01E DOLLAR PER ARM INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.
XOWANDA:
Thursday Morning, January 15,1863.
THE GOnOR'S MESSAGE.
To the Honorable the Senators and Members
v f the lforsc of Representatives of the Covi_
monwealth, of Pennsylvania:
GENTLEMEN : — Notwithstanding the pres
sure of public calamity which has weighed
heavily on the country during the past year, it
has pleased Divine Providence not only to en
able the people of Pennsylvania to perform in
full all their duties to our common Govern
meut, but to give to this Commonwealth do
mestic peace, plenty, aud prosperity.
The balance in Treasury Nov.
; i 1M1, was <-
Receipts during tlie fiscal
year ending Nov. 30, l&Ol,
were as follows;
Ordinary sources $1,047,822 39
Six per cent loan, act May
15*1 sol 387,850 00
From various banks as an
equivalent for coin for the
Davinent of interest on
public debt 140,703 30
Refunded cash, military 29,566 42
United States Government.. G05,740 52 5,211,447 G3
Total in Treasury for fiscal
year ending Nov. 30, IsGI $0,*03,333 33
Aud the payments have been
as follows:
For ordinary purposes
Raid ou State interest as an
equivalent fur coin 110,631 22
Military expenses Act April
I' 2, I*ol 1 Ctl
Military expenses. Act .May
13.1*61 400,318 08
Mi itary expenses, Act May
10, loul 1,217 20
Military expenses, Act Aj r.l
11', I *lßo2 20,007 04
Military l'eusious, Act May
13, lsiil 400 34
Commissioners of Sinking
Fund 427,881 51
Domestic creditors 1 > J -> 32
Temporary Loan redeemed. 100,000 00
Unit-d Spites Goveruiuei t
Direct Tax 330,000 00 4,590,409 23
Leav ng balance in Treasury
Nov. 3d, 1*62 $2,172,844 10
Of which amount, one hun
dred and ninety-five thoti
sand five hundred and sev
enty-six dollars and twen
tv seven cents is the bal
ance of unexpended mili
tary loan, as follows :
Balance of said (and N0v.30,
1-..1 390,507 41
R< ceipts under Act May 15,
I*l,l 387,850 DO
T&i 1 for military expenses as
loove 482,751 14
Raid f>r redemption of tem
porary loan lilt). 000 00
$11'0,370 27
Receipts from ordinary sour
ces :
For year ending Nov. 30,
I ij'2 $4,047 *52 59
For year ending Nov 30,
Ist, 1 3,017,043 37
Excc-s of receipts for I*o2 $1,030,170 *2
Payments for ordinary pur
poses, excepting interest:
For vcar ending Nov. 30,
I*ol $1,118,662 93
For year ending Nov. 30,
lb-jit j 1,023,345 77
Decrease of expenditures of
I*o2 $96,371 16
From the tables exhibited it will appear
that the receipts from ordinary sources ot rev
enue lor the year 1862 are in excess of the re
ceipts the year 1861 one million thirty
thousand one hundred and seventy-six dollars
and eighty-two cents, [the excess of interest
paid in 1862 over that of ISGI being $144,-
O'O 37,j and that tiie ordinauary expenses
for the year 1862 were ninety five thousand
three hundred and seventeen dollars and six
teen cents less than the year previous.
The healthy coudiliou of the revenues, and
the excess of the receipts over the expenditures
•ecurcd by the rigid economy which has been
practiced, (especially considering the necessa
ry iucrea.se of taxation by the National Gov
ernment,) seem to invite the attention of the
Legislature to a revision of the revenue laws,
with a view of lightening the burdens of the
people. In this connection it is proper to in
vite your attention to the justice and expedi
ency of restricting the rate of total taxation,
now, in some parts of the State, oppressive.
