VOLUME 3. MESSAGE OF ANDREW G. CURTIN, Governor of Pennsy vania. T« the 30, 1860 Pknn'a ExecuttvMians'iok, ) Harrisburo, January 30, 1866. ) To the Senate anil Iloutr of Ite/tri ten tative* of the Commonwealth of l'enn tylvania: GENTLEMEN: We have cause to be thankful to Divine Providence for the blessings of peace within our borders, abundant crops, unanimity among our people, and that thusthis Commonwealth has been enabled to do her full duty to the country, to herself and to posterity. 1 apprised you in my message of the "27th of November, 1865, and delivered to you at the beginning of your session, of the necessity under the pressure of •which I was compelled, for tho restora tion of my health, to sojourn for a time in a warmer climate. I returned from ■Cuba refreshed and invigorated, and have resumed the discharge of my public du ties. I cannot omit to acknowledge,with profound gratitude, tho kind, considerate and affectionate course which you pursu ed during my constrained absence. A heavy .addition ha" been thus made to the debt which I already owed to the people of the Commonwealth and their Ilcpre sentatives. Th<* balnnr* In the Tremnry, Norera- I'SI 81,912.203 <ll Receipt* dnrin-/ Html year, ending No vember 30, ISO - 6,519.1)8" 87 Total In Tremurv f"r tocal yenr. ending Vnvrmlirr .10 l"« 4 8,102 ltd 30 The pavinenta for the same period have teen 8,7««.585 1(1 Balance In Treiuurv, November 30, 1983. 2.373.608 il The operations of the sinking fund, during the year ending on the first Mon day of September last, as stated in my proclamation, were as follows: Amount of debt reduced, $745,811 26, as follows viz: Five percent MSO.S2I «2 t'onpun loan lOO.ikk) 00 War loan 7M 1' 00 Interest certilicfitei 63 Dome*tic creditors 678 00 The discrepancy between tho reduction of the public debt, as shown by the state-, mcnt at the close of the fiscal year, and that in my proclamation at the close of the sinking fund year, arises from the fact that the que closes on the first Monday of September, the other on the 30th day »112 November. Amount of the public debt of Penn sylvania, as it stood on the first day of December, 1864, #39,379,603 !, 4-' Amount redeemed at the State Treas ury, during the fiscal year ending with November 30, 1865, viz : ' Fire percent, stock* $1,703,617 88 Four unci half per cent, stork* *>,ooo 00 Domestic creditor fertiflcatea 57H Military loan, act of May 15, 1861 170,200 00 11,903,345 86 Public debt, December 1,1865, $37,476,258 06. Assets in the Treasury: Bonds Pennsylvania Railr'tad Company... $6,700,000 00 ltond* Philadelphia apd Krie Railroad Cnmpaay 3,500,000 00 lutor'ftt cn l»«»nds Philadelphia and Erie Railroad Company 1,05 >,668 00 Canh in Treasury 2.373.6 8 14 13,623,668 14 Liabilities in excess on ae*cta 23,*52,589 9U Liabilities in excess of assets, November 30, 1860 $36,408,168 94 Liabilities In excess of assets, November 90,1866 23,852,589 92 Improvement in condition of Treasury • since November 20, 1860 ...... 2,555,579 02 Jiy the report of the State Treasurer, it will he obsereved that the extraordinary expenditures growing out of the war, not refunded by the G«ucrul Government, have bjon $4,028',072 21. This in cludes the direct tax paid to the United Slates by the State, which is now reim bursable. In the balance is included the 8671,476 43 paid to militia, which, with a good portion of the remaining expen diture, is clearly due the State from the General (iorernment- The necessity for extraordinary expen ditures having coased with the suppress ion ot the late rebellion, measures should be taken to examine our resources, and relieve, as far as possible, the heavy bur dens to which oyr people are subjec • 1. ]l has been the habit, of late years, to appropriate, freely, annual sums for the support of local charities; aud such ap propriations are almost every year increas ed in number and amount. Houses of Refuge, Institutions for the Deaf and Dumb and for the Blind, lunatic Asy lums, —these appear to be proper objects of State bounty, becauao a few of then) are sufficient for the whide State, aud to leave them to be provided for by the lo ml authorities would, in fact, be to de prive of protection the unfortunate class es for whose benefit they are designed. -r |lut mere local charities, however meri torious an J effective, should, I think, be loft to tho support of the benevolent par ties who established then). It is uujust that the people of the Cojp pnon wealth should be coerced to pay tax es in order that part of money so raised may be given to the support of the local