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

on other similar property, and part of the
deficiency may be thus provided for
The amount of debt extinguished By
the Sinking Fund during the year is un
usually small, which is accounted for by
the extraordinary expenses which have
been incurred. Seven hundred and thir
teen thousand dollars have been paid
to refund to the banks the money
advanced by them to pay the volun-
teers in service during the invasion of the
State in 1868. One hundred thousand
dollars (s100,000) have been distributed
among the inhabitants of Chambersburg
suffering by the Rebel destruction of their
town. About two hundred thousand dol
lars (S200, ,000) have been expended un-
der the acts providing for the payment of
extra military claims, and in addition to
those extraordinary outlays, the amount
appropriated to charities was last year
larger than usual
In my opinion this matter of donations
to charities is fast running into great a.
buse. Houses of Refuge and Insane,
Blind and Deaf and Dumb Asylums ap-
pear to be the proper subjects of State
bounty, because their objects are of pub
lie importnce; and to be useful and well
and economically managed, it seems to be
necessary that they should be more ex-
tensive than would be required for the
wants of a particular county But in
our system ordinary local charities, aud
to give the public money for their sup
port is really to tax the inhabitants of all
the counties for the benefit of one.
1t being alleged that the Atlantic and
Great Western Railroad Company has not
in various particulars, obeyed the law by
which it was incorporated, the Attorney
General Con the suggestion of parties
claiming to be thereby injured) has filed
an information in equity against that com
pany, seeking an injunction to prevent
continuance of it's past, and the persist
ence of its intended illegal course
Since my last Annual Message, on the
report of John A. Wright, ESQ.,, that the
Sunbury and Erie Railroad was finished,
[ ordered the bonds remaining in the
Treasury to be delivered to the Company.
1t is subject of just pride to the peo-
pie of this Common wealth that this great
work is completed, and whilst it opens
large and wealthy part of the State to the
commerce of the seaboard, and unites
capital and enterprise within our borders
it secures to the Commonwealth the pay
ment of sums due her from the Company.
In my special message of the 30th of
April last, to which | refer, communi--
Gated to the Legislature, in some detail,
the circumstances connected with the ad-
vance by banks and corporations of the
funds to pay the volunteer militia of 1864.
1t is not necessary here to recapitulate
them at length. The case was peculiar,
and 1t is believed none quite like it has
occurred. The call for volunteers was
made by the authorities of the United
States; but it being found that men could
not be got under that call, the form of
call by the State authorities for the de-
tense of the State was, with the assentof
the President, substituted. The United
States agreed to furnish the arms, subsis-
tence and supplies, but it was alleged that
Congress had made no appropriation cover
ing the pay. In this state of things, the
emergency being great, the Secretary of
War telegraphed me thus
WASHINGTON, July %, 1S63.--To His
Excellency, Governor A. G.. Curtin -
Your telegrams respecting the pay of mi
litia, called out under your proclamation
of the 9th of June, have been referred
to the President for instructions, and
have been under his consideration. He
directs me to say, that while no law or ap-
preparation authorizes the payment, by
the General Government of troops that
have not been mustered into the service
of the United States. he will recommend
to congress to make an appropriation for
the payment of troops called into State
service to repel an actual invasion, inclu-
ding those of the State of Pennsylvania
If, in the meantime, you can raise the
necessary amount, as has been done in
other States, the appropriation will be ap
piled to refund the advance to those who
made it. Measures have been taken for
the payment of troops mustered into the
United States service as soon as the mus
ter and pay rolls are made out. The an
swer of this Department, to you as Gov
ernor of the State, will be given directly
to yourself, whenever the Department is
prepared to make answer.
(Signed) EDWIN NJ. STANTON.
Secretary of War.
| The banks and other corporations re-
fused to loan the money unless | would
pledge myself to ask an appropriation
! from the Legislature to refund it. 1t
will be noticed that the pledge of the
President is clear and distinct, but not
withstanding the money was paid and the
accounts settled and placed in the hands
of the President before the meeting of
Congress, no such recommendation as
promised me was made, and for that reas-
on the bill introduced for that purpose
failed. The men were raised and placed
under the command of Major-General
Couch and the other United States off,
GERS in this Department The troops were