I thank you for your kind ex
. ft|f.agion of personal goodwills and regrot that
theta should'be anyheaUation on your part
to lend your official influences as Governor, to
the raieing pf the corps as proposed by the
War Department.
' It is not within my province, perhaps to
disonss the plan of organization, as I am ac
ting under the direct orders of the War De
partment) and my own .views, therefore, are
of no practical moment. I may say, howev
er, that I have no knowledge of the organiza
tion other than what I have derived from the
orders and circulars of which I mailed you
official copies December sth.
I cannot see bow volunteers for this corps
from your State lose any of the advantages
at latching to those for other organizations.
They are credited to the localities where
they or their families are domiciled, and
count on the quota of your State.
It should be borne in mind that this is an
effort to get men into service who arenotsub
jeot to a draft.
I have the honor to remain, very respect
fully, your obedient servant,
WINFIELD S. HANCOCK,
Major-General U. S, Volunteers, commanding
First Oorp s.
The only net of Congress for raising volun
teers that I am aware of, requires that the
field and line officers shall be commissioned
by the Governors of the several States. The
men in Ibis corps are not to be formed into
organizations of the respective Slates, and it
is propsed 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
families to benefits from the United States or
State Government, In addition, I will
observe that without any feeling of jealousy,
I am still not ready to participate actively in
transferring to the United States illegally the
right of appointment vested in the State, and
wbioh the State authorities can exercise with
more discrimination by reason of having a
greater familiarity With the merits of the cit
izens of their own State, than the United
States authorities can possibly have. I will
transmit any further oommunuication that I
may receive on this subject. It will be per*
oeived by reference to the correspondence,
that I hare offered to raise, in the manner
provided by law, (wo or three regiments of
veterans for Hanooek’s Corps, My desire is
to assist the Governmentin every legal mode
in raieing men, and especially to facilitate an
officer—a. native Psnnsylvanian—so distin
guished as General Hancock, in bis efforts to
organize a new corps,
I shall throw no obstacles in hie way on
the present occasion, bat I cannot, certainly,
be expected to invite a Violation of laws in
carryiugout a plan which sacrifices the rights
of the State under existing lairs, and would
leave the men unprotected by 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, baa put into the military
service of the United States since the com
mencement of the war, the following number
of men, viz:
Troops sent into service during 1864.
Organizations for three year*’
term, 9,807
Organizations for one hundred
days' term, 7,675
Organizations for one year term 16,094
Volunteer recruits, 86,567
Drafted men and substitutes, 10,051
Kscruits for tegular army, fi,974
Ite-enliatmenia of Fennaylvatlid
Volunteers i '
Infantry, 13,^62
Cavalry, 2,834
Artillery, 799
Accredited to.othCr States, 389
17i878
91,701
Troops sail into (he service oj the United
incites since the commencement of the rebel
lion, including the ninety days’ militia in
the departments of the Monongahcla.and
Susquehanna, in 1803:
During tbo year 1801, 130,594
Do. do. 1802, 71,100
Do., do; 1803, jJ- 43,046
Do. _ • do. 1804, -f . 78,823
Re-enlistment o{ Pennsylvania Yol
' unteers.
f 330,444
thousand militia of 1862
are not included in this statement..
I call the attention of the Legislature to
the report of the Surveyor General, herewith
presented, and commend the suggestions
mado by that officer to your consideration.
This message is accompanied by full re
ports of all the military departments. They
exhibit the large amount of service performed
during the past year, and contain a full his
tory of all the military operations Of the State
Many valuable recommendations are mado in
them to promote the efficiency of our volun
teers, nud the comfort of the sick and Wolln
ded, Which I commend to your earnest and
immediate attention. It affords mb great
satisfaction to bnaf my testimony to the abil
ity, diligence and fidelity of all the officers in
these several departments.
