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

lures by the State for military purposes.
since the breaking out of the rebellion.
the condition of the Treasury is now
s., ,5I9 l. better than it was then.
and | am proud 40 be able to state fur
ther, that on the ist day of December,
1863, the State debt was S492, ,9;}S &C less
than it was on the lst OF January, 1861.
( THESE are truly gratifying facts.
Under these circumstances. il may be
( possible, with entire safety to our finan-
/ ceS. t6 reduce or even repeal the Crdi-
nary State tax OF two and half mills
on real estate. The tax OF One-half mill
laid by the ACT Of May 10, 1861, was by
that act expressly pledged for the re-
paymentOf the loan Of - 600, 900, there
by authorized and Of course cannot he
repeated or reduced until that repay
ment shall have been made. | recon-
mend this subject 20 the careful and de
liberatc consideration and Judgment OF
the Legislature, and if it should be
found that the tax can be repealed, |
( recommend that all laws authorizing
/ the leVEing Of local taxes on bonds,
mortgages, loans and all property OF
that kind be also repealed. Such Il re-
/ peal would largely yenc0urage the invest
ment OF capital in this Stale, and add
immensely to the wealth Of the State,
while the local authorities would lose
Very little, as il Is notorious, that from
/ the difficulties Of assessment, they re-
celve very little from these sources.
In case of such repeal, recommend
I the adoption of some etiectual measures
for enforcing correct returns of such OBJ
! jects oI taxation, with appropriate pen
altles for the neglect or refusal to make
them.
make these recommendations be
lleving that it viii lead to more equita-
bic Local taxation, and to greater econ
Omy in their disbursement.
Many acts are on our statute books,
incorporating companies for various
purposes, which companies have never
been organized or gone into operation.
. l recommend that ali such acts he re-
pealed by a. general law, and that pro-
vision be made that in future every act
authorizing a corporation shall become
void, unless the corporation shall or
( ganiZe and use its franchises WITHIN a
limited time.
Since my last annual message the war
against armed treason has been brought
10 a close. Of the large contributions
made by Pennsylvania to the National
army but a few Of the men now remain
in the service. The spirit which ami
mated our people at the outset of the
rebellion has never tagged; and We can
( look back with pride and satisfaction 10
the part taken by this State in aiding TO
maintain the unity of theGovernment,
and in its defence against the assaults OF
. its enemies.
In my first inaugural address, | took
occasion 10 declare that Pennsylvania
would, underany circumstances, render
a full and determined support of the
/ free institutions Of the Union. The
/ pledge 80 made was based upon nv
( knowledge Of the solid patriotism of
/ her citizens. Atthat time danger threat
ened. but no one anticipated that it
would break forth so suddenly. nor that
( it would grow to such fearful proper
tiOns as it in "A brief time assumed.
My confidence in Pennsylvania, in
her even, yet stubborn will, her ability
and resources. has been fully justified
/ by the manner in which she has done
her duty during the elateeventtui period.
On the request Of the President OF the
( United States, made Il communication
to the Legislature on the 9Th day of A.
pril, 1861. setting forth that military
organizations Of Il formidable character,
which did not seem 10 be demanded by
any existing public eXigency, had been
formed in certain of the States, and that,
whilst Pennsylvania yielded to no State
/ in her respect for and Willingness TO
protect, by all needful guarantees, the
constitutional rights and constitutional
( independence of her sister States, no
+ contemplated attempt TO resist the en-
, forCement Of the National law could
( meet with sympathy or encouragement
/ from the people of this Commonwealth,
and asked for authority and means to
organize a military bureau ut the capi-
/ tai. and to 80 amend and modify the
militia laws as to give vitality and en-
( ergv to the military organizations of
the State. ON the 18th day of the same
month, / signed q bill providing for the
/ purposes indicated in my message.
twill be remembered that this patri-
Otic action of the Legislature occurred
! befOre il was known that hOstilitieS had
/ actually cOmmenced-and l. believed
! TO be the first official action by the au-
/ thorities of any State, or by the Nation
al Legislature.
I The first call made by the President
for troops 10 aid in suppressing the re-
bpiliOn, was on the 18th of April, 1861
( for eevpnty-five thousand men; and
that of this number, thequota of Penn
sylvania was settled ut fourteen regi-
ments. to serve three months, unless
sooner discharged. With unsurpassed
alacrity and earnCstnesS, volunteers an
sWered To this call, in snch numbers as
manifested the intuitive conviction OF
the people, that the mOnstrOus wicked
ness which had conceived an armed re-
! belion against the Constitution and the
laws. could not be suppressed but by q
colossal force.
Major General Robert Patterson was
assigned. by the General Government,
tOa command, which included the for
cp- raised in Pennsylvania. Within a
week after the call of the President.
communication with Washington was
almost entirely cut of. Gen. Patterson,
prompted by the necessities of the sit
uation. made, on the 18th of April, q
rpouiSitiOn upon me for twenty-five
additional regiments Of infantry and
one of cavalry, to be forthwith muster
ed into the service of the United States
Under this requisitiOn, ! accepted from
. amongst the many pressing to be admit
ted into the service, q sufficient number
of companies to fill it; care being taken
TO allow to each county, as nearly a,
, possible, a fair representation. only
eleven regiments, however, in addition
: to the fourteen called for by the PreSl
. | don't ,1-ara niZpd and mustered into