American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-02-07

recommend that the practice be cor
rected, and that no appropriation be made
without having the exact sum appropria
ted, the specific purpose to which tits to
be applied, and designating the officer bJ
whom it is to be expended, and providing
that the accounts shall be settled in the
Auditor Generals Office in the usua
manner
Notwithstanding the large expenditures
by the State for military purposes, since
the breaking out of the rebellion, the
condition of the Treasury is now 81 800,
$40 II better than it was then, and am
proud to be able to state further thst on
the lst of September, 1865, the State
debt was s492 ,93S 66 less than it was
on the lst of January, 1861. These are
truly gratifying facts
Under these ciicumstanc 9, it may be
possible, with entire safety to our inan-
ces to reduce or even repeal the ordinary
State tax of two and half mills on real
estate The tax of one half mill laid by
the act of May 16, 1861, was by that act
expressly pledged for the repayment of
the loan of SO, 900, 900, thereby autl or
lied, and of course cannot be repealed
or reduced until that repayment shall
have been made. | recommend this sub
ject to the careful and deliberate consid-
Grafton and Judgment of the Legislature,
and if it should be found thai the tax
could be repealed, | recommend that oil
laws authorizing the levying of local
taxes on boads, mortgages, lounssand all
property of that kind be also repealed
Such repeal would largely encourage
the investment of capital in this State,
while the local authorities lose very little,
as it is notorious, that from the Difficult
ties of assessment, they receive very little
from these sources.
In case of such repeal, | recommend
the adoption OF some effectual measures
for enforcing correct returns of such OBJ
jeets of texation, with appropriate pen
alties for the neglect or refusal to make
them.
| make these rec, lamentations bcliev-
ing that it will lead to more equitable
local taxation. and to greater economy in
their disbursement.
Many acts are on our books. incorpor
ating companies for various purposes,
which companies have never been organ
ized or gone into operation. recommend
that all such acts be repealed by a geper-
al law, and that provision be made that
in future every act authorizing corpor-
alton shall become void, unless the cor
poration shall organize and use its fran
chises within a limited time
Since my last annual message the war,
against armed treason, has been brought
to close. OF the largo contributions
made by Pennsylvania to the National
army, but few of the men now remain
in the service. The spirit which anima,
ted our people, at the outset of the rebel
lion, has never Jagged; and VIC can look
back with pride and satisfaction to the
part taken by this Government, and in
its defence against che assaults of its
enemies
In my first inaugural address, | took
occasion to declare that Pennsylvania
would, under any circumstances, render
a full and determined support of the free
institutions of the Union. The pledge
so made was based upon my knowledge
of the solid patriotism of her citizens
At that time danger threatened, but no
one anticipated that it would break forth
so suddenly. nor that il would grow to
such fearful proportions as it in brief
time assumed
My confidence in Pennsylvania, in her
even, yet stubborn will, .her ability and
resources, has been fslly justified by the
in which she has done her dury
during the late cventful period.
On the request of the President Of The
United States, | made communication
to the Legislators, on the 9th day of
April 1861, setting forth that military
of formidable character,
which did not seem to be demanded by
any existing public exigoncy, had been
formed ins certain of the States, aud that
whilst Pennsylvania yielded to no State,
in her respect for and"williugness to pro-
te It: by all guarantees, the constitutional
rights and constitutional independence of
her sister States. no contemplated at
tempt to resist the enforcement of the
Nat opal law could meet with sympathy
or encouragement from the people ofthis
Commonwealth, and asked for authority
and means to organize military bureau
at the Capital, and to so amend aud mod
ify the militia laws as to give vitality and
energy to the military organizations of
the State. On the 18th Of the same
month, l signed bill providing for the
purposes indicated in my message.
1t will be remembered that this patri-
otic action of the Legislature occurred
before it was Known that hostilities had
actually commenced--and it is believed
to be the first official action of the au.
thorities OF any State, or by the National
The first call made by the President
for troops to aid in suppressing the rebel
lion, was on the 18th of April, 1861, for
seventy-fve thousand men and that of
this number, the quota of Pennsylvania
was settled at fourteen regiments, to serve
thre. months, unless sooner discharged.
With unsurpassed aIacrity and earnest
ness, volunteers answered to .his call, in
such numbers rs Manifested the intuitive
conviction Of the people, that the mon
efrotle v,cL al .,o.. ,rl,.ok Ill oonno.vo1