Amount of publ c debt of
Pennsylvania, as if stood
on the Ist day of Decem
ber, IS6I $40,5 0,060 08
Additional amount received
at the State Treasury, dur
ing the fiscal year ending
Nov. 30, I*s'2, on Military
lvuin authorized per act
if May 15,1801 338.550 00
$49,908,510 08
Deduct amount redeemable
at the State Treasury dur
ing the fiscal year ending
Nov. 30, 1802, viz:
5 per cent. State stocks S2OB 809 49
*4 per cent. State stocks.. [,50,000 00
4 peremt. State stocks.... 100,000 00
Interest certificates 17 25
lielief notes 1,411 00
Domestic creditors' certifi
cates 04 02
Military loan per act April
12, 1861, redeemed 100,000 00
I'uhlic debt Dec. 1,1802.... $40,448,213 S2
Towards the extinguishment of the public
debt, the Sinking Fuud holds securities amount
ing to ten millions seven hundred and eighty
one thousaud dollars, as follows :
Bonds of Sunburn' & Erie Railroad Compa
ny $3,500,060
Bonds of Pennsylvania Railroad Company... 7,000,000
Bonds of Wyoming Canal Company 2.81,000
$10,781,000
Should there be no extraordinary demand
on the Treasury, there can be appropriated
'row the large balance now on hand, aud the
'"creasing reveunes at least a million and a
half of dollars d tiring the coming year towards
the payment of the public debt.
The operations of the sinking fund during
the last year have been, as shown by my pro
elation of the Bth of September last, as fol
lows :
Amount of debt of Commonwealth reduced $202,801 67
As follows, viz :
sWte Loans $261,17* 74
Interest certificates 1 37(1 41
Domestic Creditors' ccrti
eates Ci 52
Relief notes cancelled 11 88
It will be observed that the fiscal year
ends on the 30th of November, and the Sink
ing-fund year on the first Monday of Septem
ber. This is the reason for the apparent de
ficiency in the amount of debt paid as staited
in the Treasurer's R°port, and by the Com
missioners cf the Sinking Fund.
Under the act of the 11th of April, 1862,
I appointed William McClelland, It. B. Mc-
Cou.bs, and M. llussell Thayer, Esqrs., as rev
enue commissioners,"" who have printed a re
port, and will no doubt submit the result of
their labors to the Legislature, to which I
invite attention.
1 refer to the reports of the State Treasur
er and Auditor General for the details of the
financial affairs of the Commonwealth. The
reports of all the Surveyor Generals, Superin
tendent of Common Schools, and State Li
brairan, will exhibit the state departmeut un
der their care.
In accordance with the act of 10th Februa
ry, 1862, Ihe quota of this State of the direct
tax of the Uuiled States, amount to one mil
lion nine hundred and forty-six thousand sev
en hundred and nineteeen dollars and thirty
six cents, was, on the 14th June, 1862, paid
to the United States, partly by a relinquish
ment of a portiou of the sums claimed by this
State from the Government and partly iu
cash, after deducting the 15 per cent, allowed
by the act of Congress for prompt payment.
Pennsylvania thus paid her quota of direct
tax before any other State. Tiiere is still due
to the State, principally for advances since
made for transportation and equipment of vol
unteers, about three hundred thousand dol
lars.
On the 20th Feburary last, I issued my
warrant authorizing the State Treasurer to
deliver to the Philadelphia aud Erie Railroad
Company one thousand of the bonds deposit
ed with the State, in conformity with the act
of May 7, 1861, On the 20th of November
I issued a similar warrant. Both warrants
were granted alter receiving reports from J.
A. Wright, E.*q , the commissioner appointed
for the purpose, that the proceeds of the boad.s
previously issued had been appropriated in ac
cordance with the provisions of the law. The
company has now received three of the five
millions of bonds deposited iu the Stale Treas
ury. With the proceeds of the bonds issued,
fifty-two miles of road have been completed,
making, with what had formerly been finished
a total of one hundred and ninety nine miles,
leaving eighty-nine miles unfinished, of which
nearly all is graded and ready for the iron
The bonds still in the Treasury will yield an
amount ample to complete the road, and thus
open this important route of trade and com
merce. The development of the vast mineral
and other resources of our northwestern coun
ties by this means, will undoubtedly in a. few
years render valuable the securities of the
Sunbury and Eiie Railroad Company, now
forming part of the Sinking Fund of the Com
monwealth.