tharities, conducted by private as sociat ons, especially when it is remember ed that hitherto b#t a small proportion of the private charities in tlte State have asked for tuch appropriation. I recommend, therefore, that no appro priation be made for charities, beyoud the • <i institutions which I have above speci fied. The taxes at present laid on corpora tion are unequal, and to a certain extent thereby unjust. I recommend the sub ject to the attention of the Legislature, jrith a view to a revision of the system. W)l4>ia a few years, acts have been re peatedly passed directing the expendi ture of «a.mu«h money as he qepea- AMERICAN CITIZEN: sarv to effect named purposes, sometimes without clearly designating by whom the money is to be expended, or how the ac counts are to be examined. This custom is very recent, and has already led to abuses. I recommend tliat the practice be cor rected, and that no appropriation be made without having the exact sum appropria ted, U>e specific pui |>o3e to which it-is to be applied, and designating tlio officer by whom it is to be expended, and providing that the accounts shall be settled in the Auditor General's office in the usual manner. Notwithstanding the large expenditures by the State for military purpose#, since the breaking out of the rebellion, the condition of the Treasury is now 82.;i0;>,- 579 12 better than it was then, and I am proud to be able to state further the on the Ist of September, 18I>~), the State debt was 8492,1)38 lilj Inss than it was on the Ist of January, 1801. These arc truly gratifying facts Under these ciicumstane s, it may be possible, with entire safety to our finan ces to reduce or even repeal the ordinary State tax of two and a half mills on real estata The tax of one half mill laid by the act of May 10, 1801, was by that act expressly pledged lor the repayment of the loan of $3,000,000, thereby author ized, and of course cannot be repealed or reduced until that repayment shall have been made. I recommend this sub ject to the careful and deliberate consid eration and,judgment of the Legislature, and if it should be found that.the tax could be repealed, I reoumtncnd that all laws Authorizing the levying of local taxes on bo.,d», mortgages, loans»and all property of that kind be also repealed.—■ Such a repeal would largely encourage the investment of capital in this State, while the local authorities lose very little, as it is notorious, that from the diftiiul ties of assessment, they receive very iittle from these sources. In case of such repeal, I recommend the adoption of some effectual measures for enforcing correct returns of such ob jects of taxation, with appropriate pen alties for the neglect or refusal to make them. I make these rec nunendationi believ ing thftt it will le'i.i to more equitable local taxation, and to greater ccjuomy in their disbursement. Many acts arc on our books,, incorpor ating companies fir various purposes, which companies have never been organ ized or gone into operation. I recommend that all such acts be repealed by a gener al law, and that provision be made that in future every act authorizing a corpor ation shall become void, unless tho eor poration shall organiie and use its fran chiscs within a limited time. Since my last annual message the war, against armed treason, has been brought to a close. Of the largo contributions made by Pennsylvania to the National army, but a few of the men now remain in the service. '1 he spirit which anima ted our people, at the outset of the rebel lion, has never flagged; and wc rail look back with pride and sa isl'actii n to the part taken by this Government, ami in its defence against the assaults ol Its enemies. In my first inaugural address, I took occasion.to declare that Pennsylvania would, under any circumstances, render a full and determined support of the Iree institutions of the Uniou. The pledge so made was based upon my knowledge of tfce. solid patriotism of her citizens.