The star of the north. (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, January 15, 1862, Image 1

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U. n. JAC0BT,VroprieterO
Tntb and Right God and oar Country.
Two Dollars per Anncm.
VOLUME 14
BLOOMS BURG. COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA., WEDNESDAY JANUARY 15, 1862.
NUMBER 2.
np
iJ 1 l w 1L U JI ILlio
STIR OF THE NORTH
rUlLtSHID ITIBTWIDKIIPiT T
wa. ii..jitBy,
Cfflsc on Uala St.. Srd Square below Market,
TEKMS: Two Dollar pr annum if paid
within six months from the time of subscri
bing : two dollar and fifty cents if nej paid
within the year. No subscription taken for
a les period than six months; no discon
tinuance permitted until alt arrearages are
paid, unless at the option of the editor.
7 hi term cf adie-liing will be as follows :
On square, twelve lines, three limes, SI 00
Every subsequent insertion, ...... 25
One square, three months, . 3 00
One year, 8 00
- riUSl aMiitlau .ui.udi9.iuia
ASDEEWg' CURTIS.
Coietnor of Pennsylvania, to both noma of
t&t Legislature, reai January 8, 1862.
Jo the Honorable the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives of the Commonxoe Ulh of Penntyl
varta :
Gentlemen: It has pleased Divine Pro v.
Uence, during the last season, lo give us
abundant crops, unbroken peace withiu our
borders, unanimity among our. people, and
thus to enable this Commonwealth to do
her fall duty to the country, to herself and
to posterity. For these blessing we have
cause to be grateful.
The balance in the
Tresaury on the
30th Nov., 1860,
was S68J.433.0S
The receipts da-'
. ring the fiscal
tear ending Nov. -
80, 1861, were as
follows:
From ordinary sour
ces. 83,017,645.57
From temporary
loan under Act
of Ap.i 12, 1861,
I 6 percent, in
teresl and nego
tiated at par. $475,000 00
From 6 per cent
loin under Act of
May 15. 186l,al
go negouaied at
par. 52,612,150.00
From Society ot
Cincinnatus. 500.00
From United States
- on ac't military
expenses. 608.000.00
From Paymasters
and other refun
ded. -22,229.45
6,743 525 02
Total in Treasury
for fiscal year
iHirit Nov. 3U.
- 1861. 7,424,958 10
And the payments as follows:
For ordinary pur
poses. 83,144,480.34
For military ex
penses, onder
Acts April 12,
1861, and May
25 aud 16 .1861:
474J'873.85
1,708.462.63
170,535 51
2,353 872 04
For im't loan on
der Act of Apiil
12, 186 prepaid.
375,000 00
5 873 352.38
Leavin? balance in Treasury.
Nov. 30, 1861. SI, 551,605.72
Public Del Funded and Unfunded.
Received from
. temporary loan
under Act April
12,1861. 5475,000.00
Renaid a above.
375 000 00
Outstanding Nov.
30, 1861,
Received from loan
under Act May 15,
1S61.
Amount of poblic
S 100,000.00
2,612,150.00
debt, funded and
unfunded, Nov.
30, 1860. 837,969.847.50
Paid duriug fiscal
year. 101.331.42
537,863,516.03
Jl e tn a i n i nz un
paid, (exclu
sive cf military
loans abve men
tioned,) Nov. 30
1861. , $37,868,51608
Receipts and Expenditure of Military Loans.
Receipts from Mil-'
itary loan under
AclAprd 12,1861. 8475,000.00
Act May 15,1861. 2,612,150.00
From Pay Masters
andolhersrefund-
ed. - 32,229.45
53,119,379.45
Paid for military
expenses as a
bove 2,353,872 04
Paid for redeem
ing loan. Act '
April 12. 375,000 00
2728,87204
Unexpended of military loans. $390,507 41
Jlsce'pts and Expenditures of Ordinary Rectr.ue.
Balance in Treas
, ory from ordi
n a r y sources,
Not. 30, 1860. 5681,433.03
Received from Or
dinary sources
during fiscal y'r. 3,017,545.57
83,699,07865
Paid for ord'ry ex-
peaeessabove. 3,144,48034 . .
TTnexpended of ord'iy revenue. 8554,533.3
Received from U.
E :ates Govern-
ment on account
rniSnarr expea
ditcre. " -
Hszslrei from So
ciety of Cmcia
rat us.
eo5,coo.oo
50000
r'ance in Treasn-
tt&f, above. 51,551,605 72
it will baoteerved that the fiscal year ends
r- tv a Z'.ih cf November, and the inki'g
"-"d year o.n the first Monday in Septem-
r, which fcccoufiis tor toe apparent aen
r.ry ta tha amnojit cf debt paid as s'ate
th3Tracrer report, znd by ths Corr
a apparent cen-
ed
AO'.zii ci the sinking
cn Izzi a fcrr-lss
cf .cnifcrms and
l . . - - -
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 ex
penses of the State since the 27th of July
last. The bills as paid are forwarded to
Washington and partial repayments have ,
already been made. j
It will be observed that the receipts from '
odinary sources of revenue tor the ear.
