The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-02-06

The refusal has been presisted in, under an
opinion of the Attorney General of the United
States, copy of which was sent to me.
recommend that the Legislature make
proper efforts to have this injustice corrected.
The report of David Wills, ESQ.,, president
of the Soldiers National Cemetery, at Get
tysburg, herewith transmitted, shows the
present condition of the cemetery. As the
battle Of Gettysburg resulted in glorious
victory, and was in fact the beginning of the
end Of the war, and occurred on the soil of
the Commonwealth, / think it would be well
that it should be commemorated by an histo-
rieal painting, to be placed in the Capitol of
the State; and | recommend that the Legis
lature take measures for that purpose.
The State of Maryland has proposed TO her
sister States that they unite with her in es-
tablishing cemetery for our soldiers who fell
at Antietam. herewith transmit copies of
the Maryland statute, and other documents
on this subject, and recommend the passage
of an act heartily accepting the proposition
having promptly and generously responded to
our proposition to have a cemetery at Gettys.
burg, 1t would seem proper that we should
reciprocate, and unite in this. The duty is
made more sacred when we remember that
more of Pennsylvania sons fell in that battle
than those Of any other State.
The report of the State Agent at Washing.
ton, herewith transmitted, shows that under
his efficient management the claims of our
soldiers are promptly examined and paid.
Every effort has been made to apprise our
| officers and men that their claims will be col.
lected by the State Agent (Col. Jordan !,
without expense to them; yet it is feared
that many of them continue to employ private
claim agents, whose fees bear heavily on the
| claimants.
| Since my last annual message have ex-
pended Of the secret service fund, the sum oi
| four thousand three hundred and thirty three
dollars and twenty cents, out Of which have
paid my personal staff and other extraordi
nary expenses. No appropriation is required
for the increase Of this fund.
| invite your attention TO the reports of the
Military Departments of the State, to the
| report of the Superintendent of Common
Schools, which exhibits the prosperous con
dition of our system of public education, anC
to the report of the Surveyor General, anC
| recommend to your favorable consideration
the many excellent suggestions made by tha
officer
/
| the suggestion made by the Surgeon Genera
| in his report, herewith transmitted, on tn
propriety of legislation for the protection c
our people, by proper sanitory measures
from the ravages ofthe cholera, which is noI
| approaching our shores.
[ commend to the wisdom of the Legisla
ture the subject of providing for the relief c
our many MANNED and wounded soldiers
Possibly this might be done by continuin
and enlarging the acts providing for board
of relief in the several counties. | recon
mend the adoption by the Legislature of thi
or some other plan for doing justice to tn
class of men in question.
By the joint resolution of May l6, 1861
authorizing me to give flags to our regiments
it was made the duty of the Executive to re
ceive the flags when the regiments returned
| This has not been hitherto done, inasmuct
| as they have not all yet been mustered out
| AS soon as this shall have taken place, the
flags will be received with appropriate cere
monies, and recommend that the Legisa
ture make provision for causing them to bt
hung in the new Library.
| refer to the suggestion of Brigader Gen
eral Todd, Inspector General, on the subjec
OF the militia. | am not prepared to make
any recommendation on this subject, as OBJ
/
proposing to establish n uniform system
| throughout the United States
| The arsenal at Harrisburg is decaying anC
unsafe. The arms and munitions of the State
there deposited are of the value probably O
half million of dollars. | recommend
that provision be made for repairing it, Of
that a new arsenal be constructed in thi!
vicinity, for the purpose of securing theil
! preservation.
Since my last annual message, the late
| President of the United States has fallen
| victim to the most foul and base assassina
| ton recorded in history. 1t will afford me
pleasure and will heartily unite with you in any
expression of indignation at the crime, anc
of appreciation of the public virtue and ser
| vices of its victim, Abraham Lincoln.
| My uniform course during the late war, was
to avoid the discussion of the policy Of the
| General Government, while giving hearty
support to the National authorities in al
their measures to suppress the rebellion.
| shall continue to pursue the same course dur
| ing the embarrassments necessarily connected
with the entire restoration of the country
The principles expressed in the message o.
| the President, at the commencement of the
| session of Congress, will receive my cordial
support.
During the last i've years the people Of this
State have suffered deeply from the calami
| ties of war. Thousands of her men have
been slain, and others are MANNED and broken.
Almost every family has been stricken, and
everywhere there are widows and orphans,
many of them helpless and in poverty. 1t is
@ subject Of sincere congratulation, that peace
has at last returned
am not aware of the existence Of any diff
1 n,,lf oh l.,
amicably adjusted, and therefore venture 10
express the hope that long years Of tranquil.
ty and happiness are before us.
| A. G. CURTIN.