fhc American tfitucn.
-----
THOMAS ROBINSON, i Fditors
CYRUS E. ANDERSON, j* aKors -
BUTLER PA.
WK».\E>iI)AV.::JA\. lit.lHOl.
Aw'"Liberty and Union. Now and Forever, One
and 'nieparable."—D. Webster.
• FOR PRESIDENT IN 18(54 :
ABRAHAM LH<OL\.
ft®* We have looked with anxiety for
Home definite action by Congress on the
("onscription act, but as yet nothing has
transpired to justify us in even guessing
what they, may do in the premises. There
is little doubt however, that there will be
of the draft for n few
weeks. Mjst of (he districts are 'low
making an effort to raise their respective
allotments by volunteers. It is to be
hoped this will be done all overthe county.
Governor Ciirlln's Menage.
As this state paper was not received in
time to have it put on the outside of our
paper, and being unwilling to defer its
publication another week, we have placed
it inside of this number, to the exclusion
of other matter which we would fain have
published this week.
We bespeak for the message a careful
perusal. It not only exhibits the fact
that our finances are in a healthy condi
tion, (the State debt having been reduced
abont a million of dollars in the past year) I
bnt. is full of practical suggestions, look
ing to important improvements in our
financial system, which must meet with a
favorable consideration at the hands of the
Legislature.
But while that part of the message
hearing on the state of our finances,, is
both interesting and gratifyiug, that por
tion of it devoted to our Federal relations
is much more so. Our reputation as a
loyal—as a patriotic State, will not suffer
at the hands of Gov. Curt in. 11 is care
for our soldiers—for their families, and
their own comforts, endears him to all
who are capable of feeling for the hard
ships of the one, or the privations of the
other.
And last, but not least, his unyielding
attachment to the cause of our common
country, is a conclusive evidence that the
people acted wisely last fall in refusing to
allow him to vacate the Executive chair,
which, for the last tliree years he has fill
ed with so much, credit to himself, and
benefit to the country.
The liCKislaturc.
This body, which met on the sth inst..
has not t: got under weigh" yet.
The House organized at 1 o'clock, by
electing H. C. Johnson, of Crawford Co.,
Speaker; A. W. Benedict, of Huntingdon
Co., Chief Clerk; James Brown, of Mer
cer Co., Assistant Clerk; James Sccbcrs,
of Philadelphia Co., Sergeant-at-Arms ;
James T. M'Junkin, of Butler Co., Door
keeper ;C. C. Walker, of Philadelphia,
Miles, of Tioga, Butterfield, of Erie, and
A. I). Harlan, of Chester, Transcribing
Clerks; R. W. Stewart, of Lawrence,
Postmaster; Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms,
James T. Sample ,of Allegheny; C. An
derson of Philadelphia, and Palmer of
Bradford; Assistant Door-keepers, Craw
ford of Allegheny, M'Culy of Philadel
phia, and J. C. Sturtevant of Crawford.
But the Senate has not yet been able
to effect a permanent organization; par
ties standing 10 to Hi, (Maj. White, Re
publican, being a prisoner at Richmond.)
The Administration men allege that Mr.
Penny, the Speaker elected at the close of
the last session, is flie Speaker of the Se
nate till his successor is elected, while the
Copperheads claim that his office expired
on the meeting of the Legislature. To
say fte least' of it, it is a small business
for the representatives of a once great
party, to thus attempt to overthrow the
expressed will of a large majority of the
people of the State, as announced at the
last election. If it was a Democrat in
stead of a Republican, who was in Rich
mond, and his vote being necessary to or
ganize the Senate on a conservative basis,
Jeff. Davis, would soon send him home;
but as it is differeutly, jve must abide the
decision of that great arbiter of human
events— time.
MOVEMENT OF TROOPS. —The 16th
regiment Michigan Infantry, and Ist Keg
iment Michigau Cavalry, arrived iu this
city yesterday, on their way to Detroit, to
recruit for the war. The 16tli is under
the command of Col. Welsh and numbers
300 men. The Ist Cavalry, under com
mand of Col. Tonn, numbers 360 men.
The men of both regiments enlisted en
tire, with the exception of about twenty
live. Both- [regiments passed through
here in September, 1801, filled to the max
imum number. The First was originally
under the command of Col. Broadhead,
f"*K our readers will remember, was killud
at die second Bull Run tight, and who,
while dying, said, "I die another victim of
General McDowell's treachery."
They ware furnished with a warm meal
at the lHall of the Subsistence Committee.
The 28th Pennsylvania is still on the
load, and it was expected last evening.
It started from Louisvilkon Christmas,
Do we are informed.
IJOV. (IRTIVS MISSMii:.
To the Smile Una Home of Representa- I
tive s of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl
vania :
GENTLEMEN : —The past year has af
forded us new cause of thankfulness to ,
the Almighty for the moral and material ,
blessings which he has bestowed upou us. j
The balance in the Treaaurv Nor. 30th,
1862, was $2,172,844 10
Receipts during fiscal year ending Xuv. 30,'63 4,280.451 65
Tot.il inTnujutrr for the fiscal year ending
Nor. SO, 1868.. 6,462.29* 7JS
The payments for the muiu; period have been 4.314,9t>4 05
Balance in Treaaury, NOT. 80, 1863 2,147,331 70
The operations of the sinVing Fund
during tho last year have been shown by
my Proclamation of the Bth day of Sep- i
tember last, as follows:
Amount of the debt of the Commonwealth
r«*duced $ 954,720 40 i
As follow*, vis :
('••upon Loan Act, Ma> 4, 1802, SIOO,OOO 00
Five per cent - 790,000 00
Four and one half per cent 03,000 00
Kelief notes cancelled 963 00
Domestic creditors' certificates... 13 00
Interest of certificates paid 27 90 $954,720 40 I
Amount of public debt of Pennsylvania, as
it htood on the Ist day of December, 1H62,540,448,213 82 j
Deduct the amount redeemed at the State
Treasury, during the fiscal year, ending
with November 30, 1563, viz':
Five per cent. st.K-ks $ 88MW 78
Four and one-hair per «tocks.. C."..U00 OM
Relief notes 100 is)
Domestic creditor's certificates, 820 ?%LOl7 04 |
Public debt December Ist, 186 ft $3!«,496,596 7S I
Funded debt, viz : •
Six per cent, loans $ 400.630 00
l'mided dfl.t. vi/. :
FiveJperVeut. loaus. 86,700,986 45
Funded debt, vis:
Four and one-half per cent, loans 268,300 00 $30,378,810 45
I'tifunded debt oat
Relief notes in cir«flp<-i, $97,25 1 00
Interest of certifi< rtWri utstaud
ing 15.350 03
(i.l • o|,-,.|t:*-ates uri.-luiaed 4.4 is 88
Domestic creditoiu* certificates... 72132 $117,780 38
$30,496,596 78
Military loan, per|act of May 15, 1801 *3,000,000 t» j
Total indebtedness 130.490,596 78 (
By the act of 15th May, 1861, author!- j
I zing the military loan of §3,000,000, a j
j tax of one half mill was laid on real and
I personal property, to furnish a fund for j
redeeming the same. I recommend that t
the commissioners of the sinking fund be
directed to invest the proceeds of the tax ;
! in State loan, so that it may be drawing |
I interest, to be in like manner invested, or j
| that they should apply sueli proceeds di
j rectly to the purchase of certificates of the
I military loan, and cancel such certificates j
I as shall be purchased.
PAYING OI'R INTEREST IN SPECIE.
Although our finances are still in a heal-
I thy condition, it is necessary to invite the !
I serious attention of the Legislature to the ;
consideration of the means of maintain- j
I ing them unimpaired in future.
By the act of 12th June, 1340, it was
provided that the interest on State loans j
i should always be paid in specie or its i
j equivalent, and that whenever the funds j
in the Treasury should be of less value I
j than specie, the difference in value should i
| be ascertained and certified to the Gov- !
ernor, who should thereupon issue his war
| rant to the agents or banks authorized to
pay such interest on behalf of the Com- :
monwealth, to allow such difference to ;
parties receiving the interest, or at the
option of the parties to pay the same in j
■ specie.
By the act of April 11th, 1862, it was j
| provided that for the purpose of paying
| in specie or its equivalent, all interest that j
' should thereafter be due by the Common-
J wealth, as required by the act of June I
j 12th, 1840,, the severai banks who should
avail themselves of the provisions of that j
act, (of April 11th, 1802.) and who j
should refuse to redeem their notes in spe- j
I eie, on demand at any time within ten j
days upon or after the time which such I
i interest should bcconfedue, should there- 1
| alter, when required by tho State Treasur- !
or, by notice in writing, pay into the State
, Treasury, in proportion to the capital ,
i stock paid in of each bank their ratable i
proportion of such premium for gold or
its equivalent, as should have been actu- I
ally paid by the State.
By the act of January 30th, 1803, it
•was provided that the State Treasurer
, should exchange with the banks an amount i
| of currency sufficient to pay the interest
on the State debt falling due on the first
days of February and August, 18(53, for
' the same amount of coin, and should give
> to the banks specie certificates 'of ex
- change, not transferable, pledging tho
112 faith of the Sfate to return said coin iu
exchange for notes current at the time, on
or before the first Monday of March, 1804.*
' such certificates to bear interest at the rate
• 'of 2« percent, per annum.
j • Under the provisions of the act of 18052
certain, banks have paid into the State
Treasury $140,768 30 as an equivalent for
coin for the payment of interest on the
' public debt.
Under tli'c act of 1863, specie ccrtifi
f eates have been given to the banks,amount
- ing in the whole to $1,988,904 97, which,
5 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, tlic only aet now in
s force on the subject are those of 1840 and
t 1862, above mentioned, under which it
, w ill be the duty of the State authorities
to pay the interest An the Ist of February,
I*o4. and thereafter, in coin or its equiva
-3 lent, and look to the banks that may be
- liable under the act of 1862 for reimburse
. ment of the premium paid by the Com
monwealth.
In the face of all difficulties, this Com
' monweftlth, actuated by a sentiment which
> does its people honor, has hitherto paid its
J interest iu coin or its equivalent.
! Existing circumstances make it neces
sary to consider now the fair extent of her
just obligations.
1 The exigencies of the times have com
- petted the Government of the United
' States to issue large amounts of Treasury
} notesfor circulation, which are not redeem
r able in coin, aud which form the great
3 mass of our circulating medium.
It is our duty as a loyal State—it is our
• interest as ft State whose welfare, and even
- safiity,dep«*vl emphatically upon the main
- tenanoe ai the credit and the success of
' the military operations of the general gov
- eminent —So do nothing to impair itscred
' it or embarrass its measures. On the con
, trary, we owe it to ourselves and our pos
-1 terity to give an active support to its ef
, forts to quell the monstrous rebellion which
' is still raging, and thus restore peace to
our distracted country. •
' It is our own Government, and we could
• not, without gross indecency, attempt to
- refuse its currency in payment of taxes
■ and other debts due to the Common wealth,
j In 1840 the ease was very different.—
The difficulties then arose from the sus
! pension of specie payment by our State
Banks, mere local and private corpora
tion#, aud the State very properly by the
j act of that year, intended to provide
| against loss to its creditors by renson of
| such suspensions. An exigency like the
; present could not have been foreseen by
| the Legislature, and it is to be inferred
i therefore, that they could not have intend
to provide for it.
We derive our system of public loans
from Europe, and the true extent of our
obligation is to be Ascertained by referring
to the known established practice of Eu
ropean governments prior to the dates
when our loans were effected. I mean of
course such of those governments as were
I held to have maintained their national .
j credit.
It is believed to have been the uniform \
I practice of such governments to pay their :
| interest in pajier currency, however de- '
| predated during a legalized suspension of
j specie payments. An observable instance
of this is afforded by the course of the
British Government.which during twenty
j five years, from 17*7 to 1H22, during
which the bank was prohibited by law
| from paying out coin for any purpose,
i paid the interest on its public debts in
bank notes, which during a great part of
| that time ware at a heavy discount some
! times amounting to 30 per cent, or therea
i bout. Their necessities were not greater j
| than ours are now.
Among ourselves, at the present time, !
j Massachusetts (whose debt is believed to
I be very small) pays -the interest in coin. |
| Ohio and Indiana pay in currency. In
New York it is not known what will be j
done. Her Legislature, by concurrent
i resolution* ordered the interest to be paid
j in coin to foreign stockholders, in April
last. " -
At the present rate of premium on gold, j
I the sum necessary to pay on an amount j
j sufficient to discharge the annual interest i
ion the State debt would be more than
81,000,000, and to meet this, additional!
| taxation to that extent would be unavoid- J
! able. The demands on the Treasury for j
i other necessary purposes must probably be j
such as to render it imprudent to throw 1
| any part of this expenditure on the exist- i
] ing surplus. To borrow tnoncy from year I
j to year to piy the interest on past loans
i would, of course, be wholly admissable.—
To leave the aet of 1862 in force, and at
tempt to throw jhc payment of this large
| premium annually on the banks, would be
not only flagrantly unjust, but quite im
! practicable. I recommend the whole sub
-1 ject to the careful and immediate consid
[ oration of the Legislature. Some legis
lation ought to bo l had on it before the
close of the present month. In my opin
ion the Commonwealth will have fulfilled
j her obligation by providing for the pay
] inent of her interest in the currency of
the Government. Ifthe Legislature should
think fit to continue to pay it in coin, it
| will be their duty to levy forthwith the
! heavy taxes necessary for that purpose.—
I'must in passing observe that tho plan
j adopted by one of tho States of paying
| coin to foreign, and currency to domestic
j loan holders, appears to me to be wholly
unwise, and founded on no legitimate
principle.
At tho close of the last session, nineteen
j bills renewing the charters of certain banks
■ for another period of five years were pre
sented to me. (>f these I have (for rea
| sons which will be hereafter communica
j ted) withheld my signature from one, and
approved the remainder. I have been led
I to sign them by tho considerations that
1 the banks of the Commonwealth pay a
| large revenue which the State can ill af-
I ford to lose, and that in the present con
' dition of the country it wottldbe impolitic
j to drive so much capital out of active use
i or force it into new employments.
Ifthe National Banking system affords
l sufficient inducements, capital will volun
tarily take" that direction. It is proper to
; observe that the charters of mast of the
] banks in question expire at an early peri
od, while in consequence of the invasion
of the State, during the last summer,they
' could not have been reasonably expected
to give the necessary notice of renewed
| applications for re-charter.
I recommend an extension of the time
during which the banks are now relieved
from penalties for not paying their obli
. j gations in coin.
SALARIES OF PUBLIC OFFICERS.
| The inereasod expenses of living in
vite attention to the salaries of our pub
' lie officers. Those of the Secretary of the
! Commonwealth, Auditor General and
! State Treasurer, and of the Clerks iu
j their employment are, in my opinion, too
j low, especially as the exigencies 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 Harrisburg,which
was not formerly-required.
BOARD OF MILITARY CLAIMS.
X'nder thc*Act of 10th April, 1862,
and its supplement passed 22d April,
1863, the Adjutant General, Quartermas
! ter General aud Commissary General have
been acting as the Board of Military
i Claims. They have, up to this time, ap
. ; proved claims to the amount of 8106.415
81,and others hav calreadybecn presented to
! the further amount of 8332,120 20, which
! have not yet been acted on.
Upder the Act of 22d April, I*o3,
} (P. L., 529,) the Court of' Common l'leas
j appointed three appraisers to ascertain the
. ! damage done iu thecounties on the South
■ ern border by the militia called into ser
vice in September, 1862, by the Ander
son Cavalry, in the same month, and by
the rebels in their raid on the 10th and
October, 1863.
TliFappraisers have not yet completed
the performance of their duties. When
their report shall have been m;«lc to the
■ Court of Common l'leas and affirmed, in
1 whole or iu part, by that Court, it will be
. ! the duty of the Governor to claim the
■ payments of the amounts from the Gen
eral Government, and on failure to secure
the same, then to report to the next Leg
islature, recommending such action as he
. may deem just and proper.
The expenses of the Transportation
and Telegraph Departments during the
i past year have been as follows :
Paid (out of appropriation made by Milita
ry Loan Act, of 1861) ♦15,668 37
1 ' Vnpiiid. (the appropriation being exhausted) 15,7*»4 79
( ' Outstanding liabilities, estimated at 6,000 00
, J $34,423 00
These expenses have been mainly in
. | creased in keeping up the necessary cor
respondence of the military departments
' and in the transporfction of si?k anil
; wonnded and the dead bodies of our vol
j euteers, as will be sees by the report of
i the Chief of Traniortation, herewith
; communicated. I reommcnd an appro
I priation to meet the efficiency, and also
| to carry on the serviceof this department
I hereafter.
COMPENSATION TO {IILITARY AGENTS.
Uv the thirteenth fection of the act of
the 15th May, 1861, lie sum of 820,000
was appropriated to hi expended bv the
Governor, for the cejtipensatiou of such
persons as he might require to serve the
Commonwealth in tlu military orgauiza-,
tion of the State or the Gcnoral Goverti
ment, and for the expenses incident to the
! business in which they might be employ
ed.
1 have, according to law, settled annu- ,
! al accounts «112 the expenditure of this !
I fund in the Auditor General's Office, to I
' which the legislature is referred. The
unexpended balance is now M,521 98.
A fur the' sum should be appropriated in
like manner. Out of this fund 1 have
paid tha persons whom I found it neces
j gary to employ in the military department
i and the expenses of the agency which 1
was rompclled to establish at Washington.
I to aßend to the interest and welfare of
our volunteers. The continuance of tliia
agency and the establishment of a similar
on; in the West arc of vital importance
to them. I recommend the passage of an
I aft authorizing the appointment of agents
! at Washington and Nashville, and defining
| their duties, which should include the col-
I tection of all bounties, back pay, pensions,
etc.. due to Pennsylvania.
On this subject 1 reter the Legislature
to the report of Col. 11. Biddle Huberts,
late agent for the State, at Washington.
| herewith communicated, and commend it
to your careful examination.
On the invasion of the State during the
i last summer, the President made a call for
militia, and with his consent I subsequent
. ly made a call for volunteer militia for the
defense of the State, l uder these calls
men were assembled and organized with
j promptness, after the reality of this cmer-
I gency came to bo urderstood by our pen
pie. The Geieral Government clothed
I and subsisted this force, and agreed to pay
| it, but as no appropriation for that purpose
| had been made by Congress, the President
! and Secretary of War promised if the
! ljjoney should be advanced from other
I quarters to recommend its immediate re
| payment on the meeting of Congress.
It is understood that steps have been
j already taken to fulfil this pledge. Seve
; ral of the banks cheerfully and readi'v ad
| vaneed the necessary funds to the am >unt
| of $671,476,43, on my promise to recom
j mend to the Legislature aii appropriation
j to repay them in case Congress should fail
'j to make one. 1 accordingly make tliat
| recommendation most emphatically.—
Should it be necessary, 1 will hereafter,
in a special message, give the details and
correspondence relating to this subject.
New York and New Jersey, under the
; President's call, sent regiments to assist in
our defence, for which our thanks are due
to those States, our good neighbors.
ESTABLISHMENT OF GETTYSBURG CEME
TERY.
After the battle of Gettysburg, in which
loyal volunteers from eiglitecn States, in
cluding Pennsylvania, were engaged, it
appeared to me proper that all those States
j should unite in establishing a cemetsrv on
I ! the spot, in which their soldiers who had
I j fallen in that conflict, should be honorably
t interred. 1 accordingly appointed David
Willis. Esq., of Gettysburg, my agent,
and through him.a site was purchased at a
cost of 82,475 87, aud the conveyance
, made to the Commonwealth. On commu
, nicating with the authorities of the other
States, they all readily agreed to become
. parties to the arrangement, and on the 1 9th'
day of November last, the cemetery was
, dedicated with appropriate ceremonies in
, the presence of the President of the Uni
[ ted States, the <iovernore of the States
! concerned, and other high officers, State
aud National.
I On the 10th day of December, on the
j invitation of Mr. Willis, commissioners
representing the States interested in tlio
, cemetery, me tin Ilarrisbvrg, and agreed
1 upon a plan for its improvement and care
in the future, and the appoitionment of the
sum of money required, to the several
States, which is herewith communicated.
The expenses attending the establishment
of this cemetery .inclosing the cost of this
site, have thus far amouutcd to 85,20'J 28,
j and an appropriation will be required to
pay these expenses, and to meet our por
' tion of tWe attending its future niainton
-1 anee. It will apjiear by the proceedings
e of the commissioners, that their due pro
" portion of the expenses already incurred
L are to be.refunded by the State on whose
* j account they were made. It is just to say
1 that Mr. Willis has discharged his deli
cate and important duties with fidelity, uiid
to my retire satisfaction.
■ RELIEF OF FAMILIES OF VOLUNTEERS.
'• The act for the relief of families of vol
' unteers in service may require some revis
e ion. It is alleged that in some parts of
112 the State the countv authorities are back
'' ward in executing the law. If this be so,
J the members from the different counties
0 will be aware of the fact, and will be most
1 icady to make such futher enactments as
may be proper.
1 ) I commend to the prompt attention of
s the Legislature the subject of the relief of
B poor orphans of our soldiers who have giv
" en, orsliall give their lives to the country.
" during this crisis. In my opinion, their
maintenance and education should be pro
)' vided for by the State. Failing other nat-
ural frieuds of ability to provide for them
they should be honorably received and few
-1 tered as children of the Commonwealth.—
a The 850.000 heretofore given by the Pcnn
c nylvama Railroad Company, referred to in
ii my last annual message, is still unappro
e priated, and I recommend that this sum
e with such as the Legislature
- I may think fit, be applied to this end, in
e j such manner as may be thought most ex
;- j pedient and effective. ,In anticipation oi
e | the adoption of a more perfect system, 1
recommend that provisions be made fur so
i curing the admission of such childreu intc
e existing educational establishments, to be
there clothed, nurtured and instructed al
the public expense. I make this recom
a mendation earnestly, feeling assured that
0 in doing so, I represent the wishes of the
<i \ patriotic, the benevolent aud the good, of
- ' the State.
- j THE LOYAL PEOPLE OF EAST TENNESSEE
s ' 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 appeals with irresistible
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 the rebels. Pour
times large armies have passed over that
district, destroying or carrying off all that
had been gathered forthe approaching win
ter. and now the women and children are
left in a stateof desolation.
The representations made by sundry
gentlemen of the highest respectability,
from that State, are of the most heart rea
ding character. Starvation, actual and
present uow exist. Can we, in the midst
of affluent abundance, for a moment hesi
tate as to what our action should be towards
the people whose ouly crime has been their
I loyalty and devotion to the Government?
| Even if a portion of our charity should
reach the starving families of those in sym
pathy with the rebellion, better it should,
than that those devoted, self-sacrificing
people who have so unhesitatingly adher
ed to the Government, be left to suffer.
Whenever pcstilenee and famines dis
tressed 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-hand
ed benevolence and broad charity to the
starving people of foreign countries. Shall
it be said that the appeals id' these people
for bread fell upon the heart of Pennsyl
vania in vain, and that.we who have so re
cently given thanks for abundance have
no relief for them in their extremities ? 1
commend the subject through you to the
people of the State, as worthy the immedi
ate attention and active exertions of the
charitable and liberal.
REVISION OF Ol'll REVENUE LAWS.
I should be glad if the Legislature would
make a general revision id' our Revenue
Laws, with a view to their increased pro
ductiveness. It ought to be observed that
for a period of more than twenty years, no
material change has been made in the Rev-1
'enue Laws of this Commonwealth. Dur
ing that time some interests have grown
int 14 netv importance, and should be made
to boar their just proportion of the puplie
expenses, since all taxation should, as far
i as possible, presscqually upon the proper
ty and employments of our people. Fail
ing such revision, I recommend to thecou
• sieleration of the Legislature, the following
■ suggestions connected with the subject:
RECOMMENDS TAXING CERTAIN RAIL
ROADS.
1. There are several companies in the
State, which, in addition to large mining
privileges, have the control id' the routes
of transportation, by which alone thepro
-1 ducts 01 thc\ .ones of individuals in their
I respective districts, c\v> roach a market.
: These companies thus enjoy i.-'bstat.tutl
- monopolies, by means of which they not
, only receive the fair profits of their own
I property, but are enabled to make addi
tional licavy gains at the expense of indi
viduals. In my opinion such privileges
1 ought never to nave been granted, but as
; they exist it appeal's to be just that the
class of companies which enjoy them,
- should pay therfor an additional specific
tax.
