THIS STAIR OF THE NORTH ' Tift D. JACOB!, Pnbllsher. Truth and Right God and our Country. Two DolUs per Annua. VOLUME 15. BLOOMSHURG. COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA., WEDNESDAY JANUARY 20, 1864. NUMBER 13. .- EE AS OF .OTE PCBLISHID BTKBT WEDHK8DAT BT WM. II. JACOBY, Cfuct on Sain St., 3rd Square below Barkct. , TERMS: -Two Dollars pr annum if paid vrilhin ix months from the time of subscri- ing: two dollars and fifty cents if not paid within the year. No subscription taken for ft less period than six months.; no discon -tinuance permitted until alia rrearages are paid, unless at the option of the editor. The terms of advertising trill be as follows i - One square, twelve lines three limes, SI 00 Every subsequent insertion, . . . . . 25 One square, three months, . 3 00 voe year, . . . 8 ou Choice Poetrn. T3 FSSIL?1SU. Oh, State prayer founded.! ( never hung : " Soch choice opon a people's tongue, Such power to bless or ban. As that which makes thy whisper Fate, Tor which en thee the centuries wait, Aud destinies of roan. Across the Alleghenian chain, With groaning" from the homes of pain V The cool blast wind its way : Wild wailiogs from Potomac ' flood, The crying of the children's blood Is in thy ears to day. And unto thee in Freedom's boor Of sorest need, God gives power To ruin or to save. To wound or heal, to blight or ble.s With fruitful field or wilJerness, A free home or a grave ; Nay mora: transcending time and place, The question of the human race, Is thine to solve anew : . And trembling doubtful on thy breath, A thrill of life or pang of death Shalt reach the wide earth through. Then let thy Virtne match thy crime, Rise to the level of the time ; -i. And, if son of thine . Betray or tempt thee, Brutus like. For Fatherland and Freedom strike, , As Justice gives the sigr. , ' ' ; "Wake sleepers from thy dream of ease, The gr at occasion's forelock seize, And let the North wind strong And golden leaves of Autumn be ll . : The coronal of victory, V Atid thy triumphant song. Gov. Curtin's Message. - READ JANUABTlth, 1861. The psst year has afforded us a new cause - 'of thankfulness to the Almighty for the moral and material blessings which he haj bestowed "upon ts. ",The ba'iane in tbe Treasury, Nov. 30, 18M, was $2,172,344 10 Receipts duric the fiscal yeas ending j.lNov.30, 1S63, . .2S9,451 65 tal In Treasury for fiscal year en.l- 111 KSt ( iitn;r: payments far the same period are been 4,814,964 05 vnee In Treasury, Nov. 30, 1063, 2,147,331 70 I ia operations of the sinking funl during the t tear have been shown' by my proclamation of t ta of September last, as follows : 't oat of debt Commonwealth r- i Sed. 954,720 40 t follows, vis : ... j a loan Act,May 4, $180,000 00 t er cent 780,715 5Q . nd one-half pr cent. 63,000 00 " S 'notes einceled, r 95300 i tie creditor's certificates, 13 00 k it certificates paid, 27 90 . $954,720 40 i 1 t of pebtie debt of Pean'a, a s t r.d on the 1st of Dec., 1352. 40,443,213 82 I amount redeemed at tbe State t mry during the fiscal year,end- ov.3fl, IS3r vis. t r cent stoeks, .- $833,499 73 I a half pr ctstocks, 63,000 00 ; lotes, 109 00 i 1c creditor's certiOeatss, 8 2S 4 ' - J95I.617 04 !bt Ee. 1st, 1S53, 39,4(.S.596 73 I'- debt, tIsm 6 per f oana, $400,630 00 I debt, vis., 5 per" t oans, - . 35,709,9S6 45' iebt, viz., 4J per 36,37S,816 45 t aded debt, vl I ?otes La circulation 97,251 09 I .iSeatts mUtandtngl5,35ft 63 f -:iSeats unclaimed, 4,443 33 I tie ereititor's certifio'ts 733 32 I - " $117,7S0 33 . ?" I , , - $36,498,596 78 i rj loan per Act of May 1561, 3,000,000 00 indebtedness, $39,436,596 78 1 the act of Slay 15, 1851, authorixing t xailitarr loan of $300,000,00, a tax of f-half mi;I was laid on real and personal jertv, to famish a fond for redeeming t same. I recommend that the commis s ners of the einkiDg fund be directed to iVess the proceeds of tbe tax in State loan, x? that it talf be drawing Interest, to be in oannsr invested, or that they should apply Bach proceeds directly to the purchase of certi-iatos cf the military loan, and eao eel such certificates as shall be purchased. THE ST ATX FI3T1XCI3." , , 'r Altboagb oar finances are in a healthy condition, it is necessary to invite the seri o js atteatioa of the Lesialature to the coa si deration of tbe mentis of maintaining them tlDirnFaireu ia luiure ftlcat, ani whenever tbe funds in the i -li ' tlarespca issas his warrant to the a .r.ts cr fcauks authorized to pay saea m tr :3t C3 taba'f cf ths Commonwealth to js,!'j"f tliroreaja to parties ' reccmag CV3" i,:.;;r;:t, c? at ths cptioa of tb parties (j r"y tba 1 an a ia ppecia. - r,tL3-'cf llti April, 1SC2, it wa p -jill t-:rc2Lft?r-t9 daa by tb Corsoon t ? wtix.nl ty tha act cfliUh Jnns, r..