— At that time danger threatened, but ho one anticipated that it would lireak forth EO suddenly, nor that i; would grow to such fearful proportions as it in a brief time assumed. My confidence in Pennsylvania, in her even, yet stubborn will, Jicr ability and resources, has been fully Justified by the manner in which she has done her du'y during the late eventful period. On the request of the President ol the United States. I made a communication to the Legislature, on the !Hh day of April, 18til. set'ing forth that military organizations, of a formidable character, which did not seem to be demanded by any existing public exigency, had been formed in* certain of the States, and that whilst Pennsylvania yielded to 110 State, in her respect for ana willingness to pro te;tj by all guarantees, the constitutional rights and constitutional independence ot her sister States, no contemplated at tempt to resist the enforcement of the Nat onsl law could meet with sympathy or encouragement from the people of this Commonwealth, and asked for authority and means to organize a military bureau at the Capital, and to so amend and mod- ] jfy the militia laws as to give vitality and energy to the military organizations of the State. Ou the 12th of the same month, I signed a bill providing for the purposes indicated in niy message. It yjll be remembered that this patri otic action of the legislature occurred before it was known that hostilities had actually commenced—and it is believed to be the first official action of the au thorities of any State, or by the National Legislature. The first ca|l qiadc by tho President for troops to nid in suppressing the rebel lion, ou the 15tl) of April, 1801, for seventy-five thousaud nfen , and that of this number, the quota of Pennsylvania was settled at fourteen regiments, to serve three months, unless sooner discharged. With unsurpassed alacrity and earnest ness, volunteers answered to this call, in such uumbars ga the intuitive conviction of the people, that the mon strous wickedness whuih bad conceived an armed rebellion against the Constitu tion and the lawa, could not-be suppress ed but by a colossal force. . Major general Robert Patterson VM uvgued hf Gaacral Goverpujieot, to "let us have Faith that Right makes Might; and in that Faith let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand It"—A. Likoolh. BUTLER, BUTLER COUNTY, PA., WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 31, 1866. a command, which included the forces raised in Pennsylvania. Within a week alter the call of the President, commu nication with Wa*f?:ngton was almost en tirely cut off General Patterson, prompt ed by the necessities of the situation, made, on the 25th of April, a requisition upon me for twenty-five additional regi ments of infantry and ona of cavalry, to be forthwith mustered into the service of the United States. Under this requisi tion, I accepted, from among the many pressing to be admitted into the service, a sufficient number of companies to fill it; care being ttikcn to allow to each county, as nearly as possible, a lair representation. Only eleven regimerfis, however, in addi tion to the fourteen called for by the Pres ident, were organized and mustered into the service, before the order of General Patterson wa-i countermanded by him, under instructions from the War Depart ment. On the 14th Jay of May, 1801, (lie Secretary of War, in a letter communi cating the plan of organization, for Three years rcgi incuts. confirmed the revoca tion of the order in the following lan guage : "Ten regiments are assigned to I'ennsylvania, making, in addition tn the thirteen regiments of three months mili tia, already called for, twenty-three regi ments. [t is important'to reduce, rather than enlarge this number, and in no event to exceed it. Let me earnestly recommend to you, therefore, to call for no more than twenty three regiment*), of which only ten are to serve during the war, and if more are already called for, to reduce the number by discharge " The twenty-live regiments raised as above stated, comprised 20,5)70 men.— The ardor of cur people was unabated.— Mauy of the companies, under myordcr. had arrived in camp at llarrisburg, and others maintain*! their organisations at home at their own expense, and by con-" trabutions from their neighbors' and friends. In the critical condition of the country and anticipating that, in case of reverse to our arms, the borders of Pennsylvania would be the portals to the rich granar ies, manufactories and store houses of the North, I deemed it uiy duty to convene the Legislature, that adequate provision might be made to enable me to render the military power of the State as (maila ble and efficient as it should be, for the common defense of the State an 1 the General Government; and, accordingly, on the2oth of April, 1801, issued my proclamation, cnllini; for a meeting ofthe (ioudral Assembly, on the 30th of the same month. In my message to the Legislature at its opening, I recommended the immediate organization, disciplining and arming of at loust fifteen regiments, exclusive of those called into the service of tha Uni ted States. The Legislature