1861 have decreased, but as payments have i
been made on some of them since the set- j
tlement at the end of the fiscal year on the I
nrst ot uecemoer, anu more may reasona
bly be expected in addition to the payments
to be msde by the National Government as
heriual'er stated the balance available in
the treasury will be largely increased.
It will also be observed that it has not yet
been found necessary to call in all of the
loan effected under the act of the 18th of
May last.
In some items the ordinary revenue of
1861 was in expess of that of I860.
The loan authorized by the act of May
15th, 1861. was taken a, par. This occur
rence, most gratily ing under all the then
existing circumstances of embarrassment,
affords triumphant evidence ot the confi
dence of the people in the stability and in
tegrity of the Commonwealth and of their
determination to support the Government
The operations ot the Sinking Fund dur
ing the Inst year have been as shown by
my Proclamation of 5ib September last, as
follows :
Debt redeemed from 4th Sep.
1860, to 1st Sep. 1861, 2300,801.01
Of stock loans. 300,050 00
"interests on cer-
ficates. 3,330.01
''relief notes. 421.00
" - $300,801.01
1 refer to the reports of the Stale Treasu
rer and Auditor General for the details ol
the financial affairs of the Commonwealth.
'J he report of the Surveyor General and
State Librarian will exhibit the stale of the
Departments under their care.
The Commissioners of the Sinking Fund
dnrins the last spring received Jrom Phila
delphiaand Erie (late Sunbury and Erie)
Railroad Company forty bonds ol that Com
patty for S'0) 000 each aud a mong2tf to
secure tt.e sam executed in coutorrniiy
with he third section of the act of March
the 7th 1861. That company has tirade
posited in the S ate Treasury its bonds to
the amount ol five millions ol dollars in ac
cordance wuh the 6ih section ot the came
act On the 9th ol May lat 1 granted my
warrant authorizing the Slate Treasury, to
deliver' to the said company one thousand
of said bonds, being to the amount ot one
million of dollars Thi warrant wa issued
in conformity with the law, the five per
cent bonds mentioned in the fifth section ol
the act (except those belonging to the State
and now in the Sinking Fond) hiving been
previously surrendered and cancelled, and
saiifaction entered on the Record of the
Mortgage mentioned in said fifth section.
Having received notice irom 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.
V right as Commissioner to examine ai.d
to report to me whether said bonds or their
proceeds had been appropriated to the pur
poses required by the act. His report has
not yet been received by me.
It is understood that arrangements have
at laM been made nnder which the direct
railroad connection between Philadelphia
and Erie will be completed within a priori
time. It is imj osible to e-timate too highly
the importance of this great work to tho
Commonwealth, and especially to Philadel
phia and Erie and the hitherto neglected
counties near its route west of the Susque
hanna By the act of the 21st April. 1858, for the
sale of the State canals to the Suubury and
Erfe railroad company it was provided that
i( that company should sell eaid ca
nals for a greater sum in the aggregate than
three and a half millions of dollars, seventy
five per centum of such excels should be
paid to the Commonwealth by a transfer of
so much of such bonds and securities as
said company should receive for the same
and payable in like manner.
The company sold the canals and report
ed that the share ot the profit on such sale,
due to the Commonwealth was 8281,250 of
which 250 was paid in cash and lor the re
maining 8281,000 the Commonwealth re
ceived coupon bond of the Wyoming canal
company to that amount beini a portion of
bonds for (900,000 issued by that compa
ny and secured by a mortgage of the Wyo
ming canal, formerly called the Lower North
Branch canal. These bouds bear an inter
est of six percent per annum, payable semi
annually on the 1 5th of January and July,
and ih interest was paid by the company
to January last inclusive. The interest due
in July last has not been paid. Judgments
having been obtained against the company
on some of the coupons for the unpaid July
interest, a bill in equity was filed in the su
preme court by a bond and stock holder in
which such proceedings were had that by
a decree made on the 2d September last the
property and affairs of this company were
placed in the hands of a teceiver.
A plan has been fugested for the assent
of the slock and bond holders, which con
template a sale ot the canal under lawful
process and a purchase ot the same for the
purpose of forming a new company of
which the capita! stock shall be ont million
of dol ars. divided into twenty thousand
shares of fitly dollars each, of which each
assenting holder ot a mortgage Lund lor one
thousand dollars, shall b9 entitled lo eigh
teen share, and each assenting holder of
fi:ty shares of stock ot ihe Wyoming canal
company thall t e emitl&d to nine shares.
Ot course no officer of the Commonweal n
had authority to assent to the proposal or in
any way to affect her poji'.iou. It is believ
ed also that the plan is oot one that ought
lo be assented io by the Common wealth
and that under all the circumstances, if ihe
convenience of individual parties requires
a change cuch as proposed, ihe debt due to
the Commonwealth ought U be first paid or
fully secured
I suggeVt that the Act pased 8th of April,
1861. entitled "An Act concerning ihe sal
of railroads, canal. &c.,': should be modifi
ed so that in all case in which a debt may
be due to the Common wealth by the com
pany as whose property a public work may
be sold, the purchasers thereof shall not be
entitled to the benefits nd privileges con
ferred by the Act unlets they shall have
first pa d the debt due to the State, or secu
red ih -ame by their bonds to the Com
monvt e thh secured by a first mortgage on
tha work ii-e-'f.