- -3:".;ral ta:.T;3 fh t boaU avail VJiy th3 a:E ot 1- -Jane, u-w, 15 was pro vided tbat the interest on tbe State bans piv-.nlj al'f 1 ys la rail ia specie or its equiv- r -ftt ? tfresrary ft.c-cii be or less vaiae taan spe- c tba d:fr-jrotiC3 ia value should bffascer t i .jr. 1 .certLIal to tha Governor, who 11th April, 1862.) and who should refuse to redeem their notes in specie, on demand, at any time within; ten days upon or after the time when such interest should become due, shoald thereafter, when required by the State Treasurer, by notice in writing, pay info the State Treasury, its proportion to the capital stock paid in each bank, their ratable proportion of such premium for gold or its equivalent, as should have been ac tually paid by the State. By the act of 30th of Jan nary, 18C3, it was provided that the State Treasurer should exchange with tbe banks an amount of cur rency sufficient to pay the interest on the State debt falling due on the first days of February and August, 1S63, for the same amount of ccin, and should give to the banks specie cirtificates of exchange, not transfer able, pledging the faith of the State to re turn said coin in exchange for notes current at the time, on or before the fir& Monday of March, 1864, such certificates to bear inter est at the rate of per cent, per annum. Under the provisions of the act of 1862, certain banks paid into the State Treasury $140,768 30 as an equivalent for coin for the payment of interest on the publio debt. Uuder the act of 1S53, specie certificates have been given to the banks, amounting in the whole to 1.958,901 97, which, with the accruing interest, will fall due on the first Monday of March next. As .the provisions of this act were of a temporary character, the only act now in force on the subject are those of 1S40 and 1862. ab ve mentioned, under which it will be the duty of the State authorities to pay the interest 00 the 1st of Febraary, 1864, and thereafter,. in coin or its equivalent, and look to the hanks that may be liable un ier the act of 1862, for reimbursement of tbe premium paid by the Commonwealth. In the face of all difficulties this Common wealth, actuated by a sen.imeat which does its people honor, has hitherto paid its inter- I es in coin or us equivalent. Existing circumstances make it necessary to consider now tbe fair extent ot her just obligations. The experiences of the times have com pelled the Government of the United States to isue large amounts of Treasury notes in circulatien, which are not redeemable in cnin, and which form tbe great mass of our circulating medium. ' It is our duty as a loyal State it is oar interest as a State whose welfare, and even safety, depend emphatically upon the main tenance of the credit and the success of tbe military operations of the General Govern ment to do nothing to impair its credit or embarrass its measures. On the contrary, we owe it to ourselves and to our posterity to give an active support to its efforts to quelcb tbe monster rebellion which is still raging, and thus restore peace to our dis tracted country. It ia our own Government, and we could not, without great indecency, attempt to re fuse its currency in payment of taxes and other debts due to the Commonwealth. In 1840 the case was very different. The difficulties then arose from tbe sutjpension of specie payments by our State banks.mere local and private corporations, and the State very properly, by the act of that year, in tended to provide against loss to its creditors by reason of such suspension. An exigency like the present could not have then been foreseen by the Legislature ; and it is to be inferred, therefore-, that they could not have intended to provide for it. We derive our system of public loans from Europe, and the true extent of our obliga tion is to be ascertained by referring to the knowa established practice of European Governments prior to tbe dates when our loans were effected. I mean, of coarse, such of those Governments as were held to have maintained their national credit. It is believed to have, been tbe uniform practice of such Governments to pay their interest in paper currency, however depre ciated, during a legalized suspension of spe cie payments. An observable instance of this is afforded by the course of the British Government, . which, during twenty five years, from 1797 to 1822, during which the bank was prohibited by law from paying out coin for any purpose, paid tbe interest ' on its public debts in bank notes, which du- ring a great part 01 mat wlu were ub t heavy discount, sometimes amounting to thirty per cent or.thereabout. Their neces sities then wore not greater than ours are now. Among ourselves,' at the present time, Massachusetts (whose debt ia believed to be very small) pays the interest in coin. Ohio and Indiana pay in currency. In New York it is not known what will be done. Her Leg islatnre, by concurrent resolution, ordered th! interest to be paid in coin to foreign stockholders, in April last. At the present rate of premium on gold, the sum necessary to pay on an amount, suf ficient to di?eharge the annual interest on the State debt would be more than $1,000, 000, and to meet this, additional taxation, to that extent woold be unavoidable. Tbe demands on the Treasury for other necessa ry purposes must probably be such as to renL it imprudent to throw any part of this expenditure on the existing surplus. To borrow money from year to year to pay the interest on past loans would, of eourse, be wholly inadmissible. To Uave the act of 1862 in force, an attempt to throw the payment of this large premium annual ly on tbe banks, would be not only flagrant ly unjust, but quite impracticable. I rec ommeod the who'.e subject to tbe careful consideration of the Legislature. Some leg islation ought to be had on it before tha close of tbe present month. In my opinion the Commonwealth will have fulfilled her obligations by providing for tbe payment of berTnterest in tbe currency of the Govern ment. If the Xegialatare should see fit to continue to pay it in coin, it will be their