The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-01-21
TERMS. $3.50 PER ANNUM.

lowed the expences of transportation of
one person to the field to bring home the
body of his friend or relation, and the sx-,
pense of his return with the body. The
cost of this has not exceeded 5000, which
is included in the sum of less than $4,000
above stated.
In this connection I must speak with
applause of the active benevolence Of our
citizens, who have without compensation
devoted their time and care to their suf-
fering fellow citizens, disabled by the cas-
ualties of war. Not only have many gone
to the field to administer their kind offices,
but in every part Of the commonwealth
thousands have applied their means and
exertions to the same end; and espe.
cially, have the women of Pennsylvania;
obeying their true womanly instincts,
shown that they are worthy to be the
mothers, wives, and sisters of the brave
men, whom they have stimulated to their
duty, and soothed and nursed in the suf-
ferings that have ensued the performance
of it.
The city yof Philadelphia having patriot:
lcally offered to the United States, League
Island as donation for Navy Yard Con-
gress directed commission to report
upon the availability of that site and also
Of New London. Tothe general astopish-
ment, a majority of the commission have
reported in favor of New London, but the
minority has presented a report, which is
fortified by the approval Of the Secretary
of the Navy, showing so conclusively the
superiority of League Island that it ID
scarcely possible that Congress should
hesitate to select that location. To estab::
lish Navy Yard for the construction cf
iron clad vessels at point remote front
all necessary supplies, situated on salt
water, and accessible by more than one
route to any enemy, who may have mo-
mentary superiority at sea, would appear
to be quite inconsistent with the wisdoni
of Congress, especially when a site is
offered convenient to iron, coal and other
necessary supplies, situated on fresh wa;
ter with sufficient depth for the draught
of large vessels, and safe from hostile at:
tack by its position.
L july last, L received, at Plttsbufg,
by telegraph, an offer from the Pennsyl-.
vania Railroad Company, of douation of
fifty thousand dollars to assist in paying
bountieS to volunteers | declined this
offer, because had no authority to accept
1t on behalf of the public, and was un;
willing to undertake the disbursement of
the fund in my private capacity. | have
since received letter on the subject from
the company suggesting other modes of
dlsposiRg of the money, a copy of which
is annexed to this message.
If the Legislature should accept the
donation, recommend that it be applied
towards the erection of an asylum for our
disabled soldiers, and that the trustees
to superintend the erection aud
management of the asylum be authorized
to accept such further contributions 81
our citizens may offer. In well managed
of that kind, it is probable
that the pensions to be allowed by the
Government to the men, will enable them
10 support themselves with comfort. BY
an act of Congress passed on the I'd day
of July, 1861, lands were granted to the
several states for the endowment, support
and maintenance by each State, of at H. ast
one college for teaching such branches of
learning as are related to agriculture and
the mechanic arts, without excluding other
scientific and classical studies, and inclu:
ding military tactics. | recommend thft
proper provision be mado by the Legisla-
ture for having the lands thus granted to
this State selected, and the title ulade to
the State, and that Congress be requested
to allow the lands and their proceeds to
be used by the State in the construction
aud support Of such an asylum as | have
above suggested.
The details Of the operations Of the COM
mon school system, during the school year
that terminated on the first Monday IN
June, 1862, manifest scarcely any evil
effect from the troubled state Of the coun-
try. Absence of the usual degree Of pro.
gress in the various departments is the
only result observable. To have held its
OVID, however, during the severe ord al
to which. in common with all our great
social interests and enterprises,it it has been
is the strongest proof cf its in
lerent vigor, and of the hold it possesses
lpon toe affections as well as the judg-
nent of the people of the State.
It has come to my knowledge that IL
some parts of the State system exists of
paying the wages and workmen and labor
,rs not in money but in orders on store
,eepers for merchandise and other ar,iclee:
This system, by preventing all coupeti-.
ion, leaves the men to the uncontrolled
discretion Of the storekeepers. It is a
ystem most unwise and unjust, and it