The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-08-19
THR LEGIsLATURE AND THE STATE
t.-. DEFENaR.

Any one reading the reports Of the proceed
ings Of the Legislature, would surely not sup
pose that that body was sitting in extra
session for the transaction of special business
And yet such Is the fact The Governor
called them together for single purpose, to
provide for the organization of the State mi
Htia for State defense, and more than lntimated
the urgent necessity tor prompt and efficient
action In the premises. This will appear from
his call, which we here reproduce, with
= view to show how strangely the members of
both Houses Of Assembly have dlsregarded
the specific character ofthe invocation In their
attention TO all sorts Of general and miscel-
laneous business, to the neglect OF the only
matter 10 which they were particularly re-
quircd TO give their consideration.
20 In che name and by the authority of the Com
"monwealth of Pennsy yivanis, ANDREW G. Cur
"TIH, Governor OF the said Commonwealth.
~ - "a PROCLAMATION.
Hhercas, An extraordinary occasion requires
" that prompt legislative action be had, 30 make
" the military power Of tue Commonwealth
Immediately available for State and National
" defense;
Therefore, I. ANDREW @. CuRrIN, Governor
"Of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by
"vfrtue Of tie powers vested In me by the Con-
"stiistion, do hereby convene the General Assem-
"bly Of this Commonwealth, and require the
q Numbers Of the Senate and House of Represent
tatives to meet in their respective houses in the
capitol, at Harrisburg, on Tuesday, the 9th day
of August. 1864. nc twelve O'Clock noon of that
" Cay, then and there 70 deliberate upon and
adept such measures as may, IN their wisdom,
" b. demanded by the eXigcucies ofthe occasion, :"
&c, sc.
This shows clearly enough what the Legls-
lature was convened TO do. 1t shows, indeed,
that 1t was not desired 1t should give the
least thought 10 any other subject than that
designated in the call oil the Governor. Yet,
almost to- entire time of the session thus far
has been taken up in bringing forward, refer
ring, discussing, and disPosing OF bills about
every other posslble interest or thing, save
and except the most imperative and urgent OF
slI /. and tho only one they were especially in
E0ked By tie State Executive to consider
There has beea nothing yet doAe towards
OtganiEing Che militia OF Pennsyivania, OF
even preparing militis law under which that
organisation could be effected, unless the
Committee has been at WORK in secret, though
the people are not informed whether they
have yet accomplished anything, or what is
tlie precise character of the progress they
have made. II should be generally under
stood that the bill introduced in the House
Ger raising fifteen regiments for State defense
does not meet, even II it was designed 70 meet
the object Of the Governors call Thost
troops may be called away from the State anC
transferred to the national service, while IL L
evident that the force named would not com
prehend the whole militia of the Common
wealth. But, even during the discussion o
the aforesaid bill, there was manifestation
that violent party spirit which seems destine'
to delay and prevent legislation on ever.
possible subject. A Harrisburg correspond
ent Of the Ledger says:-
lhe introduction Of politics into the milti
- POySc1 Is hkely 10 be attended with bai
Iesuits. ihe ieryor OF partisans will not pro
ouee SUI. sueh ptl as calm and thoughtful citi
This is very probable and very much 10 b
deprecated. The necessity for organizing IN
militia is becoming imminent in view Of m
reported movements OF the Rebels IN IN
Shenandoah valley, and the possible inablAt
ofOur army IN that quarter under SHERIDA
10 successfully oppose the advance Of tn
enemy. The New York Herald Of yesterds
ssyss-
GBy Dispatches from Martnsburg last nigl
we have the important and somewhat signi
cant information that the Rebels have aga
I" edTpneed Hp the shenandoah valley, and "a