The interest on the State debt was paid
in August last, in specie or its equivalent, in
conformity with the existing law, at the ccst
of one hundred and forty six thousand six
hundred and thirty one dollars and twenty
two cents ($146,631,22), for the difference
between specie and paper currency, of which
the banks, under the provisions of the of 11th
April, 1862, have already reft ruled to the
State one hundred aud forty thousand seven
hundred and sixty dollars and thirty cents.
This burden on the batik- has become heav
ier than in niy judgement ought to be borne
by any special interest.
Unless the Legislature should otherwise
provide, it will be the duty of the State Treas
urer to pay in like manner the interest which
will full due hereafter. We should all be care
ful not to violate the faith or impair the cred
it of the Commonwealth. The serious and
careful consideration of the Legislature is in
vited to the whole subject.
In my opinion there are already more in
corporated banks in the Commonwealth than
are at present required for the public conven
ience, and I therefore recommend that no
more shall be incorporated.
On ttie 7th of July last, a call was made
by the President for three hundred thousand
volunteers. This State had already supplied
nearly one hundre and ten thousand men, yet
her people promptly bestirred themselves to
respond to this new requirement. Although
it was believed that no bounties wouKl be nec
essary to induce the meu of Pennsylvania to
enter the service of their country on such an
occasion, yet, as some of the neighboring
States offered large bounties, it was thought
not right to expose our citizens to the tempt
ation thus offered to tbeia to enlist in regi
ments of other States. There being no
propriation for the payment of bounties, I, of
course, could not direct them to be paid out
of the treasury, and it was evident that to
call the Legislature together and wait for the
negotiation of any loan, which might be au
thorized for the purpose would be attended by
injurious delay. Uuder these circumstances I
confidently appealed by proclamation to a
people who have never faltered in the perfor
mance of any duty of patriotism, calling on
them to raise, in their several couuties, the
sum necessary to insure their proportiou of
the quota of the Stute. This appeal was ef
fectually answered. Public meetings were
held, aud liberal amounts subscribed by indi
viduals. In the city of Philadelphia, besides
a very large fund thus raised, the municipal
authorities contributed heavily from their com
ruou treasury, and iu several counties the
country commissioners, geuerally under the
guaruutee of a few of their eminent citizens,
devoted country funds to the same purpose.—
1 recommend that these proceedings be legal
ized, and submit to the wisdom of the Legis
lature the questiou of what legislation would
be just and proper on the whole subject, that
the burden of this patriotic effort may fall
eqnally on all classes of people throughout the
Stat^
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY AT TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. 0. GOODRICH,
The result of this manifestation of public
spirit was that thirty-eight new regiments and
three unattached companies of infantry were
raised. Four other regiments, which, previ
ous to this call, had been authorized by the
War Department to be raised are still in pro
gress of organization.
On special requisitions .from the War De
partment there have beeu raised, and are now
iu service, five additional regiments, and three
companies of cavalry, two batteries of heavy
artillery, and one battery of light artillery.—
A battalion of heavy artillery is being raised
by Major Joseph Roberts, U. S. A., with my
assent, also under special authority of the
War Department.
Early iu September last the rebel army
crossed the Potomac into Maryland, with the
design of invading this State. On the 4th of
that month I called upon the people by proc
lamation to organize into companies and hold
themselves in readiness to be ordered into act
ual service for the defence of the State. And
on the 11th of the month, under authority of
the President, I issued orders for fifty thou
sand volunteer militia, to rendezvous at Har
risburg, for the defence of the State. This
call was promptly responded to, and a largo
force was sent forward to the Cumberland
Valley and its vicinity. The first part of this
force consisting of one regiment aud eight
companies of iufantry.raoved from llarrisburg
ou the night 01 the 12th of September, and
were followed by other regiments as rapidly
as they could be organized aud transportation
provided. The command of ths whole force
was taken by Brigadier General John F.
Reynolds, who left his corps in the Army of
the Potomac at my urgent request,and hurried
to the defence of his native State, for which
he is entitled to the thanks of the C mmon
wealih. Fifteen thousand of the volunteer
militia were pushed forward to llagcrstown
and Boonsboro', iu the State of Maryland ;
ten thousand were pos'cJ in the vicinity of
Grcencastle and Cbambersburg, and about
twenty five thousand were at llarrisburg, on
iheir way to llarrisburg, or in readiness and
waiting for transportation to proceed thither.