I coracaend the ubjtct to the immediate
ccHU!era!io!i of tha Le;is'aiure, as an effort
mar ba made at an early Jay to - enforce a
eels cf tha C3.na!,ar.d to a prsTialcaby law
to protect the interests of the State would, in
that case be necessary. r
The wicked and monstrous rebellion w hich
broke out many months ago, has not yet
been quelled. Every sentiment of loyalty
and patriotism demands its effectual sup
pressioti
In my messages cf the 9th and 30th of
April last, I set forth at length my views of
the character and objects of the. contest
which is still pending. Subsequent reflec
tion has confirmed me tn the correctnes of
the opinions-then expressed,and to which I
refer. In addition it might to be undentood
that, looking to the variety and charactar of
her products and industry, her material in
terest alone would render the preuerv ition
of the Union from the present assault upon
it indispensable to Pennsylvania. She can
not afford to have a foreign power belcw or
above or bonnding her on the Delawars.ihe
Chesapeake.or the Mississippi, and sh will
never acquiesce in such a result, whatever
may re the cost in men and money o; her L
resistance to it.
On the 9ih of April last 1 directed tie at
tentionofthe Legislature to the necessity
which existed for an improved militan or
ganization, and on the 12th of the "ame
month the Act entitled "An Act for ihu bet
ter organization of the militia of this com
monwealth" passed, appropriating thf sum
of S 500:000 for the purpose of organizing,
equipping and arming the militia On the
15th ot April the President, by proclamation
called for a military force of 75:000 mon, of
which the qoota assigned to Pennsylvania
was at first sixteen (afterwards reduced to
fourteen) regiments to serve as infantry or
riflemen for ihe term of three months.tin'ess
sooner discharged. .This call was enthusi
astically responded to by the people of
Pennsylvania. Th first military aid from
the loyal States, which the Government re
ceived at Washington, was a Pennsylvania
corps which arrived there prior to the 19th
ol Apnl On that day the pa-sage of other j
corps from thi and other States through i
Baltimore was impeded by force and during
nearly two weeks atterward the com muni
cation he: ween Washington and the loyal
s'aies was almost entirely cut off. On the
19ih I received a request from the W ir De
partment that the troops preparing in this
tlaie should be clothed, armed equipped,
subsisted an I transported by the Stite in
consequence of the then inability of the
United Sta'es This request was of :ourse
complied with, and twenty-five regi nenls,
bemji eleven regiments beyond our ouota)
comprising 20,175 men from Pennsylvania
t-erved for ihe the term of three mom is nn
tier the President's proclamation abeve re
ferred ta As ihe furnishing those volt nteers
with supplies was necessary under ilie cir
cumstances a hurried operation, tr,d as
complaints were made in regard to them,
and Irauds were alleged lo have bee i per
petrated, I appointed aboard ol commis
sioners to investigate ihe whole subject. A
copy of their report with the evidenc i taken
by them has been already laid btre th
public. It is the intention oi the Auditor
General to open the accounts of such par
tie as appear by the testimony t have
been overpaid, aud this course has tlready
been taken in two ol those ca-es
On the expiration of the term of the three
month men in July last, some eight or ten
thousand discharged Pennsylvania volun
teers were thrown into Harrisburg 'vithout
notice and detained here, waiting to 5e paid
for an average time of some len days
Their tents, camp equipage and oooking
utensils, had been taken from thern at Wil
liamsport, Md. , and they arrived lure des
titute of all means of shelter and ot prepar
ing their food. The Commissary of the
United Nates furnished uncooked rations,
and under the circumstances ot emergency
I deemed it necessary lo make J rrange
ments for aiding in the conking and baking
of the rations, and also for furnishing meals
to such regiments a arrive ! dur ng the
nght. or under circumstance requi 'ing in
stant relief. The expenses attendir g these
operations amounted, so far as asce 'lained ;
to 8744:20, and I recommend that the Legis
lature make an appropriation to pa r ihern
It ought to be stated that these expenses
would have been much larg-r, but for the
liberal and patriotic efforts of the :itizens,
and especially the ladies, of Harrif burg ;
their free handed hospi'ality and j eneroas
aid io our wearied and hungry soldiers, de
serve remembrance anc gratitude.
