The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-01-08


the volunteers residence had or had not been
nied, sharp competition sprung up among
the cities and towns, and much discontent was
excited. That order was subsequently, modi
fed ip consequence of these complaints. Upon
the whole, the attempt at securing the quota
OF this State has been eminently successful re-
fecting great credit upon the energetic and
asslduous efforts OF my predecessor. The in
ducements held out in the form OF bounties
national, state and municipal, coupled with
the aid furnished to the families OF soldiers.
have operated most fayorably, aud / have
great confidence that the quota of Maine will
be obtained in this mode, ii a brief suspension
onthe draft Is allowed, and the General Gov
ernment will continue its liberal bounties long
enough to enable US to canvass the regiments
In the field for the renewal of their enlistments
Already two veteran regiments of infantry
the Twenty-ninth, commanded by COL Beal
formerly OF the Tenth, and the rhirtieth, BY
Col Fesenden. formerly of the Twenty-ifth. a
second regiment Of cavalry, commanded by
Col. Woodman, late of the Twenty-eighih, an
additional company of cavalry talready in the
held,i commanded by Capt. Cloudman, and
battery oflight artillery under Capt Twitch-
ell, are about full, and nearly ready to 90 for
ward. In addition to these corps. a consid-
erabie number have gone forward to the regi-
ments now In the field, making between four
and five thousand enlisted under the last call
of the President
respectfully recommend that you supply
the needed legislation to confirm the patriotic
action of the cities and towns of the state in
the matter of bounties, to stimulate the enlist
ment of soldiers for the service of their coun-
Try; and that you devise, ifpracticable, some
more uniform system OF bounties for the fir-
ture which shall prevent so much collision and
contention as have been witnessed under the
existing call.
There is one point in which Maine is made
peculiarly to suffer by these calls for men, A
maritime state, large numbers of her citizens
md thelrvocation'upon thes ca, and very ymany
OF them have already entered the sirvice of the
T. States in its navy, for whose enlistment she
has no credit upon her quota, and the names
ofmen, still on the rolls which constitute the
basis OF the acquisitions for soldiers, enlarge
the quotas Of both the State and towns. This is
unjust and should be rectihed. Sailors draft
ed into the military service of the Government
enter 1t reluctantly from want of congeniality
in the employment with their former habits of
life; if when drafted, they could be allowed
to enter the navy, or inducements such as
are held tout to soldiers were offered by ma
tlonal, state and municipal governments
to sailors, the navy department. would not lie
obliged to complain that that branch of SER
vice is suffering for lack Of men.
FINANCES
The financial condition of the State innuen-
ced by the necessities of the country while il
is not such as would be viewed with compla-
cency in the peaceful times of old, yet, measur-
Ing the public debt by the ability OF her citizens,
and considering the causes which have Great
ed 1t, can excite neither apprehension or re-
gret. Dependent for revenue as is the trea-
sury of Maine almost exclusively upon taxa
tion, when large calls Of an extraordinary
character are made upon 1t, the resort for sup
ply must be either TO increase taxation, or
loans obtained upon the credit of the State,
The Constitution of Maine so limits the pow
er ofthe Legislature to create State debt, that
except for war purposes, the entire sxtent OF in
debtedness which could be legally Authorized,
would not reach an amount so large as to he
an oppressive burden for our citizens 10 pay by
taxation In single year. For war purposes
there is no limit on the authority TO hire.
The demands OF the present conflict have
largely swelled the expenditures of the State.
and consequently its debt, but these have been
met BY the people without grudging or COM
plalnt. On the first day of January, 1863, the
funded debt of the State was one million four
hundred and seventy-two thousand dollars,
increased on the lst Of January, 1854, to two
million four hundred and twenty-five thou
sand dollars. This increase was caused by pay
ment Of bounties to soldiers, and the aid ad-
vance in 1862 to their families. During that
year the Executive, upon the calls of the Presi-
dent OF the United States for more volunteers,
no legal provision having been made for the
contingency, offered certain bouniies TO faeil-
tate enlstments. The banks Of the State, at
the request of the Governor, readily engaged
to furnish the necessary funds, relying solely
ON the good faith OF the Legislature to repay
On the first day Of March last, these advances
with the interest amounted to $3I3224, Sc
In the same year (fS62) the amount disbursed
by the municipal authorities as aid TO the fam
lilies ofsoldiers, and under the law chargeable
to the State in 1868, reached s23l SO, 80;
making for these two items S515, ,2223,J for
the payment of which and other war purposes
loan of 100000 was authorized.
On the first of March last, the Treasurer,
under that authority negotiated the bonds OF
the State for s525, 600, which produced $780,
92sSs, being premium of SI4,Q2S,sS on
the bonds sold; a valuable and substantial tri-
butte to the integrity, prudence and skill with
which the finances OF Maine have been man
aged. To furnish means for payment of the
bounties ordered by the Legislature of 1868
to soldiers drafted under the Conscription
Act, another loan Of $4,000 was authorized.
On the fifteenth day Of August last, the Trea-
surer, to meet the calls on that account, nego-
ciated bonds to the amount of s475,0 900, which
yielded S503, ,l3l ,25, being premium Of S2S,-
1925. At the date of this last sale, the Uni
ted States 5-20 bonds, the interest payable in
gold and selling at par, become very popular
investment, yet your own stocks even by the
side OF these commanded the very handsome
premium named.
This Is the explanation of the increase Of
the State debt the past year, being 100000
less than the amount authorized BY law, and
= Asul I.