One regiment, at the request of General II il
leck, wn.s sent to protect Dupont's powder
mi!!>, in the State of Delaware. On the24th
of September ihe Volunteer Militia were tiis
charged by me from service, having by their
spirited demonstration greatly aided in pre
venting the intended invasion of this State, by
the rebels, and in compelling their sudden
evacuation of the portion of Maryland which
they had polluted. For these services, the
thui.ks of the Governor of Maryland, and the
Commander of the Army of the Potomac,
were rendered to our patriotic troops through
me. Measure? have been taken to procure
the payment in full of these troops, and of the
expenses attending their service, by the Unit
ed States, in accordance with the terms of the
call by the President. A large portiou of the
amount has already been paid. Having ac
companied this force to Higeratown, 1 am en
abled to speak of the courage, fidelity, and
cheerfulness wi'ii which the men suffered tin
accu-tomed privations, and bore the fire of
the rebel force, performing with alarcity aii
the service that was required of them.
On the 4th of August last, a draft of three
hundred thousaud militia, to serve for nine
months, was ordered by the President, under
the act of Congress of the 17th July, 1862,
and regulations were mad by his authority, iu
pursuance of that act, trader which regulations
the enrollment ami draft were conducted in
thi> Slate, our miliiia laws being found to be
defective. Several counties and districts hav
ing already supplied by volunteers their pro
portion of the quota of tins State, were ex
empted from the draft, and time was given to
enable others to raise the required number of
men by voluntary enlistments. The draft was
generally proceeded with throughout the State
on ihe 16th day of October la*t, and the
draf'ed men were directed to be placed in the
several camps of rendezvous established un
der the regulations, where they were organ
ized and elected their officers, and have since
gone forward to the army iu the field. The
draft was eminently .*ucecssful, and when the
men had been marched to the rendezvous, my
agency in the matter ceased, and all authori
ty and control over the men devolved on the
United States officers. 1 cannot lat com
mend the people of Pennsylvania for their
cheerful obedience to the requirements of the
Government 0:1 this accasion. All the expen
ses of the draft are, of course, to be paid by
the United States, und 1 learn that officers
are now in the State charged with the settle
ments and payments.
Including the three months volunteers,
Pennsylvania has furnished to the General
Government more than two hundred thousand
men since the breaking out of the rebellion,
besides some fifty thousand who were in ser
vice, or actually ready for it, as volunteer mi
litia under the call ot the 11th of September
last, making, in the whole, more than two
hundred and fifty thousaud men.
Iu October last, a body of rebel cavalry,
with a battery of artillery, suddenly crossed
the Potomac, aud made their way as far as
Cbambersburg, plundering what they found of
supplies useful to them, aud committing other
depredations. They went out of the State by
crossing (he Soutli Mountain, and thus reach
ing the Potomac below Harper's Ferry. The
troops in the field were not prepare 1 at that
moment to puuisb this attempt 011 her soil,
and it is to be much regretted that efficient
measures could uot have beeu taken by the
army to capture the rebels on their return to
the Potomac. Immediately after I received
notice that this force had crossed the Hue of
the State, I called into service the Anderson
Cavalry, then eucampid at Carlisle, and two
companies of regulars at the barracks at that
place. These troops were pushed forward in
the direction of Chauibersburg and South
Mountain. The cavalry at Camp Curtiu, con
sisting of one full and two imperfect regiments,
were armed as iufunty, and, together with two
companies of infantry aud a battery of volun
teer light infantry of llarrisburg, were held iu
readiness to go forward, when Major General
" REGARDLESS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANY QUARTER."
Wool arrived and assumed the command of all
the forces. lie had previously ordered part
cf his command from Baltimore, aud marched
the troops to Gettysburg.
The rebels marched with so much celerity
that they did not encounter any of the forces
of Genoral Wool, and escaped from the State.
I recommend that application be made to
Congress fop an appropriation to compensate
our citizens for damages sustained by the raid.
