Hi Pi i P mi
BY S. J. BOW.
CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1865.
VOL. 11. WO. 19.
Animal Message of
ANDBEW G . CURTIKT,
Delivered January 4tb, 1865.
To thi S' li'tteuii'l Ifoute of 2cjrcsciitatict :
h,Ttix the past year the people of this
Gouitiioinvealth have luid reason to be grate
1 ul to Almig hty God for many blessings.
The earth h;-s ieen fruitful, industry ha,
thriven. and with the exception ef the injury
mi tiered by the citizens of some ot our bt-ln-r
ciHiiitics.throiij;h the disgraceful barbar
irv ot the rebel forces which ravaged parts
of them, and burned the town of Chambcr.s
burg, we have no public misfortune to la
ment. The year closes with a train of bril
li.'jnf su'cess:s obtained by the armies of the
1'iiiied Stales', inspiring hope in every loyal
luind that ihe. accursed rebellion will soon
!. crushed, and peace be re.-tored to our
country. r r
The balance in the Treasury, Nov. 3t)th,
b'-:;. was iM47.:;:!l 70; lieceipts during
fi.-.-.-d year ending Nov. :-ith, lSi',4. $-1,733,-VJ
; Total in Treasury for fiscal year en
ding Nov. Goth, lSf4, ?6.sso.f.4l 1 The
payments for the same period have been $4,
138,441 U'J; Balance iu Treasury, Nov. 30,
l!r.4, $I,y403 03.
The operations of the sinking fund dur
ing the last year Lave been shown by niy
orociamatiou of the :27th day of Septe uber
iat., as follows: Amount of debt ot Com
monwealth, reduced $-2ts..rrt9 ;V as follows,
va: Five per cent, loan of Commonwealth
S-Jf..vix 03: Interest certificates redeemed
.".! 17; making Slit's, '. i).
' The liscal year accounted tor in the state
ment of the Treasury Jepartment, enibra
- t in. tiiii from the 1st of December, I n):),
m ihe :vth of Nortmber. lsijf. The sink
ing fund year commenced the first Monday
ia Septem'oer, lf, and closed the first
Tu.'-day iu .September, Jm"4. This will ex
plain the discrepancy between the statement
.f the Treasury Department as to the lcdue
liurti.in of the public debt of the Slate, and
t'u- s!ateme:iLetniodied in the proclamation
relative to the sinking fund.
A ;iumt of public debt of Pennsylvania,
a- it stood on the 1st of Dec. 1S3. S3'..-4.m,-V.
7S; Deduct ain't redeemed ai tlu State
Tiv;enry tinting- the fiscal year ending with
N'ov. ;;o. jsr,4. viz: Five per cent, stocks,
? 73.: I cur and-a-ludf per et. stocks
.-.-i .'") d:.; Interest certificates $2,'27U 11 :
liivikitig Si k,W- Si : Leaving public debt
J--. eU!her 1. in"-!, 371'. 003 4.
Funded debt, viz: Six per cent loans, or
dinary $400,000 00 ; l ive per cent loans, or
dinary i-:;...iw.").i!().i 72; Four and-a-hail per
c ent I nui-. nidi iary $23,200 DO ; making
1204,0'.!.) 7l Fitfundcd debt, viz; lte
liel M ites in circulation S'.'T, 2-3 1 ud; Inter
e.t ee;tiii;ates outstanding 1 3.ira 3-!; In
terest certificates unclaimed s4.4 !3 3S ; Do
me.-tic creditors certilicatcs $724 32; niak
i.rg in all $30,37'.t.!,o3 .l i. Add the Military
loan, as per Act loth May, S(I, of S3.'.HM,
o'to i xi, which makes the total public debt
on Iee. 1, 1804, $:iO,37'J,W.i 04.
The Commonwealth holds bonds received
from the sale of the Public Works, as fol
lows : Pcnu'a llaiiroad Company bonds ?(,
Soo.otH) ho; l'hil'a and Erie II all road Com
Vitny bunds, ji3,r"K,000 00; making 810.
;io:i.iiiH) ih). Thee bonds are iu the Sinking
Fund, and reduce the public debt to $2'J,
!'7'.'.i'u3 y 1.
The tax on tonnage imposed ly the acts
of -orb April and 23tli August, 1S04, ha.s
yi.Med Mimcthing less than i! a
much less sum than was anticipated. I re
commend a revision of these acts for the
purpose of rendering this source of revenue
mole productive, and amending other de
ivi in those bills.
The revenue derived from the tax on
'auks during the year amounts to $.")o'J,00,
t'7, but under the enabling act of the State
so many of our Lanks have become National
bunks under the aut ot Congress, that this
source of revenue may be considered as sub
initially extinguished, and it will be neces
sary, in some way to make up the diticieney
in -in otheiources.
The act ot Congress authorizes the taxa
tion by the State of the stock in the Nation
al i -inks iu the hands of the holders, not
exceeding the rate of taxation imposed on
fiber similar property, and part of the de
!;! ncy may be thus provided for.
The amount of the debt extingui.-hed by
the Sinking Fund during the year is uimsu
i'liy -nn!!. which is to be accounted for by
!;.- extraordinary expenses which have been
!i'i;nid. Seven hundred and ihirtoen
tiiotisiiid dollars ($713,o)0) have been paid
i" n i'atid to the banks the money advanced
1 y tl. in to pay the volunteers in service du-'ii;-'
ti.e invasion of the State ir 103.
hundred thousand dollars (SlOO.liDO)
: bven distributed among the inhabitant
"i t hambersbuig, suffering by the rebel de
s :''! ion of their town. About two liund
" i thousand JolIarS (200.UOO) have been
''!' :-rided under the acts providing for the
t' lyinetit of extra military claims, and iu ad
'l:ti.i:i t ) these extraordinary outlays, the
a!i'U!it appropriated to charities was. last
' -r larger than usual.
In my opinion this matter of douations to
'jiwities is fast running into a great abuse.
0".:ses (iflJeiu.ce, and Insane, lilind and
b'cif and Dumb Asylums, appear to be prop
'j;!'.bjccts of State bounty, because their
-n ;ne of public iinjiortance and to le
!lv-fui. and well and economically managed,
ir -' tiis to be necesstiry that they should liy
j1 "if extensive than would be required for
Uio wants of a particular county. lut in
"ir ysteiu, ordinary local charities are left,
t" the care of the respective localities, and
rn-vet. the public money for their support
lN '"ally to tax' the inhabitants of all the
"-'''Ijiitics for the benefit of one.
t he national taxation is heavy and must
Tit i. ably l,c made heavier, and local taxes
a"' inrized l,y unwise legislation aud paid by
"J1'" peojile are excessive. In view of these
'''"' tunstances. rre s-hculd endeavor to avoid
increasing their burdens by making undue
appropriations for any purpose.
it being aliened that the Atlantic and
Great Western Railroad Company has not ia
various particulars obeyed the law by which
it was incorporated, the Attorney General
(on the suggestion of parties claiming to be
thereby injured) has filed an information in
equity against that company, seeking an in
injunction to revent a continuance of its
past, and the persistence in its intended ille
gal our.-e.
Since my last annual message on the re
portof John A. Wright, Esq., that the Sun
bury and Erie railroad was finished, 1 order
ed the bonds remaining in the treasury to
le delivered to the company.
If is a subject of just pride to the people
of this Commonwealth, that this great work
is contplctcd.and whilst, it open a large and
wealthy part of the State to the commerce
of the seaboard, and unites capital and en
terprise within our border-, it secures to
the Commonwealth the payment of the
sums due her from the company.
In my special message of 3.0th April last,
to which I refer, I communicated to the
Legislature, in some detail, the circumstan
ces connected with the advance by banks
and other corporations of the funds to pay
the vtmmtoer malitia of I.S03.
It is not. necessary here to recapitulate
them at length. The case was peculiar and
it is'believed none quite like it has occurred.
The call for volunteers was made by the au
thorities of the United States, but it being
found that men could not be got under that
call, the form of a call by the State authori
ties for the defence of the State was, with
the assent of the President, substituted.
The United States agreed to furnish the
arms, subsistence and supplies, but it was
alleged thatjCmigvess had made no appropri
lion covering the pay. In this state of
things, the emergency being srreat, the Sec
retary of War telegraphed me, thus;
Wasitixoton. July 22, 1803.
7b ,'., E.Clt:,iCJ, U'fV. A. (r. Cili tiil ."
Your 'telegrams respecting-the pay of
militia, called out under your proclamation
of the 27th of June, have been referred to
the President for instructions and have
been under his consideration, lie directs
me to say, that whilj no law or appropria
tion authorizes the paj-mcnt, by the Gener
al Government, of troops that have - not
been mustered into the service of the Uni
ted States, he will recommend to Congress
to make an appropriation for the payment
of troops called into State service to repel
nu aetual invasion, including those of the
State of Pennsylvania. If, in the mean
time, you can raise the necessary amount,
as has been done in other States, (he appro
priation will be applied to refund the ad
vance' of those who made it. Measurer
have been taken for the payment of troops
mustered into the United States service, as
soon as the muster and pay rolls are made
out. The answer of this department, to
you as Governor of the State, will be' given
directly to yourself, whenever the depart
ment is preared to make answer.
(Signed) UtiwiN M. Stanton,
Secretary of War.
The ba iks and t5t&r corporations refus
ed to advance tfuniouey unless I would
pledge myvif to ak an appropriation from
the Legislature to refund it. It wiil be no
ticed that the pledge of the President is
clear and distiller, but, notwithstanding the
money was paid and the accounts settled
and placed in the bands of the President be
fore the meeting of Congress, no such re
commendation as promised me was made,
and for that reason the bill introduced for
that purpose failed. The men were raised
and placed under the command of Major
General Couch.' and other U. S. oflicers in
this Department. The troops were held iu
service longer than the emergency tor which
they were called out required. Several of
the regiments were marched immediately
into distant parts, of the State, by - order of
the officers of the army stationed in Penn
sylvania, against my repeated remonstrances.
They were retained, as was alleged, to pre
serve the peace and enl'.ree the draft.
Nearly, if not quite, om-l-alf the money
was paid to troops thus held, and after the
emergency had expired. Finding that the
appropriation was likely to fail in Congress,
I laid the matter before the Legislature,
ju-t prior to their adjournment, in May last,
and an act of Assembly was immediately
passed to refund the money out of the State
Treasury, which as above stated, has been
done. I oug'it to say that the appropria
tion by Congress was vigorously supported
by ail the members, from this State in both
branches. Having done everything in my
power to procure the payment of this just
claim of the State, I now recommend that
the Legislature take t he subject into consid
eration with a view to induce proper action
bv the President and Comn-ess.
Jiy the act of the 22d August, FSG4, I was
authorized to caue an immediate enrolment
of the militia to be made, unless that re
cently made by the United States should be
found sufficient, and to raise by volunteering
or draft a corps ot fifteen thousand men for
the defence of our Southern border. The
United. States enrolment being found very
defective, I directed an enrolment .to be
made, which is now in progress under the
charge of Col. Lemuel Todd, whom I ap
pointed Inspector General. ,A draft ot the
United States was then in progress, and it
was not thought advisable to harrass our
people by a contemporaneous State draft, e
ven if a'draft had been practicable under
the present law. Volunteer could not be
obtained, there being no bounties, and the
men not beinsr exempted by the enlistment
in th t corps from draft by the U. States.
Fortunately the United States placed an ar
my, under Gen. Sheridan, between us and
the enemy, and thus provided effectually for
our defence. With such adequate protec
tion as proved bv the brilliant campaign of
that army, I aid" not think it right to incur
the expense to the State of an independent
army, and the withdrawal of so many of our
people from their homes and pursuits.
Meanwhile arrangements have been made
with the authorities at Washington for arm
ing, clothing, subsisting and supplying the
corps at the expense of the United States,
and an order has been gitfen by the authori
ties of the United States to furlough such
volunteers in the corps as may be drafted by
the United States. The corps so privileged
not to exceed , 000 men. It is my inten
ion toYaise 5,000 men during the winter,
and I have already adopted measures to that
end. There may occur interruptions of Ir
regular bodies of the reliels, and it is well to
IkT provided against them. The number
proposed to be so raised and put into actual
service, will, in my judgment be sufficient,
and a regard to due economy requires that
no more than are sufficient should be placed
on pay. The remaining 10,(00 will be or
ganized, and ready for service in case of ne
cessity. I invite your immediate attention
to the very able report of the Inspector Gen
eral, which sets forth the defects in the law
which lie has discovered in his preparation
for carrying it into practical effect.
The State agencies at Washington and in
the South-West, are in active and successful
operation. 1 communicate herewith the re
ports of Col. Jordan, at Washington, and
Col. Chamberlain, auent for the South-West.
The provisions of the law requiring the a
gents to collect moneys due by the United
States to soldiers, have been benefi
cient. A reference to their reports will
show the magnitude and usefulness of this
branch of their service. I desire tojnvite
the attention of all our volunteers, officers,
soldiers and their families to the fact that
the State agents will collect all their claims
on the Government, gratuitously, as I have
reason to believe that many are still ignorant
of that fact, and are greatly imposed upon
by the exorbitant commissions charged by
private claim aircnts.
Under the act of the fith of May, 1804, I
appointed Hon. Thom;:s II. 15 arrows to
take charge of the arrangements for the ed
ucation of ths orphans of soldiers. I com
municate herewith a copy of his report on
the subject. lie has discharged bis duties
with commendable zeal, fidelity and efficien
cy. I earnestly recommend that a perma
nent and liberal app opriation be made to
support this just and worthy scheme of be
neficence. I reeemmond that, nn appropriation be
made for pensions lo the volunteer miiitia
men. (or their families) who were killed or
hurt iu thi service in the years 1S02 and
IS03. As soldiers sometimes arrive here
who are insane, and who should he protect
ed and cared fV, 1 reecominend that provis
ion be made for their being placed in the
State Asylum for the Insane, at (bis place,
and kept until notice can be given to the
authorities ..of their respective counties, who
should be required to remove and care for
them.
1 feel it to be iy duty to invite your se
rious atti'Oti -ii to the evils growing out of
syst""! i passing acts of incorporation, for
pio toses which are. provided for by general
laws. We have passed acts authorizing
charters to be obtained without special legis
lation. These acts have been generally pre
pared with some care, and contain the pro
visions which the Legislature thought ne
cessary to protect the Commonwealth and
her citizens. If these general laws are not
found to answer such purposes, they should
be amended and perfected. If any compa
ny desires to be incorporated with greater
privileges than are conferred, or to be reliev
ed from any of the conditions imposed by
these acts, it appears to me that it should
bo required first to obtain a charier under
the general laws, arid then apply to the Le
gislature for an act making the changes
which ate desired. The attention of the Le
gislature will thus be drawn to the specific
object, and a judgment, can be formed of its
propriety. 1 would also observe that great
evil results from the habit of granting priv
ileges to a corporation by a mere reference
to some former private act relating to other
corporations, sometimes without even g'
ing the date of these acts. All these prac
tices are bad, and although they may some
times be pursued by partjes having no ba-1
intention, yet they certainly originated in
the design of surprising the Commonwealth
into grants of privileges which it was known
could not be obtained if their extent were
understood, and they are often followed now
for the same fraudulent purpose.
I strongly recommend the repeal of the
act" passed the 18th day of July, A. I). 1803,
entitled "An act relating to corporations for
mechanical, manufacturing, mining, and
quarrying purposes.
Its provisions are found to be practically so
inconsistent with the due protection of the
citizens and with the just policy of the Com
monwealth, that it ought not to be allowed
to stand longer on our statute book. 1 ap
proved the act in question with great reluct
ance, and subsequent reflection and observa
tion have satisfied me of its mischievous
character.
I also recommend the repeal of an act
passed the 22d day of July, A. D. 1863, enti
tled "A further supplement to an act to en
able joint tenants and tenants in common,
and adjoining owners of mineral lands in
this Commonwealth, to manage and develop
the same."
This act allows foreign corporations to
hold three hundred acres of lai-d in this
State for mining purposes. It was passed,
it is believed, for the purpose of enabling
companies near our border engatcd in the
manufacture- of iron. to hold land as ore
banks. But under the idea that the sinking
of an oil well is mining,' it is lieheved that
companies have -alrea'dv been organized un
der the Jaws of other States, and that more
will bo, for the purpose of holding lands and
carrym? on the oil buisness in this State.
It would be better to remove all doubt on
this question by repealing the act. These
companies, being foreign corporations, are
not within the control of our laws to the ex
tent that they ought to be for the purpose of
taxation and regulation.
The immense development of wealth in
some of our western counties by the discov
ery of oil, has added vastly to the resources
of the Commonwealth.
I have made efforts to ascertain the value
of this product during the last year, but
have failed in procuring information suffi
ciently accurate to justify me in estimating
its amount It is already vast, and is rapid
ly increasing.
The productions and manufactures of the
Suite have become so diversified and abun
dant that some measure should be taken for
au accurate ascertainment of them, so that
their extent may be generally known, and
also that the necessary taxation may be in
telligently imposed. I recommend for these
purposes the creation of a Bureau, of which
the Auditor Geueral and State Treasurer
shall be members, and the head of which
shall be a new officer, to be styled Commis
sioners of Statistics, or designated by any
other appropriate tide.
The act of 25th August 1864, providing
for the voting of soldiers, should be careful
ly examined, with a view to its amendment,
and, indeed, a revision of our whole elec
tion laws would seem to be desirable, with a
view to the two essential objes of, 1. The
admission of legal and exclusion of illegal
votes at the polls; and, 2. Fait htul and cor
rect returns of the votes actually polled. 1
communicate herewith the opinion of the
Attorney General on the conflicting returns
for the J fith Congressional District, which
will show some of the practical difficulties
which arise under the existing system.
Without undertaking to recommend th
adoption of any particular plan, I submit
the whole subject to your careful and earn
est consideration, iu the hope that in your
wisdom you wiil be able to devise some mea-.
sure which will produce the result so essen
tial to the existence of a free government :
that votes shall be fairly taken in the first
instance, and fairly counted and returned
afterwards.
I have endeavored since I came into office
to exercise as cautiously as possible the
powers confided to the Uxecurive, and avoid
usurping any. 1 shail endeavor to presist
in this course to the end.
A new call has been made" by the Presi
dent for 300,000 men. This renders it prop
er that I should invite your attention to the
cils which have resulted from abuses of the
system of local bounties which was begun,
in an emergency, by the voluntary and gen
erous loyalty cf our citizens, before the pas
sage by Congress of the enrolment act, and
has since been continued by sundry acts of
Assembly. The result has been to the last
degree oppressive to our citizens, and un
productive of corresponding benefit to the
Government In some counties and town
ships, it is believed that the bounty tax du
ring the last year exceeded the average in
come derived from the hind. The large
sums o!Ter3d in some i daces in the competi
tion of men. .have demoralized many of
our people, and the most atrocious frauds
connected with the system have become
common. The men of ome of the poorer
counties have been nearly" exhausted by their
volunteers being credited to richer localities
1 aying heavier bounties. The system as
practiced lowers the monJr of the army it
self, by putting into the ranks men actuated
by merely mercenary motives, and who'ara
tempted to desert by the facility of escaping
detection, and the prospect ot new gains by
re-enlismeiit, a process which they expect
to be able to repeat au indefinite number of
times. Ot the number ot men for whom
bounties been have paid, it is believed that
not one-fourth have been actually placed in
the ranks ot the army, and even those who
have joined it, have probably not on an av
erage received for their o'-vn use one-half of
the bounty paid for them. Immense sums
have thus been appropriated by cheats and
swindlers, in many cases believed to be act
ing iu complicity with agencies of the Gov
ernment. An effort was made to prosecute some of
the parties concerned in such frauds under
the act of Assembly of 1 4th August last,
and they were bound over by the Major of
this city, but after the witnesses had come
here on the meeting of the court, they dis
appeared from the public eye. 1 recommend
the subject to your careful consideration, that
the system iay be purged of these evils.
I am officially informed that the quota of
this State, under the recent eah is OO.'XH),
but I am not informed of the principle on
which the draft is to be made.
It appears from the President's proclama
tion that it is made chiefly to supply an al
leged deficiency in former calls. 1 am sur
prised at the an.ouut of this large deficien
cy, and can only account for the difference
between the number of men furnished by
the State aud the deficiency alleged to exist
in the assignment of the present quota by
the assumption that the men never reached
the army," alt hough enlisted and mustered
after the payment of bounties by the locali
ties to which they were supposed to be cred
ited. It is probable that there are very few
counties in the State which have not paid
large bounties for a number of men suffi
cient to fill their former quotas. Taking the
local bounties at the low average of four
hundred dollars, it is believed that it can be
demonstrated that the people of Pennsylva
nia have thus been robbed of more, than
twelve millions of dollars during the past
year. This estimate does not include the
money fraudulently taken from men who
have actually gone into the service. The
continuance of these monstrous and unpar
alleled abuses cannot be tolerated.
Certainly more men are required to aid
our gallant soldiers in the field in crushing
this rebellion, and every consideration of
patriotism and of regard for our brothers
who are now in the face of the enemy, obli
ges us to spare no effort to raise the neces
sary force.
In June last I gave letters to a committee I
of the prison society f Philadelphia, re
questing that the memiiers of the committee j
might tie allowed to visit and examine tin
prisons and poor-houses throughout the
Commonwealth. I transmit with this com
munication a copy of the report made to me
by the society of the results of their labors,
and commend the same to your attention
with a view to the adoption of proper mea
sures to reform the abuses which have leen
found to exist.
In connection with this subject, I again
call your attention to the expediency of pro
viding for the reception in the penitentia
ries, of persons convicted of murder in the
first degree, and who may be pardoned on
condition of serving a limited term therein.
It has liecome a custom that an incoming
Governor should not issue a warrant of exe
tion in cases left un icted on by his prede
cessor, and it not unfrequcntly happens that
even in cases which are recent, while some
punishment should be inflicted, that of death
may appear to the Fxecutivc too severe.
The result is that there are at tl is time, in
the various prisons, some eighteen or
twenty persons under sentence of death,
and who may lie there for an indefinite pe
riod of time.
The vast amount of additional labor which
has been imposed upon the Secretary of the
Commonwealth by the existing state of af
fairs renders it absolutely necessary that the
clerical force of his department should be in
creased. The making out of commissions
for our large army of volunteers in the field,
and the preparations of election blanks re
quired by law to bo sent to the army the
receipt, filing aud recording the returns of
the soldiers' voles the enrolment of the
yearly increasing number of acts of Assem
bly, and of charters obtained under general
.laws and the making out of letters patent
for them aud these, together with the pre
vious heavy duties of the office form an
aggregate, the weight of which, must ulti
mately break down his few subordinates,
diligent, faithful and enduring as they are.
I recommend, therefore, that provision be
promptly made to meet t lie necessities of
this case.
It is a subject of just congratulation that
notwithstanding the distracted condition of
the country, our sy&tem of common schools
continues to flourish. The report of the
Superintendent, winch 1 herewith transmit,
shows that there has been an increase of
sc holars during the past year. It Is import
ant to secure as teachers a sufficient number
of men of suitable education and ability, aud
with a view to this object. I suggest foi yoiy;
consideration the expediency of making out
of the school fund itself some provision for
the support of such teachers as shall after a
given term of service become superauuated
o: disabled while in the performance of their
duties.
Of the fund placed in my hands by the
acts of the 16th May, ISO I, and of the 4th
of May, 1804, and to be appropriated in my
judgment in military service. 1 have expen
ded in the last year $0,124 OS in support
of the agency at Washington up until the
30th of May last, for my per.-onal'staff and
other military service, an acceount of which
is settled iu the office ot the Auditor Gen
eral. No similar appropriation will be re
quired at this session.
A bill was introduced and passed the
House at the hist session of the Legislature
providing for the appointment of a commis
sion to ascertain the damages done iu the
couutiesof Bedford, Fulton, Franklin, Cum
berland, York and Adams, by the rebel army
in 1803, which failed in the Senate for want
of time.
I commend to your consideration the pro
priety of the passage of such a bill during
the present session. It is just to the people
of these counties who have suffered, as well
as to the Government that these damages
should be fairly asceitained and the evi
dence pe; pet ua ted, whatever may be the
view to be taken on future consideration by
the United States or State Government as
to the propriety of paying such claims.
Major General Hancock has been author
ized by the War Department to raise a oorps
of veterans, to be called the First Corps.
One ot the regulations is that on application
by the -Governor of any State, recruiting
officers will be designated for such State. 1
have been requested by General Hancock to
make such application, but have hitherto
declined to comply with the request. -Jt
appears to me that the families of men rais
ed on the plan adopted by the War Depart
ment would probably not be entitled to the
relief provided by our own laws for the fam
ilies of volunteers. I have inquired of ( Jen.
Hancock whether the proposed corps is' to
form part of the regular army or of the vol
unteer force, and if the latter, under what
act of Congress it is to be raised. lie has
referred that communication to the War De
partment, from which I have as yet receiv
ed no answer to it.
The following letters have passed between
Gen. Hancock and myself on this subject :
Pennsylvania Eykcitive Cham her, 1
I'Iarrisburo, Pa., IVc. 20th, 1864. J
General: I received your letter at the
moment of my departure for Philadelphia
on Monday last. I returned this morning
and hasten to reply.
Having no knowledge of the organization
ot the corps you are to command than wh.it
appears in the newspapers and orders, I will
be obliged if you will inform me if it is to
be regarded as a part of the regular army
of the United States or as a part of the vol
unteer sen ice.
If it is part of the army of the United
States, I certainly have no connection with
it, as Governor of the State. If it is or
ganized as volunteers, be pleased to inform
me under what act of Congress?
I need not say, General, that I would be
most happy to do all in my power personal
ly and officially to raise a force to be com
manded by you. Can we not raise you two
or three regiments in Pennsylvania, in the
usual manner and according to the act of
Congress, for your corps? Of course, I
would consult you in the selection of officers
and only commission where yon approved.
I cannot understand the importance of my
asking that persons be sent to Pennsylvania
to induce veterans to go to the District of
Columbia to enlist. 1 certainly will do noth
ing to embarrass the plan proposed.
V'e have benefits, by general and special
legislation in Pennsylvania, which attach to
the volunteer and his family. While I will
do nothing to deter the veterans of the State
from entering your corps, I hesitate to con
nect myself with a mode of enlistment which
may deprive them of such benefits, unless it
is my duty under the law.
I am. General, very respectfully, your o
bedient servant, A. G. CtriTIN.
Major General Winfield S. Hancock.
II r.Au'gRa First Corps. )
Washington, 1). C, Lec 3i, 1864. )
To His Excellency Hon. 'A. G. Cur tin, (j'ov-
mtor of J'enrtgileaiii'i.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your communication of tho
L',hh ittst.. and have relened the fame to
I he ':r Department. I thank you for
your kind expres.-i yt of porsonal good
will, and tcret that there should he any
hesitation on your part to lend your offi
cial influence, as Governor, to ih raising
of tt-t corps iis proposed by the War De
partment. It is not within ray province, perhaps,
to discuss the plan' of organization, as 1
am acting under the direct orders of the
War Department, and 'my own views,
therefore, are of no practical moment. I
may sy, however, that I have no knowl
edge of the organization other than whai
I have derived from toe order and cir
culars of which I mailed you official coot
ies December 5th.
1 cannot tee how volunteers for this
corps from your Sta'c lose any of the id
" vantages attaching to those fur other or
ganizations. They are credited to the localities
where they or li.e r f'u nifies are domicil
ed, and count on the rpioLi ot" your
Sla'e.
It should I-e home in mind that this is
an effort to get men into net v ice who at e
not mdjt-ct to a draft.
I have t he honor to re.-nain, very re
spectfuly, vnur obedient servant,
WIN FIELDS. HANCOCK,
Mfljor-Gencral U. S. Volunteers, cjiu-
inanding Firs! f'o.-ps.
The only act ot Jui5gre.s for ruining
volunteers that 1 nm aware of re-quire
that the field nnd line officers Khali le
com missioned tv the Governors of the
several .Sime. The men in this corps are
not to be formed into organizations of the
respective States, and it is proposed that
its officers shall be appointed by the Gen
eral Government. I know of no net of Con
gress orof Assembly under which men so
raisl will be en title. 1 to pensions or
their families to benefits from the Uni
ted Smtes or Stale Government. In addi
tion, I wiil ob.-etve that vithuut Hny feel
ing of jealousy, 1 am still not ready to
paiiieipaie actively in transferring to the
United States illegally the rijbt ol a
pointinent vested in the State, and which
the Stale authorities can exercise with
more di.ei iminalion by reason of having
a greater familial ity with the merits of
i he citizens of their ow u Siate, than the
United States authorities can possibly
have. I will transmit any further com
munication thai I may receive on this'
subject. It will b perceired by refer
ence to the C'uespondenee, that I have
offered to raise, iu the manner provided
by law, tivo or three regiments of veter
ans for Hancock's Corps. My desire is
to assmt the Government in e?eiy legal
mode in raising men, and especially to
facilitate an ofieer a native Pennsylva
nian so distinguished as General Han
cock, in his erf. rs t' organize a new corps.
I shall throw no obstacles iu hi way
on the present occasion, but 1 cannot, cer
tainly, be expected to invite a violation of
laws in carrying out a plan which acrir
flees the rights of the State under existing
laws, and would leave the men unprotectd
by them, 6o far as concerns future provis
ion for their comfort aud that of their
families.
I will further ob.cervetbat it appears by
the report cf the Adjutant General, here
with transmitted, that the State, under
the system established by law, has put in
to the military service of the United .States
since the commencement of the war, the
following cumber of men, viz ;
Troops sew into the service daring 18G4.
Organizations for three years'
term, 9,867
Organizations for one hundred
days' terra, 7,675
Organizations for one year
term, lfi,04 .
Volunteer recruits, 26,567
Drafted men and ubetitutes, 10,151
Recruits for regular arin 2,978
I2e-enlistiii4nts of Pennsylvania Volunteers.
Infantry, :,862
Cavalry, 2,834
Artillery, 799
Accredited to other States, ; 39
- 17,876
91,704
Troops sent into t!u service rf the United States
since the commencement of the rebellion, in
cluding the ninety day's milititt in the depart
ments of the Mononyahela and $is'piehana,
During the year 1861, ' 130,594
Do do 182, 71,100
Do do 1863, 43,046
Do do 1864, : . 78,828
Re-enlistment of Pennsylvania volun
teers 17,876
336,444
The twenty-five thousand militia of 1862
are not included in this statement.
I call the attention of the Legislature to.
See Foutih J'aie.
rnr
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