Litchfield enquirer., 1863-11-05
CoNNEcTrCUT LEGIsLATURE.
Special Session, Nooember, 1863.

TUESDAY. Nov. 3. SESAfE.-The Senate was called to order at 1920 A. M.. by Lieut.. Gov. Avsrili. and opened witt prayer by. Rev. J. ". Leek.- Twelve Senators were in their seats. The Governors proclamation. calling the extra session, was read by the Clerk.
 Resolution passed that joint select com mi'tee be appointed to inform the Governor that the Legislature was in session, and ready to receive any communication he had to make. MT. Phillips was appointed, on the part of the Senate.
 At II o'clock. Col. Chids. Executive Sec retary, presented to the Senate Message in manuscript from His Excslleney. Gov Buck. ingham. The Message was read by the Clerk of the Senate:
 | GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
 10 he Senate and House ef Representatives, in General Assembly conrened;
 The recent call sf the President of the Uni- ted States upon Connecticut for her proportion of three hundred thousand volunteers to rein force our armies in the field, and the want Oi extended aud efficient efforts to secure their enlistment. have led me to convene your hon orabIe body. and solicit your cooperation in adopting such measures as. in your judg'neGt, may be necessary to comply with the rsquisi- ton.
 The quota assigned to this State by the war department is five thOusun0 tour hundred and thirty two. The quota assigned for the draft now in progress is seven thousand six hundred and ninety-one only two thousand five hundred and eight of hich hasi been obtain.d on the fifth of Octoh.r last, leaving deficiency at that date of five thousand one hundred and sishty-tltre Tho deficiency on former calls. as claimed by the war department IS seventeen hundred aud forty eight but according to the records of the Adjutant General of the state, there is surplus Of five hundred and thirty one, requiring in all ten thousand aud eighty four.
 This deficiency arises from the want of uni. fOrmity in the action of towns, aud the want of harmony between state and national legis- lation.
 Our legislation upon this subject has been founded upon the idea that the towns, as dis ,lnct organizations, should be requ red to bear . large portion of the burden placed upon the state, and in expectation that any surplus Jf volunteers furnished by town, above the quo- ta assigned to it by state authority. would be applied to the next quota, and would diminish the nnmber drafted from the town, should u draft be ordered.
 As the draft has been ordered by the gene- ral government, efforts have been made to i've its action conform to these expectations, but such conformity s not in accordance with tine Act of Congress for ''enrulins aud calling out the national forces," which apportions, troops called for by the President to states and con gressional districts If any distrlct shall fur u,sh surplus of volu rteers under any call the President Is authorized to credit that number on the next quota, and to diminish, to that extent the next draft whicl may be orde ed in that district :; but he Is not authorized to
 make any distribution of the surplus among the towns which furnish them. or to make an 7 distinction in drafting from towns in the same district.
 A surplus furnished under an apportionment made by state authorities caunut. under the law of Congress- be credited to towns but must
 be applied to the entire district Towns. as subdivisions of districts, are not recognized. Thcre is therefore now no motive for tUwns to vote large sums from their trsaSuries to en- courage volunteering. IS the burdens will rest F U, ,,on them alone, while the benefits wi be dis
 trbutrd over tin. entire district. ltencu uui , present inactivity.
 It is now necessary to awaken q new intere throughout inc state. anu 10 stimulate th.
 whole people 10 vigorous efforts to meet tue demands of the general government. | It ia evident that this cannot be done hy the voluntary action of local uu hmi;ies alone
 nor by approf rintions. maue ex Hsiye'y irJn tue s ate lrsaslry.
 We should place the responsibility as muc' |. as possible upon tine people, and combine tho , efforts of both local and state authorities. These views lead me respectfully to suggest
 that the " Act to provide for the organization
 of Il volunteer militia for the public defence, appruy d Jnly l0,h. 1862, by wh ei towns /. cities. an boroughs are authorized 10 Enk
 arpio r,alions to ere age the enlist nent 0
 voluu, ecrs Il. their discretion Ie repealed, thaa
 an appropriation be ma ie from the state treas
 ury for additional monthly pay to eaca volui
 tecr who shall be duly mustered into the SCI !, vice of the United States und credited to th state; also, that the quota of the state b assigned to the several towns in proportion |,
 their enrolment. of tho class upon which tn
 call is made and they be uu horizel to pay. a their discretion, definite ard uniform sum d a bounty to any volunteer who may be resi- dent thereof, or who. not being resident Q liable to draft. shall be furnished by tn, . towns. and bs duly mustered. all of whom shal
 be credited on the quota assigned to su cl
 towns. fiat the time designated by the Pres ident for the commencement Of 6 draft. anl town shall not have furnished its full quota
 such town shall be required to pay into the
 treasury of the state for each man of the quots So assigned. which it shall fail to furnish. q much larger definite sum than they shall be au,horized to pay for volunteers, which sum.
 paid into the State Treasnsy. shall be apprO priated for the payment of volunteers, and fo' , the support and maintensnce of their families
 also. that our Senators and Representatives in
 Congress be requested to use their influences to obtain such U modification Of the Act Q
 Congress referred to. as will authorizs :h,
 President to credit the several towns with the number of volunteen which they may iarnisl aud to apportion any future draft accordingly
 Having the assurance of the Provost Marsha General that nc will use his influence to secure
 such change in the law, reasonable hope . may be entertained that it will be accomplished
 before the time fixed by the President for com
 meucing the draft.
 Although the measures suggested necessari
 ly make great demands for men and money yet the consciousness that the enemies of our country have forced upon us this struggle foi the preservation of avery interest involved in our national existence. should stimulate us ts
 make the offering Prupsrty without govern mental protection is already Inst Life wishou the guardianship of law is vafuelsss.s