On the two emergencies to which I have re
ferred, I acknowledge valuable counsel and as
sistance from Brigadier General Andrew Por
tor, of the United States army, who thus tes
tified his affection for his native State, and
zeal in her service when threatened. And on
the same, and other occasions, 1 e.m indebted
to Colonel Thomas A. Scott, Colonel John A.
Wright, and Colonel J. B. Parker, members
of my staff, who came promptly on my sum
mons, and served with their accustomed zeal
and fidelity, without pecuniary compensation.
The militia laws of this State is greatly de
fective, and I earnestly 'recommend the ap
pointment of a commission to prepare and sub
mit an efficient system, to be reported before
the adjournment of the Legislature, so that
action may be had ou the subject at the pres
ent session. In the hurry of ordinary busi
ness the Legislature might not be able to give
the necessary attention to the preparation of
a proper measure, and events which have al
ready occurred prove the necessity of some ef
fectual legislation on tlie subject, so that our
people may be adequately protected.
The State is in possession of the following
ordinance, arms, and ammunition :
03 pieces of artillery, ot which 22 need repairs.
2 biituriei r.l new cannon, con*i.*ting of 12 Grif
fin rifled cannon, 6 pounders, 2 caissons, and
2 battery wagou.s,presented to the State by the
Committee ot Safety of RhiL-delphia, ia,Scp
tember last.
26,492 niu.-kets and rifles, of which 11,014 are ready for
issue, 4,460 in the bauds of mechanics for re
pairs, and tlie balance, having been used by
the militia called out in September la t, re
quire cleaning.
12,127 sets infantry accoutrements complete.
1,238 swords and sabres.
list pistols.
1.938 rounds artillery ammunition.
1,522,0ut) rounds ammunition for small arms.
The following arms, accoutrements, and am
munition have been furnished according to law
to the border counties, and to volunteer cr
gar.izations formed under the militia act of
1858 :
5,810 muskets and rifles with accoutrements complete
were issued to, and arc now iu possession of
border counties.
4,058 muskets and ritles, and 2,041 sets of accoutre
ments issued to, and now in possession of or
ganized companies. Also, 80,000 rounds of
ammunition i-sued to border counties and or
ganized companies.
1,755 muskets, aim 895 *ets of accoutrements, were is
sued to Colonels Brown and Glantz's regi
ments on going to the service.
32 pieces of artillery, issued to Ist Pennsylvania
Artillery, Co!. Charles T. Campbell, command
ing, ou going mto the servi e.
528 sailers, 1u.70 pistols, and 528 sets of accoutre
ments, issued to organized cavalry companies.
Showing an aggregate of
137 pieces ot artillery,
33,015 muskets and rliies,
1,7 40 pistols,
1 ,s2G sabers,
22.203 sets infantry accoutrements,
52* *ets of cavalry accoutrements,
1,003,938 rounds of ammunition.
lii addition to the above the following mili
tarv property of the city of Philadelphia is rc
ported, by the " llotne Guard of the city of
Philadelphia," to be in its possession—viz :
C 20 pounder Parrot rifled guns.
2 l(i-pou:n'.er Rrus-ian rilled guns.
1 10-pouuder English ritiedguu.
12 c:u.*-icuis for 20 pounder Parrot rifled guns.
2 caissions for 10-ooundcr Prussian rilied guns,with
tools and stores.
1 12 pounder rilled howitzer, Daldgren.
1 12-pounder rifled howitzer, 750 pounds Dahlgren.
2 field carriages for do.
2 small howitzer g ins, 12 pounders, Willi carriag
es, tools, and stores.
1 12 pounder rifled howitzer, Dahlgren.
1 12 ouii l i-smooth bore, 750 pounds Dahlgren.
2 li.-i.i carnages tor do.
J small 1 '-.'-pounder howitzer, with carriages, tools,
and stores.
195 saddles.
127 saddle- with traces, breast straps, Ao.
08 saddles incomplete.
2,296 muskets and rifles.
200 pistols and 124 holster*.
1,997 rounds of shot and shell.
072,*-4 rounds musket and rilied cartridges.