duty O levy forthwith the hoavy taxes ne cessary for that purpose. I mast, in passing, observe that the plan adopted by one of the States of paying coin to foreign, and cur rency to doraestio loan-holders, appears to me to be wholly unwise, and founded on bo legitimate principle. - , ' R5XXWIN0 BaKK CHASTCBS. At the close of thi last session, nineteen bills rfewing the charters of certain banks for another period of five years were presen ted tome. Of these I have (for reasons which will be hereafter communicated), withheld my signature from one and ap proved the rsmainder. I have been led to eijjn tbera by the considerations that the banks of the Commonwealth pay a large revenue (nearly $400,000, which the State caa ill afford to lose, and that in the present coadition of the country, it would be impol iti-3 to drive so much capital est cf activa use, or fores it inta new employments. ' ) If tba National Eaaking - ayeiata aSordj tslc'ent inducements, capital will Tokmta-1 tUj t3 dirsc.lcn. ' It is proper to cb-' serve that the charters of most of the banks jn question expire at an early period, while, in consequence of the invasion of tbe State during the last summer, they could not have been reasonably expected to give the neces sary notice of renewed applications for re charter. I recommnnd an extension of the time du ring which the banks are now relieved from penalties for not paying their obligations iu coin. SALARIES Or PUBLIC OFFICERS. The increased expenses of living invite at tention to tne salaries of our publio officers Th one of the Secretary of tbe Commonwealth, Auditor-General and State Treasurer, and of the clerks in their employment, are, in my opinion, too low, especially as tbe exi gencies of the times have greatly enhanced the labors and responsibilities of all, and, in the case of the heads of those departments enforce a constant attendance at Ilarrisburg, which was not formerly required. MI LIT ART CLAIMS. Under the Act of 16rh April. 1862. and its supplement passed 22d April, 1863, the Adjutant-General, Quartermaster-General and Commissary-General have been acting as the Board of military Claims. They have up to this time, approved claims to tbe amount of $166,415 81, and others have been already presented to tbe further amount of $332,120 29, which have not yet been acted on. Under the Act of 22d April 1863 (P. L., 529), the Court of Common Pleas appointed three appraisers to ascertain the damage done in the counties on the southern border by the militia called into service in Septem ber, 1862, by the Anderson Cavalry ia tbe same month, and by the rebels in their raid on the 10th and 11th October, 1862. The appraisers have not yet completed the performance of their duties. When their report shall have been made to the Court of Common Pleas and affirmed, in whole or in part, by that Court, it will be tbe duty of the Governor to claim the payment of the amounts from the General Government, and 00 failure to secure tbe same, then to report to the next Legislature, recommending such action as he may deem just and proper TRANSPORTATION AND TELEGRAPH FCND. The expenses of the Transportation and Telegraph Departments during tbe pastyear have been as follows : - Paid (oat of appropriation made by Military Loan Act of 1862) $13,553 87 Unpaid (the appropriation being ex- ! hausted) 15,764 79 Outstanding liabilities, estimated at 5,000 00 34, 423 66 Thee expanses have been mainly incur red in keeping up the necessary correspond ence of the military departments and in the transportation of sick and wounded and the dead bodies of our volunteers, as will bo seen by the report of the- Chief of Transportation) herewith communicated. I recommend an appropriation to meet tbe deficiency, aad also to carry on the service of this depart ment hereafter. By the thirteenth section of the Act of the 15th May, 1S61, tbe sum of $20,000 was ap propriated to be expended by the Governor fur tbe compensation of such persons a he might require to serve tbe Commonwealth in the military organization of the State or the General Government, and for the expenses incident to tbe business in which they might be employed. I have, according to law, settled annual accounts of the expenditnre of this food in tbe Auditor-General's office, to which the Legislature is referred. The unexpected balance is now $54,521 98. A further sum should be appropriated in like manner. Out of this fund I have paid the persons whom I found it necessary to employ in the milita ry department, and tbe expenses of . the agency which I was compelled to establish in Washington to attend to the interests and welfare of oar volunteers The continuance of this agency and the establishment of a similar one in the West are of vital impor tance to them. 1 recommend the passage of an act authorizing the appointment of agents at Washington and Nashville, and defining their duties, which should include the collection of all bounties, back pay, pen sions, etc., doe to Pennslvania. On this subject I refer the Legislature to the report of Colonel R. Biddle Roberts, late Agent of the Sia'e, at Washington, birwiih communicated, and commend to your care ful examination . PAYMENT OF THE MILITIA. On the invasion of the Slate during tbe last summer, the President made a call for militia, and with his absent I subsequently made a call for volan'eer militia for thede leoce of the State. Under these calls men were