FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE
ANDREW G. CURTIN,
Governor of Pennsylvania,
To Both Hots3ei of the Legislature.
READ, JANUARY 8, 1861.
2b the honorable the Senate and House of Represen
tatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
Eigermagar
It has pleased Divine Providence, during the
last season, to give us abundant crops, unbroken
peace within our borders, unanimity among our
people, and thus to enable this Commonwealth
to do her full duty to the country, to herself,
and to posterity. For these blessings we have
cause to be grateful.
The balance In the
Treasury on the
.80th Nov., 1860,
was
The receipts during
the fiscal year end
ing Nov, 80, 1861,
were as follow
From ord'y sources, 8,017,645.67
From temporary loan
under Act of Apr.
12, 1861, at 6 per
cent. interest, and
negotiated at par 475,000
From 6 per cent.
loan under Act
. May 16,1861, also
negotiated at par.. 2,612,150
From society of Cin
cinnatus 600
From United States
on ac't military
expenses 606,000
From Pay Masters
and others, refund
ed
Total into Treasury
for fiscal year end
ing Nov. 80, 1861
And the payments as follows :
For ord'ry purposes $3,144,480.84
For military expen
ses,
Under Acts Aprill2,
1861, and May, 15
and 16, 1861,
474,878.86
1,708,482.88
170,635.51
. -- 2,858,872.04
For Ain't loan under
Act April 12, 1861, _
repaid
Leaving balance in
Treasury, Nov. 80,
1881
PUBLIC DEBT, FUNDED AND UNFUNDED
Received from tem
porazy loan, under
Act Apr. 12, 1861 476,000
Repaid as above.... 876,000
Ontatanding Nov.Bo,
1861 • 100,000
Eso'd from loan un
der Act May 16,
•
1861..
Atn't of public debt,
funded and un
funded, Nov. 30,
1860 87,969,847.60
Paid during fiscal
year
37,868,516.08
Remaining unpaid,
(exclusive of mili
tary loans above
mentioned,) Nov.
80, 1861.........
1110111115 AND ExPaorrumn OP MILITARY VANS,
Receipts from mili
tary loan under
Act Apr. 12, 1861 475,000
" May 16 2,612,160
From Pay Masters
and others refund
ed
Paid for military ex
penses, as above, 2,868,872.04
Paid fur redeeming
loan, Act Apr. 12, 875,000
Unexpended of mili
tary loans
MIMPT9 AND EXPANDITUREB OP ORDINARY REVII.
Balance in Treasury, .
from ord' ry sources,
Nov. 80,1860 681,488.08
Bece'd from ord'ary
sources during fis.
cal year
8,017,646.67
8,699,078,85
Paid for ordinary
expenses, as above 8,144,480.84
Unexpended of or
iglinary revenue.. .
Bec'd from United
States Gov. on wet
military expend.
Bed from Society of
anoinnatue
Balance in Treasury,
as ab0ve. ........
It will be observed that the fiscal year ends
on the 80th of November, and the sinking
fond year on the first Monday in September,
which accounts for the apparent deficieney in
the amount of debt paid as stated in the Treas
urer's report, and by the Commissioners of the
Sinking Fund. The State has on hand a sur
plus of uniforms and equipments which cost
about $190,000, which the United States have
agreed to take and pay for at cost. Arrangements
have been made with the general government
for the reimbursement of the military expenses
of the State since the 27th of July last. The
bills as paid are forwarded to Washington and
partial repayments have already been made.
It will be observed that the receipts from or
dinary sources of revenue for the year 1861 have
decreased, but as payments have been made on
some of ahem since the settlement at the end of
the fiscal year on the first of December, and
more may reasonably be expected in addition to
the payments to be made by the National Gov
ernment as hereinafter stated the balance avail
able in the treasury will be largely increased.
It will also be observed that it has not yet
_bean found necessary to call in all of the loan
effected under the act of the 18th of gay last.
la plume items the ordinary revenue of 1881
wai in excess of that of 1880.
BM loan authorised by the act of May 15th,
Mel,. mei taken at par. This occrarenhe, most
gratifybig under : all the then existing. circum
stanced; Of etabarispomit, affords trimnpluta
$681,433.08
32,229.45
6,743,525.02
7,424,958,10
376,000 6,878,852 38
$1,551,605.72
100,000
2,612,150
101,881.42
87,868,616.08
82,229.46
8,119,879.45
-- 2,728,872.04
$ 890,507.41
I commend the subject to the immediate
considerition of the Legislature, as an effort
may be made at an early day to enforce a sale
of the canal, and some provision by law to pro
tect the interests of the State would in that case
be necessary.
