The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1865-05-26
Letter from Gov. Lewis.

The following letter from Gov. Lewis
to his private secretary explains itself.
! The Governor is entitled to much credit
for the energy he displays In recovering
moneys from the general government
which never ought TO have been advanced,
but We suspect lie is more sanguine Of
success than tie circumtauces warrant ::
Washington, d. c. May IL, 1865.
CoL. FRANK II. FIRMIN, Sec'y.. &c:
DEAR SIR--I ours of The inst, came
duly to hand. | have been SO busily en-
gagged for some days past in endeavorlng
TO procure q settlement and pay men. OF
claims OF The state against the general
government that have had little time
10 attend 10 the matters ct the war Ge,
partment to which You call my attention,
but will do so al the earliest moment pos
sible, and inform you of tho result. The
| claims Of the stale fer the FIVE per cent, due
from the general governments on sales Of
public lands within our state, was approx
ed and passed the frs: comp,rolier's de
partmeut yesterday, and received the sane
ton Of tie secretary OF the interior and
to day 1 had the pleasure Of seeing this
yexed question finally settled by the treas
urer's drawing draft in favor of the state
OF Wisconsin for the full amount due the
state, which he enclosed aud forwarded to
Gov. SPooner, to he paid ty him nto tue
state treasury. The draft will 60 in the
same mail with this letter. | am now
making an effort to secnre payment of
the claims 0: the state against the general
government for money advanced By the
state at the beginning of the war for the
payment Of clothing and sustaining of
troops. There is a large amount justly
due the state which if paid, will greatly re-
lieye our people by reducing their taxes
next fall, result much to be desired,
have already succeeded III getting se4-
eial hundred thousand dollars of these
claims through several departments, and
am confident | shall be able TO forward
another draft within a few days, Of from
three TO four thousand dollars, All the
claims against the general government
now in the hands Of the secretary Of state
shouId be arranged as soon as possible,
and sent forward fer payment. Care
should be taken in arranging them, to
send perfec: vouchers Ia every case. as
MANY of the claims tha. were sent here a,
long time since particularly hosethat accru
ed abou, the commencement of the war, are
suspended, for want of perfect vouch
ers, and will have 10 be farther explained,
from the records in the state departments,
before she money can be obtained upon
them.
On my way to this place I visited
number Of hospitals, aud shall secure the
discharge or transfer to our state Of all
Wisconsin soldiers in them. From in
formation | have obtained, | am satisfied
that there are many Wisconsin soldiers III
southern hospitals whose lives can only be
saved by their discharge or transfer north
before the extreme hos weather Of the sum
mer months. The surgeon general assures
me that discharges and transfers will be
granted if can furnish him tlcir names
and location. Believing can DO more
good in this direction for q short time
han any other, and that if can but save
the lie Of one poor soldier, it will be
worth more than all other efforts l can
make, have determined, as soon as can
properly leave my business here, to visit
the extreme southern hospitals and pro,
cure, as far as possible, the discharge or
transfer 10 our own state, Of all Wisconsin
soldiers i'll them who desire such discharge
or transfer. will write you again soon
of the result of my efforts TO obtain further
payW cnta Of state claims.
Yours truly,
LANES Z LEMIs