assembled and organized with prompt ness, after the reality ol the emergency came 10 be understood by our people. Th9 Gen eral Government clothed and subsisted this lorce, and agreed to pay it, but as no ap propriation for that purpose had been made by Congres, the President and Secretary of War, promised if the money should be advanced from other quarters to recommend its immediate repayment on the meeting of Congress. It is anderstood that step have been already taken to fulfill this pledge. Several of the banks cheerfully and readily and vanced ;he necessary funds to the amount of $671,476 43, on my promise to recom mend to the legislature an appropriation to repay them in case Congres should fail to make one. I accordingly. make that recom mendation most emphatically. Should it be necessary, I will bereafter, in a special message, give the details and correspond ence relatirg to this subject. New York and New Jersey, under the President's call, sent regiments to assist in oar defense, for which our thanks are doe to those states, our good neighbors. TBI SATIOfUL CCMKTBT. After the battle of Gettysburg, . in which loyal volunteers from eighteen Staies,incln din Pennsylvania, were engagedit appear ed to me proper that all those States shoald unite in establishing a cemetry on the spot in which their soldiers who had fallen in that conflict should be honorably, interred, I accordingly appointed David Wills, Esq., of Gettysburg, my agent, and through him a site was purchased at a cost of 52,475 87 and tbe conveyances made to the Common wealth. On communicating with the au thorities of '.he -other States, the) all readily agreed to become' parties to the arrange met, and on the 18th of November last, the Cemetry waf dedicated, with appropriate ceremonies, in the presence of the President of fie United State, the Governors of the Slates concerned, and other high efficers, State and national. On the ISih day of Deo. on the invitation of Mr. Wills, Commissioners representing the States interested in the Cessetary met ;n HarrUharg, and agreed upoa a p laa for its improvement and care in the future, and the apportionment of the sum of money re quired to the several States, which is here with communicated. The expenses attend ing the establishment of this cemetry, in cluding the cost of the site and of removing he boHies of the slain, have thus far amount ed to $5,209 33, and an aproprialion will be required to pay these expenses, and to meet our portion of those attending its fu ture maintenance. It will appear by the proceedings ot the Commissioners that their due proportions ol the expenses already in curred are to be refunded by the States on whose account they were made. It is just to say that Mr. Wills has discharged his delicate an d important duties with fidelity and to ray entire satisfaction. BELIEF Or SOLDI CHS' FAMLLCS. The act for tbe relief of families of volun teers in service may require some revision. It is alleged that in some parts of the State the county authorities are backward in exe cuting the law. If this he so, the members from the different cosnties will be aware of 1 the fact, and will be most ready to make such further enactments as may be proper. I commend to the prompt aliention ol the Legislation the subject of relief of poor or phans ot our soldiers who have given, or shall give, their lives to the country doriug this crisis. In my opinion, their mainten ance and education should be provided for by the State. Failing other natural friends of ability to provide for them, they should be honorably received and fostered as chil dren of the Commonwealth. The 30.000 beret ofcre given by the Pennsylvania Rail road Company, referred to in my last annual message, is still unappropriated, and I rec ommend that (his sum, with such other means as the Legislature may think fit, be applied to this end, in such manner as may be ihoeght most expedient and effective - In anticipation of the adoption of a more perfect system, I recommend that provision be made for securing the admission of such children into existing educational establish ments, to be there clothed, nurtured and in structed at the public expense I make this recommendation earnestly, feeling assured that in doing so, 1 represent the wishes of the patriotic, the benevolent, and the good of the State. LOTAL EAST TENNSSSEEANS. I invite the attention of the Legislature to the condition of the loyal people of East Tennessee, which is represented to be most deplorable, and appeal with irresistable force alike to your sympathies and your sense of justice. Their whole country has been laid waste by the contending armies of the government and rebels. Foor times have large armies passed over that district, destroying or carrying off all that had been gathered for the approaching winter, and now the women and children are left in a state of destitution. The representations made by sundry gen tlemen of the highest respectability, from that Stat, are of tbe most heart-rendering character. Starvation, actual and present, now exists. Can we, in the midst of afflu ent abundence, for a moment hesitate as to what our action should be towar l the peo ple whose only crime has been their loyalty and devotion to the Government T Even a portion of our chanty should reach the star ving families of those io sympathy with the rebellion, better it should than those devo ted, self-sacrificing people who have fo un hesitatingly adhered to the Governmeut be left to suffer. Whenever pestilence and fam ine distressed the people of any portion of our country we have always been foremost in relieving them, and the people of Penn sylvania have extended their open handed benevolence and broad charity to the starv ing people of foreign countries. Shall it be said that the appeals of these people for bread fall upon the heart of Pennsylvanians in vain, and that we who have so recently given thanks for our abundance have no re lief for them in their extremities ? 1 com mend the subject through you to the people of the State, as worthy the immediate at tention and active exertions of the charita ble and the liberal. OUR REVINUC LAWS. I ehould be glad the Legislature wonld make a general rivision ol our revenue laws with a view to their increased productive ness. It ought to be observed that for a pe riod of more than twenty years no material change has been made in the Revenue Laws of this Commonwealth. During ibat time some interests have grown into new impor tance, and should be made bear their just proportion of the pnblic expense, since all taxation should, as far as possible, press equally upon tbe property andemployments of our people. Failing such a revision, I recommend to the consideration of the Legislature the fol lowing suggestions connected the subject: 1. There are several companies in the State which in addition to large mining privileges, have the control of the routes of transportation, by which alone the products of the mines of individuals is their respect ive districts can reach market. These com panies enjoy substantial monopolies, by means of which they not only receive the fair profits ot their own property, but are enabled to make additional heavy gains at the expense of individuals. In my opinion such privileges ought never to have been granted, but as they exist, it appears to be just that (he class of companies which enjoy them should pa)' therefor an additional spe cific tax. 2. Very large sums are due to th Com monwealth for unpatented lands. Forbear ance, clemency liberality have been in vain tried in tbe numerous attempts to pro cure the pay roe at of at least' a part of this debt from the larger portion ot those who are indebted on that account. The continu ance of this state ol affair is unjust to the Commonwealth and 10 the vast majority of her people who have honestly paid for their lands. It has become unenburable. I re commend that the Legislature provide that the Surveyor.General shall file, of record in the office of tbe Court of Common Pleas of each county, a description of the lands sob jecttotbe lien oi the Commonwealth for purchase money, and a statement of the amount ot principal and interest now due to the commonwealth, together with the patent fees on each tract and ten per cent, on the amount so dee for the labor and cost ot mak ing and filing such statement, and the ag gregate amount thus stated, for each tract, shall be held to be the amount now doe thereon to the Commonwealth, which shall bear interest at the rate of twelve per cent, per annum till paid, and shall continue to be the first lien on the land till paid, and shall not be divested by judicial or other sale what ver. I also recommend the adoption of a suggestion contained in the Surveyor GeoeraPs report, that a specific tax be laid on all on patented lands. . . ' 3 Bj existing laws muncipal corpora tions are to deduct and pay into the Treasu ry the tax on all loans consracted by them It is believed that a large addition woul.l ac nrne to the revenue by the extension of this provision to all counties and to all corpora tions, private or public. I recomend that it be so extended. 4. A tax on the gress receipts of all rail road and canal companies would, it is be lieved, be productive and not oppressive Upon satisfactory report, according to law, made by Col. John A. Wristht, I have drawn my warrants for the delivery to the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad company of another million of the bonds deposited in the State Treasury. Four millions of said bonds have therefore been now delivered. There can be no reasonable doubt of the early completion of the work, and, when completed, it is confidently expected that the bonds held by ihe State, secured on the road lor 33,500,000, will become good in terest-paying securities. DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. I refer to the Auditor-General's and State Treasurer's reports for the details of our fi nancial affairs, and the reports of the Surveyor-General, Adjutant General, Quartermaster-General, Surgeon General, Agent at Washington, Chief of Transportation and Telegraph Department, and Superintendent of Common Schools, in regard to their sever al departments. . BATTLB OF GETTYSBURG. In May last it was believed, from informa tion received, that General Lee intended to invade this State. Communications on the subject were immediately sent to Washing ton, urging that preparations for effective defense should not be delayed. Accordingly the War Department erected two new mili tary departments, viz : The Department of the Moaongabeli, including that portion of the State lying west of tbe mountains, to be commanded by Major General Brooks, and the Department of .the Susquehanna, com prising tbe remainder of tbe State, and to be commanded by Major General Couch. Early in June, Major-General Couch ar rived at Ilarrisburg, and assumed command of his department, which he has since exor cised with the soldier-like promptness, ener gy and discretion which were to be expected from his knawu character. Tbe rebels having actually entered the State in some force, and the approach of their whole army being imminent, the Pres ident made a requisition for militia from this and some of th neighboring States, and sev eral regiments from New York and New Jersey were promptly sent, and our own vol unteer militia bega to assemble ; but soma embarrassments arising, tbe President as sented to a call by the Executive of tbe State, which was accordingly made. Under these calls 5166 of the men of Pennsylvania were assembled in the Department of Gen eral Brooks, and 31,422 in that of General Couch. To give the details, or even a sum mary of the operations which ensued would be impracticable within the limits of a mes sage. It is unnecessary to do so, as I have recommended the adoption of measures for preserving the history of our several regi meets and ether organizations, and in that history tbe events to which I have referred will be recorded. It is due however, to the men who came forward, that I should say now that they make long and laborious marches in parts of this and other States which had been plundered by the rebels, suffered great privations, and were frequent ly in conflict with the enemy: and on all oc casions acted in obedience to military disci pline and orders, and . with courage and en durance. Some of the militia called in 18C2 aud in 1863 were killed and others disabled. In ail these cases, where there are no laws for the relief of these men or their families, I recommend the enactment of a law for that purpose. The campaign on our soil was elosed by the victory of Gettysburg, gained by the vet eran Army of tbe PotSmac, under the com mand of Mnjor-General Meade, the officers and men of which displayed all their accus tomed valor and endurance in the eonfliot, and in the forced and rapid marches which immediately preceded it. Under Divine Providence, to tbem and to the military genius and undsurpassed ener gy of Gen. Meade, and the promptness and self-sacrificing gallantry of Geo. Reynolds, we are indebted for sucsess on that bloody field. We are proud to claim Generals Meade and Reynolds as sons of our own Pennsylva nia. The first lives to enjoy the roost pre cious of all rewards, the grateful apprecia tion of bis countrymen. The latter fell in the very front of the battle, and we can only pay homage to his memory. Whatever hon ors have been at any time devised to com memorate the virtues of a patriot of a true, fearless, loyal citizen and so'Jier. be has abundantly deserved. His surviving com panions in arms claim tbe right of them selves erecting a monument to him on the field on which he fell, and it would not be well to interfere with their pious intention. But I hose that the Legislature willl plaoe upon the records of the State some appropri ate testimony of the publio gratitude to him and bis surviving commander. REVISION OF THE MILITIA LAWS. I renew most earnestly the recommenda tion made in my last annual mes;age of a revision of the militia laws. They are at present shamefully defective. Indeed, if by a militia law is meant a law intended to provide for so enrolling and organizing the military force of the State that it may be put into service when required, we may be said to have no militia law. In each of tbe last two years I have been obliged to call out tbe militia, but in fact those who obeyed the call were volunteers, and with some ex ceptions, were wholly unorganized, sa that almost in the face of the enemy, time had to be consumed in distributing tbe men into companies and regiments, in electing offi cers, and in other preparations for effaotive organizations. RXQIMENTAI. HISTORIES. In the report of the Adjntant-General will be found a list of the Pennsylvania regi ments and a statement showing the several armies and departments ia which they are now serving. In this connection I suggest the propriety of legislative authority being given for tbe preparation of a history of each of our regiments and other organizations, to be preserved among our archives. The nec essary documents are now accessible, and as they may in time be lost or destroyed, the making of such a record as I propose should not be deferred. It is due alike . to tbe living and the dead that this subject should be promptly acted on. SOLDIERS VOTING. I reccemmend that the proposed amend ments to tha Constitution, giving to citizens in the publio service out of the State the right to vote, be pissed promptly and sub mitted to a vote of the people at as early a uy as possioie, so tnat eocn citizens may exercise their right of suffrage at all future elections. This would be only doing jus tice to the brave men who are periling their lives in our defense. VOLUNTEERING. It is highly important that we should re plenish the ranks of our regiments in the field, and supply the places of those volun teers whose terms will soon expire and who may decline fnrther service. I am happy to say that a large proportion of our regi ments are re-enlisting. Efforts are making by myself and by the people in various por tion of the State, to procure a sufficient number of volunteers, and with a promise of success, provided a reasonable time be allowed for the nurnose. Monnwhila ner . 1 -- r - sons professing to be officers and agents f - ti. . irom some otner scares are most improper ly endeavoring to seduce our citizens into their service by extravagant bounties and proini-)B. . The 12th section of the act of 15th ol May 1861. prohibits anv volunteers from leaving the State without the authority of the Gov. w ana l now reccommenu the passage of a law imposing penalties by fine and imprison ment on all individuals who shall endeavor to procure or aid aud assist in procuring any person in this State to enlist in the vol unteer service of any other State. Many of our counties and townships have filled their quotas at a large expense, and in others they are in course of doing the same by ofiers of liberal bounties and provisions for the families of volunteers, and it is not riirht that these patriotic efforts shonld h embarrassed by interference from beyond 1 our borders, especially as we cannot, in these circumstances, offer bounties by the State, without tbe injustice of compelling tbe countie-i and townships which have al ready contributed largely in that way, to assist in paying, by taxation for the defi eiency of others. LEGISLATION HCRRT ITS EFFECTS. I feel it to be my doty to call your atten tion to the pernicious practice of leaving many bills to be hurried through at tbe close of the session. During the last ten days of the last session 390 bills were pre sented for m signature, many of tbem of the most important character. The whole number of bills presented to me during the session was 715. In consequence of this habit, not only are bills passed without an opportunity to either House for a proper consideration of their provisions, but the Executive is compelled either to sign them without examination, or to bold them over, perhaps to the public inconvenience. It may often happen that a bill not approved by reason of a single obnoxious cause, might, if there ware time, be replaced, omit ing the objectionable provision. In connec tion with he subject of legislation, I must refer to another mischief. . General laws have passed to give relief in certain cases which formerly required a special act in each case. As for instance the sale of lands by executors, administra tors and trustees, the adoption of children, tbe creation of mining, and manufacturing co operations, and st frtb. These laws were passed to insure each examination in each case as would enable justice to be done to tbe partfes and to the public, and also to save the time and expense consumed in private legislation. They have hitherto effected neither purpose, but I do seriously urge on the Legislature the consideration that whosoever applies for a special act un der such circumstances, must either fear the result of aq impartial inquiry, or (if the application be for a charter) must desire j the omsssion or insertion of some provision i contrary to what tbe Legislature has deter ! mined, after mature consideration, to be ! just and legitimate. LOTALTT OF TENN9TLV ANI A. It would be unjust to emit referring again to the loyal spirit of our people, which has beenjevinced in every mode since this war commenced. Not only have they sent 277,409 men for tLo general and special s?r vice ot the Government, and supported with cheerfulness the burdens of taxntion, but our etore booses and depots have literal ly overflowed w:th comforts and neccessa ries, spontaneously contributed by them, under the active rare of thousands of our women (faithful unto death), for the sick and wounded prisoners as well as for our armies in the field. Their patriotic benevo leuce seems to be in exnaustible. To every new call the response comes more and more liberal. When the intelligence wa9 receiv ed of the barbarian starvation of our prison ers in Richmoud, tbe garners of the whole State were instantly thrown open, and be fore any similar movement had been made elsewhere, I was already employed on be half of our people in effirts to secure the ad mission through the Rebel lines of the abun dant supplies provide! for the relief of ovt suffering brethern. Those cfoor citizens who havo fallen into the habit of disparag ing our great Commonwealth and the un surpassed efforts of her people should blush when they look on this picture. That this unnatural Rebellion may be speedily and effectually crushed, we lie, all under tbe obligation of the one paramount duty, that of vigorously supporting our Gov ernment in its measures to that end. To the full extent of my official and individual ability it shall be supported, and I rely heartily en your co-operation. I am ready for all proper measures to strengthen its arms, to encourage its upholders, to stimu late by public liberality to themselves and their families, the men who give to it their personal service; to every mode to invigor ate its action. We are fighting the great battle of God, of truth, of right, of liberty. The Almighty has no attribute that can fa vor our savage and degenerate enemies. No people can submit to territorial dismember ment without becoming contemptible in its own eyes and in those of the world. But it is not only against territorial dismember ment that wt are struggling, but against the destruction of tbe very groundwork of our whole political system. The ultimate question truly at issue is the possibility sf tne permanent existence of a powerful re public. That is tbe question to be now solv edf and, by tbe blessing of God, we mean that it shall not be our fault if it is not solv ed favorably. We have, during the past year, made mighty strides toward such a solution, and to all human appearance we approach its completion. But whatever reverses may happen, whatever blood and treasore may still be required, whatever sacrifices may be necessary, there will remain the inexora ble determinatien of our people to fight out this thing to the end, to preserve and per pstoate this Union. They bare sworn that not one star shall be rent from the constella tion, nor its clustered brightness be dimmed by treason and savagery, and thoy will keep their oath. A. G. Ccrtiit. An Essay on the 3In!c. Mr. Josh. Billings, a iacetions contributor to the "Daily Pokeevsian' is responsible for the following "Esay on the Mule," which is amusing and instructive, and be trays an intimate knowledge of the idiosyn crasies of (he asinine creation : The mule is half hose and half jackass, and then comes to a full stop, nature discov ering her mistake. Tha weigh more accor ding to their .heft than any other k teeter,, except a crowbar ; ihey can't hear enny quicker nor further lhan the hoss, yet tbeif ears are big enough for snow shoes : Yu can trust (hem with enny one whose lite isn't worth more than the the mole's. The only way to- keep them into a paster is to turn then, into a medder jinen, and let them jump out. Tha are ready for cse jast as soon as tha will do to abuse. Tha haint got enn more frens than a Chatham street Jew and will live on huckleberry brush, with an occasional chase after Kan ad a thissels. They are a modern invenahun ; i don't think (he bible deludes to them at all. Tha sell for more money than any other domestic animals. Yu kant tell their age by lookin into their mouth, enny more tbau you could a Mexican connon's. Tha never had no disease that a clnb woct heel. If thaHsver die tha must come to life agin, for 1 never heerd nobody eay "ded maie." Tha are, like some men, very korropt at hart ; ive known tbem to be good for six months jeit to git a chance, to kick sumbody. I never owned one, nor never mean to, on lees there is a United States Isw passed re quiring it. Theonly reason why tha'er pashunt is because tha are ashamed of (hemselfes- I have seen edicated moles in a sirkus tha could kick and bite tremenjis. I wonld not say wot 1 am forced to say agin the mule, if his birth wa'nt an octrage and he aint tu blame for it. Enny man who is willing to drive a mule ought lo be exempt by law from ronning for the legis latur. Tha are the strongest kreeture on arth, and the heviest according to their size ; i heard tell ov one who fell from tbe towpath on the kanawl and sank, bat as soon as he touched the bottom, he kept r'ne on towin the bote to the next station, breath en thru is ears, which was out of the wa ter about 2 fee: and 6tinches. I didn't see this, but a auctioneer told me ov it, and I never knew a auctioneer to lie, unless be could, make something out ov ii. Plain questions for Bomi Consumption. Have you ever known a Democrat to just ify a violation of the Constitution ? Have you ever known a Stamp Act en acted under a Democratic Administration 1 Have you ever known a Conscription Lar to be passed by a Democratic Administra tion ? Have you ever known a Democratic Ad ministration to form a new State in violation of the plain provisions of tbe Constitution 1 Have you ever known a time, except the present, when a citizen conld be incarcer ated in a dungeoa without authority of law ? Have you ever known a Democratic Ad ministration to compel the people of a State or the District of Columbia to sell their property whether willing or not ? ; HaveTyou ever known any Administration except Abraham's to create a national debt of S3 000,000 000 in the short period of three years ? ' Have yon ever known a time under a Democratic Administration when a day's labor would purchase only two pounds of coffee ? Have you ever known citizens to be sent into banishment and exile ander Democrat ic rule ? Have you ever known a time under Dem ocratic rule when the greatest crimes and outrages have been committed by our rulers under a plea of "military necessity" or reasons ol state V Have yon, before this, known a lime when the military was made superior to the civil power ? Have yon ever known a Democratic Ad ministration to tax the people of the whole country 10 buy the nejroes of the Border States ? Have yon ever known a Democratic Ad ministration to ignore the rights of States ? Have you ever known an Administration in opposition to th Democracy to leave the affairs of the country in as flourishing a condition as it found tbem 1 A Short Prater. The Rev. Mr. Shide, Chaplain of the House of Representatives, in the Iowa Legislature, on the opening of the recent session, prayed thus : "Bless 'Thoo the young and growing State of Iowa, her Senators and Represen tatives, the Governor and State officers. Give us a spnnd currency, pnre water, and undefined "religion for Christ's sake. Amen!" An eight day dock whose machinery is made from soup bones is among the novel ties of the Cincinnati fair. An engineer on the Racine and Mississip pi railroad was smothered by plnnginj bia locomotive into a snow bank. - Therb sre now three' bandre vesel and twelve hundred men employed in th Baltimore oyster trade. -
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers