Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-10-17

ion OF their pay TO their families or agents IN
Vermont soon after the arrival of these Com
missioncrs in camp, the President OF the United
States, by then recent provision of Congress.
appointed them, together with Hon. Joseph fo-
land Commissioners TO perform the duties con
templated IN the previous appointment by me-
but as Mcssrs. Page and Howe had incurred ex-
penscs under their appointment by me, deemed
1t Just and proper to refund to them their ex-
penses.
In December last, Col Frank +. Howe, Of the
City of New York, was appointed and commits
stoned Military agent Of Vermont in that City
lie has well performed the duties Of his agency.
HIS services have been literally Indispensable to
the state, III many ways. On accepting his COM
mission from the State, he prescribed that his
services were to be gratuitously rendered but so
many calls have been made upon him, especially
IN ministcrng TO our sick and wounded men, and
m furnishing from time TO time complete record
OF the names, residences, condition, &c., OF our
soldiers in the New York Hospitals, that respect
fully recommend that he be literally rewarded by
the State.
Finding that many Of our sick and wounded
soldiers were being sent by Government to the
Hospitals in and near Philadelphia, recently APP
pointed Mr.. Robert X. CorsOn, of that City,
Military agent of Vermont, TO exercise friendly
care for such Vermont soldiers as might be
there placed. Mr.. Corson is = kind hearted,
pmanthropc gentleman, who delights IN thus CON
trbutlng 10 the necessities of the great cause OF
the country and does not claim anything like
compensation for his labors, being content with
the bare reimbursement of actual expenses incur
red.
Almost Immediately upon assuming the Execu-
tive office, perceived that it would be impossible
for me to discharge the duties in detail imposed
upon the Governor by an Act entitled IAN Act
TO provide for the families Of citizens OF Vermont
mustered into the service of the United States
approved April 20, 1861 ! accordingly appoint
ed Mr. John Howe Jr., of Brandon, agent TO
perform the services required by that law, his acts
to be subject to direction and approval 10y me.
believe Mr. Howe has discharged the duties Of
his appointment admirably reducing the business
OF that agency TO q just and wise system have
the pleasure of calling your attention to his lucid
and valuable Report, herewith transmitted. Some
further legislation Co perfect the objects coutcm-
plated by the Act referred TO, seems TO be quite
desirable, and he indicated in Mr. llowcs Report.
respectfully ask your attention to the subject.
During the past wear the demand upon the Adj
Jutaut and Inspector General and the Quarter
H., master General has been such as TO require the
devotion of nearly their entire time to the service
/ of the State. tits certainly my duty, it is my
+ pleasure, " bear testimony to the ability and
iaithfulncss with which they have performed the
responsible and arduous duties OF their respective
olliuos As the salaries allowed by statute 30
these officers. based on their ordinary duties in
/ times OF peace, afford no adequate compensation
for the cNtraordnar, lahors now demanded Of
them respectfully suggest that they be compen-
stated for the service, they have rendered.
Full and clear reports 10y these officers, Of the
transactions in their respective departments du-
ring the past official year, would have been ready
for transmission to the Legislature at the opening
A of the present session, but for the very uuerous
duties which have recently engaged, and do still
demand their whole attention Their reports
however, will soou be- laid before you.
1t is proper iorme TO say that the State Is in
tI.t nf
fairs for faithful and interchangeable attention TO the
important duties OF his Office. lie has devoted
has time to those duties and should be suitably
compensated therefor may remark further
that / avn under many obligations to The gentle
men OF my staff, for their assistance in the trans
action OF the business of the Executive Depart
mcnt.
/ Agrceably to an Act entitled IAN Act for the
/ better protection of the Treasury ! appointed
Hon. John W. Stewart, of Mddebury, lnspec-
/ tor Of Finance but owing TO other engagements
/ he felt compelled to decline the appointment, and
1 Charles W. Bradbury, Esq, OF Vergennes, was
/ appointed to that Office and has attended to its
duties.
/ AT the session of the General Assembly in 1860,
the Hon. Milo L. Bennett, the Hon. Pierpont
lsham aud the Hon. Andrew Tracy were appoint
ed Board of Commissioners TO REVISE, re-drat,
compile, consolidate aud arrange the public stat
utes of this state, on the basis, plan, and general
form and method OF the revised statutes, with au-
thority to omit redundant enactments, reject SUI
pernOus words, circnitous and ambiguous phra-
b seOlogy, recommend amendments, and TO con-
denst the whole into as concise and comprehensive
form rs is consistent with full aud clear express
sion OF the Legislature and report the same to
the General Assembly and the Act Of 1860 was
go far amended by the Act of 1861 as TO require
the Report of the Commissioners to be made &c
the Governor Accordingly the Chairman OF the
Board has transmitted to me n copy of the reyI
Il g.. AL. ftI,.. On,
crai Assembly, accompanied with written Re
port explanatory OF the course pursued ia making
the revision, which will be submitted TO YOU at al
early day.
% Under the act of Congress Of May %, 1850
this State was entitled to two Members in ia,
| House of Representatives Of the Ihrty-Elghtl
Congress. On the Z6 of March last | received
communication from the Department of the In
terror, informing me that "a Law was enacted on
% the 4th OF March, 1862 increasing the number o
Representatives for certain States, including tn,
e STATE OF Vermont, whereby that State is entite,
b to three RcprescnntiyVt in the Thirty Eighth an'
subsequent longresses
, Our recent experience in endeavoring to rails
troops under the present militia laws of this State
, proves beyond a doubt the immediate need o
( some important changes in those laws Perhap
e that complete and well-proportioned militia sys
tenn which shall embody the permanent policy o
+ the State will be the work OF future time whci
, we can avail ourselves of the experience and sug
gcstous of many able officers now in active ser
r vice But at least the present laws should be St
Z far amended rs TO secure a perfect enrolment q
b all able-bodied men, liable to do military duty
j. and thorough and impartial medical inspection
s of all enrolled men. And to this end competen
t Medical Boards should be established in eac
p county,-no Board, however, performing it
5 functions in the county in which It is raised bu
= in some other county, remote enough to ensure a
impartial inspection
: My time has been so constantly occupied wit
s the numerous details of business involved in til
= military operations of the State, that have no
ben able to give that time to our public institu
D tons and benevolent enterprises, which it woul
70 have been my pleasure to bestow The practica
workings of our educational system have bee
= somewhat observed, and | induced to thin
that no important changes needed or would
a at the present time, conduce 10 the interests O
= education in Vermont | have a high apprecia
ton of the value of the services of the Secretar
of the Board of Education, and believe that
the operations of the Board, conducted by him
r are allowed to proceed, they will rpen into
j permanent, well-proportioned system, finely adap
y ted to our customs as a people and our peculia
. circumstances and wants
/ The Asylum for the Insane continues in it
s hitherto prosperous condition, dispensing healing