acted promptly upon this suggestion, and made lull provisions tor its effectual accomplishment. The re ult was the early and complete organi zation, clothing and equipment of the Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps, with its thirteen regiments of infantry, one of artillaiy and one.of cavalry, un der the supervision of tleorgc A. M'Call. who was selected to command it. with the commission and rank*of Major Gobcral. This corps contained 11,860 men. and the whole expense of raising, clothing, equipping, subsisting and paying them, until their entry into the United States service, was 8*55.411 SJ. They were encamped in different parts of the State, excepting two of the regiments, command ed by Colonels Civs. J. diddle and Sen eca (i. Simmons, and two batteries of ar tillery, under the command of Colonel Charles T. Campbell, which at the re quest of the War Department, were sent ou the 22d of June, 1801, to the rolicl of Colonel Wallace, at Cumbcrland,Mar yland, and remained for about six weeks there, and in Western Virginia, engagod in active operations. Towards the close of Ju 1 )' the whole corps was called for and taken, on a requisition, into the serv ice of the United States. Within four days Af ter the disaster at Bull Run, elev en regiments, in all respects ready forte tivc service, were in Washington and Baltimore. The troops sent to Western Virginia were recalled, and with the other two regiments of tho corps, forwarded to Washington. Ou t)ie 2Gth of July,*lß6l, tflc Sec retary of War expressed his gratification and thank* for the prompt response from Pennsylvania. The wisdom of the Legislature in pro viding for the formation of this corps, for the iufcrests of the State and the Na tion, yas fully shown by subsequent events. Mostuf the men who filled its ranks had been accepted by uie undei the call for twenty live regiments, which was afterwards icscindcd. They had toft their families and homes under a deep sense of duty to their coun try. and to have sent them back unac cepted would have caused serious diili cully in rnakiug future enlistments. By acts of Congress of 2«! d and 25th July, IX6I, the President was authorized to call upon tlip several Slates for volun teers to serve for three years. Under this authority, requisitions were made on this State, and fourteen regiment# were promptly furnished. Iu tho meantime authorities had been granted by the Pres ident and the (Var Department to a number of individuals to rai3o regiments in different parte of the State, which se riourly interfered with the action of the State authorities io filling requisitions regularly made under tho acta of Con gress. The embarrassments trjging from this conflict of authorities, became gt length, io serious that I was constrained t~> call the atteotiog of the President aud Secre- tary of War to the subject, by a commu nication, dated the Ist of August, 1861, aud on the 25th of September following, au order was issued requiring these inde pendent regiments to report to the Gov ernor, and placing them uudcr bis author ity aud control. Acting under this order, many of the independent regi meuts were filled up, others eonsoldiated, and seventy-throe regimentt, with an ag gregate strength of 8i»,048 men, were promptly sent forward. During the year 1862, a draft was or dered by the General Governmet, which was executed under tho State authori ties Of the quota of tho State, under the call of July 7, 1862. forty-three regi ments of volunteers, aggregating -10,383 men, were put into service, and under the draft ordered August4th of the same year, filiven rcgitieuU, containing en ag gregate force of 15,000 men, organised and sent forward. During tho same pe riod uiue independent batteries of artil lery were organized in the State, with an aggregate strength of 1,358 officers and men. It will be remembered, that the ardor and promptness of our people, under such trying circumstances, in pressing the troops forward, was such as to call from the President especial thanks, and to request me to express tliem to the peo ple id' the S'ntc. During the year 18f,3 forty-three thousand, and forty-six (43,046) men were furnished for the service, principally to fill rcuiWent* in the fhild which had been reduced by the exigencies of th • war. During tlie year 1861. under the vari ous calls of the General Government, thirty two regiments, two battallions and eight unattached companies of different arms of the service and for various peri ods, were organized and sent to the field, aggregating, with re-enlistments in the