The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-28

GETTYSBURG, Pa, Aug. 10, 1868.
To his Ercellcacy HENRY A. SWIFT, Gocernor
of Minnesota:
SIR-It having been proposed by the Gov
ernOr of Pennsylvania that q Cemetery be es-
tablished at Gettysburg, Pa, for the burial of
the Union soldiers killed in battle there recent
ly, and the matter having been committed by
him to the charge of David Willis, Of Gettys-
burg, with authority to apply to the Governors
of the several States, whose soldiers were in
he battle, for their cooperation, and to ar
range the details for the carrying out OF the
project, the following plan is proposed by
David Willis, by authority of Governor Curtin,
to the several States Interested:
1. The State of Pennsylvania to purchase
the ground, about twelve acres on the battle
field, near the present Gettysburg Cemetery,
and take the title in fee, and the ground to be
devoted in perpetuity to the object.
3 All the bodies of the soldiers who fell in
defence of the Union, to be taken up from the
battlefield, without unnecessary delay, and
deposited in the cemetery; those that can be
de signated by name, in graves marked by a
small headstone, with a number upon it, and
the Others in a common grave, to be marked
by some appropriate stone, record to be kept
of the names indicated by the numbers on the
stones. The dead of each State, when known,
to be buried by themselves, in the particular
lot set apart to that State. The whole ex-
pense to be carried to common account.
g. The ground to be enclosed by a well
built stone wall, from stone found on or near
he premises. Also keepers house to be
erected on the lot, at cost of about $4,000,
and the grounds to be tastefully laid out and
adorned with trees and shrubbery. All this
expense to be carried to q common account.
f. A suitable monument to be erected on
the ground, at the common expense, at q cost
not to exceed $4,000, or, fit shall cost
more, only that sum shall be charged to the
common account.
5. All the foregoing expenses stated, to be
chargeable to a common account, TO wit, I'M
der heads 2, 8 and ~. are to be apportioned
among the States having soldiers to be buried
in the cemetery, to wit: the States of Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts,,
Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin
and Minnesota. Each State to be assessed nc.
cording to its population, as indicated by the
number of its Representatives in Congress.
6. After the original outlay the grounds to be
kept in order, and the house and fences in re-
pair by Pennsylvania.
z. 1t is expressly stipulated that the whole
expense chargable to the common account,
shall not exceed $35, 200.
8. Each State may, it it please. appoint an
agent who shall act with David Wills, agent
for Pennsylvania, and other State agents, in
carrying out the foregoing plan.
Respectfully submitted.
By authority of A. G. CURTIN,
Governor Of Pennsylvania.
Per DAVID Wills, Agent.
STATE OF MINNESOTA, EXECUTIVE DEPART,l
ST PAUL, Aug. Fl. 1868.
DAVID Wills, ESQ.,, Agent, SC, Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania:
SIR: have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your communication of the 18th
instant, with accompanying Circular embody-
ing certain propositions relative to the burial
of Union soldiers killed at the battle of Get
tysburg.
Minnesota assents to the propriety of making
suitable disposition of the remains of the hon.
ored dead, and, in her behalf, your plan for
carrying out the object proposed, is hereby
accepted, -.. -t-
see no advantage to accrue from separate
conveyance to our State of her portion of the
common burial ground, and it is desired that
the title to the same remain, for the present at
least, in the State of Pennsylvania. ""'
By the Governor. HENRY A SWIFT.
u. BLAKELY, Secretary Of State.