At the special session ot the Legislature
which commenced on the 30th of April last
1 recommended the organization of it reserve
corps, to be armed, equipped, clot fed sub
sisted and paid by the Staie, and drilled in
camps of instruction, in aniicipatio i of the
exegencies of the country .and by tl e Act of
15lh of May last, such a corps was directed
to be raised, and a loan of 83,000,1)00 was
anthorized to delray the expenses of that
and other military preparations. Men more
than sufficient in number to form some ten
regiments of the Reserve Corps had, previ
ous to the 15th ot May been acci pted by
me in pursuance of a call on me(a te rwards
rescinded,) for twenty-five regimen s, and
were then already assembled and subject io
my control. Mostol these men volunteer
ed for the Reserve Corps and were immedi
ately organized. The remaining rjgimenls
were rapidly recruited and the Corps was
thns completed, and George A. McCall, of
Chester county, was commissioned as Ma
jor General, aud assigned to the command
of all the forces raised or to be raited under
the provisions of the last memionnd act.-
The regiments composing the Reserve
Corps were instructed in four cam; is tn dif
lerent parts of the State, until they were ta
ken into the service of ihe United States.
Two of these regiments, under he com
mands oi Colonels Charles J.'Biidle aud
Seneca G. Simmons, and two companies ot
artillery onder the command of Co . Charles
1. Campbell at ihe pressing instai.ee ot the
War Department were sent on th 22d of
June laM to' the relief of Col. W illace, at
Cumberland, and remained for about six
weeksthere, and in We sue r a Virginia enga
ged in active operations
Towards the close of July the whole Corps
was called for under requisition, t nd taken
into ihe service of il United Statue With
in four day alter the disaster at Bull Ron
eleven rej'menis, of this fine bodi of men
armd, drilled, clothed. equippeJ, and in
nil respects ready for active servife were
in Washington. The regiments tnd torn
panies from Western Virginia an I the re
maining two regiments making tie whole
number of fifteen, soon joined thm there,
and they are all now in service binder the
command of Gen. McCall, who -has been
commissioned as a Brigadier Geni ral of the
United States. ',
These fifteen Tegimenta contiin fifteen
thousand eight bondredand fifty -six men,
and constitute a divUion. compriiing three
brigades a regiment of Artillery and one of
j iavKjry. ins wnoie expense ipf raising
cioiaisj, equipping aubwsung nd paying
the Reserve Corps including the expense
ot establishing and fitting the camps of in
struction, of recruiting, and supplying regi
mental flags, and the expenses of the cam
paign ol the two regiments and companies
in Maryland and Western Virginia, which
were all defrayed by the State has amount
ed to S855, 444:87 . 1 his does not include
the transportation on Rail Roadt,as the sep
aration ot that account wouhi have been a
work of great labor, nor does it include the
pay of the two regiments during the cam
paign, but it does include all ihe expenses,
which were heavy, of teams and transpor
tation, not on Railroads, for the two regi
ments on the campaign above mentioned.
Twelve regiments of the reserve Corps were
paid subsisted, &c, by the State lo the av
eiaae dale of ihe 22d July. The two regi
ments in Western Virginia were paid by
the slate to the date of their departure from
Harrisburg on that expedition. The Caval
ry regiment was not paid by the Stale. It
will be perceived that the whole average
expense per man was 853:95.
Previous to the 31st of April last, a regi
ment had been enlisted in the city of Erie,
from Northwestern Pennsylvania. When
the rail was made on me on that day, for
25 additional regimenls, the Erie regiment
was ordered to march to Harrisburg. The
call was rescinded however, before ihe reg
iment reached Pittsburg, and I ordered :i
to encamp at that city, where it remained
until the 30th of June. The national Gov
ernment declined to muster the regiment
i.ito service, as all existing requisitions
made on the Slate were more than filled, ,
1
1
Much apprehension existsed in lh West-
em and South western borders of the State
and it was deemed prudent to retain the i
regiment at Pittsburg lo meet any emergen- '
cy that might arise. After tha passage of j
ifi Act of 15th May, 1861, it was expected
that the regiment would form part of the i
Reserve Volunteer corps ; bul as the men ;
had been a long time from home and re- ;
mained inactive in camp, they declined
entering the service, and were subsisted
and paid up to the ?0th of June by the State. .
Two regiments have since been enlisted j
from the same part of Pennsylvania at the ;
city of Erie, one of which has been at .
Washington in service since' September,
and the other is now ready for marching '
orders and it is due lo the first Erie regi
ment to say that most of the men are now ;
in service i
Fur.her requisitions for sixteen regiments j
of Infantry and two regiments of Cavalry
were shortly afterwards made by ihe War
Department. Of these, sixteen have al
ready been raised and are in the service of
the United States, and the remaining two
are in the course of organization and nearly
ready to march.
In addition lo the requisitions on the
Slate, the War Department had given au
thorities to nnmerous individuals to raise
volunteers in Pennsylvania, but as that sys
tem was found to create much embarrass
ment, a general order was issued by the
War Department on the 25th ot September
last, placing all such organizations under
the control of the Governor, and shortly af
terwards a requisition was made on the
State to increase her quota to 75 000 men.
Those independent organizations, as they
were called, thus became Pennsylvania
regiments and as completed and sent for
ward form part ot ihe quota ot the htate.
The State regiments have been numbered, I
and the last to this date is numbered 115.