The wicked and monstrous rebellion which
broke out many-months ago, has not yet been
quelled. Every' sentiment of loyalty and pa
triotism demands its effectual suppression.
In my messages of the 9th and 80th of April
last, I set forth at length my views of the char
acter and objects of the contest which is still
pending. Subsequent reflection has confirmed
me in the correctness of the opinions then ex
pressed and to which I refer. In addition it
ought to be understood, that looking to the va
riety and character of her products and indus
try, her material interest alone would render
the preservation of the Union from the pres
ent assault upon it, indispensable to Pennsylva
nia. She cannot afford to have a foreign pow
er below or abOve or bounding her on the Dela
ware, the Chesapeake or the Mississippi, and
she will never acquiesce in such a result, what
ever may be the coot in men and money of her
resistance to it.
654,698.81
606,000
$1,551,605.72
On the 9ih of April last I directed the atten: ,
tion of the Legislature to the necessity which
existed for an improved military organization,
and on the 12th of the same month the Act
entitled "An Act for the better organization of
the militia of this Commonwnalth" passed, ap
propriating the sum of $500,000 for the purpose
of organizing, equipping and arming the mill
tia. On the 15th of April the President, by
proclamation, called for a military force of 75,-
000 men, of which the quota assigned to Penn
sylvania was at first sixteen (afterwards reduced
to fourteen) regiments to serve as infantry or
riflemen for the term of three months unless
sooner discharged. This call was enthusiasti
cally responded to by the people of Pennsylva
nia. The first military aid from the loyal
States, which the Government received at
Washington, was a Pennsylvania corps which
arrived there prior to the 19th of olprii. On
that day the passage of other corps; from this
and other Stares through Baltimore was imped
ed by force and during nearly tivcruks after
wards the communication between ifatibington
and the loyal Stites was aim* eidirelt cut off.
On the 19th 1 received a reqnsat **MIN;
War P9PattlsOnt . AIM tire troops PrePan4
evidence of the confidence of the people in the
stability and integrity of the Commonwealth
and of their determination to support the Gov
ernment. . _
The operations of the Sinking Fund during
the last year have been as shown by my Procla
mation of .sth September last, as follow :
Debt redeemed from 4th Septeni
ber, 1860, to Ist Sept. 1861 $300,801 0
Of st ock loans $300,050 00
" interest on certifi
cates
" relief notes
I refer to the reports of the State Treasurer
and Auditor General for the details of the fi
nancial affairs of the Commonwealth. The re
ports of the Surveyor General and State Libra
rian will exhibit the state of the Dei-artments
under their case.
The Commissioners of the Sinking Fund dur
ing the last spring received trom- tee Philadel
dolphin and Erie (late Sunbury and 'Erie) Rail
road Company forty bonds of that Company for
$lOO,OOO each, and a mortgage to secure the
same executed in conformity with the third
section of the act of March the 7th, 1861. That
company has also deposited in the State Trims
ury its bonds to the amount of five millions of
dollars, in accordance with the 6th section of
the same act On the 9th of May bat I granted•
my warrant authorizing the State Treasurer to
deliver to the said company one thousand of
said bonds, being to the amount of one million
of dollars. This warrant was issued in conform
ity with the law, the five per cent bonds men
tioned in the fifth section of the . act (except
those belonging to the State and now in the
Sinking Fund) having been previously surren
dered and cancelled, and satisfaction entered
on the Record of the Mortgage men
tioned in said fifth section. Having re
mind notice from the company that
the bonds so delivered to the company or their
proceeds had been appropriated in accordance
with the provisions of the law, on the 21st of
June last I appointed John A. Wright as Com
missioner to examine and to report to me whe
ther said bonds or their proceeds had been ap
propriated to the purposes required by the act.
His report has not yet been received by me.
It is understood that arrangements have at
last theca made under which the direct railroad
connection between Philadelphia and Erie will
be completed within a short time. It is impos
sible to estimate too highly the importance of
this great work to the Commonwealth, and espe
cially to Philadelphia and Erie and the hither
to neglected counties near its route west of the
Susquehanna.
By the act of the 21st April, 1858, for the
sale of the State canals to the Sunbury and Erie
railroad company it was provided that if that
company should sell said canals for a greater
sum in the aggregate than three and a half
millions of dollars, seventy-five per centum of
such excess should be paid to the Common.
wealth by a transfer of so much of such bonds
and securities as said company should receive
for the same and flyable in like manner.