The foregoing does not include the arms and
equipments that have been issued to the sever
al regiments of the Home Guard, and which
are in their possession. For the details of mili
tary operations aud of statistics I refer you to
the reports of the Adjutant General, Quarter
master General, Commissary General, burgeon
General,and the chief of Transportations,which
accompany this message. In regard to the elec
tion ot officers in the reserve corps,and the re
el uitment of the regiments of that corps, and
of our other gallant regiments of volunteers,
I propose to send a special message in a few
days, as I desire to treat those sul>jects some
what at large, and to submit to the Legisla
ture some documents relating to them. By the
thirteenth section of the act of May 15th,
1861, Iwas authorized to draw my warrants
on the treasury for a sum no', exceeding twen
ty thousaud dollars for compensation to such
persons as might be required to serve the conn
try in a military capacity. At the date of my
last annual message, I had drawn from the
treasury eight thousand five hundred dollars,
and had paid out up to the Ist of December,
1861, six thousand four hundred dollars,when
my account was settled. Since that time I
have drawn two thousand dollars from the
treasury, part of which, with the balance in
my hands, has been expended in the payment
of members of my personal staff the service
when I required assistance, and in procuring
information, and to persons employed w hen the
State was threatened with invasion iu Septem
ber, 1862, and during the raid in October last.
An account of these expenditures will be
found ou file in the office of the Auditor Gen
eral.
Under the act of 10th April, 1858, it is my
intention to take early measures for the sale of
the powder magazine in the city of Philadel
phia. The powder magazine at llarrisburg is
not judiciously located. A State powder ma
gazine ought, in my judgment, to be erected on
a suitable site iu the vicinity of this place,and
I recommend the attention of the Legislature
to the subject.
In September last two batteries of rifled
cannon was presented to the Commonwealth
by a committee of citizens of Philadelphia,
through S V. Merrick, Esq., which arc now
in the arsenal in that city. I recommend that
provision be made for procuring carriages, cais
sons, and other equipments for them. The lib
eral donors are entitled to the thanks of the
Commonwealth for their patriotic gift.
Under the joint resolutions of the 2Sth of
February, 1862, measures were promptly tak
en for the relief of our sick and wounded men
in the field.
The wounded at Winchester,Strasburg,Front
Royal, Williamsburg, and Fair Oaks, and those
in ths corps of Major General Banks, were dti
Iy attended on the field or in the vicinity, by
Snrgecn General Smith and a corps of sur
geons under his direction, aud were brought
into this State. The same system would Itave
been continued, but, in June last, I received a
letter from the Surgeon General of the United
States, representing that it was found incon
venient to the service, and must create difficul
ties in the regular identification of the soldiers
for pay and [tensions.
In compliance with his views, I was reluc
tantly obliged to discontinue the system ; but
I have not ceased to urge 011 the War Depart
ment the propriety of sending our sick and
wounded m n iuio the State, where they can
be nursed and cared for by their friends, and
have to say that at. length such an arrange
ment was made with the authorities at Wash
ington, which it was hoped would bcoffective,
but there has been such tardiness in putting
it into practicel operation that I recommend
the Legislature to invite the attention of the
War Department to the subject. Our suffer
ing m6n have a right to ihe sympathy and aid
of their State, to be so rendered as not to in
jure the service. If the bringing them borne
to be attended could produce evcu inconven
ience to that I would not urge it. But it is
cruel to leave them to the care and (I regret
to say it) frequently to the neglect, or worse,
of strange officials, at points iu the immediate
vicinity of all the abundant comforts which the
solicitude of their families and friends would re
joice to provide for them.
In addition to the expenses of attending and
bringing home our sick and wounded, as above
stated, I have expended Jess than $4,000 in
the transportation of friends of sick, killed or
wounded volunteers, and other persons sent by
me for their care to the several battle fields
and hospitals, and in bringing home for inter
ment the bodies of those slain. The whole ex
pense incurred under the joint resolution was
$5,119 83, the details of which will be found
iu the report of the Surgeon General aud of
the chief of transportation.
I have uniformly, when applied to, allowed
the expense of transportation of one person to
the field to bring home the body of his friend
or relation, aud the expense of his return with
the body. The cost of this has not exceeded
S6OO, which is included in the sum of less than
$4,000 above stated.