Two of the three months regiments have
continued in service under the late requisi- j
tions. and retain their original numbers.
Deducting ths remaining twenty-three three
months regiments, ti.re are ninety-two reg
iments in service and preparing for it. We
have also in service and preparing twenty
four companies.
The following table of the existing Penn
sylvania volunteer force is given for infor
mation: RIOIMXXTS IH SERVICE.
66 regimen
its of infantry of which 6
e regiments, 71.189
were rifle
11 reeimsnts of cavalry. 12.G90
1 regiment of artillery, 1,077
COMPANIES IS SERVICE.
7 companies of infantry, 707
6 " " cavalry, 578
6 " ' artillery, 936
2,221
87,177
Enlistments In other Pennsylvania
organizations, estimated, (the offi
cers of which are in course of being
commissioned,) 6,400
Total in Service, 93,577
REGIMENTS PREPARING FOR SERVICE.
12 regiments of infantry, 13.092
1 regiment " cavalry, 1,136 j
1 " artillery, 1.077
15,305
con panies PREPARING fOB SERVICE.
1 company of cavalry,
1 " artillery,
109
621
733
16,038
93 577
16,038
In service.
Preparing for service,
Pennsylvania's contribution, 109,615
Exclusive of 20,175 three months men now
disbanded. a -
Tue regiments preparing for service are
incomplete. Those that may not be filled
by the 16th inst., will be consolidated and
sent forward. Of the regiments in service
the llth and 15th regiments of Infantry are
at Annapolis ; the 28th, 29, 31st, 66tb, 69th, !
71st, 72nd and lUuth regiments ana one
company of Infantry are in the command of
Major General Banks ; the 45tb, 50th, 55th.
76th and 100th regiments of Infantry are in
South Carolina; the 43th Infantry are at
TT..t.... Inl-I
the 108th Infantry and llth
t- 1 .... T7V f -en. f ..nna . th 77 1 h
tsui. o- 7Qk rr.f-n. rhu 7th ni- 9th
Cavalry, one troop of horses, one squadron
r r..trV two batal lions of Artillery are
in Kentucky : the 84th and 110th Infantry
are in Western Virginia, as are also three
companies of Infantry four companies ot
r. .. f r - i - , : 1 1
Cavalry, five oinpanies of Light Artillery ;
the 87th Infantry are at Cockeysville, in
Maryland ; one company of Artillery is at
Fort Delaware ; all the remainder of the vol
unteers are at or near Washington. Up
wards of300 volunteers from Pennsylvania
are now prisoners, but as arrangements have
been made for the exchange of prisoners, it
may be expected that they will soon be re
leased. .
In compliance with the joint resolutions
of the sixteenth of May It, I have procur
ed regimental flags for the Pennsylvania
Tolonteert, and ha?e presented them in jr
soa to most cf the regiments. la other ea
ees the regiments being on or near the Po
tomac, I have requested Mr. Cowan, Sena
tor, and Messrs. Grow and Wright.tns rubers
of the House of Representatives from Penn
sylvania, 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 fuuud inju
rious in the market, and in view of the large
expenditures of money in arming and equip
ping the volunteer force of the State, provi
ded for the defence of the National Govern
ment. I did not purchase any as authoriz
ed by the 28th section of thp act of the h
of May, 1861. The State has now quite as
many arms as are necessary to arm nil the
j volunteer organizations in existence ; but,
i influenced by the threatening aspect of our
j relations with foreign Governments, I have
directed the Adjutant General to procure
arms as 6oon as it can be done on reasona
ble terms and without injurious competition
with the Natioal Government. Arms have
been distributed among the border counties
to all the organizations that have,been form
ed to receive them. 1930 arms have been
thus distributed. I have also addressed a
letter to the commissioners of all the border
counties, offering arms to them as soon as
military organizations shall be formed to
i receive them
! Beside thus comolyin
g with the require
ments of the 27th sectio'u of the Act of the
' 15th of May last, I have deemed it prudent
t to offer five thousand arms to such military
organizations as may be found 10 l'hiladel
adelphia, on a plan to be offered by me as
Commander-in-Chief. Muskets and rifles to
a considerable extent have been furnished
to Pennsylvania valunteers 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 des
ignated points, and that their imintdiate de
parture was required.
It was thought wise in these cases not to
insist on the arms being sent before the
regiments marched, as this would have im
ported on the Government an unnecessary
expense in freight, and would have been
productive of delays which might have been
seriounly detrimental to the public service.
Forty-one pieces of artillery with limbers,
caissons, forces, ammunition, and wagons,
harness, and all the necessary implements
and equipments were furnished by the State
to the artillery regiment of the Reserve
Corps. Ten of these were purchased by the
State, and the cost has been refundod by the
United States. Diligence has been used in
collecting arms throughout the State and
repairing and altering them in the most
improved manner.
The State has now
C2 pieces of artillery, of which 17 need re
pairs. 26,753 muskets and rifles, some of which
are in the hands of mechanics being
repaired ; 1910 are in the hands of vol
unter corps throughout the State ; 1930
in the possession of County Commis
sioners, and 1,000 with the reserve
corps of Philadelphia.