The company sold the canals and reported
that the share of-the profit on such sale, due to
the Commonwealth was $281,250 of which
$250 was paid in cash and for the remaining
$281,000 the Commonwealth received coupon
bonds of the Wyoming canal company to that
amount, being a portion of bonds for $900,000
issued by that company and secured by a mort
gage of the Wyoming Canal, formerly called the
Lower Northaßranch canal. These bonds bear
an interest of six per cent. per annum, payable
semi-annually on the 15th of January and July,
and the interest was paid by the company to
January last inclusive. The. interest due in
July last has not been paid. Judgments hav
ing been obtained against the company onsome
of the coupons for the unpaid July interest, a
bill in equity was filed in the supreme court by
a bond and stock holder in which such proceed
ings were had that by a decree made on the 2d
September last the property'and affairs of the
company were placed in the bands of a recei
ver.
A plan has been suggested for the assent of
the stock and bond holders which contemplates
a sale of the canal under lawful process and a
purchase of the same for the purpose of forming
a new company, of which the capital stock
shall be one million of dollars, divided into
twenty thousand shares of fifty dollars each, of
which each assenting holder of a mortgage bond
for one thousand dollars .shall be entitled to
eighteen shares, and each assenting holder of
fifty shares of stock of the Wyoming canal com
pany shall be entitled to nine shares. Of course
no officer of the Commonwealth had authority
to assent to the proposal or in any way to affect
her position. It is believed also that the
plan is not one that ought to be assented to
by the Commonwealth, and that under all the
circumstances, if the convenience of individual
parties requires a‘change such as proposed, the
debt due to the Commonwealth ought to be
first paid or fully secured.
I Suggest that the Act passed Bth of April,
1861, entitled. "An Act concerning the sale of
railroads, canals, &c.," should be modified so
that in all cases in which a debt may be due to
the Commonwealth by the company as whose
property a public work may be sold, the pur
chasers thereof shall not be =tilled to the bene
fits and privileges conferred byithe Act unless
they shall have first paid the debt due to the
State, or secured the same by their bonds to the
Commonwealth secured by a first mortgage on
the work itself.
in this State should be Clothe!, armed, equip
ped, subsisted and transported by the State in
consequence of the then inability of the United
States. This request warn- of course complied
with, and twenty-five regiments, (being eleven
regiments beyond our quota,) comprising 20,176
men from Pennsylvania served for the term of
three months under the President's proclama
tion above referred to.. As the furnishing those
volunteers with supplies was neceikarily under
the circumstances a hurried operation, and as
complaints were made in regard to them, and
frauds were alleged to have been perpetrated, I
appointed a board of commissioners to investi
gate the whole subject. A copy of their report
with the evidence taken by them has been al
ready laid before the public. It is the intention
of the Auditor General to open the accounts of
such parties as appear by the testimony to have
been overpaid and this course has already been
taken in two of those cases.
8,380 01
421 00
$300,801 0
On the expiration of the term of the three
months men in July last, some eight or ten thou
sand discharged Pennsylvania volunteers were
thrown into Harrisburg without notice and de
tained here, waiting to be paid, for an average
time of some ten days. Their tents, camp equip
age and cooking utensils had been taken from
them at Williamsport, Md. and they arrived here
destitute of all means of shelter and of preparing
their food. The Commissary of the United
States furnished uncooked rations, and under
the circumstances of emergency I deemed it ne
cessary to make arrangements for aiding in the
cooking and baking of the rations,
and also
for furnishing meal to such of the regiments
as arrived during the night or, under circum
stances requiring instant relief., The expenses
attending these operations amounted so far as
ascertained to $744 20, and I recommend that
the Legislature make an appropriatiort to pay
them. it ought to be stated that these expenses
would have been much larger, but for the lib
eral and patriotic efforts of the citizens and espe
cially the ladies of Harrisburg ; their free-hand
rd hospitality and generous aid to our wearied
and hungry soldiers, deserve remembrance and
gratitude.
At the special session of the Legislature which
commenced on the 80th of April last, I recom
mended the organization of a reserve corps, to
be armed, equipped, clothed, subsisted and paid
by the State, and drilled in camps of instruct
ion, in anticipation of the exigencies of the
country, and'by the Act of the 16th of May last,
such a corps was directed to be raised, and a
loan of $3,000,000 was authorized to defray the
expenses o that and other military preparations.
Men more than sufficient in number to form
some ten regiments of the Reserve Corps had,
previous to the 15th of May been accepted by
me in pursuance of a call on me (afterwards re
scinded,) for twenty-five regiments, and were
then already assembled and subject to my con
trol. Most of these men volunteered for the
Reserve Corps and were immediately organized.
