Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-02-09

-
| recommend that the Legislature adopt
measures to bring the subject again before
Congress, and obtain repayment of this sum
amounting to $67l ,476 43, with interest ON
the same, which the General Government
has thus far so unwaTantably withheld.
l Great injustice has been done to private
soldiers, who went into service under the
provisions of the act of Congress, by refus-
ing to pay them the full bounties offered by
the terms of that act The following letter.
which addressed to the Secretary of War, ad
sufficiently explains the position Of this af-
fair: q
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
HARRISBURG, Pa, Jnne 5, 1865. -.
Sir:-There are two subjects connected
with the discharge of volunteers which are
of SO much importance that feel justified
in calling your attention to them.
Fret. The men arc being paid only to
the day of their arrival at the place they are
to be discharged. This viii cause them to
lose few days pay, depending principally
officers Of the United States having the mat
ter in charge. 1t is a matter of little mo-
ment TO the Government, but the men feel
it to be an injuetice, and if, under the acts
of Congress, they can be paid until disehar-
ged, think you win agree with them.
Second. In Circular No. 80 from TroVost
Marshal General Office, dated July I9.
1864, under which the volunteers now to
be discharged were raised, it is stated that
the bounty provided bylaw is as follows:
For recruits, including representative re-
crGits white or colored, $780,
And it is further added, that the first In
stalment of the bounty will be paid when
the recruit is mustered in, as follows:
!. To recruit who enlistedin the army for
one year, ,$33 80, 75el
On these terms the men enlisted, and they
are of opinion that they are entitled to the
remainder of their bounty when discharged
from service. eH
1t is proposed, however, to pay them but
a part OF this remainder, because the Govern
ment does not require their services for the
full term of their enlistment, and appears to
be a breach of the contract between the Gov
ernment and the men, The bounty was
held out by the Government as an induce
ment to enlist, not as an additional pay for
services to be rendered The men became
entitled to it by the fact of enlistment, and
could only forfeit what remained unpaid BY
some misconduct of which such forfeiture
should be legal penalty. These matters
| are creating much unpleasant feeling among
the men. ! need not say to you, they have
behaved gallantly, and the country owes
them everything; and if it can possibly be
avoided they ought not to be sent home
under the feeling that the Government, when
their services are no longer required, takes
the first opportunity to treat them unjustly
and violate its contract with them.
| / assure you that unless these difficulties
| are relieved there will be created a general
| discomfort which will be injurious hereafter
and it is my fervent desire for the success Of
your administration which leads me to bring
! them directly to yonr notice.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
A. G.. CURTIN
| The refusal has been persisted in, under an
| opinion ofthe Attorney General of the Uni
! ted States a 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
this Commonwealth, think it would be we'll
| that it should be commemorated by an histo-
| rical painting, to be placed IN the Capitol of
the State; and recommend that the Legisla-
| ture take measures for that purpose.
The State of Maryland has proposed to her
sister States that they unite with her in es-
tabhshing a 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 of
the State of Maryland. AL the States hay-
ing promptly and generously responded tc our
| proposition to have cemetery at Gettysburg,
it would seem proper that we should recipro-
cate, 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 tCol. Jordan, with
out expense to them; yet it is feared that ma
ny of them continue to employ private claim
agents, whose fees bear heavily on the claim
ants.
Since my last annual message have ex-
pended of the secret service fund, the SUM OF
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 Ol Tic 0tSalcs " Tic
port of the Superintendent of Common
Schools, which exhibits the prosperous con-
dition Of our system of public education, and
to the report of the Surveyor General, and
recommend to your favorable consideration
the many excellent suggestions made by that
| officer. aw
/ commend to your earnest consideration
the suggestion made by the Surgeon General
in his report herewith transmitted, on the
propriety Of Legislation for the protection of
our people, by proper sanitary measures,
from the ravages of the cholera, which is now
approaching our shores.
commend to the wisdom of the Legisla-
ture the subject of providing for the relief of
our many MANNED and wounded soldiers
Possibly this might be done by continuing
and enlarging the acts providing for boards
of relief in the several connties. / recon-
mend the adoption by the Legislature of this
or some other plan for doing justice to the
class of men in question.
BY the joint resolution of May l6, 1861, an-
thorizing me to give flags TO our regiments,
it was made the duty of the Executive to re-
eeive the flags when the regiments returned.
Z This has not been hitherto done, inasmueh as
they have not all yet been mustered out. As
soon as this shall have taken place, the hags
will be received with appropriate ceremonies,
and / recommend that the Legislature make
~ II - L. l. -