Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-01-11

tent that they ought 10 De Tor the purpose or
taxation and regulation.
The immense development Of wealth in
some Of our western counties by the dlscov-
cry of OIL has added vastly to the resources
of the Commonwealth.
| have made efforts to ascertain the value
of this product during the last year, but
have failed in procuring information suffi-
ciently accurate TO justify me in estimating
its amount. 1t is already vast, and is rapid
ly increasing.
The productions and manufactures of the
State have become so diversified and abun-
dant that some measure should be taken for
an accurate ascertainment of them, so that
their extent may be generally known, and
also that the necessary taxation may be in
telligently imposed [ recommend for these
purposes the creation Of Bureau, of which
the Auditor General and State Treasurer
shall be members, and the head Of which,
shall be a new officer, to be styled Commis-
sioners of Statistics, or designated by any
other appropriate title.
The act of 25th August 1864 providing
for the voting of soldiers, should be careful
~ examined with view to its amendment,
and, indeed, a revision of our whole elec-
ton laws would seem to be desirable, with a
view to the two essential objects Of, |. The
admission Of legal and exclusion of illegal
votes at the polls; and, 2 Faithful and cor
rect returns Of the votes actually polled. L
communicate herewith the opinion OF the
Attorney General on the conflicting returns
for he 9Th Congressional District, which
will show some of the practical difficulties
which arise under the existing system.
Without undertaking to recommend the
adoption Of any particular plan, submit
the whole subject to your careful and earn
est consideration, in the hope that in your
wisdom you viii be able to devise some mea-
sure which Will produce the result so essen-
tial to the existence OF a free government;
that votes shall be fairly taken in the first
instance, and fairly counted and returned
afterwards
[ have endeavored since | came into office
to exercise as cautiously as possible the
powers contided to the Executive, and avoid
usurping any. | shall endeavor to presist
IN this course TO the end.
\ new call has been made by the PreSI
dent For 800, ,0C0 men. This renders 1t prop
er that should invite your attention to the
evils which have resulted from abuses Of the
system Of local bounties which was begun,
ia an emergency, by the voluntary and gen
erous loyalty Cf our citizens, before the pas
sage by Congress Of the enrolment act, and
has since been continued by sundry acts of
Assembly The result has been to the last
degree oppressive TO our citizens, and un
productive Of corresponding benefit to the
Government. In some counties and town
ships it is believed that the bounty tax du
ring the last year exceeded the average IN
come derived from the land The large
sums offered in some places in the c0mpeti-
ton Of men, have demora!ized many of
our people, and the most atrocious frauds
connected with the system have become
common. The men Of some OF the poorer
counties have been nearly exhausted by their
volunteers being credited to richer localities
paying heavier bOunties The system as
practiced lowers the DtOrGie Of the army II
self by putting into the ranks men actuated
by merely mercenary motives, and who are
tempted TO desert by the facility of escaping
detection, and the prospect OF new gains by
re-eniisment, Il process which they expect
to be able to repeat an indefinite number or
times. Of the number OF men Tor whom
bounties been have paid, it is believed that
not one-fourth have been actually placed in
the ranks of the army, and even those who
have joined it, have probably not on an av
erage received for their own use one half Of
the bounty paid for them. Immense sums
have thus been appropriated by cheats and
swindiers, in many cases believed to be act
ing in completely with agencies OF the Gov
ernment.
An effort was made to prosecute some of
the parties concerned in such frauds under
the act of Assembly of 18th August last,
and they were bound over by the Mayor Of
this city, but after the witnesses had come
here on the meeting of the court, they dis
appeared from the public eye. | recommend
the subject to your careful consideration, that
the system may be purged of these evils.
| am officially informed that the quota of
this State under the recent call, is Go, ,999,
but [ am not informed of the principle on
which the draft is TO be made.
1t appears from the President proclama-
tion that it is made chiefly to supply an al
legged deficiency in former calls. L am sur
prised at the amount Of this large dehclen-
cy, and can only account for the difference
between the number of men furnished by
the State and the deficiency alleged TO exist
in the assignment Of the present quota by
the assumption that the men never reached
the army, although enlisted and mustered
after the payment of bounties by the locah-
ties to which they were supposed to be cred
tied 1t is probable that there are very few
counties in the State which have not paid
large bounties for number of men sufh-
cient to fill their former quotas. Taking the
local bounties at the low average of four
hundred dollars. it is believed that it can be
demonstrated that the people of Pennsylva-
MIA have thus been robbed Of more than
twelve millions of dollars during the past
year. This estimate does not include the
money fraudulently taken from men who
have actually gone into the service The
continuance of these monstrous and unpar-
alleled abuses cannot be tolerated.
Certainly more men are required to aid
our gallant soldiers in the field in crushing
this rebellion, and every consideration Of