Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-06
Message of Gov. COny-MiIitary History
of Matna

AUGUSTA, Me-. Jan. 4.-Gov. Cony was inaugura.
ted to-day and delivered his message to the Legisa
| ture
Referring to the military history of the State du-
ring the rebellion, he says that Maine furnished
7l555 men, being more than one-enth of her popua-
tion Five regiments and one battalion of infantry
still remain in the service The records exhibit the
tact that OF the soldiers Maine furnished 8446 per-
shed, either being slain in battle or died of wounds
received or disease contracted in the service of the
Government.
lie believes that some testimonial is due to the
memory of the dead, and equally to the more fortu-
nate living, as broad the authority othe State in
token OF ITS appreciation and gratitude and suggests
that monument be erected in honor of the former
and medals with suitable inscriptions be struck and
furnished to the latter who have been honorablv dis
charged But this will not satisfy the public con-
science II the duty of this State is thus but in part
discharged
There is one thing which can and should be DONE
ana that Is to enact law that no soldier of sober
habits. incapactated by injuries receive ed in the dis
charge OF his duty while in the military service or
his family who shall require aid from any city or
town. shall become paupers subjected to any dis
ability in consequence thereof
Ihe State expenditure for war purposes amounts
to 97,357r573. The amount advanced by cities and
towns for aid to the families of soldiers TO January
lst 1865, was $780, 536 which has been refunded by
the State or provision made therefor
Altogether there has been expended bv the peonle
OF Name for the support of the national cause Sl4-
O93.512, for which they owe to-day about S2OOnOOO
saying nothing about private contributions which
through their iberality, have continually flowed as
freely water.
The Governor concludes by arguing at some length
the present condition Of national affairs He takes
ground IN support of the Presidents policy for the
return of the revolving States to their relations with
the Union, to the spirit and purpose of which cond-
uons no loyal man, he says, would utter dissent
The restoration Of the revolted States to the Union
upon any other basis than that of limiting the exer
else OF political rights to the actually loyal popula
lon OF the one which shall fail to secure the recogni
ton of the colored freemen, having equal
rights and obligations with the whites or omis to
provide for their moral and intellectual culture so
indispensable to the citizens of the free States can
not be contemplated except with the profoundest
alarm.
The objection to investing the colored race with the
elective franchise growing out of their ignorance is
one having great force, but applicable alike to the
white man of the intellectual condition. To |
obvlate this there may be a necessity for posponing
their full investigaure with this right until they III
common with other ignorant persons shall be fitted
by education for its exercise |
The stimulus this would impart to the educational |
effort of both races would be of incalcuab!c benefit
In the meantime measure of security to the |
nation the Constitution of the Union should be SO
amended as to limit the right national representa-
ton to the legal number Of suffrage in each State aud
to define who shall be electors in the States Of Pres
dent Vice President and Representatvestot the Con-
gTess of tho United States