The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-15

nail SuMclent IOr MS support, In the style in
which the Chief Magistrate Of the State is ex-
pected and ought to live.
do not consider it desirable that the COM
pcnsaticn should be SO increased as to render it
possible for the office to be sought as means
OF making money, but most assuredly, the
Governor of this State ought not to be com.
PEELED to engage portion of his time in some
trade or profession, or draw upon private re-
sorces to exc out an insufficient salary, and
defray his actual expentes while devoting his
time to the service of the State. The people of
Minnesota are not parsimOnious nor mean. and
while they would censure extravaganza. thew
desire you to be liberal and generous. and 7 do
not entertain q doubt that they will sustain
your action in SO amending the law which
establishes the Governors salary, that the poor
est man in the State can afford to ACCEPT the
Office.
1t will be evident, also, upon glancing at the
comprehensive report of the Adjutant General.
showing the many and onerous duties thrown
upon that officer, that a salary which would be
considered only moderate for the performance
of merely clerical labor, is not sufficient to
reward the industry and capacity absolutely
required of the incumbent of that position, now
so ably filled. I therefore recommend an
increase of his salary, at least during the con-
tinuance of our national and frontier troubles.
Under the militia law, forty Regimetnal
and Battalion districts have been formed, and
all have been fully or to a great extent organ
lied. The provisions for enforcing the mill
tary law as well as the plan of organization,
seem to be in some measure defective, and in
order to establish an available force, it may be
necessary for the Legislature to make some
amendments 20 the existing statute upon that
subject. The honor and safety of the country,
as well as the requirements of the constitution
of the United States, demand that the militia
should be force not merely in name but in
reality.
The past year has added new lustre to the
achievements of our troops. On nearly every
important battle field of the war, their graves
are strewn to mark the glorious share Of Min.
nesota in the progressive triumphs of the Union
cause. For the special history and statistics
of each Regiment, and complete statement of
all matters referring to the military department
of the State, 1 refer you to the report of the
Adjutant General.
agents have been sent to visit our sick and
wounded soldiers in the various hospitals of
the country. and furnish them with such com.
forts and assistance as they might require
In June, 1862, my predecessor appointed
Robert r. Corson, of Philadelphia as an agent
for the State to visit and minister to the neces-
sites OF our Minnesota sick and wounded SOL
diers in that city, and he continued to render
this service until in September. 1868. when he
presented his claim for payment. No money
having been appropriated for the purpose, and
no salary agreed upon, l now refer the claim
to your consideration. After the battle of Get
tysburg, And the wounded of our immortal
First were transferred to the hospitals of Phil
adelphia, the Rev. E. D. Neill, formerly chap.
lain of that regiment, and now residing in that
city, generously volunteered to look after their
wants and comforts and to disburse all funds,
and distribute all articles furnished him by the
State or individuals for their use.
Through the Rev. B. F. Crary, who visited
the southern hospitals on behalf of the State,
l have engaged N. P. Bennett to act as agent
at St. Louis, and G. E. Davenport at Memphis.
l would urgently recommend the extension
OF system which, at comparatively triaing
expense does so much to assuage the hard
ships, and bind up the wounds of war, with the
gentle ministratiOns ofpersonal sympathy. The
State can testify her gratitude to the brave
men who have gone forth to battle under her
star, in no form SO grateful to the soldier, as
by this practical assurance, that he does not
languish on his bed of sickness or pain, uncared
for or forgotten. And it is because the State
of Minnesota claims it as sacred privilege, to
watch as an ever present friend over each and
all of her ten thousand heroes, through all the
dread vicisitudes of camp and battle field, and
hospital, and to cherish as her own, the honor
able fame that glows in the ashes of her dead,
and crowns the brows of her living warriors,
that she has selected as her Chief Magistrate
one of their own number, o tried and gallant
veteran who is familiar with all their wants and
aspirations, and knows how to soften the rug
ged lot of the soldier, with the kindness and
sympathy of the cOmrade.
In the month of November l obtained by
personal application. the consent of the Secre-
tary of War to establish hospital at Winona
for the invalid soldiers of Minnesota, knowing
that the invigorating air OF our climate would
facilitate their recovery and save many precious
and valuable lives to their families and the
country. l regret to say that this consent was
of the Surgeon General that the locality was
difficult of access during the winter.
l invite your favorable attention to the sug-
gestiOn of the Adjutant General that an agent
be appointed by the State, to collect free of
expense to the claimants, such bounties, ar
rears OF pay and pensions as may be due to our
soldiers or their relatives. The plan has been
adopted by other States, and we should be be
hind none in rendering everv aid to those who
have suffered for us in this terrible contest
Though the admirable working of the allot-
ment system, under the superintendent of the
State Treasurer, secures to the friends of the
soldier at home the pittance which he is able
to transmit to them, you will regret to learn
from him. that great destitutiOn prevails among
the families of our brave men, and trust that
some efficient measures may be devised and
adopted for tkeir relief
would suggest that Minnesota should fol-
low the example of other States in offering q
bounty to her soldiers in the field who have re-
enlisted or may re-eiilist 1t is presumed that
State pride will prevent any of our veterans
from being bought with q price, by other
States which are able to offer larger bounty
than we can pay, yet the same pride should in
duce us to give to our utmost ability, and by
so doing as State the burden falls more
equally upon the people than when private and
local subscriptions and donations are drawn
from the liberal and patriotic only.
call the attention of the Legislature to the
Reports of the State Auditor and Attorney Gen
eral, recommending contingent fund for the
latter Office.
The efficient defence of the rights of the
State in the several courts. and especially with
reference to the important interests connected
with the public lands, renders this provision
indispensable.
A Militia Contingent Fund for the coming
year will also be necessary, and l recommend
that the sum of $40, 600 as suggested by the
Adjutant General, be appropriated for that pur-
pose.
On the second and third of July. the first of
the gallant regiments which Minnesota has
sent to the field-that regiment which already
has the names of twenty battles written upon its
,.l, ,o.,tr IF in 81