Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1865-01-11

under the command of Major General Couch and the
other u ) officers in this Department The troops
were heid IN service longer than the emergency for
which they were called out required. Several OF the
regiments were marched Immediately into distant
parts OF the State by order of the officers of the
stationed in Pennsylvania against my re peated re-
monstrances They were retained. was alledged
10 preserve the peace and enforce the draft. Nearly.
u not quite, one-haf the money was paid to troops
thus held and after the emergency had expired
FINDING that the appropriation was likely to fail in
congress, lald the matter before the Legislature,
just prior to their adjournment May last and act
OF Assembly was Immediately passed refund the
money out OF the State Treasury, which, as above
stated has been done. ought to say that the appro-
prlauon by Congress vigorously supported by all
the members from this State, in both branches
having done everything my power to procure the
payment of this just clam OF the State, now RECON-
mend that the Legislature take the subject into CON
5netauon Wth view to induce proper action by the
President and Congress.
BY the act I'D August. 1864 I was authorized to
cause an immediate enrolment of the militia to be
made unless that recently made by tho United States
Shouid De found sufficient and to raise by volunteer
ing or draft corps of fifteen thousand men for the
defence of our Southern border. The United States
enrolment being found very defective, directed an
enrolment be made, which is now in progress under
charge of Colonel Lemuel Todd, whom appointed
Inspector General. draft by the United States was
harrass our people by contemporane0us State draft
even If draft had been practicable under the present
ia" volunteers could not be obtained. there being
no bountles. and the being KEN pied by their
enlistment IN that corps from draft by the United
states fortunately the United State placed an army
uhaer zen sheridan between us and the enemy and
thus provided effectualy for defence. With such
adequate protection as proved by the brilliant cam
pagn OF that army, did think right to incur
the expenses to the State of an independen, army
ana the withdrawal OF 80 many of our people from
thetr n"il"S ana pursuits. Meanwhile gements
have been made with the authorities at Washington
Tor arming, clothing. subsistng and supplying the
corps at the expense of the United States. and an
order has been gwen 10y the authorities of the United
States To furough such volunteers in the corps a. may
be drafted by the United States The corps So nrvi-
ieSed not TO exceed 5000 men II s my intention O
raiSe 5000 men during the winter. and have already
adopted measures to that end There may orcnr
hnlIaS of tba aI.aIs =;
wei to be provided against them The number pro-
posed to be so raised and put INTO actual service, WILL
economy requires that more than are sufficient
should 10y placed on pay. The remaining 100O0 will
be organized. and ready for in of neces-
sity. invite your immediate attention to the very
able report of the Inspector General which forth
the defects IN the law which he has discovered in his
preparation for carrying It INTO practical effect.
The State agencies at Washingto and IN the South
west are IN active and successful operation COM
inuhlcste herewith the reports of Col Jordan, at
Washington. and Col. Chamberlain. agent for the
Southwest The provisions of the law requiring the
agents to collect moneys due by the United States TO
soldiers. have been benfcent A reference to their
reports will show the magnitude and usefulness of
this branch of their service. desire TO invite the At
tentlon of all our volunteers. officers soldiers and
their families to the fact that the State will col
y as have reason to believe that still iG-
norant of that fact and greatly posed upon by
agents.
Under the act of the 9th of May. 1864 appointed
Hon. Thomas ii. Burrowes TO take charge Of the ar
dlers. l communicate herewith a copy of his report
on the subject. He has discharged his duties with
commendabe zeal fidelity and efficiency. | earnest
~ recommend that permanent and liberal appropri-
aon be made to support this just and worthy scheme
of benlhcence.
! recommend that an appropriation be made for
pensions to the volunteer militia tor their fami-
les) who were killed or hurt in in the years
1862 and 1863 As soldiers sometimes arrive here who
are insane, and who should be protected and cared
for recommend that provision be made for their be-
ing placed in the State Asylum for the Insane at this
place, ana Kept unt1 notice be the liz
thorties of their respective counties who should be
required to remove and care for them
feel it to be my duty to invite your serious atten-
ton to the evils growing out of the system of passing
of Incorporation for purposes which are provided
for by general laws We have passed authorizing
charters to be obtained without special legislation
These acts have bt e generally prepared with some
care and contain the provisions wnic the Legislature
thought necessary to protect the Commonwealth and
her citizens If these general laws are not found to
answer such purposes, they should be amended and
perfected ii any company desires TO be incorpora-
ted with greater privileges than conferred, or to
be relieved from any conditions imposed by any of
these acts, appears to me that it should be required
first to obtain charter under the general laws, and
then apply to the Legislature for an act making the
changes which are desired. The attention of the Le-
gIsature will thus he drawn to the specific object and
IN INDICTMENT can be formed OF ITS proPriety would
also observe that great evil results from the habit of
granting privileges to corporation by refer
ence to former private relating to other cor
poratons' sometimes without even giving the date of
these acts. All these practices bad and although
they may sometimes be pursued by parties having no
bad intention, yet they certainly originated in the de-
sign of surprising the Commonwealth grants of
privileges which it was known could not be obtained
if their extent were understood, and they are often
followed now for the same fraudulent purpose.
strongly recommend the repeal of the act passed
the 18th day Of July, D. 1868 entitled An act rea-
ting to corporations for mechanical manufacturing,
mining and quarryng purposes"
Its provisions are found to be practically incon-
sistsnt with the due protection of the citizens and
with the just policy of the Commonwealth, that il
ought not be allowed to stand any longer on our
great reluctance and subsequent reflection and obser
vatlon have satisfied me of Its mischevous character
| also recommend the repeal of act passed the
22d day of July, 1868, entitled A further supple
ment TO act TO enable joint tenants and tenants
common ana adjoining owners OF mineral lands in
this Commonwealth to manage and develope the
same"
This act allows foreign corporations to hold three
hundred of land this State mining purpo-
Ii passed, Is believed, for the purpose of
enabling companies near our border, engaged in the
manufacture of iron to hold land banks. But
under the idea that the sinking of oil well is min
ing il Is believed that companies have already been
organized under the laws of other States and that
more will be, for the purpose of holding lands and
carrying the oil business in this State. Ii would be
better 10 remove all doubt on this que ston by repea-
ing the act. These companies. being foreign corpo-
ratious, not within The control of ear laws the
extent that they ought TO be for the purposes OF tax
alton and regulation. -
The immense development of wealth in some of
counties by the discovery of oil, has add
ed 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
curing Information sufficiently accurate to justify
IN estimating It's amount 1t is already vast and IS
rapidly increasing.
The productions and manufactures of the State
have become so diversified and abundant that some
should be taken for accurate ascertain
ment of them that their extent may be generally
known, and also that the necessary taxation may be
intellgentiy imposed. recommend tor these pur-
poses the creation of Bureau, of winch the Auditor
General and State Treasurer shall be members, and
the head of which shall be officer, be styled
Commissioners Of Statistics, designated by 9TH
appropriate title.
The act of 25th August 1861 providing for the vo-
ting of soldiers, should be carefully examined with
to amendment, and, indeed revision of our
whole election laws would TO be desirable, with
a view to the two essential of l. The admission
of legal and exclusion of illegal votes az the polls;
and 2 Faithful and correct returns of the votes aciu
ally poIIed communicate herewith the opinion OF
the Attorney General the conflicting returns for the
18th Congressional District, which viii show some OF
the practical difficulties which arise under the exist
ing system. Without undertaking 70 recommend the
adoption of any particular plan, submit the whole
sntect TO your careful and earnest consideration,
Will be able de-