1 REVENUE FROM TIIE PATENTED LANDS.
2. Very large sums are due to the Com
t luonwealth from unpatented lands. For
-4 bcarance clemency and liberality have been
1 in vain tried in the numerous attempts to
1 procure the payment of at least a part of
; this debt, from the large portion of those
1 who are indebted 011 that account. The
, continuance of this state of affairs is un
-1 just to the Commonwealth and to the vast
• majority of her people who have honestly
- paid for their lands. It has become 1111-
r endurable. I recommend that the Legis
-2 lature provide that the Surveyor Gen
-1 eral shall file 011 record in the office of the
i Court of Common pleas of each county, a
1 description of the lands subject to the lieu
- ofthe Commonwealth for purchase money,
3 and a statement of the amount of princi
-0 pie and interest now due to the Common
wealth, together with the patent fees on
q each tract and ten jler ccnt<>i«the amount
s so due for the labor and cost of making
i» and filing such statements, and the aggre
-1 gate amount thus stated, for each tract,
c shall lie held to be the amount now duo
e to the Commonwealth, which shall bear in
-1 terest at the rate of twelve per cent, per
[. annum till paid, and shall continue to be
t the first lien on the land till paid, and
s shall not be divested by any judical or oth
!, er sale whatever. 1 also recommend the
0 adoption of a suggestion contained in the
■- Surveyor General's report that a specific
i- tax be laid on all unpatented lands,
5 RECOMMEND TAX ON LOANS.AND RAIL-
RtIAD RECEIPTS.
1 3. liy existing laws municipal eorpora
e tions are required to deduct and pay into
y the Treasury the tax on all loans contract
-- ed by them. It is beleived that a large
tl addition would, accrue to the revenue by
t«<: extension of this provision to all coun
ties and to all corporations private or pub
-- lie.
i- I recommend that it be so extended,
if 4. A tax on the gross .receipts of all
l- railroad aud canal companies would, it is
>, believed, be productive and not be op
is prcssive.
;f PHILADELPHIA AND KRIE BONUS.
> Upon satisfactory reports according ti
law, made by Colontd John A. Wright, 1
if have drawn uiy warrants for the deliver)
if to the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad Com
pany of another million of the bonds do
r , posited in the State Treasury. Four mil
ir ions of said bonds have therefore been now
>- delivered. There can be no reasonable
t-. doubt of the early completion ofthe work
1, and. when completed, it is confidently ex
». peeted that the bonds held by the State
- secured on the road for 83,500.000, wil
1- become good interest paying securities,
n REVISION OF TIIE MILITIA LAWS.
j- I renew most earnestly the recommend
1, ation made in my last annual message o
e a revision of the militia laws. They an
n at present shamefully defective. Indeed
c- | if by a militia law is meant a law intend
if I ed to provide for so enrolling ond organiz
I ing the military force of the State that i
s- may be put into service when tcquired, wi
;o may be said to have no militia law. Ii
ic each of the last two years I have beet
it obliged to call out the militia, but in lac
1- those who obeyed the call were volunteers
it and, with some exceptions, were wholh
ic unorganized, so that almost in face ed tin
if enemy, time had to bo consumed in dis
tributing the men into companies and reg
i. iinents, in electing officers, and in othoi
■e preparations for effective organization.
OUR PENNSYLVANIA IIEUIMKNTS.
Til the report of tho Adjutant General
will be found a list of the Pennsylvania
regiments and a statement showing the
several armies »nd departments they are
now serving- In this connection, 1 sug
gest the propriety of legislative authority
being given for the preparation of a histo
ry of each of our regiments and other or
ganizations, to bo preserved among our j
archives. The necessary documents are !
now accessible, and as they may in time I
be lost or destroyed, the making of such
a record as I propose should not be defer
red. It is due alike to the'living and the
dead that-this suMect should be promptly
acted on.
SOLDIERS SIIOUI.K JIRLLOWED TO VOTE.
1 recommend that the proposed amend,
ments to the Constitution, giving to citi
zens in the public service out of the State,
the right to vote, be passed promptly and
submitted to a vote of the people at as ear
ly a day as possible, so that such citiccns
may exercise their right of suffrage at all
future elections. This would be only do
ing justice to the brave men who are per
iling their lives in our defence.
It is highly important that we should j
replenish the ranks of our regiments in the '
field and supply the places of those volun- !
teers whose terms will soon expire and |
may decline father service. lam happy j
to say that a large proportion of our regi
ments are re-enlisting. Efforts are mak
ing by myself and by the people in vari
ous portions of the State to procure a suf
ficient number of volunteers, and with a
promise of 'success, provided a reasonable i
time bo allowed for the purpose, ijeau- j
while, persons profcssing»to beolhcers'and
agents from some other States are most
improperly endeavoring to seduce our eit- !
izens into their service by extravagant
bounties and promises.
NO ENLISTMENTS FOIL OTHER STATES.
The 12 th section oftheactof 15th May,
1801. prohibits any volunteers from leav
ing the State without authority of the
Governor, and 1 now recommend the pas
sage of a law imposing peitalties by Hue
and. imprisonment on all individuals who
shall endeavor to procure or aid and as.-ist
In procuring any person in this State to
' enlist in t lie volunteer service of any fltlicr
State. Many of our eountio* and town
ships have foiled their quotas at& large
■ expense, and in others they are in course
: of doing the same by offers of libertdjioun
ties and provisions for the families of vol
■ unteers. and It is not right that these pa
triotic efforts should be embarrassed by in
: terferenco from beyond our borders, espo
; cially as we can not, in these circumstan
i cos, offer bounties by the State, without
• the injustice of compelling the counties
• and townships which have already con
. tributod largely in that way, to assist in
i paying, by taxation, for the deficiency of
t others.
1 TWO PESTILENT EV1..8 'X) lIF lEEORMKD.
1 feel it to be my duty to call your at
" tcntion to the pernicious practice of leav
-5 ing many bills to bo hurried through at
• fclie close of the session. During the last
3 ten days of the last session, three hundred
■ bills were presented for my signature, ma
' ny of them of the. most important charac
ter. The whole number of bills«present
■ cd to me during the session was seven
" hundred and fifteen. ' In consequence of
" this habit noWbiily arc bills passed witll
-1 out an opportunity in either House for a
' proper consideration of their provisions,
' but the Executive is compelled to either
3 sign them without examination, or to hold
J them perhaps to the public inconvenience.
" It may often happen thatabill notapprov
' cd by reason of a single obnoxious clause,
112 might if there were time, be repassed, omit
" ting the objectionable provision.
In connection with the subject of Leg
islation, I must refer to another mischief.
0 General laws have been passed to give re
-1 lief in certain cases which formerly requir-
I ed a special act in each case. As for in
' stance the sale of lands by executors, ad
ministrators and trustees, the adoption of
children, the creation of miningjand mauu-
II facturing corporations, and so forth. These
1 laws were passed to ensure such an oxarn
■ ination in each case as would enable jus
" ticc to be done to the parties and to the
public, and also to save the time and cx
-0 petise consumed in private legislation.—
" Tkoy have hitherto effected neither pur
-1 pose, but Ido seriously urge on the Leg
islature the consideration that whoever
applies for a special act undersuch circum
' stances musteither fear the resultof an im
u partial inquiry, or (if the application be
c ' for a charter) must desire the omission ot
0 insertion of some provision contrary to
what the Legislature lias determined af
ter mature consideration justand leg
itimate
I refer to the Auditor General's am
t State Treasurer's reports for the details of
e our financial affairs' and to the reports of
the Surveyor General, Adjutant General.
( Quartermaster Genera!, Commissary Gen
} eral, Surgeon General, Agentat Washing
ton, Chief of Transportation and Telegraph
Department, and Superintendent of Com
jj inon Schools, in regard to their several de
partments.
V INVASION OF OUR STATE 1!Y LEE.
In May last it was believed from infor
mation received,that General Lee intend
-0 ed to invade the State. Communication!
1 , i>n the subject were immediately sent t<
v | Washington, urging that preparations toi
i- i active defence should not be delayed.—
a . Accordingly the War Department erect
1. cd two new military departments, viz
w The Department of the Monongalmla, in
le eluding that portion of the Stately ing wes
k, of the mountains, to be commanded b;
Major-General Brooks, and the Depart
c luent of the Susquehanna, comprising th
[ll remainder of theState, and to be command
• eil by Major-General Couch. Early ii
June Major.General Couch arrived at Hat
[]. risburg and assumed command of his dc
u f partment, which ho hus since exercisci
re 1 with the soldierlike promptness, cnerg;
(I.and discretion which were to be expectei
J. from his known character,
z- The rebels having actually entered th
it j State in some force, and the approach c
re j their whole army being imminent, th
In President made a requisition for militi
iu from this and some of the neighborin
et States, and several regiments from Ne'
■s, York and New Jersey were promptly sen
ly and our own volunteer militia began to a
ic scmble, but some embarrassments arising
s- ; tho President assented to a call by the os
g- ecutive of the Suite which was accordriy;
jr ily made, Under these calls 5,100 of th
' men uf Pennsylvania were assembled i
the Department of General Hrooks, and
31,122 in that of Gen. Couch.
To give the details' or even a summary
of the operations which ensued, would bo
impracticable within tho 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
ments and other .organizations, and in that
| history to which 1 have referred will be
recorded. It is due. however, to the men
1 who came forward, that 1 should say now
that they made long and laborious march
es in parts of this and other States which
had been plundered by the rebels, suffer
ed great privations, and wore frequently in
conflict, with t'lie enemy, and on all occa
sions acted in obedience to military disci
pline and orders, and withtouragiMlid en
durance.
Some of the militia called iu 1862, and
in 1803, were killed and others disabled.
