The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-09-06
SPECIAL MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Iowa.
September Sd, 1862. (
Gentlemen Of the Senate
and House Of Representatives.

| Gentlemen Of the Senate
and House Of Representatives..
You have been convened in extraordin-
airy session to consider some questions
vitality affecting the public welfare. which,
IN my judgment, require your immediate
action.
When you closed your last regular
session, the belief prevailed very generally
that the strength of the rebellion against
the Geaeral Government had been broken,
and your legislation upon some questions
of great public interest was controlled by
that belief. The lapse Of time has shown
that belief to be erroneous, and change
of legislation on those questions has there
fore become necessary.
The provision made for our sick and
wounded soldiers, and for their return to
their homes on furlough. will, under ex-
listing circumstances. prove wholly mad
equate. The largely increased number of
soldiers that will be shortly in the field,
and the great length of time they will be
exposed to the danger of disease and tie
casualties of battle, will render absolutely
necessary large increase of the fund pro-
vided for their care and comfort. The
extraordinary expenses of my Office have
also been and will probably continue to
be largely increased, in consequence of
tho new demands that have been made
and may be made upon the State. /
therefore commended to your favorable
consideration such increase of the con-
tingcnt fund for extraordinary expenses
of this office, as will be sufficient TO enable
me to do FOR the gallant men who so nobly
represent our State in the Army of the
Union, when suffering from wounds and
disease, that which every loyal heart so
anxiously desires should be done, and also
to enable me to carry on successfully the
many new and arduous labors imposed
upon this Office. in promptly responding
to all the demands made upon the State
for the support of the Government.
The labors of the office Of the Adiutan.
General have been largely increased, and
must continue to be very great as long ~
the war lasts and for some time after its
close. This State will soon have in the
field nearly or quite fifty thousand men,
and the interest and welfare of our sol
diers and their friends require that the
records Oh that Office should be fully and
carefully kept. The Adjutant General
now discharges, in addition to the proper
duties Of his office, the duties of Quarter
master General and Paymastcr General.
1t is in my Judgment impossible for one
officer properly to superintend the labor
Of these three Departments. The amount
OF labor and attention required 10 more
than one person can give. and the neces-
sary work cannot DO 50 promptly done, or
SO we'll done, as if there was proper di-
vision OF labor. | recommend that
should be authorized to appoint an As
sistant Adjutant General, who shall act as
Payuaster General A Quartermaster
General can be appointed under the ex-
isting law, and then the duties now iul-
posed upon the Adjutant General can be
so arranged, as in my judgment. greatly
to benefit the public service.
In my judgment tho compensation Of
the Adjutant General is not adequate
either to the labor or the responsibility of
his position, and recommend an addition
thereto, either by allowing him con-
tlngent fund for his travelling expenses,
or by an increase of his salary.
Congress has provided by law an allot-
ment system by which our soldiers can
set aside a portion of their monthly pay,
and have the same paid at their homes to
such persons as they may designate with
out risk or expense. The benefits of this
system are obvious and great. Commits
sioners have been appointed by the Pres
ident under the law, but the compensa-
ton of these Commissioners must be paid
by tho State, and as no appropriation has
been made for that purpose, our soldiers
and their friends have not as yet enjoyed
the benefits Of the system. One Of the
Commissioners is now engaged in procur-
ing the Allotments of our new regiments
before they leave the State, and / earn
estly recommend suchappropriation as will
secure the advantages of this system to
all our soldiers.
Since your adjournment Congress has
passed law donating public lands to the
several States and Territories which may
provide Colleges for the benefit Of Agri
culture and Mechanic Arts. Under this
law this State is entitled to donation of
two hundred and forty thousand [24O,-
600 acres of land. 1t is most munifi.
cent donation, and for most worthy pur-
pose. 1t is of great importance that i'm
mediate action be had by you touching
this grant. By taking such action the
State can secure the entire amount Of the
lands within her -ewa limits Is, aud constr
quently control their management and
disposition. Should action in this matter
be postponed until the next regular SEES
sion other States may select their lands
| within the limits Of this State. and man