The remaining regiments wererapidly recruited
and the Corps was thus completed, and George
A. McCall, of Chester county, was commissioned
as Major-General, and assigned to the command
of all the forces raised or to be raised under the
provisions of the last mentioned act. The regi
ments comprising the Reserve Corps were in
sttuotad in four camps in different parts of the
State, until they were taken into the service 'of
the United States. Two of these regiment~,
under the commands of Colonels Charles J. Bid
die and Seneca G. Simmons, and two • compa
nies of artillery under the command of Col.
Charles T. ,Campbell at the pressing in
stance of the War Department were sent on the
22d of June last to the relief of Col. Wallace, at
Cumberland, and remained for pbout six weeks
there, and in Western Virginia Nngaged in act
ive operations.
-Towards the close of July the whole Corps
was'called for under requisition, and 'taken into
the service of the United Stites; 'Within four
days after the disaster at Bull's Rhin, eleven
regiments of this fine bodY a men (armed,
drilled,. clothed, equipped, and in all respects
ready for active service,) were in Washington.
The regiments and companies from Western
Virginia and the remaining two regiments
making the whole number of fifteen, soon
joined them there, and they are all now in
service under the command of Gen. McCall,
who has been commissioned as a Brigadier
General by the United States.
These fifteen regiments contain fifteen thou
sand eight hundred and fifty-six men, and con
stitute a division comprising three'brigades, a
regiment of Artillery and one of Calalry. The
whole expense of raising, clothing, equipping,
subsisting and paying the Reserve Corps
(including the expense of establishing' and fit
ting the camps of instruction, of recrui. g, and
supplying regimental flags, and the ex . :of
the campaign of the two regiments and compa
nies in Maryland and Western Vi • which
were all defrayed by the State) has am. ted to
$856,444 87. This does not include e trans-
portation on Rail Roads, ad the se tioa of
that account would have been a wor of great
labor, nor does it include the pay of thk two re-.
giments during the campaign, but it doei include
all the expenses, which were heavy, of teiamsand
transportation, not on Railroads, for, the two
Regiments on the 'campaign above mentioned.
Twelve regiments of the .Reserve Corps were
paid, subsisted, &0.,.by the State to the luverage
date of 22, July. The two iegintentein Wes
tern Virginia were paid by the State' to the
date of their departure trom Harrisburg
on that expedition. The Caialry regiment was
not paid by the State.be perceiVed that
the whole average expense pir man was $58.95.
Previous to the 31st of Atall last, a regiment
city had been enlisted in the ty Eiriafrom North
western Pennsylvania. WUn the . call was
made on me on that day, fo4 26 additional re
giments, the Erie regiment war ordered to march
to Harrisburg: The call wad rescinded, heti
ever, before the regiment reached Pittsburg,
and I ordered it to encamp it that city where
it remained until the 30th of June. The Na
tional Government declined to muster the regi
ment into service—as all sassing requisions
made on the State were more than filled.
Much apprehension existed: to the Western
and South-western borders of thel State, and it
was deemed prudent to retain the, regimens at
Pittsburg te' meet any einergenqy that might
arise. After the passage of the Act of, 15th.
May, 1861, it was expected that the regiment%
would form part of the Reserve Volunteer (Idris;
but as the men had been a longiime from home
and remained inactive in camp; they declined
entering the service, and were subsisted and
paid up td the 30th of Juneitthei State. Two.
regimentslutve 'since
.-been list& from • the
same part of Pennsylvania at the 'city of Erie,
one of which has been at Witehtegton in service
since Settember, and the other irnow ready for
marching orders—and it is due b the- firdt Erie
regiment to say that most of th men are now
in serviee.
Further requisitions for six regiments of
Infantry and two regiment's o Cavalry were
shortly afterwards made by War .Depart
ment. Of these, sixteen ha already been
raised and Are in the servii , of llr,a United
States, and . the `remaining an h i the
course of organization and .:ray ready ;to
In addition to the req t
State, the War Departmea
thorities to numerous indi t
volunteers in , Pennsylv, •
system was found to create
merit, a general order was •
Department on the 26th of Se
ing all such organixitions.ruid t
the Governor, and shortly •al
bon was made on the Ntate
quota to 75,000 men. -
ganizations, as they were cal ,
Pennsylvania regiments and
sent forward form rortit state. if _
4;14 b"
The ti men aye dineasem,
and the B last to thiffdati 16. Two
of the three months regiments have continued
in service under the later _requisitions, and re
tain their original numbers. Deducting the
remaining twenty-three three months regiments,
there are ninety-two regiments in service and
preparing for it, We have also in service and
preparing twenty-four companies
The following table of the existing Pennsyl
vania volunteer force is given for informa
Lion:
66 regiments of Infantry of which 6 were
rifle regiments, 71,189
11 regiments of cavalry 12,690
1 regiment of artillery 1,077
OOMPANTIIB snavtae.
