Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1864-01-15
GOV. CANNON'S
SPECIAL MESSAGE.

Dover, January ~ 1864
~ he Senate and House Of Representatives OF r State Of
Dcidlgore in General assembly 'aet;-
Subjects requiring Legislation render it proper that
should address you at this adjourned Session
In the month Of August last received communication
from David Wills Esq, Agent for lls hxselleney, Inc
Governor of Pennsy vana in relation TO tue D9rial Oh e
Union Soldiers who fell the battle OF Gettysburg Inc
an proposed included the purchase laying out and compile
ton Of National Cemetery, and the erection OF suitable
monument to the gallant who fell in that engagement
The necessary expenses to be borne by those States
whose sons were inferred therein the whole amount to be
divided among them upon the basis OF their respective re-
presentation in the House of Representatives OF the United
States at once commended the plan measure OF JUS
ce aud humanity, and regretted that having no appropa-
ton by law applicable to such Objects was precuded from
un immediate and official sanction of the project how
ever expressed my intention to recommend the matter to the
eneral Assembly, and my opinion that reasonable doubt
coud be entertained of their approval of worthy object
at the time requested that the agent for the State
of Pennsylvania would attend to the selection of the Lot of
This State and the nterment of her dead My request was
Faithfully and generously complied with Twelve soldiers
from this State who had fallen in defence of Freedom and
Union and whose graves had been marked by their survv
ing comrades rest beneath the field that their lives were
given to win.
Subsequently at the invitation of the Agent for the Gov
ernor of Pennsylvania appointed Commissioner to meet
commissioners from the other States interested in the Sol
ders ona Cemetery and to arrange for the completion
thereof The Commissioners met in the City OF Harrisburg
pn the seventeenth of December last and recommended the
following plan be submitted to the different States interest
ed, through their respective Governors:
First That The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall hold
e title the land which she has purchased at Gettysburg
Tor the Soldiers National Cemetery, in trust for States hay
Ing soldiers buried in said Cemetery in perpeuty for the
purpose to which it is applied.
Second, That the Legislature of the Commonwealth of
Pennsyvana be requested to create Corporation to be
managed by Trustees be appointed by each of the
eevernors Of the State of ainc New Hampshire Vermont,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island Connecticut, New York. New
JERSEY, Penney vaun Maryland Delaware, West Virginia,
Dho Indiana Illinois, Michigan Wisconsin, Minnesota and
n such other States may hereafter desire be represented
IL this Corporation which Trustees SHALL at their first meet
mo be divided no three classes The of office of the
frst class expire the first day of January 1863 The
cond class the first day Of January, 1866 The third
cas the the first Of January 1867 The vacancies thus
recurring to be filed by the several Governors and the per-
SINS thus appointed fill such vacancies to hold their office
fen the term of three years This Corporation to have
clusiyo control of the Soldiers National Cemetery
Third The following the estimated expense of finishing
ihe Cemetery:
Enclosing grounds,.....
Burial expenses and experimenting .........,., G000
HeadsOnes, lOOOO
Layog ont grounds and planting trees,......... 5000
lodge. z,0UO
Monument, 20OO0
Total 3,0UU
Fourth That the several States be asked to appropriate
um of money be determined by division of the estimated
e1penses according the representation in Congress- to be
Expended in deayug the cost Of removing and renerring
thu dead and finishing the cemetery under directions OF the
eetnetery corporation.
FYHh When the cemetery shall have been finished, the
grounds be kept in order the house and enclosure in
repar out of fund created by annual appropriations made
by the States which may be represented in the cemetery cor
pouon in proportion 10 their representation in Congress-
accordance with the second paragraph of the aforesaid