The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-01-13
,eperal Hill ,nd Orortormostar-coo

fully on the subject The amendments
to the law, suggested by these officers, as
also the appropriations asked for to rem
der the system efficient are commended to
your favorable consideration. These
faithful officers and their several employ !
ees cannot be too highly commended to
you.
Benno Speyer, ESQ, Commissioner of
Immigration, whose appointment was re-
ported to your predecessors, has proved
himself to be a highly competent and
suitable person for the position. His Re
ports herewith fully demonstrate the ul-
portance to our State of the organization
of this department. and it is hoped that
it will be maintained and fostered by the
Legislature.
The Board for the Examination of Claims
against the State, growing out of the war,
created by the ''Act to provide Board
of Commissioners to examine certain mil
itary claims, and making an appropria-
tion for their payment" has, for want of
time, but partially performed its work.
By the Report of said Board herewith, it
| will be seen that claims to the amount of
S136,015 Is were presented, of which the
Board passed upon SSS, 16l 73, leaving
SAT 1852 45 undisposed of. The aggre-
gate sum allowed,e "a being S3S, 746 20,
should be provided Tor by appropriation
! In addition to the several claims pre-
sented, and not investigated for want of
time--claims to a large amount, growing
out of the Morgan raid and other causes
are certain to be presented to you for
| liquidation, unless relief in some other
shape shall be provided for the several
claimants. For full particulars, in re)a-
ton to this new class of claims. | refer
you to documents herewith, marked No.
1. 1t will be seen from these papers,
that the estimated amount of pay proper,
for the militia who responded to my proc
lamation, is about $3.50, ,000-that the
damages committed by the enemy is es ii
mated at S495, 900, and that the lossessand
damages occasioned by our own troops
are $4,000. The pay proper, to the
militia, is provided for by appropriation
made at the last session; and the sum oil
about $500, 600 has already been audited
and paid 1t will further be observed
by reference to document No. J. that thi:
payment was made upon the recommen
dation Of the Secretary Of War, aud i,
eonsidered by him simply as an advance
, by the State to the General Government
The subsistence of our militia, called ou
In said service, WAS at once assumed
by the General government, and much, i
not all of it, has already been paid. Th,
transportation of the troops was also di
rectly assumed by the General Govern
m9nt. No provision, however, has beer
E made.f fo- the adjustment and liquidation
OF the several claims for damages occa
t stoned by the enemy. or incident to tn,
movement of our own troops. Promp
= measures were taken by me, through tn
several military Committees of the coun
a ties interested, to ascertain and have re
| ported to me, these several claims; aud
bureau was inaugurated, at the head o
which | plae ed Hrnry S. Rabbit, ESQ
, Il highly competent person, for the pur
I pose OF arranging and preserving the evi
g dence of the same. To adjust and deter
q mine, with any degree Of accuracy an
safety to the State, the amount Of thes
). several claims, it is necessary that a spe
cial commission te created fer that pul
r adopt the necessary legislation to Great
n and regulate this commission; giving
J. full authority in the premises, and d
n rectlng 1t TO report to you at future sc,
4 sion OF tho Legislature. The reports {
! the several Military Committees, made I
!. me, should be referred to this Commi
). SIGN.
: l must not omit to inform you no
l. greatly the people Of the State are indeb
ed to the several county Military Cou
It mittees appointed by me. They ha,
n ever cheerfully responded to the nume
,e Gus calls made upon them, with a degr,
: of alacrity and generosity unbounde,
e without their efficient aid, tho best in,e
e. csts Of the State would at times have M
Of terially suffered. | shall ever feel graf
SC full to these gentlemen for their kindne
n to Inc, personally as we'll as officially.
m That everything of interest, relatin
a. to the gallant men who have been or ma
e, be engaged in the military service of o,
il country, may be collected and perpetua
n ed, recommend for that purpose tt
ly establishment OF bureau, to be know
as the Bureau of Military Statistics.
01 uese StdGiStlCS SHOulu contain the nam
I'd age and place of residence of every of
g Ger and private who was in any way Ell
e. gagged in the service; the date of his Ell
Of listment; the Company and Regiment
SIS which he belonged; the term of servic
ct the time and reason for his dlscharc
es whether killed a Id wounded in battl
l. and the time and place Of death and b.
i'd rial OF those who may die in service
10 This duty can we'll be performed by IL
x Surgeon General Of the State, and,
c. much of the information will have to
gathered from the records of the sever
W hospitals, can, perhaps, better be perform
g ed by him than by any other officer
r. Should this duty be thrown upon hi1
er however, the salary attached to that o ii
or should be materially increased, as faitl
full discharge of his duty would commar
to all of his time.
lg submit, herewith, communication
al from Secretary Hoffman, giving in deta
1g the items of expenditure from the civ
ut and Military Contingent Funds, from IL
IL 18th day of December, A. b. 1862, da
Dr. of last years report to the 18th day