7 companiee of infantry, 707
6 " '• cavalry, 678
6 " " a r tillery, 986
Enlistments in other than Pennsylva
nia organisations, estimated, (she
officers of which are in muse of be
ing commissioned,)
,Total ih service,'
•MOMENTS PHYPARING 71PWL 191RVIOC.
1.2 regiments of infantry, 1309
9 2 .
1 .6 tilawafry, 1,16
1 " " artillery 1,077
00ZPANIRS PREPILVSNO IVOR 1311117/1011
1 company of cavalry, • 109
4 companies of artillery, 624
In service,
Preparing for service, ....
Pennsylvania's contribution, 109,615
Exclnatre of 20,175 three months men now dis
banded.
The regiments preparing for service are in
complete. Those that may not be filled by the
16th instant will be consolidated and sent for
ward. Of the regiments in service, the 11th
and 16th regiments of Infantry are at An
napolis; the 28th, 29th, 21st, 66th, 69th,
71st, 72nd and 106th regiments and one comps
ity of Infantry are in the command of Major
General. Banks ; the 45th, 50th, 65th, 76th and
100th regiments of Infantry are in South Caro
lina ; the 48th Infantry are at Hatteras Inlet ;
the 108th Infantry and 11th Cavalry are at
Fortress Monroe ; the 77th, 78th and 79th In
fantry, the 7th and 9th cavalry, one troop of
horse, one squadron of cavalry, two battalions
of artillery are in Kentucky; the 84th and 110th
Infantry are in Western Virginia, as are also
three companies of Infantry, lour companies of
cavalry, five, companies of light artillery ; the
Eth infantry are at Cockeysville, in Maryland;
ore company of artillery is at Fort Delaware ;
all the remainder of the volunteers are at or
near Washington. Upwards of 300 volunteers
from Pennsylvania are now prisoners, but as
arrangements have been made for the exchange
of prisoners it may be expected that they will
soou be released.
In compliance with the joint resolutions of
the 16th of lily last, I have procured regimen
tal flags•for the Pennsylvania volunteers, and
have presented them in person to most of the
regiments. In other cases, the regiments being
on or near the Potomac, I have requested Mr.
Cowan, Senator, and Messrs. Grow and Wright
members of the'House of Representatives, from
Penneylvania, to present them in the name of
the Commonwealth.
The General Government requested that the
States would- abstain from purchasing arms,
as their competition was found injuriov in the
market, and in view of the large'expenditures
of money inarming and equipping the volunteer
force of the State, provided for the defence of
the National Government, I did not purchase
any as authorized by the 28th section of the act
of the 15th of May, 1861. The State has now
quite as many arms as are' necessary to arm all
her volunteer organizations in existence ; but,
influenced by the threatening aspect of our rela
tions with foreign governments, I have directed
the Adjutant General to procure arms as soon as
it can be done on reasonable terms and without
injurious oompetilion with the National Gov
erment Arms have been distributed among
the border counties to all the organizations that
have been formed to receive them. 1980 arms
have been thus distributed. I have also ad
&eased a letter to the commissioners of all the
border counties, offering arms to them as soon
as military organizations shall be formed to
,receive them. :.Besides. thus-complying with
;the requirements_of the 27th section of the Act
of 16th May last, I have deemed it prudent to
offer five thousand arms to such military organ
izations as may be formedin Philadelphia on a
plan to be approved by me as Commander-ha-
Chief. Muskets and rifles to a considerable
extent have been furnished to the Pennsyl
vania volunteers from the_ State arsenal.—
Others have been sent by the United States
authorities to arm them before leaving the
State. In some cases regiments have gone
without arms under assurances from the War
Department that they would be armed at
Washington or other near designated points,
and that their immediate departure waa requir
ed. It was thought wise in these cases not to
insist on the arms being sent before the regi
menta marched, as this would have imposed on
the government an unnecessary expense in
freight, and would have been productive of de
lays which might have been.seriously detrimen
tal to the public service. Forty-two pieces of
artillery with limbers, caissons, forges, ammuni
tion-wagons, harnew and all the necessary im
plements and equipments were furnished by
the State to the artillery regiment ot- the Re
serve Corps. Ten of these were purchased by
the State, and their cost has been refunded by the
United States. Diligence has been used in col
lecting arms throughout the State and repair
ing and alt_ ring them in the most approved
manner.
The State has now
62 pieces of artillery, of which 17 need
repairs. • •
26,768 muskets and rifles, some of • which are in
the hands of mechanial being repaired,
1910 are in the hands of volunteer
corps throughout the State; 1930 in "the'
.• possession of County Conunksioners,
. and 1,000 with the reserve corps of
Philadelphia.
In addition to this the city of Philadelphia
. 9 pieces of rifled artillery, and
4,976 muskets and rifles.:
The State has Ma) in the arsenal at Harris
-1,966 'sabres and swords, and
1,957 pistols, and the city of Philadelphia ban
440 sabres, and
826 pistols with the necessary accoutrethents.
There is Also in , the Arsenal at Harrisbrirg 'a
large amount of accoutreme:nta .and smarm+ .
tien for artilleriand small arms.
The Adjutant General is succarsfolly engaged
in collecting arms throughout the State, and it
is expected that the number above stated will
he largely laereased. 'Probably, at least, 6,000
muskets and rifles and several pieces of artil
lefty. will 02111. *t collected.
lions on the
'tad given an-
Wale to raise
but as that
Lch einbarraea
zed by the War
Heber last plat
the contrtd,of
i.rde a reglad
iaoreade.. her
Afixtudent orp
'3 thus became
completed and,
quota of the
The care which has been-bestowed upon the
comfort of the volunteers, and the goodness
+tu2cU sufficiency , of !their , trapplies , of: all kinds;
sind4ha.exicellent arnulgernenta-bf the Medical
Deparhaenhausiesgthe control of Surgeon Ch3n
-
ell; Item 11..6mtth,`are proved by the fact
,that *pm than 60,000 men have been for vari
o generall short '
le pt. tapp certhi.
ate VILIIKatia .thni do
to the let Uri hlthlitedllittorty-nme
REGIUNNTII IN tIBRVICE
men at that camp, viz., forty-four from sick
ness, two (belonging to regiments from other
States,) who had been injured on railroads, two
accidentally killed in Camp Curtin and one
shot in Harrisburg.
To facilitate the making of allotments of
their pay by our volunteers in the field for the
support of their families at home, I appointed
Hon Edgar Cowan, Thomas E. Franklin and E.
C. Humes, Eeqs., commisssioners to visit the
camps of our men on and south of the Potomac,
and also James Park and M. W. Beltzhoover,
Fags:, commissioners to visit those in Kentucky
and elsewhere in the western country, to call
the attention of the troops to the system of al
lotment and to encourage them in adopting a
practical plan for carrying it into effect.
The several reports of these commissionemare
highly satisfactory.
For &tails on the several subjects connected
with the military operations of this State,
I re
fer to the reports of the Adjutant General, Snr
geonGeneral, Quarter Master Gederal, Commis
sary General and Paymaster General which ac
company this Message.
The dutiesjmposed on me were so onerous
that I found it necessary to invite the temporary
assistance of gentlemen on my staff to aid me
to perform them.
In this capacity, Cols. Thomas A. Scott, Gid
eon J. Ball and John A. Wright contributed
their valuable services from the . middle of
April until they were called away by other du
ties. Col ; Scott remaining until he became con
nected with the War Department, Col. Ball
until the Ist of June and Col. Wright until the
28d of July ; for the time thus devoted to the
service of the State they have refused to re
ceive any compensation.
Cols. Joseph D. Potts, A. L. Russell, J. Brown
Parker and Craig Biddle were in service up to
the 20th of December. The Department of
Telegraph and Transportation was under the
exclusive control of Cul. Potts. The system
and economy of its management show how
falthfully and well he fulfilled his office.
It is but just to all these gentlemen that I
should bear testimony to the untiring zeal
and fidelity with which their duties were per
formed.
84,956
2,22
87,177
6,400
98,577
15,806
16.088
98,677
16,038
The quota of the State having been more than
filled, and her military force organized, I was
enabled on the twentieth of December last,
to disptnse with a personal staff, and the
temporary arrangement which had been made
for its employment was then closed.
By the 18th section of the Act of the 15th of
May, 1861, I was authorised to draw my war
rants on the Treasury for a sum not exceeding
$20,000 for compensation to such persons as
might be required to serve the country in a
military capacity, &c. Of this fund I have
drawn from the Treasury $8,500, out of which I
paid the compensation of my personal staff,
also other expenses of the military department,
and the actual expenses of persons employed
on temporary service, none of whom reoeived
anyfurther compensation, and expenses of the
commissions appointed to investigate alleged
frauds, &c., and the- expenses of establishing
military patrols on the Maryland line and five
hundred dollars on secret service. My account
is settled in the office of the Auditor General
up to the Ist of December. On that day I
had expended $6,400, and except some incon
siderable payments made since, the balance
remains in my hands.
The report of the Auditor General will exhi
bit the items of the account.
An account of military expenditures by the
State on behalf of the United States, as far as
the same had then been ascertained and settled
by the accounting departments here, was made
up, to the let day of September, 1861, and pre
sented on the 12th of that month at the Trea
sury Department of the United States for settle
ment and allowance. The sum of $606,000, has
been received from the Treasury Department on
that account. The repayment by the General
Government of theexpenses attending the organ
ization and support of the Reserve Corps, may
not be provided for by any existing act of Con
gress. As these expenses were incurred by the
State for the benefit of the General Government,
and have been productive of results most im-
I portant to the welfare and even safety of the
country, it would be right that an act of Con
gress should be passed providing expressly for
their repayment. It lies with the Legislature
to adopt the proper means for directing the
attention of Congress to this subject.
Assurances have been received from the
Treasury Department that the examination of
j the military accounts of the State will be pro
ceeded in without delay, so that the State may
receive a credit for the balance due, in time to
apply the same towards the payment of her
quota of the direct tax. Assuming the completion
of this arrangement, if the State shall assume
the direct tax for this year, a saving of fifteen
per cent will accrue to her, and no present in
crease of her taxation will be necessary.
Whether this credit be given or not, I re
commend that the payment of the direct tax
be assumed by the State.
In case the State assumes the payment of thisi
tax there should be such revision of the
tax laws as will hereafter equitably apportion
the burden among the various interests now
subject or that can properly be made subject to
taxation. The saving of fifteen per cent, to the
people of the State by the assumption is a mat
ter worthy of thought, but a more important
consideration is that it will enable you who re
present all the varied intereilte of the Common
wealth to apportion the tax hi such manner as
to bear equally upon all. Our revenue laws
had imposed on real andspersonal property as
its full proportion but little more than one
third of the taxes needed for the ordinary ex
penditures of the governtnent. By, the act of 15th
May last, the tax on this species of property
has already been increased one-sixth. Should
the State refuse to assume the United States tax
the whole burden of it will fall upon these in
terests, interests too, moat unfavorably affected
by the war, whilst other kinds of property and
other sources ofrevenue, jridg,ed by our laws
able to pay nearly two-thirds of the present
revenues of the State, would not be called on
to cortrib,ute one dollar of, additional tax.
The militia system of the Commonwealth is
very imperfect. I recommend the establish
ment of a commission to frame and report a
system more adequate to the exigency of the
times.
I earnestly recommend to the legislature that
provision be made for the military instruction
of youth. The appointment of a military in
structor in the normal schools, would in a short
period give teachers to the common schools
who would be competent to train the boys in
attendance on them. It would in my opinion
be wise also to provide for the purchase or
leasing by the Commonwealth of a building for
a Military school, and for employieg competent
instructors at the expense, of the State,requiring
the pupils to defray the other expenses. No
pupil should be admitted to this school without
having passed a thorough examination on
mathematics and all fitting subjects of instruc
tion except the; military art, proper. I respect
fully urge. this subject on your early considera
tion, as one of material perbaps vital import
ance.
I have taken measures to direct the efficient
attention of the - General Government to the
fortification of the water approaches on the sea
board and the likes, and arrangement are in
the course of being effected which it is hoped
will be satisfactory in their result.
I send with this 'message a copy of a corn
mnrdcation from General Totten, chief of the
Military Engineer Department at Washington.
I' have also repreiehted to the Secretary of the
NavY the necemity for floating, defences on the
Delaware, and have his assurance that they
PigaPrelekted theearlieet moment.
ve° had a cOrrestoSndende . with the 'au
thorities and eo4 of the citme' pa of Erie 'on
Vit y ~ t tfifie'defeicelees condition of that
ci , and e part of the State bordering on
the lake. On exatuit,
there are no defences oni'
the ordnauCe at the city 4,f E. ' ;
by the National
1861. The Secretary of
made, directed that th e
States steamer
as Michigan
banded, as h been us . ati. a 1 1
remain in the harbor I,t
Should the Nation a l ii„ e , l
fail in its duty providing ~,j,
our assailable points.
neatly recommend that ti ,•
prompt means for that purr,,.;.be admonished, by le, lit la
abroad, to be prepare,l for t ) ;,,
well as for the supple,leu
rection.
