The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-01-21


his native State, and zeal in her service
when threatened. And on the same and
other occasions, I am indebted to Col
Thomas A. Scott, Col. Jehn \. Wright
and Col. j. B. Parker, members of my
Staff, who came promptly on my sum,
mons and served with their accustomed
zeal aud fidelity, without pecuniary com.
pensation.
The militia law of this State is greatly
defective, and | earnestly recommend the
appointment of a commission to prepare
aud submit an efficient system, to be re.
ported before the adjournment of the
Legislature, 50 that action may be had
on the subject at the present session. In
the hurry CT ordinary business the Legis.
lature might not be able to give the nee.
essary attention to the preparation of q
proper measure, and events which have
already occurred prove the necessity Of
some efectual Legislation on the subject,
SO that our people may be adequately
protected.
In regard to the election of officers in
the Reserve Corps and the recruitment
of the regiments Of that corps and of our
other gallant regiments of volunteers, !
propose to send special message in a few
days, as | desire to treat these subjects
somewhat at large, and to submit to the
Legislature some documents relating tc
them.
BY the thirteenth section Of the act Of
May 18th, 1861, was authorized to draw
my warrant on the treasury for sum not
exceeding $4,000 for compensation tc
such persons as might be required to serve
the country in military capacity. Al
the date Of my last annual message, ]
had drawn from the treasury $500, and
had paid out up to the lst of December
1861, S6,400, when my account was set.
tied. Since that time [ have drawn 81,
900 from the treasury, part of which, with
the balance in my hands, has been ex
pended in the payment of members ot
my personal staff in service when | re-
quired assistance, and in procuring infor
nation, and to persons employed when
the State was threatened with invasion in
September, 1862, and during the raid in
October last.
Under the act of goth April, 1858, il
is my intention to take early measures fol
the sale of the powder magazine in the
city of Philadelphia. The powder mag,
azine at Harrisburg is net judiciously 10,
Gated. A State powder magazine ought
in my Judgment, to be erected on suit
Bile site in the vicinity of this place, and l
recommend the attention of the Legisla-
ture to the subject.
In September last two batteries ofrfed
cannon were presented to the State by a
committee of citizens of Philadelphia,
through S. V. Merrick, Esq, which are
now in the Arsenal in that city. l re-
that provision be made for pro-
curing carriages, caissons and other equip
meuts for them. The liberal donors are
entitled to the thanks of the Common
wealth for their patriotic gift.
Under the resolutions of 28th of Feb'y
1862, measures were promptly taken fer
the relief Of our sick and wounded men
in the field.
The wounded at Winchester, ,Stras0urg,
Front Royal, Williamsburg and Fair Oaks,
and those in the corps of Major General
Banks were duly attended on the field or
in the vicinity by Surgeon General Smith
and corps of surgeons under his direc-
ton, and were brought into this State.
The same system would have been con-
5inucd, but in June last, | received let
.er from the Surgeon General Of the US,
representing that it was found inconve-
lient to the service, and must create diff
iculties in the regular Identification of
,he soldiers for pay and pension.
In compliance with his views, I was
reluctantly obliged to discontinue the
jystem, but [ have not ceased to urge on
he War Department the propriety of
ending cur sick and wounded men into
he State, where they can be nursed and
Jared for by their friends, aud have to say
hat at length such au arrangement was
made with the authorities at Washington,
which it was hoped would be effective,
9ut there has been such tardiness in put
ing it into practical operation, that l re-
,ommed the Legislature to invite the at
ention of the War Department to the
ubject Our suffering men have a right
o the sympathy and aid of their State, to
oe SO rendered as not to ipjure the service
f the bringing them home to be attended
could produce even Inconvenience to that
would not urge it. But it is cruel to
cave them to the care and I regret to say
i frequently to the neglect, or worse, OF
TRANCE officials, at points in the immedi.
te vicinity of all the abundant comforts
which the solicitude of their families and
riends would rejoice to provide for them.