The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-10-21

In pursuance Of this design, arrangements wero
male by the Governor OF Pcunsylvania Tor tho
/ purchase OF tho land necessary for the pnrposes
and With wow to make 1t national IN it, charac-
\ ter, correspondence was opened with the Cover
nora Of the loyal States having soldiers lying on
the battlefield, and their cooperation in
/ vitcd
Arrangements were also completed for prcpar-
ing and bcautifying the grounds, aud for gather
Ing In from the rude graves where they wcr,
temporarily buried the brave and gallant dead
OF the different States, and jntcrring them In lots
set apart to each State.
more carefully to superintend tho disintormcnt
and rointermcnt Of the fallen soldiers from THE
State, on the 23d day Of October last, Iarphlnt-
cd Col. W. q. Ncazy, agent IN behalf ~ the
state with instructions to proceed immediately
to Gettysburg. TO discharge the duties assigned
him 'rhe report Of Col. Veazy is herewith trans
nuttrd for your information.
| The cemetery grounds were formally tifiirAted
/ with appropriate ceremonies on the zgth day 81
November, 1869. The title TO the grounds is
vested in the state Of Pennsylvania, "in trust for
all the States having soldiers buried in SAID
grounds
Tho total number buried in the cemetery from
all the States. is three thousand five hundred
and twelve and the number from this State is
siNty-onc.
Great care has been taken to ascertain and pre-
serve tho identity ~ the bodies. and th,y now
rest in the new cemetery grounds, nor the spot
whore they fell, surrounded by all that art and
love can do TO adorn their final resting place
halloNed by the memories Of that great struggle
for liberty and humanity, TO which they consccra-
ted themselves, and III which they freely Weld
cd up their lives
Pursuant to the provisions Of the nc, Of ircors
poration, | appointed Hon. Paul Dillingham;
Commissioner for the State of Vermont.
The total cost of completing the cemetery il
estimated to be sixty-threc thousand five hum
drod dollars and the several States interested in
the enterprise are called upon to appropriate
their proportion Of this amount 10 bc divided on
the basis of the eprtscntaton or The several
States in the Congress Of the United States.
Of h. l.a,ft
hundred and SIXTY dollars. An order for one
fourth Of this sum, three hundred and fifteen
dollars, as the first installment, drawn upon
the State, but there being no appropriation spe-
officially made for this purpose, the order could
not be accepted. Strong assurances were, how
ever, given 10y the commissioner. Lieut.. GOV
/ Dillingham;, that the necessary appropriation
would be made at the present session of the Leg
islature. would, therefore, respectfully rccon-
mend that appropriation be made OF sum rui-
cient to pay the proportion of these expenses that
may be due from Vermont and empowering tho
| Governor Of the State from time to time to ap-
point commissioners under the act Of incorpora.-
ton.
herewith transmit the report Of Hon. Paul
Dillingham; in reference to the subject.
BouSTrEs TO nE-EsIIsrEp SOLDIERS.
| would most respectfully call your attention
to the propricty OF providing for the payment u
some suitable bounty to the veteran soldiers who
have re-enlistcd for another period Of three
years. 1t is but an act of justice to these gallant
soldiers that they should receive some fitting
recognition OF their devotion, and this act
| OF conservation to the service OF the country.
The State, and several towns entitled tn thcm
have been credited with these re-enlistments and
have thus been enabled to fill their quotas to
that extent with veteran soldiers. Upon the re-
turn of these veterans on the promised furlougi,,
they confidently expected, have resssun ~
believe, that they would participate in the boun-
ties which were being so lib.raly offered by tn.
towns for recruits. In this, with but few excep-
tions, they were disappointed, and were COM
PEELED to submit to the manifest injustice Of
ing the liberal bonnties paid to men incxperi-
| enced in the service while they, war-worn and
veteran, having originally responded 10 the calls
| Of their country without reward, and having by
their gallantry won for the State mperishable
and glorious record, were Obliged to return to-
| their service unrequited.
! would, therefore, recommend the passage IT
an act authorizing the payment of suitable
bounty to all these re-enlisted men who have not
already received bounty from the towns to-
which they are credited
TowS BouSTns.
The subject of the payment of bountios by the
towns, demands a careful consideration at your
hands Some sound and judicous Iegislation is
required in order to check the evil tendencies Of
the present system and to prevent the excessive
extravaganza and inequalities which are working
so much injustice in the State. Apropcr regard
/ TO the public interest in my view, requires that
these bonnties should be kept within the con-
troll OF the State, ms in this way only, can q uni
form system be secured. 1t ~ also a subject for
You 10 consider whether the bounties thus far
paid by the towns shall, upon some equitable ba-
sis be assumed by the State all-rde 10 tho
subject, however, at this time, not designing to
make any recommendation, but simply ~ direct
your attention to it, leaving it to your better
judgment to dispose Of.
LAW AUTHORIZING THE GOVERNOR TO SUMMON THE
JUDGES or THE SUPREME COURT To HIS COUNCIL.
WHEN NECESSARY.
I There is no law at present existing by which
| the Executive IL empowered to call upon the SUI
preme Court of the State for an opinion In cases
affecting the interests OF the State and involving
moi
! OF unfrcquont occurrence, and the responsible
ties thus deyolycd upon the Executive are very
great and oftentimcs extremely embarrassing.
Similar provision is made by law in other States,
and 1t Is made the duties of the Judges Of the
supreme Court to render opinions when called
upon by the Executive, in all cases affecting the
general interests OF the commonwealth. Such
law, doubt not, would be very salutary here.
and especially in the present state of affairs and
the intcrests OF the State thereby greatly pro-
noted l would, therefore, respectfully sug-
sest that law be passed making it the duty Of
one or more Of the Judges of the Supreme Court.
whenever called upon to do 30 by the Governor
OF the state, to render an opinion in writing il
necessary, upon such questions as may be- sub
united to them, Affecting tho general interests
OF the State.
LAW poyIDING FOR SOLDIERS VOTING.
Tho law passed at your last session providing
for soldiers voting, contained n provision that
the act shall not take effect until the
Governor submits the Same to the Judges If
the supreme Court, with the inquiry, are tho
provisions of this act CONSTITUTIONAL and until
the Governor has obtained in writing the opinion
OF said Judges thereon; and IL said Judges de-
edo that the provisions If the act, or certain
parts thereof are unconstitutional, then the
same, or such parts thereof as said Judges shall
decide are unconstitutional, shall be null and
void, and the residue shall remain in full force
and yirtuc.n
In pursuance of this provision submitted the
act 20 the Judges of the Supreme Court with the
inquiry specified.
the Judges of the Supreme Court replied TO
the inquiry, giving full and unanimous opinion
m writing, deciding the act so far as il relates to
the right OF the soldiers 10 vote for members Of
Congress and Electors of President and Vice,
PRESIDENT Of the United States, to be constit,s-
tlonnl, but that much Of said act as confers
the right 10 vote for Governor, Lieutenant Cow
ernor and Treasurer Of this State, was uuconsti-
tntiopsl. 30 much Of said act, therefore, as re-
lates to the right Of soldiers to vote for members
Of Congress aud Electors Of President and Woo
President OF the United States, WAS declared to
be In full force and virtue.
therefore caused TO be prepared suitable and
proper blanks and forms for making the neces--
sary returns to the proper officers, and forward
ed 70 the several organizations in the fold nom
this State in season for the solders to vote for
members OF Congress At tho regular election for
those officers.
There are some amendments to tho Law which
should receive your immediate attention.
"lx Ia mes - o. -. A. IL