The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-04-18
Message from the Governor.

4
The following message was delivered
to the Legislature to-day. After being
read in both houses, committees of con.
ference were appointed With instruction.
to report BY bill on the SUI, jec. as early
as practlcatie
Penn A. EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
Harr,burg, April ., lo6l.
To the Senate and House Of Representa-.
tiUes of tie Commonwealth Of PsnnsyL.
U0n1o -
GENTLEMEy:
As the period fixed for the adjourn
mept OF the Legislature is rapidly ap-
ptoachiug, feel couotrained by u sense
OF duty to cali Jour attention OF the mill.
tsry organization oil the State.
1t is scarcely necessary to say more
thar that the militia system OF the State.
during long period distinguished by The
pursuits OF peaceful industry exclusively.
has become wholly inefficient, and the iu-
terierence OF the Legislature is required
to remove its deficits, and to render is
useful aud avail Liable to the public service
Many OF our volunteer eoms auies DO
not possess the UuOber of men REQUIRED
by our uIItIa law, and steps should be
forth with taken to supply these dcficien.
cIes. There are Bu1eroas companies
too, that are without the necessary arms
and OF the arms th at are distributed. but
lew are proVlGed With the more modern
appliances TO render them seryiceable.
| mend, therefore, that the LIE.
giola:ure make immediate provision for
tie roG. oval OF these capital defects; that
arms be pros ured aud distributed to those
OF our citizens who uay euter into the
military service of the State; and that
steps &c taken TO charge the guns already
distributed, by the adoption of such we'll
Euo.n aGd tried Improvements as will
render them effective 10 tue event OF their
employ Il eut ID actual service.
la this coDnectloD | recon- mend the
establishment OF a Military Bureau at the
capital; aud that the militia laws of the
Com 1oDwealth DC so modified aud amen
ded as to lUpart to the military organi-
zation OF the State, the vitsiity and euer-
y essential to its practical value snd
usefulness.
Precautions, such as have suggested
are wise and proper at all times, in
GoVernUent like ours, but special sud
DOueutogs considerations. ari,iDg iron,
the condition of putlie affairs Outside of
TIE limits. yet of iucalculsbe coDseq uen
to the people, aud demanding the gIavest
attention Of the Legislature of PeBusylva-
MIA, invest the subject 10 which your ac-
ton il Invited BY this communication with
lextraord!nsry Interest aud importaDce.-
We cannot be iDsensIbIe to the fact that
serious jealou.ies aud divisions distract
the public mind, aud that, in portions Of
this UGion, the peace Of the country, If
not the safety Of the Go,eInmeut itself, is
endangered. Military Organizations of
itorUiG able character, aud which seen Lot
10 be euauded by any exiting public
exige neg, base teeH formed 10 certain of
the States. On whatever preIexts these
extraordinary military preparations may
hsse been ade, DO purpose that nay
contemp plate resistance to the eutorce-
ueut OF the laws. will acct sympathy or
encouragement from the people OF this
Com monweai,h. Pennsylvania yields to
10 State in ber respect for, aud her will
iognes, to protect, by all needful guaran-
tees. the constitutional rights, aud con-
>titutioDal ibdspe eodence, o! ber sister
States. nor in fidelity to tba, constItG-
tioual Union whose uDexampled benefits
have been showered alike upon herself
aud tkeD.
The most exalted public policy and the
clearest obligations OF true patriotism.
therefore, ad oUished u, in the exi-tiGs
deplorable and dangerous crisis OF affairs,
that our militia system should receive
from the Les isIature that prompt attra-
ton which public exigeneies. either OF the
State or the Nation. Gay appear to de-
maud apd which may seem. in Jour wis
don, best ada1ted to preserve ard secure
to the people Of Pennsylvania aud the
Union the blessing OF peace and the ia
tegrity and stability OF our uUri'alled
constitutional government.
The governments of this great State
was established by it, luxurious founder
'iD deeds Of peace our people have been
trained and disciplined iu those arts
which lead to the promotion Of their own
moral and physical development snd pro-
.ress. sbd with the big hest regard for the
rights Of others, haze always eultlSsted
fraternal relations with the people Of al
the States devoted to The Constitution
and the Union, and always recognizing
the spirit of concession and comproGise
that underies the foundation of the gov
ernBeut. Pennsylvania offers no counsel,
aud takes no action in The nature OF a
menace; her desire is fer peace, aud her
object. the preservation Of the personal
and political iehts Of siiizeus, OF the true
soyereie uty Of States, and the supremacy
of law aud or3er.
Animated By these sentiments, and in
dulsiug an earnest hope of the speedy
restoration Of those harmonious aud
friendly relations between the various