The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-01-20

BY existing laws munclpal corpora
lions are to deduct and pay into the Treasu-
ry the tax on all loans consracted by them
II is believed that large addition would ac-
nrue 10 The revenue by the extension of this
provision TO all counties and 10 all corpora
.ions, private or public.
! recomend that il be so extended.
4. tax on the gress receipts of all rail
road and canal companies would il is be-
lieved, be productive and not oppressive
Upon satisfactory reports, according TO
law, made by COL John A. Wright, | have
drawn my warrants for the delivery to the
Philadelphia and Erie Railroad company Of
another million OF the bonds deposited in
tbs Stale Treasury. Four millions of said
bonds have therefore been now delivered.
There can be no reasonable doubt of the
early com pletion of the work, and, when
completed, it is confidently expected that
the bonds held by the State secured on the
road for SO 500, 900, will become good in
lerest-paying securities.
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
refer to the Auditor-GeneraPs and State
Treasurer's reports for the details of our f.
nancial affairs, and the reports of the Sur
veyor-G General, Adjutant. General, Quarter
master-General, Surgeon General, Agent at
Washington, Chief Of Transportation and
Telegraph Department, and Superintendent
of Common Schools, in regard to their sever
al departments.
BATTLE OF GETTYsBURo.
In May last it was believed. from informa-
tion received. that General Lee intended to
invade this State. Communications on the
subject were Immediately sent to Washing
ton, urging that preparations for effective
defense should not be delayed. Accordingly
the War Department erected two new mill
tary departments, viz The Department of
the Monongahela, including that portion of
the State lying west of the mountains. to be
commanded by Major General Brooks, and
the Department of the Susquehanna, COM
prising the remainder of the State, and to
be commanded by Major General Couch.
Early in June, Major-General Couch ar
rived at Harrisburg, and assumed command
of his department, which he has since exer
cised with the soldier-like promptness. ener-
gy and discretion which were to be expected
from his kuawn character.
The rebels having actually entered the
State in some force, and the approach of
their whole army being imminent, the Pres
ident made requisition for militia from this
and some of the neighboring States, and sew
eral regiments from New York and New
Jersey were promptly sent, and our own vel
unteer militia bega to assemble but some
embarrassments arising. the President as
sented to call by the Executive of the
State, which was accordingly made Under
these calls 5lG6 of the men of Pennsylvania
were assembled in the Department of Gen
eral Brooks, and 3l.422 in that of General
Couch. To give the details, or even a sum-
mary Of the operations which eusued would
be impracticable within the limits of & mes
sage. 1t is unnecessary to do so, as | have
recon- mended the adoption of measures for
preserving the history of our several regi-
ments and other organizations, and in that
history the events to which | have referred
will be recorded. 1t is due however, to the
men who came forward, that / should say
now that they make long and laborious
marches in parts of this and other States
which had been plundered by the rebels.
suffered great privations, and were frequent
ly in conflict with the enemy: and on all oc-
easions acted In obedience to military disoi-
pline and orders, and with courage and en-
durance.
Some of the militia called in 1862 aud 10
1868 were killed and others disabled. In
all these cases, where there are no laws for
the relief of these men or their families.
recommend the enactment of q law tor that
purpose.
The campaign on our soil was closed by
the victory of Gettysburg. gained by the vet
eran Army of the Potomac. under the com
mand of Major-General Meade, the officers
and men of which displayed all their accus-
toned yalor and endurance in the conflict,
aud in the forced and rapid marches which
Immediately preceded it.
Under Divine Providence, to them and to
the military genius and unsurpassed ener-
&C MaaAo and tho nj md
self-sacrifcing gallaDtry of Gen. Reynolds,
we are indebted for sucssss on that bloody
Reld.
We are proud to claim Generals Meade
and Reynolds as sons of our own Pennsylva-
MIA. The first lives to enjoy the most pre-
cious of all rewards, the grateful apprecis-
ton of his countrymen. The latter fell IN
the very front Of the battle, and we can only
pay homage to his memory. Whatever hon
ors have been at any time devised to com.
memorate the virtues of patriot-of true,
fearless, loyal citizen and soldier. be has
abundantly deserved His surviving com
panions in arms claim the right of them
selves erecting a monument to him on the
field on which be fell, and it would not BE
well to interfere with their pious intention.
But hoee that the Legislature will place
upon the records of the State some appropri
ate testimony of the public gratitude to him
and his surviving commander.
REVISION OF TUE MILITIA LAWS.
renew most earnestly the recommends
ton made in my last annual message of a
revision of the militia laws. They are al
present shamefully defective. Indeed. II by
q militia Law is meant law intended to
provide for so enrolling and organizing the
military force of the State that it may be
put into service when required, we may be
said to have no militia law. In each of the
last two years have been obliged to call
out the militia, but in fact those who obeyed
the call were volunteers, and with some ex-
cep.ions, were wholly unorganized, so that
almost in the face of the enemy, time had
to be consumed in distributing the men into
companies and regiments, in electing off.
GERS. and in other preparations for effective
organizations.
REGINENTAL HISTORIES
In the report of the Adjntant-G General will
be found list of the Pennsylvania regi-
Il -