In all these eases, where there are no laws
for tho relief of these men or their fami
lies, I recommend the enactment of a law
for that purpose. The campaign on our
soil was-closed by the victory of Gettys
burg, gained by the vcteann Army of tho
Potomac, uiiiler the command of Major
General Meade, the officers and men of
which displayed all their accustomed val-
I or and endurance in the conflict, and in
the forced and rapid marches which im
mediately preceded it.
OULL DEBT TO U ENS. MEADE AND REY
NOLDS.
Under Divine Providence, to them and
| to the military genius and unsurpassed en-
I orgy of Gen. Meade, and the promptness
: and self sacrificing gallantry of Gen. Rey
nolds, we are indebted for success on that
! bloody field. We are proud to claim Ge
n! erals Meade and Reynolds as sous of Our
own Pennsylvania.
The first lives to enjoy the most precious
of all rewards, the great fill a]<Jireciation
of liis countrymen. The latter fell in tho
very front of the battle, and we can only
pay homage to his memory. Whatever
honors have been at anytime devised to
commemorate the virtues of a patriot—of
a true, fearless, loyal citizen and soldier, ho
has abundantly deserved.
Ilis surviving companions in arms claim
the right, of themselves erecting a monu
ment to him oil the field on which he fell;
. I and it would not be well to interfere with
| their pious intention. Hut I hope that
the Legislature willplacoupon therecords
of the Slate soineappropriate testimony of
tho public gratitude to him and hts surviv
. ine commander.
It would be unjust to omit referring
t again to the loyal spiritofour people, which
8 has been evinced in every mode since this
- war commenced. Not only have they sent
i 277,40!) men for the general and special
112 service for the Government, and support
ed with cheerfulness the burdens oftaxa
i. tion, but our storehouses and depots haW.
litaraiij with comforts and
necessaries, ppf.ntattc.iu.sly contributed lW
I them, under tho active care of thousands
t of our women, (faithful unto death) fpr
j tho sick and wounded and prisoners, as
well as fiir our,armies in the field. Their
patriotic benovolenco seems to bo inex
haustible. To every new call the rospouss
, becomes more and more liberal,
112 SUPPLIES TO RICHMOND PRISONERS.
When intelligence was received of tlio
a barbarian starvation of our prisoners in
Richmond, the garners of the whole State
r were instantly thrown open, and before
1 any similar movement had been made else
'• where, I was already employed on behalf
- of our people in their efforts to secure the
'■ admission through the rebel lines of the
> abundant supplies provided for the relief
of our suffering brethren. Those of our
citizens who have fallen into the habit of
disparaging our great Commonwealth and
■- the unsurpassed edicts of her people,
uHould blush when they look on this piy»
t- tnrr
THE REBELLION MUST BE CRUSHED.
'' That this unnatural rebellion may be
speedily and effectually crushed, we lie —
e a il—under the obligation of the one par
amount duty—that of vigorously support
ing the Government in its measures to that
0 end. To the full extent of my official and
individual ability it shall be supported,
~ and I rely heartily on your co-operation.
I am ready for all proper measures to
strengthen its arm—to encourage its up
" holders—to stimulate by public liberality
to themselves and their families, the men
who give it to their personal service—in
10 every mode to invigorate its action. We
' r are fighting the great battle of GOD —ot
° truth—of right—of liberty.
The Almighty has no attribute that can
favor our savage and degenerate enemies.
No people can submit to territorial dismem
'! bermeut without becoming contemptible
in its own eyes and in those of the world.
, But it is not only against territorial dis
> memberment that we are struggling, but
against the destruction of the very ground
work of our whole political system. Tho
ultimate question truly at issue is the pos
sibility of the permanent existence of a
c "* powerful Republic. That is the question
to be now solved, and by tho blessing ot
God. w<? mean that it shall not be our fault
r_ if it be not solved favorbly.
We have during the past year, made
i mighty strides towards such 11 solution,
t0 J and to all human appearance'we approach
j its completion, lint whatever reverses
- j may happen —whatever blood and treasure
I may still be required —whatever sacrifices
~ j may be necesssary —there will remain the
"" | inexorable determination-of our people to
st j tightout this thing to the end—to preserve
>V and perpetuate the I'nion. They have
' t_ sworn that not one star shall be reft from
:ie the constellation, nor its clustered bright
! ness be dimmed by treason and savagery,
in and they will keep their oath.
ir_ A. G. CURTIN.
le- ,
cd
,y MR. LINCOLN'S REPUTATION IN EU
•d ROPE. —The London Spectator says :
••The last American telegrams reported
he Mr. Lincoln ill of smallpox and unable to
of! deliver his message on that account.—:
he j There is good reason to hone that his ill
tia npss is not serious; but the mind natural
ig i ly glances at the possible calamity which
•w the country might sustain in his death,
nt 1 Few men of average abilities ever manag
es- ed to inspiro a more profound trust in their
i" integrity and firmness than .Mr. Lincoli\
£ j has contrived to implant inboth his friend*
lg . j and toes, and certainly there is no man ii\
he I his cabinet, not even Mr. Chase, whom
iu I the world would trust as well."