In this connection I must speak with ap
plause of the active benevolence of our citi
zens, who have, without compensation, devo
ted their time and care to their suffering fel
low-citizens, disabled by the casualties of war.
Not only have many gone to the field, to ad
minister their kind offices, but in every part
oi' the Commonwealth thousands have applied
their means and exertions to the same end ;
and especially have the womeu of Pennsyl
vania, obeying their true womanly instincts,
shown that they are worthy to bo "the moth
ers, wives, and sisters of the brave men whom
they have stimulated to their duty, and sooth
ed and nursed in the sufferings tnat have en
sued-in the performance of it.
The city of Philadelphia having patriotical
ly offered to the Linked States League Is
land, as a donation fcr a navy yard, Congress
directed a commission to report upon the avail
ability of that site, and also of New London.
To the general astonishment, a majority of the
commission have reported in favor of New
London, but the minority has presented a re
port, which is fortified by the approval of the
Secretary of the Navy, showing so conclusive
ly the superiority of League Island that it is
scarcely possible that Congress should hesitate
to select that location. To establish a navy
yard for the construction of iron clad vessels
ai a point remote from all necessary supplies,
situated on salt water, and accessible by more
than one route to any enemy, who may have
a momentary superiority at would appear
to be tpiitc inconsistent with the wisdom of
CoDgrt ss, especially when a site is offered con
venient to iron, coal and other necessary sup
plies, situated ou fresh water, with a sufficient
depth for a draught of large vessels, and safe
from hostile attack by its position.
Capt. Ilenry E Wrigley, of the city of
Philadelphia, at my request," and without com
pcosation, has made a report to me ou the de
fences of the Delaware, which I herewith
transmit for information.
In Jul}' last I received at Pittsburg, by tel
egraph, an offer from the Pennsylvania Rail
road Company of a donation of fifty thousand
dollars to assist in paying bounties to volun
teers. I declined this offer, because I bad no
authority to accept it on behalf of the public,
and was unwilling to undertake the disburse
ment of the fuud in my private capacity. I
have since received a letter oa the subject
from the company suggesting other modes of
disposing ol the money, a copy of which is an
nexed to this message.
If the Legislature should accept the dona
tion, I recommend that it be applied towards
the erectiou of an asylum for our disabled sol
diers, aud that the trustees appointed to su
perintend the erection and management of the
asylum be authorized to a.cept such further
contributions as our citizens may offer. In u
well managed establishment of that kind it i 3
probable that the pensions to be allowed by
the Government to the meu will euablo them
to support themselves with comfort.
By an act of Congress, passed on the second
day of July, 18G2, lauds were granted to the
several States for the endowment, support,
and maintenance, by each State, of at least
one college for teaching such branches of learn
ing as are related to agriculture and the me-
I chanic arts, without excluding other scientific
and classical studies, and including military
VOL. XXIII. —NO. 33-
.tactics. I recommend that, proper provision
1)0 made by the Legislature for having the
lands thus granted to this State selected, and
the title made to the State, ar.d that Congress
be requested to allow the lands and their pro
ceeds to be used by the State in the construc
tion and support of such an asylum as I have
above suggested.
The details of the operations of the com
mon-school system, during the school year that
terminated on the first Monday in June, lgdi,
manifest scarcely any evil effects from the
troubled state of the country. Absence ot
the usual degree of progress iu the various de
partments is the only result observable. To
have held its own, Inwevcr, during the sevcro
ordeal to which, in common with all our great
social interests and enterprises, it has been
subjected, is the strongest proof of its inherent
vigor, and of the hold it possesses upon the af
fections as well as the judgment of the peopla
of the State.
It has come to my knowledge that in somo
parts ol the State a system exists of pstyiug
the wages oi workmen and laborers not in
money, but in orders on storekeepers for mer
chandise and other articles This system, by
preventing all competition, loaves the men to
the uncontrolled discretion of the storekeepers.