In selecting a site fait
the public good be al ~,,•
vania will be preferred,
blued advantages of a Letitrii
dance of material and :1;111, .1
people of undoubted loalty
I commend to the latera l , ..-
ture the report of ilie su l
Public Schools, the
and the rapid progress of „
of just congratulation.
The reports of the Lunati
risburg and of We. -tern
Houses 01 Refug e at Phi ladel;l..l
of the Institutions for the
far the Lilind and the N. , ,t1,11. Ii
less Children at Phil...l,lphi
sylvania Training tichool
Minded Children at M,.11.1
meritorious chaiiti,..
and I recommend th a the e a,
of the Commonweaith ~a.t
Under the joint
commimioners
revenue laws, whose ,
submitted for the
Senate. It is hop d that
will be able to report
of the Legislature. celisia,
impmed on them, and e
the present time or a. a
formance of the ,
suggest that the coinpeh- th ;
the joint resolution
adequate amount.
It was evident, I,;nz
impossible for the burl,
their obligations hi t
large issues of pap,
was imposed on then' ah.l I
the exigencies of the tin,, •
fore, was felt at the
ments by the banks, whi; I;
day, the 30th of I),.cenii-.:
circumstances, I rccunurrc 1
lievei from all penalti, ,
law.
Perm/ylvania has made _
port the Government.
better clothed, and hem:: ,
any other State, and has
of the military levies. 7LL.
izens, young men 0( ~ k cat. , ,
the ranks of her c duut.cr I
gallant conduct, w1n.10.1.,.r
been afforded to dim. L.
the Commonwealth. 'I
mont among our
are loyal to the Gov , runi.:,[
their lathers, and ar,
present insurrection and
and that they will not 1,.:
either th© di ti
.uil or
EXECUMS
Harrisburg, Jan.
A Model Proclamation -It
ginia Guerrili:i
The Wheeling Inteliyq , r
We are indebted t.• N.t.,
original copy of the .1
tion to the world's
of a captain of a gii .g
thieves in the Allt•J
hang w.o.r
found in the possus,iol, “E
sons (familiarly known i < ••
was wounded and cirtir-i • [.
the Pendleton county line.
der Lieutenant F A. t
Virginia, who have hi en
Rion with a view of
"this 10.11 t :
" I hear By Notify ail tarn u.
to the dry fork Company
theava and felt., di-tat
usurped the power of t h e r:-
Company and 1 all sow -
to set toot of the soil of ,o , ! I
Read White Blue alai 'BAIR
name if nee( ssary at otl., •
thear wepon and defend 11 i
they at leading Enun.r ill O.! ..•
Wee Neerl them the tfry
and leav us to sta. d Bei .
creants and herelinus of ti. , N..
trate thear dark deol on A I.
comory wee will 011).Se
means that the god of Bit lc
power But not to di fende th.
pitrate thear dark do, d: ‘,a l t:
Blunt Now man come iu
Control them ou •.,
from them in A Comm 1 d it
wadgeous of sin is (1..u1i And 16e
such is death.
"Wadgeous" for wage' , ,t
the variation "waticinus
Batle can place in our power" i 4
depends on his ability to
appears. If he should chance
would'nt be near so wr II will , h
era" as if he should have pi u~c
very jealous of his authority
the penalty of impertii,r•ot 14oti
Slidell Sea-Sick—Maso n
him with Brandy .
The Boston Traveler tells Eli:- -1 ,
"We bear th it Mr. S.J , -11 -
aick in the tug Starlight, %via,
Princetown. Mason was entire'} f
disorder, and upon hearluC of
tlr
his friend, sent him a tumbler
which had a favoralae ffe.t. 10!
Slidell expressed his heartfrit mat.
than fen minutes after the four rt ,
sioners were received on board
was under weigh, and praludly
cape before the gale c onweLcol.
to the eastward, and is pr-habl
Halifax."
%ruins the past three:
southern cities have su.lerol
tions to an extent wiihout PA
give below the most disastrous
dates of their occurrence'
Dec. I2—Charleston,
Dec, 17—Greenville,
Dec. 22—Nashville, lenn
Jan. I—Richmond,
Total,
Da English papers calculate o n 1„
of the French government re""
ton before Mr. Seward seudi
Lyons in regard to the dern:itid c f t 1
government. The papers exprr, he
the French despatch will reach Wail
time to influence the reply of Mr.
Tae London nitteS bas CFI tit
zl
tary Chase's financial rep.e, and
length on the extraordinary t'N ;
borrowing system, deel,lljllll ti.a I I
anything in England's bittory.
Pianos is about to send ran f,.re,,
the squadron off .Ifexico, and also the
off the north Western coast of Aerici.
MEM