In addition to this the city of Philadel
phia has
9 pieces of rifled artillery, and 4,976 mus-
kets and rifles
The Stats has also in the Arsenal at Har
risburg. 1.C99 sabres and swords, and 1,957 pistols.
and the city of Philadelphia, has 440
sabres, and 326 pistols with the neces
sary accoutrements.
Thare is also in the Arsenal at Harris
burg a large amount of accoutrements aud
ammunition for artillery and small arms.
The Adjutunt General is successfully en
gaged in collecting arms throughout the
State, and it is expected that the number
above stated will be largely increased.
Probably, at least 5,000 muskets and rifles
and several pieces of artillery will be collec
ted. The care which has been bestowed upon
the comfort of the volunteers, and the good
ness and sufficiency of their supplies of all i
kinds, and the excellent arrangements of!
the Medical Department under the control j
of Surgeon Henry II. Suii'h. are proved by j
the fact that more than 60.000 men have j
been for various, generally, short period at
Camp Curtin since the 19th of April last, !
and that down to the 1st January instant.
there died but fortv-nioe men at that Camp
viz : fourty-four from eickaei-s, two (belong-
ing to regiments from other States,) who
had been injured on railroads, two acoiden- ) pUp,i eUould be admitted tj tbU school j papers, k.-iown, to bo exponents of govern
tally killed in Camp Curtin and one shot in 1 vr.n.out having passed a through examiou- J lne. po!lc. ,h(J ecf0' a u f ,
To faciliate tho making of allotments of ! of instruction except the military art prt per.
their pay by our volunteers in the field for ' 1 respectfully urge this subject on your ear
ths support of their familie at home. I ap-1 ly considerations, as one of material, per-
pointe
ointed Hon. Edi?ar Cowan.Thos. E. Frank-
lin and . C
Humes, esq.,
commissioners
to visit the camps of our men on and ooutt
th
of the Potomac, and also James rant and
M. W. Reltzhoover, esq., commissioners to
visit those in Kentucky and elsewhere in
mac, and also James Pars: anc
. the western country, to call the atteotioo of
the troops to the system of allotment and to
1 encourage them in adopting a practical plan
for carrying it into caect.
The several reports of these commission
ers are highly satisfactory.
For details on the several subjects con
nected with the military operations of this
State, I refer to the rep'orts of the Adjutant
General, Surgeon General, Quartermaster
General, Commissary General and Paymas
ter General which accompany this Message.
The duties imposed on me were so oner
ous that I found it necessary to iuvite the
temporary assistance of gentlemen on my
staff to aid uie to perform them.
In this capacity Cols. Thomas A. Scott,
Gideou J. Ball, and John A. Wright cou
trihuted their valuable services trom the
middle of April until they were called away
by other duties. Colonel Scett remaining
- t It'
until he became connected with the ar
; Dtfoartiuent. Col. Ball until the first ot
Juoe, and Col. Wright until the 23rd of
July ; lor tne time mus ucvumo. io uo
ger
; vice of the State, they have
refused to re
ceive any compensation.
Col. Joseph D. Potts, A. L. Russel, J.
j Brown Parker and Craig Biddle,
, service up to the 20th of Decern!
Department of Telegraph and Ti
were in
bsr. The
Transporta
tion was under the exclusive control of Col.
Potts. The system and ecouomy of its
management show how failbfully and well
he fulfilled his office.
It is but just to all these gentlemen that
I shoull bsar testimony to the untiring zeal
and fidelity with which their duties were
performed.
The qnota of the State having been more
than filled, and ber military force organized,
1 was enabled on the twentieth of December
last, to dispease with personal staff, and
the temporary arrangement which had been
made for its employment was then closed.
By the 13th section of the Act of the 15th
of May, 1861, I was authorized to draw my
warrauts on the Treasury for a sum not ex
ceeding $20,000 for compensation to such
persons as might ba required to serve the
country in a military capacity, &o. Of this
fund I have drawn from the Treasury J8,
000, out of which I paid the compensation
of my personal staff, also other expenses of
the military department, and the actual ex
penses of persons employed on temporary
service, none of whom received any further
compensation, aud expenses of the commis
sions appointed to investigate alleged frauds,
Sbc, and the expenses of establishing milita
ry patrols on the Maryland line and five
hundred dollars on secret service." My ac
count is settled in the office of the Auditor
General up to the lst'of December. On that
day I had expended $6,400, and except some
inconsiderable payments made since, the
balance remains in my hands. The report
of the Auditor General will exhibit 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 male up to the 1st day of Septem
ber, 1861, and preented on the I2th of that
month at the Treasury Depftrtmaut of the
United estates tor settlement and allowance.
The sum of $606,000, has been received from
the Treasury Department on that account.
