Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-01-13

"nT1,anr me on III individuals who shall endeay
or procure or aid and assist III procuring
anv person IN this State TO enlist IN the vol
nnteer service Of any other State. Many OF
orr counties and towns hips have fllcd their
quota at u large expense. ard u cthera tlley
are in course OF doing the same IS offers OF
liberal bounties and provisions for the faml-
lies of volunteers, and 1t IS not night that
these patriotic efforts Should re embarrassed
by interference from beyond our borders,
especially as we cannot, IN these circumstan-
ces offer bounties by the State, without the
Injustice of compelling the counties and
townships which have already contributed
largely in that way, to assist in paying, by
taxation, for the deficiency Ofothers.
| fell It to be my duty to call your atten-
ton to the perniciCus practice OF leaving
many bills TO be hurried through at the close
of the session. During the last ten days OF
the last session, 800 bills were presented Tor
nv signature many Of them of the most I'M
n6rtant character. The whole number of
bills presented to me during the session was
rs In consequence of this habit not only
are bills passed without an opportunity to
either House for a proper consideration OF
their provisions, but the Executive is COM
PEELED either to sign them without examina-
ton, or to hold them ever perhaps to the
DupllC 4IcDtN CLlCLlCc. IL may O1tCi IletiJPCh
that a bill not approved byreason Of a single
obnoxious clause might if there were time,
be repassed, emitting the Objectionable pro
vision In connection with the subject of
Legislation, | must refer to another mis-
chief General laws have been passed to
give relief in certain cases which formerly
required a special act In each case. As Tor
instance the sale of lands by executors, ad-
ministrators and trustees, the adoption Of
children. the creation of mining and manu-
featuring corporations, and 50 forth. These
laws We're passed to ensure such an eXam1-
nation in each case as would enable justice
to be done to the parties and TO the pubic,
and also to save the time and expense con-
sumed in private legislation. They have
hitherto effected neither purpose, but | do
seriously urge on the Legislature the con
sideration that whoever applies for a special
act under such circumstances must either
fear the result of an impartial inquiry or If
the application be for charter must desire
the omission or insertion Of some provision
contrary TO what the Legislature has deter
mined after mature consideration to be just
and legitimate.
Irefer to the Auditor General and State
Treasurer reports for the details of our fl
nancial affairs, and to the reports OF the Sur
veyor General. Adiutant General. Quarter
master General, Commissary General, Sur
geon General, Agent at Washington, Chief
Of Transportation and Telegraph Depart
meut. and Superintendent Of Common
Schools, in regard TO their several depart
ments
In May last it was believed from informa-
ton received. that General Lee intended to
invade this State. Communications on the
subject we're Immediately sent to Washing
+ap hot IONS 4tp Of
defence should not be delayed. Accordingly
the War department erected two new mill
t3ry departments viz The Department
OF the MonoDgahela, including that portion
of the State lying west Of the mountains, TO
be commanded by Maj. Gen. Brooks, and
the Department Of the Susquehanna, com
prisiHg the remainder OF the State, and to
be c9mmanced by Maj. Gen. Couch. Ear
~ IN june, Maj. Gen Couch arrived at
Harrisburg and assumed command OF his
department, which he has since exercised
With the s0idlcriike promptness, energy and
discretion which were to be expected from
his known character. The rebels having
actually entered the State IN some force, and
the approach OF their whole army being
imminent, the President made a rcquisition
for Militia from this and solue Of the neigh
boring States, and several regiments from
-HtF L Va n anu WV sJfL~f-E 1t4t tiiBL-
" sent, and our own volunteer militia began
to assemble, bat some enbarrassments arri
,ing, the President asseHLed TO a call By the
Executive Of the State, which was accor-
dinghy made Under these calls 5.l66 of
the men OF Pennsylvania We're assembled in
the Department OF General Brooks, and
3 ,422 IN that Of Gen Couch. Iogiye the de
tails, or even summary of Jhe operations
which ensued, would be impracticable within
the limits ufs message It IS unnecessary to !
do so, as | have recommended the adoption of
measures for preserving the history Of our
several regiments ani other organizations,
and in that history the events to which |
have referred viii be recorded. 1t Is due, !
however, TO the men who came forward, |
hat | should say now that they made long
aud laborious marches in parts OF this and /
lther States which had been plundered by |
he rebels suffered great priyations, and /
we're frequently IN conflict with the enemy |
ind on all occasions acted in obedience to |
military discipline and orders and with cour- |
.ge and endurance. Some OF the militia I
,alled in 1862, and in 1868, were killed and |
,thers disabled. In all these cases, where |
here are no laws for the relief Of these |
nen or their families, | recommend the /
of law for that purpose.
The campaign on our soil was closed by /
he victory of Gettysburg, gained by the vet
.ran Army of the Potomac, under the com
nand of Major General Meade, the officers
nd men of which displayed all their accus-
omed Yalor and endurance in the conflict,
nd in the forced and rapid marches which
preceded it Under Divine
Providence, to them and TO the military
enius and unsurpassed energy of General
Ieade, ard the promptness and selfsscrIfcing
-allantry of General Reynolds we are IN
ebted for success on that bloody field. We
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