The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-02-06

port. Il 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 continua-
tion of an appropriation, which is to provide
for and educate the best blood of tho 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 of man could de-
vice or utter, was given TO our soldiers as
they went forward, that if they fell, their
orphans should become the children Of the
State, | cannot for an instant suppose, that
you will hesitate TO continue an appropriation,
which is to bless their little ones, providing
comfortable homes, instead Of leaving them
in want and destitution, many Of them to fall
victims to vice and crime.
At the time of the invasion of the North, in
in 1868, by the rebel army, the President
made requisition on me for militia to serve
during the emergency. The men came for
ward promptly, to the number of 36, Of
whom upwards of 25, 900 refused to be mus
tered into the service Of the United States,
in consequence OF circumstances of prior oc-
cnrrence Iot necessary TO be here stated.
In this embarrassment, the emergency being
very pressing, after consultation with the Presi
dent, he authorized and requested me to call
them on behalf of the State, and for the de-
fence Of the State, the United States paying
all the expenses of their clothing equipment,
subsistence, &c. 1t was, however, alleged
that there was no appropriation for their pay.
To remove this difficulty the General Govern
ment applied to banks and other moneyed
corporations in Philadelphia to advance the
| amount of the pay, on pledge that, when
| Congress met, the passage Of bill to re-
| imburse them should be recommended. -
| These institutions declined this proposition,
but expressed their willingness TO make
| the advances if | would pledge myself
to recommend TO the Legislature the passage
of such an act in case Congress should not
provide for reimbursing them. Under these
| circumstances, 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 accordingly.
| The following telegram from the Secretary 0l
War will show in part the ground on which
acted
WAsHISGroy, July %, 1868.
| To HIS EIcellency, Gov. A. g. CURTIN:
Your kilograms, respecting the pay of mill
tia called out under your proclamation of The
9th of June, have been referred to the Presi
| dent for instructions, and have been under
| his consideration. He directs me to say that
| while no law or appropriation authorizes the
payment by the General Government of troop:
| that have not been mustered into the service
| of the United States, he will recommend tC
| 10 taft Co h
payment Of troops called into State service tC
repel an actual invasion, including those o.
| the State of Pennsylvania. If, in the mean
| time, you can raise the necessary amount, a;
| has been done in other States, the appropria
| ton will SSapplied to refund the advance tc
| those who made it.
| Measures have been taken for the payment
| Of troops mustered into the United States
| service, as soon as the muster and pay roll:
are made out The answer of this Depart
ment to you, as Governor Of the State, will
| be given directly to yourself whenever the
Department is prepared to make answer.
(Signed) EDWIN NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of Wdr.
When Congress met, the Executive of the
United States did not recommend the passage
of the necessary act. have understood that
| the subject was called to the attention of the
proper committee, by the Secretary of War,
| but, as the President did not send message
explaining the circumstances Of the case, the
| appropriation failed, as the members of Con.
| gress had thus no means of explaining to
| their constituents the difference between the
| case (which was in substance loan to the
United States, upon the pledge of the Execu.
tive for its repayment), and the case Of the
| voluntary expenditure of money for military
purposes of Pennsylvania and most of the
| other States.
| will add that the men came into the ser.
vice for the emergency only, and on the faith
| that they should be discharged as soon as, in
| my judgment, the emergency should have
| ceased. The emergency ceased Immediately
after the battle of Gettysburg, which COM
| menced on tie 1st Of July, 1868; yet the
men, against my urgent and repeated remon-
strances, were kept in the service long after
ward and used by the United States for vari-
| ous purposes. The last of them were not dis.
charged till in September
| recommend that the Legislature adopt
measures to bring the subject again before
Congress, and obtain repayment Of this sum,
amounting to S67l,4 43, with interest on
| the same, which the General Government has
| thus far so unwarrantably withheld.
Great injustice has been done to private
SO!OierS, VINO went into service under the
provisions ofthe act of Congress, by refusing
to pay them the tull bounties offered by the
terms of that act. The following letter,
which | addressed to the Secretary Of War,
sufficiently explains the position of this affair
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
HARRISBURG, Pa, June 5, 1865.
Sir There are two subjects connected
with the discharge of volunteers which are OF
SO much importance that feel justified in
calling your attention to them.
First The men are being paid only to the
day of their arrival at the place they are to
be discharged. This will cause them to lose
few days pay, depending principally upon
the promptneSs and disposition of the officers
of tho United States having the matter in
charge. 1t is matter of little moment to
the Government, but the men feel it to be an
injustice and if, under the acts of Congress,
they can be paid until discharged, think you
will agree with them.
Second. In Circular No. 90 from Provost
Marshal Generals Office, dated July 10, 1854,
under which the volunteers now to be dis.
charged were raised, it is stated that the
bounty provided by law is as follows;
For recruits, including representative re-
cruits, white or colored, 500"
And it is further added, that the first in.
stalment of the bounty will be paid when the
recruit is mustered in, as follows: