The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-02-01

stances responded promptly, and submitted to
the hardships and deprivntiaus Of soldie's
fare without complaint Solue, however, have
refused 10 appear when the calls have been
made. In my opiuion there is severe PEN
nlty. under the present law, for this derelie-
ton Of duty. Others claim; that it IS merely
pecuniary. Its imposition'is certainly attend
ed with grea, delny. In justice to those who
promptly responded when called Oh. rs we'll
as on account OF discipline, the law should be
50 amended rs 10 remedy these defects.
also submit for your consideration the
proprie,y Of al appropriation 10 pay Inc mill
tin. who have been In active service on Vhrlo"e
occasions since the commencement OF Inc war |
But the rcpor, Of the Adjntant General ~
entitled 10 more thnn Il passing notice. In
addition TO the usual statements OF the ofdi |
nary business transactions OF his o:hce, II wiz
be seen thu, he has given the names OF all The
officers and soldiers Of all the regiments OF the
State Of Virginia and the State OF West 'ir'
cinia in the Government service during INC
present war; the company aud regiment l"
which they have been and are attached; wheh
they were mustered in; their term oil service
and what has become Or them whether us
missed. mustered out, l,scharsed Killed. dird
of discasr, or still remain i'll the service. II
MISC contains q concise, lucid, yet comprchen-
sive history OF every regiment Us an orSan''
zatiou, mustered into the service during the
war This report is the result or great ihoor
and untirins energy Oh the part OF the o'hcer
whose work it is. and demonstrates the ability
mud fitness which he brings TO ;he discharge
Of the duties G! his alice, and his great dcTo'
lion to the interests OF the brave soldiers WHO
have gone from this State 10 tight the battles
Of their country. many Of them to uie that onr
liberties might be preserved anu tue nai'oh
saved /, will be found 10 be Of the highest
interest 10 the living soldiers, and the families
and friends OF those who are dead. In justice
10 the heroic men in whose beha! this report
has been prepared, [ recommend that large
number OF copies be printed. and proper
number be deposited in the Clerks aud Re-
co,,lcrs Offices OF the several Counties for the
benefit Of those interested III the information
It contains.
| endorse all tina, is so appropriately and
happiiy said in this report III commentator
OF Wcst vilg in,a Soldiers. They have cvinccd
u bravery aud soldier!y bearing that is
alike c.r,liabie 10 them and honorable 10 the
State. LED OIL by our own noble officers in
immediate command the! Lave endured the
harlsh;rs and privations OF active service
enemy, and whenever found they Lave as
snut,rL him with Intelligence, determination
and bold imp",uoSi,y, that have no, been sur
passed hy any troops i'll the history Of The
war, and have resulted i'll their triumph III
many ha,d-!ought field.
In passim. from the consideration OF the
Aliu,aut Generals report. feel il my duty to
call YOUR attention to the small salary he re-
ceivvs under existing law, and TO recommend
that for the next term it be reasonably
increased do not hesitate 10 say that it
barely pays his expenses Of living in the
exercise OF the most rigid economy. II wax
liked ut time when the cost Of living was
no, one.hal wha, i, IS at present The duties
Of his office require capacity, industry aud at
Ill ,imcs nrduous labor. such as the State has
no right 10 cXpec; witbou, reasonable compen.
sation.
The salary Of his Clerk is also too amnll
As il is Mt present, il is impossible for him 10
retain clerk who can render him my service
II, ull. What ! have said in regard 10 the
salaries Of these officers might well be'sa,d Of
the salaries of many other Of the State officers,
but in the latter Cases the provisions oil the
Constitution will not allow Of IN increase.
AMrXpMEAT 10 THE CONSTITUTION or UNITED
There ia proposition before Congress. to
propose 10 the several Stairs an amendment
70 the Constitution Of the United States, i'll the
manner provide d in that instrument, 20 rs to
nholish slavery throughout tie Union. Slavery
has been II subject Of ,ispnte and source q
irritation from the foundation OF the Govern.
ment. 1t has nj last been made the pretcxt
TOR the most unj ustih"hc and wicked rebellion
a. a.. cn,. o., nj
Lis<olving the Union and destroying our lib
critics. The civilized world ~ ngnins, it. The
present affords an OCCASION, us il docs nm or.
portunity, 10 efcctually destroy II III conSl
utional mode. If it shall happen tina. during
the session OF the present Legislature, any
action on your part IS needed to further the
proposed amendment, or 10 facilitate lis rnsi.
tcntion by this State, ,rus, that you will not
hesitate TO take such action.
CONCLUSION.
The history Of the past year is full Of inter.
est to every patriot. The health Of the couu.
try ha. been unprecedented. The necessarics,
comforts, and even Injuries Of life have
uboundcd. Prosperity has attended every
branch Of business, and, were it not for this
unfortunate rebellion. We would be the Imp
pies, people on the fnce Of the earth. Aud
while VIC arc compelled to moura the loss OF
many Of the nobleSt Of the race, yet, we rejoice
tina, the cause in which they died is worthy OF
the sacrifice; that they died That Cons,itu-
tional liberty might be pcrpetua,ed; Tint they
have died not in vain; thu, through the in.
s,rumentaliiy OF heroes dead and brave men
alive, the nation still survives; and that
Turing the past year the Government has
made erca, progress toward the re.cstnbi:sh-
m9ut Of its authority throughout the entire
land. Its armies have been victorious in
every quarter. They hive defeated and pu,
10 ront the enemy on every battlefield. They
have penetrated his country. and proven that
the material Of war is wcll-nish exhausted.
They have captured and arc now holding
many Of the strongholdS and much Of the
territory heretofore within the encmy's li"cs.
Their presence has demonstrated that ,herc
has Nil along been a latent Union feeling.
really to manifest itself whenever the pro
tcc,ing arm Of the Government was extended