The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1866-02-07

disal lpJus'lce mas bsSh done 10 puva'e
soldiers who went into service under the
provisions OF the act o. Congress, by re'us-
Ing 10 pay them The foil bounlies offered by
The terms Of that act. The following letter,
y hich addressed The Secretary of War,
sufficiently explains the position OF this
affair
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER
HIrT'sbug, Pa, June 5, 1868
Sir There are two subjects connected
with The discharge Of volunteers which are
of 20 much importance that feel justified
IN calling your attention 10 them.
Fret. The men are being paid only the
dag OF their arrival at the place they are to
be discharged. This will cause them 10
loose few days pay, depending princi>
pai'y upon The prompiness and disposition
OF the officers OF lie United States having
the mater in charge. Ii Is mailer of little
moment 10 the Government, but the men
ieel II to be an injustice, and il, under the
acts OF congress, they can be paid until dis
charged, think you will agree with them.
Second. la circular No % from Provost
Marshal Generals office, dated July 10,
1864, "ndder which The VOLUNTEERS now 10
be discharged were raised it is stated hat
the bounly provided by law is'as follows
'Fur recruits, including representative
recruits, white or cOored, $780,
And il is further added, that the first in-
s;alimenl OF the bounty will 5e paid when
the recruits is mustered in as follows:
ITO recruit who enlisted in the army
for one year, S33 33."
On these tefms the men enlisted and they
are OF the opinion that they are entitled 10
the remainder of their bounty when dis
charged from service.
Il is proposed however, 10 pay them but
a part o! this remainder, because the Gov
q q MT fbeir To-
( he foil term OF their enlistment, and ap-
pears TO be a breach of contract between
the Government and men. The bounty
( was held out by the Government as an in
/ dncemeLt 10 enlist, not az additional pay for
service 10 be rendered. The men became
entitled to il by the fact OF enlistment, and
could only forfeit What remained unpaid by
+ some misconduct, OF which such forfeiture
should be a legal penalty. These matters
/ are creating much unpleasant feeling among
the men. need not say TO you, they have
/ behaved galanlIy, and the country owes
I them everylhing and if il can possibly be
avoided they ought not to be sent home
under the feeling that the Government,
when their services are no longer required,
takes the first opoHunitv TO treat them un>
! Justly and violate lis contract with them.
( assure you that unless these difficulties
/ are relieved there will be created a general
| discomfort which will be injurious hereafter;
I aud il is my feryeul desire Tor the success
/ OF your admiration which leads me TO bring
/ IAsm directly 10 your notice.
Very respectfully,
Your ohedient servant,
a. @. CURTIS.
To THE PRESIDENT.
The refusal has been persisted in, under
an opinion of The Attorney General Of The
I United States, copy OF which was sent
TO me.
} recommend that The Legislature make
proper efforts 10 have this injustice cor
/ recled.
/ The report Of David Wills, Esq president
( of The Soldiers Natioaal Cemeiry, al Gettys-
/ burg, here " I'M transmitted, shows the pres
/ cot condition OF the cemetery AZ the bat
/ Tie OF Gettysburg resulted in a glorious vic
! ,orY, and was in fact the beginning OF the
enj-o he war, and occurred on the soil OF
/ the Commonwealth, / IhiEk it would be
( well that II shonld be commenoraled by an
/ historical painting, TO be placed IN the Cap
! i:ol OF The State; aud | recommend thar tie
! Legislature take measures for that purpose
! The State OF Mary land has proposed to
| her sister States that they unite with her in
establishing a cemetery for our soldiers who
! fell al Anuetam. herewith transmit cop
( les of The Marylad statutes, and o;heT docn.
ments on this subject, and recommend lhe
/ passage of an act heartily accepting the
I proposition OF lbe Sla'e OF Maryland. All
/ the States having promptly aud generously
/ responded 10 our proposition TO have GEM
etery at Gettysburg, it would seem proper
| that we should reciprocate, and unite in this.
! The duty is made more sacred when we
remember that more of Pennsy lvania's sons
! fell in that battle than those OF any other
! States.
Since my las, annual message have ex-
pended of the secret service fund the sum
] of tour thousand three hundred and thirty
three dollars and twenty cents, out OF which
have paid my personal staff and and other
extraordinary expenses. No appropriation
i Is required for the increase OF this fund.
/ | invite your attention to the reports OF
he superintendent of common schools,
which exhibits The prosperous condition OF
our system OF public education, aud TO the
report Of the Surveyor General, and recon-
mend TO your favorable consideration the
many excelen, suggestions made by that
officer
commend to the wisdom of the Legis-
lature the subject OF providing for the relie;
of our manv maimad and wounded soldiers