It is a syste .1 most unwise and unjust, ami it
affects classes of useful citizens, who, as they
live by the proceeds of their daily labor, have
not adequate means to resist it. I have no
doubt that most of the difficulties which occa
sionally occur between employers and their
workmen are due to the prevulancc of this sys
tem. That every man, for a fair day's labor,
should receive a fair day's wages, is but tho
dictate of C)mmon honesty 5 and while it would
be most uuwise for tho State to interfere at all
with the rate of wages, it is, in my judgment,
incumbent 011 iier to protect her laboring pop
ulation by reqniring that, whatever may be
the wages stipulated, they shall be so paid
that the recipient may purchase necessaries
for himself and his family where they can bo
had best and cheapest. I do most earnestly
recommend this subject to the Legislature for
prompt and effectual action.
I believe that tho several charitable institu
tions to which tho Legislature has been accus
tomed to grant aid have been well managed
during tho past year.
The Vv yoming canal is still in the hands of
the receiver. Certain creditors of the com
pany having instituted proceedings in the Su
preme Court for selling the canal auder tho
mortgage, tho Attorney General has inter
vened in the suit to oppose the making of a
decree of sale. No decree has been made,
and the proceedings are yet pending. Mean
while, it being alleged that the subscribers and
stockholders have paid up but a small part of
the nominal capital of the company, an infor
mation has been liied in the Supreme Court
by the Attorney General to compel them to
pay up the capital, or such charges and assess
ments as may be necessary to extinguish tho
debt due to the Commonwealth. This pro
ceeding is also still pending. It is understood
that the gross receipts of tho canal during the
last season have been about oue hundred ami
thirty thousand dollars, and the annual inter
est on toe mortgage bonds of the company a
little over fifty-one thousand dollars.
In pursuance of the joint resolution passed
llth .April, ISO 2, the Attorney General has
instituted proceedings on the proper cashier's
bonds, to recover the money due to the Com
monwealth by the Bank of Commerce, at Erie,
and I have employed John 11. Walker, Esq,
as special counsel tor the Commonwealth, in
the prosecution of the officers of the bank in
the Court of Quarter Sessions of Erie county.
In accordance with the provisions of the act
of 6th May, 18G2, an information in equity
was tiled by the Attorney Geueral against the
Delaware and Hudson Caual Company and
the Pennsylvania Coal Company. The case
was argued before the Supreme Court at Sua
bury, in October last.
By an act passed on the 16th day of May,
1861, a company was incorporated by tho
name of the Navy Yard, Broad-street, and
Fairmount Railway Company. It being al
leged that the company, instead of making a
railway on the route and in the mdnner pro
scribed by its charter, is constructing a rail
road of a different character, by a route ex
tending from the Philadelphia, Wilmington,
and Baltimore Railroad depot to the Phila
delphia and Trentcn depot, both within the
city of Philadelphia, tho Attorney General
has proceeded against the company by quo
warranto for the violation of its charter, aud
has also tiled an information for tho purpose
of restraining the company from proceeding
in the construction of their road. Both these
proceedings are now pending.
By tho act cf 29th March, 1813, it was
provided thut citizens abseut from home in ac
tual military service might exercise their right
of suffrage as if they were prescut at the usual
places ot election. This act was substantially
re-enacted in the general election law passed
on the 2d of July, 1839. The Supreme Court
has recently decided ttut, by reason of a phrase
iu the constitutional amendments of IS3B, the
provision has become unconstitutional. Penn
sylvania has sent to the service about two
hundred thousand citizens, who, by this deci
sion, are disfranchised This seems to be a
hard measure—that men who testify their de
votion to the country by going to the field
should thereby lose the most inestimable right
of a citizen. 1 recommend that tho necessary
steps be forthwith commenced to amend tho
Constitution, so as to give the right of suff
rage to the citizens who are thus excluded.
I cannot close this message without speak
ing of the nnbrokeu loyalty and spirit of tho
freemen of Pennsylvania. They feel that on
the preservation of tho Union and the suppres
sion of the most causeless and wicked rebel
lion which history records, depend the honor,
the interests, and the wholo futare welfare of
the Commonwealth. They will uever tolerate
schemes for destroying the Government of the
United States, or for forming separate Con
federacies, or any other schemes for creating
general confusion and ruin, and aiding and
1 {Concluded on Fourth I K^e.)