Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-09-11
politital.
SPECIAL MESSAGE.
by GOV. KIRKwooD.


EXECUTIVE OrrIcE, Iowa,
September Sd, 1862.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representatives.:
You have been convened in extra
ordinary session to consider some
questions vitality affecting the public
welfare, which, in my judgment, re-
quire your immediate action.
When you closed your last regular
session. the belief prevailed very gen.
orally that the strength of the rebel
lion against the General Government
had been broken, and your legislation
upon some questions of great public
interest was controlled by the belief
The lapse Of time has shown that be-
lief to be erroneous, and change of
Legislation on those questions has
therefore become necessary
The provision made for our sick and
wounded soldiers, and for their return
to their homes on furlougl,, will, un-
der existing circumstances, prove
wholly inadequate. The largely in
creased number of our soldiers that
will be shortly in the field, and the
great length of time they will be cx-
posed to the danger Of disease and the
casualties of battle, viii render abso-
lntely necessary large increase of
fund provided for their care and COM
fort. The extraordinary expenses of
my Office have also been and will
probably continue to be largely in
creased, in consequence Of the new
demands that have been aud may be
made upon the State | therefor re-
commend to your favorable consider
alton snch increase Of the contingent
fund for extraordinary expenses of
this Office, as will be sufficient to en-
able 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 labors of the Office of the Ad-
jutant General have been largely in
creased, and must continue to be very
great as long as the war lasts and
for some time after its close. This
State will soon have in the field near
ly or quite fifty thousand men, and the
interest and welfare Of our soldiers
and their friends require that the re-
cords of that Office should be fully and
carefully kept. The Adjutant Gcner-
al now discharges in addition to the
proper duties of his Office, the duties
Of Quartermaster General and Pay
master General. 1t is in my iudg-
ment impossible for one officer prop
erly to superintend the labor Of these
three Departments. The amount of
labor and attention required is more
than one person can give, and the ne
cessary work cannot be so promptly
done, or so well done, as if there was
proper division of labor. / recon-
mend that / should be authorized to
appoint an Assistant Adjntant Gem
eral. who shall act AS Paymaster Gen.
eral. A Quartermaster General can
be appointed under the existing law,
and then the duties now imposed up
on the Adjutant General can be SO d.
vided and arranged, as in my iudg-
ment greatly to benefit the public
service.
In my judgment the compensation
of the Adjutant General is not ade-
guate either to the labor or the re-
sponsibility Of his position, and re-
commend an addition thereto, either
by allowing him contingent fund
for his travelling expenses, or by an
increase OF his salary.
Congress has provided by law an
allotment system by which our SOL
diers can set aside portion of their
monthly pay. and have the Same paid
at their homes to such persons as
they may designate without risk or
expense. The benefits of this system
are obvious and great. Commission
ers have been appointed by the Presi-
dent under the law, but the compen-
sation Of these Commissioners must
be paid by the State, and as no APP
preparation has been made for that
purpose, orr soldiers and their friends
have not as yet enjoyed the benefits
Of the system. One of the Commits.
sioners is now engaged in procuring
the allotments Of our new regiments
before they leave the State, and l
earnestly recommend such appropri-
alton 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 Terri
tories which may provide Colleges
for the benefit Of Agriculture and the
Mechanic arts. Under this law this
State is entitled TO a donation of two
hundred and forty thousand t240, O0Ol
acres of land. II is a most mnnifi.
cent donation, and for most worthy
purpose. 1t is of great Importance
that immediate action be had by YOU
touching this grant. By taking such
action the State can secure the entire
amount Of the lands within her own