The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-01-12


connected with the system have become
common. The men Of some of the poor
er counties have been nearly exhausted by
their volunteers being credited to richer
localities paying heavier bountles.
The system, as practiced, lowers the
morale of the army itself, by putting in-
to the ranks men actuated by merely
mercenary motives, and who are tempted
to desert by the facility of escaping de-
lection, and the prospect Of new gains by
re enlistment, process which they expect
TO be able to repeat an indefinite number
of times. OF The number of men for whom
bouuties have been paid, it is believed
that not one fourth have been actually
placed in the ranks of the army, aud even
those who have Joined it have probably
not on an average received for their own
use one, half of the bounty paid for them.
Immense sums have thus been appropria-
ted by cheats and swindlers, in many ca
ses believed to be acting in completely
with agents of the Government.
An effort was made to prosecute some
of the parties concerned in such frauds
under the act of Assembly of l4th Aug
ust last, and they were bound over by the
Mayor of this city, but after the witness
es had come here on the meeting OF the
court they disappeared from the public
eye. | recommend the whole subject to
your careful consideration, that the sys-
tenn may be purged of these evils.
[ am officially informed that the quota
of this State, under the recent call, is 63,-
900 but am not informed of the princi-
pie on which the draft is made.
1t appears from the Presidents Procla-
nation that it is made chiefly to supply
the alleged deficiency in former calls,
l am surprised at the amount of this large
deficiency, and can only account for the
difference between the number of men
furnished by the State and the de6cieny
alleged to exist in the assignment of the
present quota, by the assumption that the
men never reached the army, although
enlisted aud mustered after the payment
of bounties by the local authorities to
which they were supposed to be credited.
1t is probable that there are very few
counties in the State which have not paid
large bounties for number of men suHi
cient to fll the former quotas.
Taking the local bOunties at the low
average of four hundred dollars, it is be
lieved that it can be demonstrated tha
the people of Pennsylvania have thu:
been robbed of more than twelve millions
of dollars during the past year. Thi:
estimate does not include the money
fraudulently taken from men who have
actually gone into the service.
The continuance of these monstrous and
unparalleled abuses cannot be tolerated.
Certainly more men are required to aid
our gallant soldiers in the field in crush
ing the Rebellion, and every considera
tion of patriots and of regard for ou'
brothers who are now in the face of th'
enemy, obligss US to spare no effort II
raise the necessary force.
In June last, | gave letters to CON
mittee of the Prison Society Of Philadel
phia, requesting that the members of tht
committee might be allowed to visit and
examine the prisons and poor-house'
throughout the Commonwealth. trans
NIT with this communication a copy o.
the report made to me by Society of theil
labors, and commend the same to your at
teution, with a view to the adoption o
proper measures to reform the abuse,
which have been found to exist.
In connection with this subject, agair
call your attention to the expedieney o
providing for the reception in the Peni.
teutiaries of persons convicted of murder
in the first degree, and who may be par
doned on condition of serving limited
term therein. 1t has become custom
that an incoming Governor should not is
sue warrant Of execution in cases leii
unacted on by his predecessor, and it not
unfrequently happens that even in case;
which are recent, while some punishment
should be inflicted, that of death may ap
pear to the Executive to be too severe
The result is that there are at this time
IN the various prisons, some eighteen OF
twenty persons under sentence ofdeath
and who may lie there for an indefinite
period of time.
The vast amount of additional labor
which has been imposed upon the Secre
tary of the Commonwealth by the exs-
ing state of affairs renders it absolutely
necessary that the clearical force of his
department should be increased The
making out of commissions for our large
army of volunteers in the field, and the
preparation of election blanks required
by law to be sent to the army; the re-
ceipt, filing and recording the returns Of
the soldiers votes the enrolment of the
yearly increasing. number of acts of As
sembly. and of charters obtained under
general laws, aud the making out of let
ters-patent for them-all these, together
with the previous heavy duties of the
ofice-form an aggregate the weight Of
which must ultimately break down his
few subordinates, diligeDt, faithful aud
enduring as they are. recommend,
therefore, that provision be promptly
made to meet the necessities of the case
1t is subject of just congratulation
Al thc+a Il !