Before closing this message I desire to ad
vert to the delay which has sometimes oc
curred in the passage of the general appro
priation bill. It is necessary that this bill
should become a law, as otherwise the action
of tho government would be stopped; To de
lay its presentation to the Executive ns was
dune at the last regular session—‘till a late
f hoiir of the night before the morning fixed for
'the final adjournment, is to deprive the peo
ple of their right to have all bills submitted
to the revision of the Legislature before be
coming laws; in caso the Executive should
not approve them. If there bad been time,
I ehoald probably have returned the appro
priation bill of last year for such revision, as
when I had the opportunity of deliberately
examining it I found provisions which I could
not hove approved—but that opportunity wa»
denied me before the bill had become a law,
and in fact as the Legislature was on the
point of adjournment ( the only question pre
sented to me was whether that bill should
become a-Inw' without amendment or the ne
cessities of the Government, remain unprovi
ded for.
Tho gallantry of our soldiate in the field
still sheds lustre on the Oommonwoolth ( and
that their merit is appreciated by a generous
pennln iq show" hy fhft f^nntinnod
iul liberality with which the men and women
of tiie State Contribute of their means for.
their comfort and Welfare. Hay the blessing
of Ood bb on those brave men who have stood
by the country through tbe dark hoars of her
trial.
Executivs CttAUCEIt, I
Harrisburg, Jan. 4, 1805.1
A. G. CDBTIN.
To Select Meats. —Hec/ I .—Beef may be
known by its color f the fat will be of oily
smoothness, and incline to white, rather than
yellow, while the -lean will be of an open
grain, bright red. Yellow fat is a sure sign
of inferior quality, The fat of cow beef is
generally yellow.
Porh.—ln pork the flesh is firm smooth, a
clear color and the fat set. Dairy fed pork
bears the palm over all others. In young
pork, the fat, when pinched, will break.—
Excellent bacon mav be known by the lean
being tender and of a bright. Color, the fat
firm and White, yet bearing a pale rose tinge,
the rind thin, and the lean tender to the
touch. Busty bacon has yellow streaks in it.
The test of a sweet ham is to pass a knife or
skewardown the.bone, and when drawn out,
smell it; if the knife is daubed and
the smell disagreeable, the bam is bad.
Yeal. —When the kidney is well surround
ed with fat, you may be sure the meat is of
good quality. Always choose that which is
whitest and fattest.' If the vein in the shoul
der, which is Very perceptible, it is a bright
red or blue, it is a sura sign that the meat
is fresh.
Mutton and Lamh. —The beet mutton is of
a fine grain and the fat firm and white.—
Lamb should be eaten fresh, In the fora
quarter, the vein being any other Color than
blue, betrays it to be stale.
A Duplex Eclipse— Both Sun And Mooff
Obscured.— We find the following in the St.
Louis Republican :
We’ve a friend about town who is literally
the “fellow of infinite jest,” referred'to in
Hamlet’s random recollections of Yorick.
Baring his giving two dollars and a half a
piece tor cakes of soap, and his indulgence
in a few other unsteady extravagances,’he is
a model of precise and pious deportment—
As Plutarch said of Homer, he can close ala*
dicrous scene with decency and instruction,
which means, modernised, thatbe Udverr.told
tells a joke except to point a moral of adorn
a. tale. Being “worry” temperate (never
drinking even harmless egg-nogg on Christ*
mas days,) he tells us the following by way
enforcing his Views dn the merits of total an*
sistenoe:
Two fellows were out on a “lark eae night,
and while plodding their weary way along a
suburban street, they suddenly cams Upon
the glimmer of a distant gas-light.
(£7* A Mrs. Brough, wife of Henry <7.
Brough, of Hartford, Conn., while engaged
in writing a letter to her husband in Now
Jersey, was burned to death in a few mo-*
meats by a kerosene lamp being overturned
and setting her elotbes on fire.
OD” Any one may do a casual act of good
nature, but a continuation of them shows it
to be a part of the temperament.
O” An Eastern editor calls Congress “art
obscene bird.” Hut doesn’t he like its gold
mi ■
fty “ Shall I have your hand 7” i*ld afl
exquisite to a belle, as‘tho .dance WfiS about
to commence. 11 With all ray heath ,■ waa
the soft. response.
|£7” Be temperate in diet. Our first pa*
rents ate themselves sut of house ond^home.
O* Show may he easily purchased ; hot
happiness U a home-made article.
NO 30n
17,876