The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-09-10
SPE Eel IL M T. s s A q Il
GOV. HARDWOOD.
EXECUTIVES OFFICE, Iowa, !
September Sd, 1862.

September Sd, 1862.
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of Repre-.
sept0tiUes
You have been convened in extraordinary
session to consider some questions vitality af.
feeting the public welfare, which, in my judg.
ment, require your immediate action.
When you closed your last regular session,
the belief prevailed very generally that the
strength of the rebellion against the General
Government had been broken, and your legis.
lation upon some questions of great public in
tercst was controlled by the belief The lapse
of time has shown that belief to be erroneous,
and a change Of legislation on those questions
has therefore become necessary.
The provision made for our sick and wound!
ed soldiers, and for thcir return to their homes
on furlough, will, under existing crcumstan-
ces, 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 exposed to the danger Of dis
ease and the casualties of battle, will render
absolutely necessary large increase of the
fund provided 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 the new demands
that have been and may be made upon the
State. l therefore recommend to your favor
able consideration such increase Of the contin-
gent fund for extraordinary expense of this Of
fee, as will be sufficient to enable me to do for
the gallant men who SO noby represent our
State in the army of the Union, when suffering
from wounds and disease, that which every
loyal heart 50 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 sup
port Of the Government.
The labors Of the Office of the Adjstant
General have been largely increased, 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 nearly or quite
$4,000 men, and the interest and welfare of our
soldiers and their friends require that the re-
cords of that office should be fully and careful
lykept. The Adjutant General now discharges
in addition to the proper duties of his office,
the duties of Quartermaster General and Fay
master General. 1t is in my judgment impos-
sible for one officer properly to superntead the
labor of these three Departments. The amount
of labor and attention required is more than
one person can give, and the necessary work
cannot be so promptly done, or so well done,
as if there was proper division Of labor. l
recommend that should be authorized to APP
point an Assistant Adj. General, who shall act
as Paymaster General. A Quartermaster Gen.
eral can be appointed under the existing law,
and then the duties now imposed upon the Adj
General can be so divided and arranged, as in
my judgment greatly to benefit the public ser.
vice. ..-f ,.aEr .
In my judgment the compensation of the
Adj. General is not adequate either to the Ia.
Dor or the responsibility of his position, and
recommend an addition thereto, either by al
lowing him contingent fund for his travelling
expenses, or by an increase of his salary.
Congress has provided by law an allotment sys.
TEN by which our soldiers can set aside a por.
ton OF their monthly pay, and have the same
paid at their homes to such persons as they NAV
designate without without risk or expense. The
benefits of this system are obvious and great
Commissioners lave been appointed by the
President under the law, but the compensation
of these Commissioners must be paid by the
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 sys
TEN. One of the Commissioners is now en-.
gagged in procuring the allotments of our new
regiments before they leave the State, and
earnestly recommend such appropriation as will
secure the advantages of this system to all our
Soldiers
Since your adjournment, Congress has pas
sed q Jaw donating public lands to the severa
States and Territories which may provide Col
leges for the benefit Of Agriculture and thu
Mechanic Arts. Under this law this State i:
entitled to a donation of two hundred and fort,
thousand [240, 00Oi acres of land. 1t is mos
munifcent donation, and for a most worth,
purpose. 1t is Of great Importance that imme
date 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 lin
its, aad consequently control their Management
and disposition. Should action in this matter
be postponed until the next regular session
other States may select their lands within the
limits of this State, and manage and dispose
of them in manner very undesirable to us.
recommend the subject to your careful consid
| Grafton. ~
The regiments we have sent and are sending
| to the field, contain very large portion of ou
population required by law to perform labor OF
the highways. Only those between the ages o
twenty oDe and forty five, are now required tt
perform such labor. Yet our highways must b,
kept in repair, and we can only supply the de-
fciency of labor created by enlistments, by re
quiring labor from those now exempt. there
fore recommend that the law be 80 amended
that all able bodied male residents of the Stat.
between the ages of eighteen and sixty, b,
made liable to perform labor on our highways
1t is of the highest Importance that the nu
merical strength of this State be maintained
in the field Many of our old regiments hay,
been much reduced in numbers, and thus tn,
expense Of maintaining them. IN proportion te
their number, is much increased, while their cf
fciency is much diminished. Our new regi
ments will 60 out full, and the old ones vii
| soon be filled. but in short time their mum
bors will be again reduced. To remedy thi
evil, recommend that, with the approval 0
| the proper Federal authorities, Camp of In
struction be established at some suitable poin
| in this State, sufficient to accommodate 90
men-that the several counties be required t
furnish their equitable proportion of that nun
Der of men to place in camp under instruction
that when men are needed to fill the ranks {
any Of orr regiments, acquisitions be made fo
the proper number-which shall be filled a
nearly as may be from the men in camp, froI
the counties in which the companies composin
the regiments were organized, and their place
in camp Immediately supplied by new men froI
the same counties. This is entirely just to a
the counties-will send the men into comp:
MES composed of their neghbors and friend
and will keep up our regiments to their efie'
tive strength.
On the 18th day of August, issued pro-
lamation urging upon our people the strong nj
| CCSSlty VI lillIlS up unC ioHhS VI OuS OAu AVSo
ments, and as an inducement to enlistments Il
that purpose, declared my intention of recon
mending to you the payment of bounties by Ii
State, to all who should enlist for the old reg
ments between the date of proclamation an
the first day of the present month. Ihave III
yet learned the number of men who have til,
enlisted between the dates named, but recon
mend to you that an appropriation be made ft
the purpose of paying to each of them sue
bounty as you may deem advisable.
The theory of our government is that Il
people rule. This theory can be carried I'M
practical effect only through the ballot box
Thereby they mould and direct the operation
of the government, and settle all questions a
fecting the public welfare. The right of gu
) frage is therefore highly priced by oil good ci
, liens, and should be exercised by them at a
times, and especially at times when question
of grave importance are presented for solutio
Vshoro unynr has hnan narhan thpra will M