field, amounting to 17,876, an aggregate force of. 01,704 men, furnished for that year. Oil my (higuest ion, the policy of con solidating our reduced regiments, and filling them up by the assignment of new companies was adopted, and in 1865, miller this system, besides organizing three entire now regimerts, seventy live companies wero assigned to reduced reg iments, by which they were again filled to the regimental standard. These three new regiments and seventy-five companies with volunteer recruits for regiments in the field, reported by the superintendents of that service, amounted, in the aggro gate, to 26.780 men for thisrycar. In the month of September 1862, after the second disaster at IJStI Run, it became evident that the enemy had adop ted an aggressive policy, and was about to invade the Northern States through Maryland and tho Southern border ot Pennsylvania. Under the sanction of the President of the United States, on the 11th day of that month, I issued my proclamation, calling into immediate ser vice fiity tlioiifund of the freemen of this State. ' Under this call twenty five regiments and four companies of infantry, fourteen unattached companies of cavalry, and four batteries of artillery were imme diately organized and sent to the border, the greater portion advancing beyond the State line into Maryland. General John T. Heynolds, at that period commanding the Pennsylvania Beservo • Corps, was temporarily assigned, by the Secretary of War, to the command of those troops, by who*e order they were returned to Pennsylvania, and by my proclamation, disbanded on the 24th of the month. In acknowledgement of the services render ed by the men of Pennsylvania. Major General McClellan, commanding the Army of the Potomac, by letter dated the 27th of September, 1802, acknowl-, edging the servfec, and thanjeing fhe Stato. u«cs the following language: '•The manner in which the people of Pennsylvania responded to jour call, aud hastened to the defense of*their frontier, no doubt exercised a great influence upon the enemy," and the Governor of Mary land, llih Kxcellency A. \V. Bradford, in an order dated September -9, 1862, used the following language in regard to these troops : "Thi! readiness with whioh they crossed the bonier and took therr stand beside the Maryland brigade, shows that the border is, in all respects, but an ideal line, and that in such a cause as now 11 Kites us, Pennsylvania and Maryland are but one " ' In the month of June, 1863, it ugain became evident that the rebel army was advancing North, threatening also the wi stern border of Pennsylvania. and on the Jtith of that month I again issued my proclamation calling the militia of the State into immediate service. In the Depaittpent of the Menongahela five reg iuients of "infantry, one company of cav alry and one battery of artillery, for nine ty day's pcrvice, and one battallion of infantry, one buttallion of cuvalry, and one battory of artillery, for si* months' United States service, were organized.— In the Department of the Susijuelfanna. twenty three regiments aud five unattach ed compiuief of infantry, and two un attached companies of cavalry for ninety days; one b-jttalliou of iol'antry, one battallion of oavalry, and four independ ent batteries of artillery, for three months; three regiments of cavalry, two battal lions of infantry, and three independent batteries of artillery, for six nfontha' United States service, were organized. There were alsq organized in this de partment, for the''emergency term," eight regiments, OHO battallion amta number of unattached companies of infantry, two independent batteries of artillery, and two compaqjaaof cavalry v In the Department of the Monongalia Is, tbn troops under this call were eoqi- mantled by Majer General W. T. H. Brooks, and.in the Department of the Susquehanna, by Major Gcueral D. N. Couch, severally detailed by the War De partment. The details of the services of the mil itia on these occasions, as well as jhe generous assistance rendered by the mili tia of the States of New York snd New Jersey, have beeu fuily recognized in previous inessagos. Acting wider orders, they did nit hes itate to cross tho State line and enter Ohio and Western Virginia, in the West and in the East they defended the line of the Susquehanna, were at Gettysburg before the advance of the Army of (he Potupiac, defended Carlisle successfully, when attacked by a superior force, maJe long marches, patiently suffering great privations for tho want of sufficient means of transportation, crossed into Maryland, when ordered, and