Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-01-12

monwealth the payment of sums due her
from the company.
THE PAYMENT OF THE MILITIA.
In my special message of 30th April last
to which | refer, | communicated TO the
Legislature. in some detail, the circumstan
ces connected with the advance by banks
and other corporations of the funds to pay
the volunteer militia of 1868
1t is not necessary here to rccapitulate
them at length. The case was peculiar,
and it is believed none quite like it has oc-
Cured. 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 defence of the
State was, with the assent of the President,
substituted. The United States agreed to
furnish the arms, subsistence, and supplies,
but it was alleged that Congress had made
no appropriation covering the pay. In this
state of things the emergency being great
the Secretary of War telegraphed to me
thus:
WASHINGTON, July %. 1863
TO HIS Ercelency Coz. 4: g. Curtin:
Your kilograms respecting the pay OF militia
called out under your proclamation of the the 9th
of June have been referred to the President in
structions, and have been under his consideration.
He directs me to say, that while no law appro-
priation authorizes the payment, by the General
Government, OF troops that have not been mustered
into the service of the United States, he will
ommend to Congress to make appropriation for
the payment of troops called into State service to
repel an actual invasion, including those of the
State of Pennsylvania
IT. in the meantime, you can raise the necessary
amount, as has been done in other States, the ap-
preparation will be applied to refund the advance to
those who made it. Measures have been taken for
the payment of troops mustered into the United
States service soon as the muster and pay rolls
made out The answer of this Department, to
you Governor of the State, will be given directly
to yourself, whenever the Department is prepared
to make answer.
EDWIN NJ. STANTON Secretary of War.
The banks and other corporations refused
to advance the money unless would pledged
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, Notwithstanding tho
money was paid and the accounts settled
and placed i'll the hands of the President
before the meeting of Congress, no such
recommendation as promised me was made,
and for that reason the bill introduced for
that purpose failed. The men were raised
! and placed under the command of Ma jor
General Couch and the United States Off
GERS in this Department. The troops were
held in service longer than the emergency
| for which they called out required. Several
! of the regiments were marched Immediately
into distant parts of the State, by order of
the officers of the army stationed in Penn
! sylvania, against my repeated remonstran-
| ces. They were retained, as was alleged,
/ to preserve the peace and enforce the draft.
Nearly, if not quite, one-half the money
was paid to troops thus held, and after the
emergency had expired. Finding that the
appropriation was likely to fail in Congress-
| | laid the matter before the Legislature
Just prior to their adjournment, in May last
and an act of Assembly was Immediately
passed to refund the money out of the State
treasury, which, as above stated. has been
done. ought to say that the appropriation
by Congress was vigorously supported by
all the members from this State in both
branches. Having done everything in my
power to procure the payment of this just
claim Of the State, | now recommend that
the Legislature take the subject into con-
sideration, with view to induce proper ac-
ton by the President and Congress.
THE ENROLMENT OF THE MILITIA.
By the act of 22d of August, 1864, | was
ment of the militia to be made, unless that
recently made by the United States should
be found sufficient, and to raise by volun-
teering 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 to
be made, which is now in progress under
the charge of Colonel Lemuel Todd, whom
I +ol Il
the United States was then in progress,
and it was not thought advisable to harass
our people by a contemporaneous State
draft, even if a draft had been practicable
under the present law. Volunteers could
not be obtained, there being no bounties,
and the men not being exempted by their
enlistment in that corps from draft by the
United States. Fortunately the United
States placed an army, under General Sher-
idan, between us and the enemy, and thus
provided ef1ectually for our defence. With
such adequate protection, as proved by the
!, brilliant campaign OF that army, did not
think it right to incur the expense to the
State of an independent army, and the
withdraw of so many of our people from
their homes and pursuits Meanwhile ar
rangements have been made with the au-
thorities atWashington for arming, clothing,
subsisting, and supplying the corps at the
expence of the United States, and an order
has been given by the authorities of the
United States to furlough such volunteers
in the corps as may be drafted by the Uni
ted States, the corps SO privileged not to
exceed 5000 men. 1t is my intention to
raise 5000 men during the winter, and
have already adopted measures to that end.
There may occur irruptions of irregular
bodies of the rebels, and it is well to be
provided against them. The number pro-
posed to be SO raised and put into actual
service will, in my judgement,be sufficient
and regard to due economy requires that
no more than are sufficient should be placed
OH pay The remaining 10000 will be Or
ganized and ready for service in case of
necessity. | invite your immediate atten-
tion to the very able report of the mspcc-
tor General, which sets forth the defects in
the law which he has discovered tn his pre-
paration for carrying it into practical
effect.
OUR STATE AGENCIES
The State agencies at Washington and
10 the Southwest are in active and success