The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-02-09


with transmit copies of the Maryland
statutes, and other documents on tins
subject. and recommend the passage OF
an act heartily accepting the PROPOSE
ton Of the State OF Maryland. All the
States having promptly and generously
responded TO our proposition TO have
cemetery at Gettysburg, it would seem
proper that we should reciprGcate, and
unitein this. The duty is made more
sacred when we remember that more Of
PennsyiVania's SONS fell in that Lattle
than those Of any other State.'
The report OF the State agent at Wash
I ingt0n, herewith transmitted, shows
that under his efficient management the
claims Of our soldiers are promptly eX-
aminedau paid. Every eL0rt las been
made to apprise our officers and men
that their Gains will be collected blythe
state agent, Col. Jordan, without eX-
Dense 10 them; vet it is feared that
many OF them continue 10 employ prl-
vate claim agents, whose fees lear ACaY-
lily on the claimants.
Since my last annual message j have
expended Of the secret service fund the
sum OF four thousand three hundred
and thirty-thTee dollars and twenty
cents, out OF which have paid my per-
sOnai staff and other extraordinary eX-
penses, No appropriation is required
for the increase of this fund.
Invite your attention 10 the reports
0fthe military departments OF theState,
10 t1le report of the superintendent OF
common schools, which exhibits the
prosperous condition OF our system Of
public education, and 10 the report Of
the Surveyor General, and recommend
toyOur decentralization the man
v excellent suggestions made by that
officer.
commend to your earnest consider
alton the suggestion made by the Sur
geOn GeneraI in his report, herewith
transmitted, on the propriety Of leris
lation for the protection OF our people,
by proper sanitary measures, from the
raVageS Of the cholera, which is now
approaching our shores.
commend 10 the wisdom Of the Leg
islature the subject Of providing for the
reliefGf our many manned and wound
eds0,diegs. Possibly this might bedOne
by continuing and enlaTging the acts
providing for boards of relief i'll the
several counties. l recommend the a.
d9pti0n by the Legislature Of this Or
some other plan for doing justice 10 the
class OF men in question.
BY the Joint resolution Of May 16,
1861, authorizing me to give flags 10 our
regiments, it was made the duty of the
Executive to receive the flags when the
regiments returned. This has not been
hitherto done, inasmuch as they have
not yet all been mustered out. As soon
dS this shall have taken place, the flags
will be received with appropriate cere-
monies, and recommend that the Leg
islature make provisions for causing
them to be hung in the new library.
Ireter 10 the suggestion OF 3rigadier
General Todd, Inspector General, on
the subject OF the militia. / am not
prepared to make any recommendation
on this subject, rs l observe with great
pleasure, that Congress is proposing TO
establish a uniform system throughout
the United States.
The arsenal at Harrisburg is decay
ing and unsafe. The arms and muni-
tiOns OF the state there deposited are of
lha value probably Of a half a million
OF dollars. | recommend that proViS-
ion be made for repairing it, or that a
new arsenal be constructed in this vi
entity, for the purpose Of securing Their
preservation.
Since my last annual message, the
late President Of the Uuited States has
fallen avictim to the most foul and base
assassination recorded in history. 1t
will afford me pleasure and / will hear
lilly unite with you in any expression
Of indignation ct the crime, and Of ap-
preciatIol OF the public virtue and ser
vices Of its victim, Abraham Lincoln.
Myunifofm course, during the late
war, was TO avoid the discussion of the
policy OF the General Government,
while giving a hearty support to the
national authorities i'll all their meas
ures to suppress the rebellion. | shall
continue TO pursue the same course dur
ing embarrassment necessarily COnnec-
tea with the entire restoration of the
country. The principles expressed in
the message OF the President, at the
commencement OF the session of Con-
gress, will receive my cordial support
During the last five years the people
Of this State have suffered deeply from
the caldmities of war. Thousands Of
her men have been slain, and others
are MANNED and broken. Almost ev-
cry family has been stricken, and ev-
eryWhere thereare widowsandorphans,
many Of them helpless and in poverty.
1t is a subject Of sincere econgratu}ation,
that peace has at last returned.
/ am not aware of the existence Of
any difficulty with other nations which
mayn0t 0tbeamicablyadjusted and there
lore venture to express the hope that
long years Of tranquility and happiness
ere before IL G CIrR,rTN