attacked the enemy successfully, and saved tho capital of their State from destruction. Wherf the history of tha'rebellion is truly written, no part which relates to Pennsylvania will reflect uiorc credit on the patriotism, courage aud fidelity of her poople, tlißu their prompt answer to the call made for military service for domestic protection. It is a record of which the great body of the people aro a party, and of which they they may nil be prjud. In July, 1864. a rebel army again cro-sed the Potomac, threatening the southern border, and marched to Wash ington. Under the pressing demands of the National authorities, all the organized troops in Pennsylvania wero immediately sent forward. The rebel army was de feated and driven back. A rebel col umn, of three thousand men, however, had crossed the border, and, on the 30th of July, burned the town of Chambers burg. In my message of last years I stated in detail the movements of tho the enemy, and the circumstances attend ing the destruction (J that borough.— Although the people of all the Southern border suffered much inore'lrom annual excursions of the oremy, Lnambersburg is the only town entirely destroyed with in our border, and, it is believed, in any loyal State. Tho citizens of the town were sudden ly reduced to poverty, and, for a time, were sustained liy the active benevolence of the people of other parts of the State aided by ail appropriation of one liuud red thousand dollars from the Common wealth. They have struggled energetic ally to revive from this calamity, but it is now feared that few of them will be able to succeed. I submit, therefore, to the wisdom of th« Legislature, whether it would not bo proper to extend to that people some additional relief. The number of troops furnished the serviee, from l'ennsylrania, during the rebellion, may be stated as follows, viz : During the year 1861...., 130,504 do do 1862... 71,100 do ' do 1863 43,046 do do 1861 ...01.704 do do 1865 ? 25,840 862,284 This statement is exclusive of militia and enlistments for the United States Navy. 1 refer, for more perfect details at all the military operatic ns of tho State to the reports of the Adjutant General, of the other military departments of the SUto, and to my previous a tin on I messa ges. This brief military record would bo imperfect, if I failed to commend the fidelity, zeal and industry of' the military departments of the St- te, and to express my personal obligations for the ready obedience and constant support I have uniformly received from the'chiefs of the departments and officers of my personal staff. An approximate judgment of the amount of labor performed by these departments, and the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, may he made, when it is stated that over forty-three thousand, (13,000) mili tary commissions were issued during the war. The first request for troops from this State was dated at Washington, on the loth of April, 1801, and on the "6th the telegraph announced to the War Department that (Tver 4,000 were at Ilsrrisburg, awaiting march ing orders. • • It is our proud privilege it remembered, that th" first milita ry aid from the loyal States, which reached Washington, w»s the force of 460 Pennsylvania!!.*, who- arrived 'here on the 18th day of April, and that, when the Capital of tlie Nati n was the second time threatened, af ter the battle of Bull Run, the" regi ments of the I'ennsylvnia Reserve Corps, were the first troops sent for ward. From the begining of '.he war to« its Close, the State has never faltered in its support of rhe Government. Proceeding in the strict line of du ty, the resources of Pennsylvania, whether in men or money, have neith er been withheld or squandered.—, The history b£ the conduct of our people i" the field, is illuminated with incidents of heroism worthy of conspicuous notice ; but it would he impossible to mention them in the proper limits of a message, without doing injustice, or, perhaps, making invidious distinctions. Arrangements are in progress to have a completa history of our such aa has been contemplated and is provided J for in an act of Assembly already passed ; and on this subject I com mend the report of the Executive Military Departrient to yoiy favora ble consideration. It would be alike impossible to furnish a hi tory of the associated benevolenco and of the large individual contributions to the comfort of our people in the field and hospital, or of the names amfservic es, at all times, of our volunteer sur geons, when called to assist the hospital or the battle-field ; nor is it possible to do justice to the many patriotic christian men who were al ways ready to respond when sum moned to the exercise of acts of hu manity and benevolence. Our armies were sustained'' and strengthened in the field by tho pa triotic devotion of their friends at home; and we can never render full justice to the heavf n-directed, patriotic, christian benevolence of the women of the State. During the war I had occasion, from tim Jto time, to communicate freely with the Legislature on sub jects bearing upon the interests of the men representing the State in the armies of the republic. It was the sense of unfeigned grat titude that I acknowledge how cheer fully and promptly the Legisbtturo and the pgople acted upon my sug gestions, whether for the support of tic Government, the enlistment and organization of troops, or lor the comfort of our people already in the field. Without this 'general [[confidence and liberal support, the labors of the Executive would have been in vain ; the treasure that hap been expended would have been wasted, precious lives lost would have been an empty, sacrifice, the bruised hearts of kin dred and friends would have been without solace, thostrongmen, whose health has been broken aud whose bodies have been maimed, would have been monuments of heroism wasted, and the honor of this great Common, wealth would have been* degraded amidst the f.llen ruins of the instH tutions of the Republic. The report of the Hon. Thomas 11. Burrowes shows the gratifying result, under Ifis active management, of the system adopt d by the Stata for the maintenance and education of the orphans of our so diers. Ilis report exhibits the fact that 1,242 orphans nre now actually admitted to the schools, and that 1,846 applications in all have been allowed, and orders issued for their r many of whom have been admitted since his report. It will always be seen that the largest appropriation that ever will be required will be for this and the two ensuing years, and that then ♦lie amount will be gradually reduc ed. I have Veretofore commended this charity to you, and deem it un. necessary to add another word, in asking a continuation of an appropri ation, which is to provide for and ed ucate the best blood of the-State,and support the living legacies which have been bequeathed us by the men who laid their lives for the country. \\ hen we remember that every sort of public and private pledge that the eloquenco of man could devise or utter, was given to our soldiers as they went forward, that if they fell, their orphans should become the children of the State. I cannot for an instant suppose that you will hesitate to continue an. appropriation #vhich is to bless their little ones, providing comfortable homes, instead of leaving them in want and destitution, many of theta to fall victims to vice and gv me. At the time of the invasion of the North, in 1863, by the rebel army, the President mide a requisition on me for militia to serve during tho emergency. The men came forward promptly, to the number of 36,.'538.0f whom upwards of 2.5,000 refused to be mustered into the service of the United-States', in consequence of circumstances of prior occurrence not neoeisarjr to be here stated. In this embarrassment, the emer gency being very pressing, after con sultation wth the President, he au thorized and requested me to call them on behalf of the Stato, and for the defense of the State, the United States paying all the expenses of their« clothing, equipment, subsistence, Acc. It was, however, alleged that there was no apprapriation for their pay. To remove th : s difficulty the General Government applied to banks and ether moneyed corporations in Phil adelphia to advance the amount of tho pay on a pledge that, when Con gress met, the passage of a bill to reimburse th'm should be recom mended. These institutions declined this proposition, but expressed their willingness to make the ad ances if I would pledge in -self to recommend to the Legislature the passage of such an act in case Congress should not provide for reimbursing them. Un der these circumstances, J receded from the Rsocutive of tbe United NUMBER 9 States, the pledge which he had pro posed to give to banks, &c., and up on that I gave the necessary pledge to them, andjthey advanced the re quired funds accordingly. The fol lowing telegram from the Secretary of \\ ar will show in part the ground on which I acted: WASHINGTON, July 22, 1863. To hit Excellency, Gov A. Q. G'IMS tin : Your telegrams, respecting the pay of militia called out under your proc lamation of the 27th of June, have been referred to tho President for instructions, and have been under his consideration. 