The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-30

local authorities would lose very little, as It is
notorious that from the difficulties OF assess
ment, they receive very little from these sources.
In case ofsuch repeal i recommend the adop-
ton of some etfectual measures for enforcing
correct returns of such objects of taxation, with
appropriate penalties for the neglect or refusal
to make them.
make these recommendations believing that
II will lead to more equitable local taxation, aud
to greater economy in Their disbursement.
Many acts are on our statute books incorpo-
rating companies for various purposes, which
companies have never been organized or gone
into operation. | recommend that all such acts
be repealed by general law, and that provision
be made, that IN future every act authorizing
corporation shall become void, unless the cOrpo-
ration shall organize and use its franchises
within limited time.
Since my last annual message the war against
armed treason has been brought TO a close. OF
the large contributions made by Pennsylvania to
the national army, but few of the men now
remain in the service. The spirit which animated
our people at the outset of the Rebellion has
never tagged and we can look back with pride
and satisfaction to the part taken by this State
in aiding TO maintain the unity of the Govern
ment and in its defense against the assaults of
its enemies.
In my first inaugural address, l took occasion
TO declare thai Pennsylvania would under any
circumstances, render full and determined
support of the free institutions of the Union.
The pledge so made was based upon my know
ledge OF the solid patriotism OF her citizens. AT
that time danger threatened, but no one antici-
y,
nor grow TO such fearful proportions as 1t in
brief time assumed.
Mycon6dence in Pennsylvania, in her even yet
stubborn will her ability and resources, has been
fully justified by the manner il which she has
done her duty during the late eventful period.
On the equest of the President of the United
States, made q communication to the Legisla-
ture, on the 9th day of April, 1861, setting forth
| that military organizations OF q formidable
| character, which did not seem to be demanded
| by any existing public eXigency, had been
formed in certain OF the States, and that, whilst
| Pennsylva yielded to no State in her respect
| for and willingness to protect by all needful
| guarantees the constitutional rights and constI-
! tutonal independence OF her sister States, no
| contemplated attempt to resist the enforcement
! OF the national law could meet with sympathy
! or encouragement from the people of this Com
| monwealth, and asked for authority and means
| TO organize q military bureau at the capital and
| to so amend and modify the militia laws as to
| give vitality and energy to the military organi-
cations OF the State. On the 18th day of the
| same month"; signed bill providing for the
| purposes in dicated In my message.
1t will be remembered that this patriotic
action of the Legislature occurred before it was
known that hOstilities had actually commenced,
| and is believed to be the first action by the
authorities of any State, or by the National
| Legislature.
The trst call made by the President for troops
to aid in suppresslng the Rebellion was on the
| 10th of April, 1861 for seventy-6ve thousand
| men; and that of this number the quota OF Penn
| sylvania was settled at fourteen regiments, to
| serve three months, unless sooner discharged.
| With unsurpassed alacrity and earnestness,
volunteers answered to this call in such numbers
| as manifested the mtutive conviction of the
people that the monst GUS wickedness which
| had conceived an armed rebellion against the
| Constitution and the laws could not be sup
| pressed but by q colossal force.
| Major-General Robert Patterson was assigned,
| by the General Government to a command
| which included the forces raised in Pennsylva-
mia. Within week after the call OF the Presi-
| dent, communication with Washington was
almost entirely cut off. General Patterson,
| prompted by the necessities of the situation,
made, on the 25th of April, requistion upon
| me for twenty-five additional regiments of
! infantry and one of cavalry, to be forthwith
mustered into the service of the United States.
| Under this requisition, accepted, from amongst
the many pressing to be admitted into the ser.
| vice, sufficient number of companies to fill 1t;
| care being taken to allow to each county as
| nearly as possible q fair representation. Only
| eleven regiments, however, In addition to the
fourteen called for by the President, were
ORGANIZED and mustered into the service, before
the order OF General Paterson was counter
manded by him, under instructions from the
| War Department.
On the 14th day of May, 1861, the Secretary of
| War, in letter communicating the plan OF
| organization for three years regiments, con-
| hrmed the revocation of the order in the follow
| ing language:-'Ten regiments are assigned to
| Pennsylvania, making, in addition to the thir-
teen regiments of three months militia, already
| poItant to reduce, rather than enlarge this num-
ber, and in no event to exceed it. Let me
earnestly recommend to you, therefore, to call
Tor no more than twenty-three regiments, OF
| which only ten are to serve during the war, and
| If more are already called for, to reduce the
number by discharge"
The twenty-five regiments raised as above
stated comprised 20,979 men, The ardor of our
people was unabated Many of the companies,
under my order, had arrived in camp at Harris
burg, and others maintained their organizations
| at home at their own expense and by contribu-
tlons from their neighbors and friends
In the critical condition of the country, and
anticipating that, in case of reverse to our
arms, the borders of Pennsylvania would be the
portals to the rich granaries, manufactures, and
storehouses OF the North, deemed it my duty
to convene the Legislature, that adequate pro
vision might be made to enable me to render the
military power of the State as available and
efficient as it should be- for the common defen Sc
of the State and the General Government; and
accordingly, on the goth OF April, 1861, issued
my proclamation, calling for a meeting of the
General Assembly on the 3Oth OF the same
month.
In my message to the LEGISLATURE at its open
ing, recommended the immediate organization
d1sciplining, and arming of at least fifteen regi
ments, exclusive OF those called into the service
OF the United States.
The Legislature acted promptly upon this sug
gestion, and made full provisions for its etfectua
accomplishment The result was the early anC
complete organization, clothing, and equipment
of the Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps
with its thirteen regiments of infantry, one o
light artillery, and one of cavalry, under thu
supervision OF George A. Mccall who wa
selected to command it, with the commission
ana rank of MajorGeneral. This corps con
tanned 1886 men, and the whole expense 0
raising, clothing, equlpping, subsisting an(
paying them, until their entry into the United
States service, was $S55,444'97.
They were encamped IN different parts of tn,
| State executing two of the regimHnta couo