Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-02-09
VOLUME 49,: NO 8.

history of the associated beneTolence and
Of the large individual contributions to the
comfort of our people in the field and hospi-
tai, or Of the names and services, at all
| times, ofour volunteer surgeons, when called
to assist in the hospital or on the battle field
nor is it possible to do justice to the many
patriotic Christian men who were always
ready to respond when summoned TO the
exercise Of acts Of humanity and benevo-
lence.
Our armies were sustained and strength
ened in the field, by the patriotic devotion
of their friends at home; and we can never
| render full justice to the heaven directed,
| patriotic christian beneyolence of the Wo-
men OF the State
During the war I had occasion, from time
to time, to communicate freely with the
Legislature on subjects bearing upon the
interests of the men representing the State
in the armies of the Republic
1t is with a sense of unfeigned gratitude
that | acknowledge how cheerfully and
promptly the Legislature and the people
acted upon my suggestions, whether for the
support of the government, the enlistment
and organization of troops, or for the COM
fortof our people already in the field.
Without this generous confidence and lib
eral support, the labors Of the Executive
would have been in vain; the treasure that
has been expended would have been vast
ed, precious lives lost would have been an
empty sacrifice, the bruised hearts of kindred
and friends would have been without solace,
the strong men, whose health has been
broken and whose bodies have been manned
would have been monuments of heroism
wasted, and the honor of this great Com
monwealth would have been degraded
amidst the fallen ruins of the institutions of
the Republic.
The report of the Hon. Thomas H. Bur
rows, shows the gratifying result under his
active management, of the system adopted
by the State, for the maintenance and edu-
cation of the orphans of our soldiers. His
report exhibits the fact, that ,242 orphans
are now actually admitted to the schools, and
that 1,S46 applications in all have been al
lowed and orders issued for their admission,
many of whom have been admitted since his
report. 1t will also be seen, that the largest
appropriation that ever will be required, will
be for this and the two ensuing years, and
that then the amount will be gradually re-
duced. | have heretofore commended this
charity to you and deem it unnecessary to
add another word, in asking a continuation
of an appropriation, which is to provide for
and educate the best blood Of the State, and
support the living legacies which have been
bequeathed us by the men who laid down
their lives for the country. When we re-
member that every sort of public and private
| pledge that the eloquence CT man could de-
vice or utter was given to our soldiers as
they went forward, that if they fell, their or
| phans should become the children of the
| State, | cannot for an instant suppose, that
you will hesitate TO continue an appropria-
tion, which is to bless their little ones, pro-
| viding comfortable homes, instead OF leaving
| them in want and destituhon, many of them
| to fall victims to vice and crime,
At the time of the invasion of the North,
| in 1868, by the rebel amy, the President
| made requisition on me TOR militia to serve
during the emergency. The men came for
| ward promptly, to the number of &c, $50, of
| whom upwards of q, 900 refused to be mus
| tered into the service Of the United States,
| in consequence of circumstances of prior oc
eurrence not necessary to be here stated.
| In this embarrassment, the emergency
| being We pressing, after consultation with
| the President, he authorized and requested
me to call them on behalf of the State, and
for the defence of the State, the United
| States paying all the expenses of their cloth
| ing, equipment, subsistence, DC. 1t was,
| however, alleged that there was no appro-
| priati0n for their pay.
| To remove this difficulty the General Gov
ernment applied to banks and other money
| ed corporations in Philadelphia to advance
| the amount of the pay, on pledge that
| when Congress met, the passage OF bill to
! reimburse them should be recommended. -
These institutions declined this proposition,
! but expressed their willingness to make the
| advances if would pledge myself to recon-
mend to the Legislature the passage of such
an act in case Congress should not provide
for REIN mbursing them. Under these circum-
stances, [ received from the Executive of
the United States the pledge which he had
proposed to give to the banks, &C., and upon
that gave the necessary pledge to them,
and they advanced the required funds accor-
dinghy, The following telegram from the
Secretary of War will show in part the
ground on which acted:
WASHINGTON, July %, 1863
To HIS EpceHeacy, Gov. A. G. CURTIN:
Your kilograms, respecting the pay OF
militia called out under your proclamation
of the 9th of June, have been referred to
the President for instructions, and have been
under his consideration. lie directs me to
say that, while no law or appropriation au-
thorizes the payment by the General Gov
ernment of troops that have not been mus
tered into the service of the United States
he will recommend to Congress to make an
appropriation for the payment OF troops cal
led into State service TO repel an actual in.
vasion, including those of the State of Penn
| sylvania If, in the meantime, you can raise
the necessary amount, as has been done In
other States, the appropriation will be ap-
Piled to refund the advance to those who
made it.
Measures have been taken for the pay,
ment Of troops mustered into the tinted
States service, as soon as the muster and
pay rolls are made out The answer OF TINS
Department 10 you, as Governor OF the State
will be given directly to yourself whenever
the Department is prepared to make answer
tSignedl EDWIN Nj. STANTON,
Secretary Of War.
When Congress met, the Executive of th'
United States did not recommend the pass
age of the necessary act. have understood
that the subject was called to the attention
of the proper committee, by the Secretar,
of War; but as the President did not send
a message exp laiping the circumstances o.
1.-the case, the appropriation failed, as thu
& members of Congress had thus no means o
explaining to their const Guents the differ
ence between the ease(which was In sub
stance loan to the Unl.ed States, upon
the pledge of the Executive for its repay
mentl. and the case of ths voluntary expen
diture Of money for military purposes o.
Pennsylvania aud most Of the other States
| will add that the men came into the ser
T vice for the emergency only, and on the taltt
r 1 ~ 4 L a - :, nra1 ac