The repayment by the General Government
of the expenses attending the organization
and support of the Reserve Corps, may not
be provided for by auy existing act of Con
gress. As these expeuses were incurred ty
the State for the benefit of the General Gov
ernment, and have been productive of ro.
safety of the country, it would be right that
an act of Congress should be passed pro
viding expressly for their repayment. It
lies with the Legislature to adopt the proper
means fur dircetiug the attention of Congress
o this subject.
Assurances have been received from the
Treasury Department that the examination
of the military accounts of the state will by
proceeded in without delay, so that the state
may receive a crvdit for the ballancedue iu
time to apply the same towards the payment
of the quota of the direct tax. Assuming the
compleiiuTS of this arrangement, if the State
shall assume the direct tax for this year, a
saving of fifteen per cent, will accrue to her,
und no present increase 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 btate assumes the payment of
this tax there should be sjch revision of the
tax laws as will hereafter equitably appor
tion the burden among the various interests
now subject, or that cau properly be made
subject to taxation. The saving of fifteen
per cent, to the people of the state by the
assurution is a matter worthy of thought, but
a more important consideration is that it,
will enable you who represent all the varied
interests of the commonwealth to apportion
the tux iu such manner as to bear equally
upon all.
Our revenue laws bad imposed on real
and personal property as its tull proportion
but little iuore than one third of the taxes
needed for the ordinary expenditures of tha
government. Ry the act of 15th May last
the tax on this species as property has al
ready been iucreased one sixth. Should the
State refuse to assume the United States
tax the whole burden of it will fall upon '
theo interests, interests too, most uniavor- i
ably affected by the war, whilst other kinds J
of nroDertv and other sources ot
sources ot rveaue.
judged by our laws aula to pay nearly two -
j thirds of the present revenues of the state,
I would not be called on to contribute ondol-
i lar of additional tax.
The militia system of the commonwealth
is very imperfect. I recommend the estab-
lisbmeut or a commission to frame anl re-
port a sytteai more adequate to the exigen-
t:y of the times.
- .....
1 earnestly recommend to the Legislature
that provisions be maJe lot tha military 1
instruction of youth. The appointment of j
a military instructor in tiie lroruial schools;
would iu a snort period give ;euchers to the
common suuuois who woud Le competent t
train the boys iu atteudance on iheui. It j
woulJ in my or.nni.ai he wie ai.o to 1
pr.-vide for ihi purchase or leasing, by the
conimonweaiin. 01 a um.uii.ii ior iiiuiiai v
Kl.i.n.1iH o,i i.r eoinluvimr oomneteut in
j gtructors at the expense of the state, requir -
j tnz ti,e pupils to uefray the other expeoMs.
iaps vital, importance.
1 have tnkeu measures to direct the effi-
cieut atteutiou of the General Government
to the fortiacatiou of the water approaches
on the sea board and the lakes, and arrange
ments are iu the course of being effected
which it is hoped will be satisfaction in their
results.
1 send with this message a copy of a com
munication from General Totte:-, chief of the
Military Engineer Department at Washing
ton. I have also represented to the Secreta
ry of the Navy the necessity for floattug de
fences on the Delaware, aud have his assur
ance that they shall be prepared at the ear
liest moment.
1 have LaJ a correspondence with the
authorities and some of the citizens of Erie
on the subject of the defenseless conditions
of that citj, and the part of the State bor
dering ou the lake. On examination it is
fouu J that there are no defences ou the lake,
and that the ordnance at the city of Erie was
withdrawn by the National Government in
the bummer of 1&61. The Secretary of the
Navy, on a request made, directed mat the
I crew of the United States steamer Michigan
I i 1 l L - t 1 ..1. .. .1 ...4 .... l... I. n-il
nouiti HOI ue uikuiuucu, as uuo yvv.. ujuoi.
and that vessel will remain in the harbor
of Erie during the winter. Should the
National Governmeut unexpectedly fail in
its duty by providing adequate defences at
our assailable point, East and Wast, I ear
nestly recommend that the Legislature
take prompt means for that purpose. W'e
should be admonished, by recent indications
from abroad, to be prepared for our own
defanc. as well as for the suppiession of
domestic insurrection.
In selecting a site far a National Armory,
if the public good be alone considered,
Pennsylvania will be preferred, as she af
fords the combined advantages of a central
position, abundance of material and skilled
mechanics, and a people of undoubted loyal-
I commend to the attention of the Legisls
tnre the report of the Superintedent cf the
Public Schools, the fiouriahws state of
whioh apd the rapid prngressi of edoction
are subjects of just congratulation.
The reports of the Lunatic Hospital at'
Harrisburg and of Western Pennsylvania,
of the House of Refuge at Philadelphia and
Pottsburg, of the Institutions for the Deaf
Dumb and for the blind and the Northern
House for Friendless Children at Philadel
phia, and of the Pennsylvania Training
School for Idiotic and Feeble Minded Chil
dren at Media, show that these meritorious
charities are well administered, end I
recommend that the countenance and aid of
the Commonwealth be continued to them.