110 directs me to say that, while no law or appropria tion authorizes the payment by tho General G«m rnment«if traops that have not been ciusterel into the ser vice of the Unitod States, he will recommend to Congress to make an appropriation for :he payment of troops called into State service to repel an nctual invasion, including those of the State of Pennsylvania. If in the in»ar.tirae, you can raise the necessary amount, as has been done > in other States, the apppriation will * b;- applied to refund the advance to made it. Measures have been taken for tho payment of troops mustered into the United States service, as soon as the muster and pay-rolls are made out. The answer of this Depart ment to you,as Governor of the State, will be given directly to yourself whenever the Department is prepar ed t ) make airswei. (Signed) EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. When Congress met, tho Execu- . tiveof the United States did not re oommend the pas age of the necessa ry act. 1 have understood that the subject was called to the Mention of the proper coiflmittee, by the Secre tary of War, but as tho. President did not send A -message explaining tjie circumstances of the case, <ho appropriation failed, as the members of Congress had thus ho means of ex* plaining to their constituents the difcr ence bstwi en this case (which was i» substance a loan to the United State*, upon the pledge of the Executive for for its re-payment,) and the case of the volutary expenditure of money form litary purposes by Pennsylva nia and most of tho other States. 1 will add, (hat the men caine into the service fur (lie emergent}' only, and on the faith that they should be discharged as soon as in my judgment, the emergen ey should have ceased. The emergency ceased immediately after the battle of (icttsburg, which commenced on Ist of July, 1 HO3 , yet the mon, against niv urgent and repeated remonstrances ware kept in the service long afterward, and uscl by tliu United Stated for various purposes. The last of J,hom were not discharged till in Sgptembcr. 1 recommend that the Legislature adopt •measure* to bring the nuLjoct bo lor a Congress, and obtain re-payinent of this sum, amounting to #671,476 43, with interest on the same, whioh the General has thus far unwarantadly withheld Great injustice has been don 3 to pri vate soldiers, who went into service un der the provisions of the act of Congres, by refusing to pay them the bounties of fered by the terms of that act, The fol lowing letter, which I addressed to tha Secretary of War sufficiently explains tha position of this affair: EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, 1 • IIARRISBLRO, PA., June 5, 1805. \ .SIR : There are two subjects connect ed wi h the discharge of volunteers which are of so much importance that I feel justified in culling your attention to thorn. first—The men are being paid only to the Tlay of their arrivaj at the place they are to be "discharged. This will cause them to lose a few day's' pay, de pending principally upon the promptness and disposition of the officers .of tie United 8 ate* having the mat ter in charge It is a matter of lit tle Eminent to the Government, but tha men feel it to be an injustice, and, if un der the acts of Congrpes, they can be p;IW until discharged, I think yo<» will 9gree with them. # Second—ln Circular No. 29 from Pro vost Marshal's Office, ditfet July 19, 1364 "under which the volunteers now to bet discharged were raised," It is stated: that the bounty provided by law is as fol lows : "For recruits, inciting representative recruits, 8100 And it further adds, that the first in stallment of the bounty will be paid wKen the recruit is mustered in, as follows : "To a recruit who enlisted in the an my for oue year, $33,33." Oo these terms the- men enlisted, and they are of opinion that they are entitled to the remainder of their bjunty when (Jischargod from service. It is proposed, however, to pay them but a part of this remainder, because the Government does apt require their ser vices for the full term of tbeiv enlistment, and appears to be a breach of the contract between the Government and the man. The bounty was held 6ut by tha Govern* merit as an inducement to enlist, not as an additional pay for servtoei to be ren dered. The men became entitled to it by the fiiet of enlistment, and could on ly forfeit what remained unpaid by toiuQ
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