Under the joint resolution of 16th May
lasr ---nnjissiooers have been appointed to
reve ,ue revenue laws, whose names will
be forthwith submitted for the advice and
consent of the Senate. It is hoped that the
commissioners will be able to report during
the present session of the Legislature. Con
sidering the great labor imposed on them,
and the vaat importance at the present
time of an able and efficient performance
of the duties of the commissioners. I suggest
that the compensation provided for by the
joint resolution should be increased to .an
adequate amount.
It was evident, long since, that it would
be impossible for the banks to oontioue to
redeem their obligations in coin, in the faoe
of tho large issues of paper, the necessity
for which was imposed on them ana the
Government by the exigencies of the times.
No surprise, therefors wa3 felt at the sus
pension of specie payments by the banks.
which took place on Monday, the 30th of
Decmber last. Under the circumstances,
I recommed that they be believed from all
penalties for this breach of the law.
Pennsylvania has made great efforts to
support the Government. She has given
more and better clothed, and better equip
ped men than auy other State, and has far
exceeding her quota of the military levies,
The sons of our best citizene, young men ot
education and means, fill the ranks of ber
volunteer regiments. Their gallant conduct,
wbenevery an opportunity has been affor
ded to them, has done honor to the Com
monwealth. The universal movement among
our people, signifies that they are loyal to
the Government established by their fathers,
and are determined to quell the present in
surrection and preserve the Union, and that
they will not tolerate any plan for either
the disolution or reconstruction of it.
A. G. CURTIN
Executive Chamber. 1
Harrisburg, Jan. 8 1851. j
Maioa and Slidell Released.
When Secretary Seward indited the
w 0 rd s:-1 ' 7 hey will be cheerfully liber ale d" . Your
Lotdth'p wilt please indicate the "lime and
place for receiving them'' he placed upon
history's page, a record of weakness and
imbecility which will astonish, while it
amuses the world. He could not hare
humbled the Nation more, had he said to
I the British Minister : "Sir. we are on the
i verge of ruin. ' We are loo weak, and too
j "imbecile to maintain what we have a!
I ''ready endorsed and applauded. We are
J "your slaves, kick us, beat us itsult ns if yea
; please, we will crawl, like the whipped cur, at
ymrfeet.t "We hare neither the courage
to assume a responsibility, nor the power
to maintain the right." "Why did not Mr.
Seward ue plain language, and state his
case in ihese words. They convey no
more than what he hat 6aid, and would not
have consigned him, and his government
; 10 ub ia e 01 oemg written
dowu 'the
political mountebank."
j Wnen Ma90n and SIidelj caped from.
. u-c 1. m j .
! 11,3 cuul" wa W active m
j adopting measures for their apprehension,
6etu out vessels to intercept them. By a
j circcmMancs, which Mr. Seward no doabt
. , , r . . . . . .
r.lnsi.Ir.i lnr!nna:o at hit. lima ihn mka
Mi lister- were secured, brought into port,
ai;d, Ly order of the v? flint Secretary, con
signed to Fort Warren. Subsequently Con
gi ts p ise l reo utionx instructing the Pres
ulent to c.'itfi'ie the prisoner $ tn felon's ce'.lst
as nn act of retaliation Tor similar treat-
me.it 10 le.ieral prisoners now in the hands
.1
- 1 .
Thu endorsing the
1 caP're ' the mo-t positive
terms. At
1 tie same time some
of the leading news-
Admwiftration not only applauded the
act, but hurled defiance in ihe face of the
British governmentand protested that the
prisoners would be retained at all haz
ards. ,
The Adminstration was apparently stiff
in the knees acd ready to do its dutj. The
mia ho.vever.shows that all our bragadocia
was mere clap-trap. Our government now
looks very much like a email canine, who,,
while he feels safe behind bis covert
growls and barks most turioutdy at his next
door neighbor ; but ihe moment said neigh
bor shows a disposition to invade the sanc
tity of his retreat, he lowers his crest and
clinks a way to a safe distance, cowardice
depicted on his supplicating countenance,
and ooing forth from his shaking limbs.
Our government was never in a more
ridiculous poture than now. It shows
cowardice at every turn At fint, it was
afraid to disavow the act of its officer in
seizing the rebel Ministers, for fear of its
own citizens ; now it virtually disavows the
act for lar of
Knclish guns. It always
yields t-eiore the most
Like ihe "Home Guard,
to be ' always to relreal
of safety."
formidable
enemy
,"it mission seems
to the next place
War with England is sore to come. Eng
land has decided to interfere in this struggle.
Her "neutrality" is but another name for
hostiil.ty. War i inevitable! And we
are ioM on good authority that this fact
i well understood at Washington. Then
why is it necessary for ns to crawl upon
our beilies before the English throne
Why must Mr. Seward degrade the very
name of his office, by a tame and cowardly
acquiescence, in the domineerng demands
of a government which has been preparing
for awar with us tor fiix months 1 - Away
with such cowardly dotards- Seward has
shown himself incompetent for the mo,
ordinary diplomacy, lie U not even ab'e
to stand the first fire of the enemy, bet
most needs turn upon his heel and run tho
moment he sees the mofzle pf bis gca,
Carbon Democrat,