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

Philadelphia to advance the amount of the pay, |
on pledge that, when Congress met the pas |
sage of a bill TO reimburse them should be /
recommended. H....
These institutions declined this proposition. |
but expressed their willingness to make the ad |
vances ii would pledge myself to recommend |
to the Legislature the passage Of such an act In |
case Congress should not provide for reimburs-
ing them. Under these circumstances received |
IRON the Executive of the United States the |
pledge which he had proposed to give to the |
banks, etc, and upon that ! gave the necessary
pledge to them, and they advanced the required |
funds accordingly. The following telegram from
the Secretary of War will show In part the
ground on which l acted
WARRINGTON, Juy "a 1863.-To his ExcellencY
Governor A. g. Curtin;-Your teeerams respecting
the pay OF militia called out under your proclama
tiOn Oi the 9th OF June have been referred to the
Pre'ldeDt for Instructions, and have been under his
law Appropriation authorizes the payment by the
General Government OF troops that have not Oeen
must red luto the service of he United states, ne
viii recommend to congress 20 make an approprta'
hOn for hc payment Of trOOOs called into s. ats ser
vice TO repel an actua INVASION Incuoing those OF
tho State of Pennsyvan AZ, In the mean iIne you
can ralse the necessart amount has been done IN
other States, the Appropriation VIII be applied to
ielUnd the advance TO those who made it,
Measures have been taken for the payment of
troops mustered iuto the UnlJed States service
soon as the muster and pay.rolls are made out The
answer OF this Department 10 you. as Governor OF
the State Will be given directly TO yourself whenever
the Department is prepared o make answer.
(SlgBed) EDWIN M, STA NToN Secre ary OF War;
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 ex-
planning the circumstances of the case, the
appropriation failed, as the members of Congress
had thus no means OF explaining to their con-
sutuents the difference between this case
(Which was in substance a loan to the United
STATES, upon the pledge OF the Executive for its
repayment and the case OF the voluntary eX
pendi'ure OF money for military purposes by
Pennsy ylvania and most OF the other States.
Will add, tnat the men came INTO the service
tor the emergency only, and on the faith that
they should be discharged rs soon as, IN my
judgment, the emergency should have ceased.
The emergency ceased Immediately after the
battle OF Gettysburg, which commenced on the
lst Of July, 1868; yet the men, against my urgent
and repeated remonstrances, were kept IN the
service long afterwards, and used by the United
States for various purposes. The last OF them
were not discharged till IN September.
recommend that the Legislature adopt mea
sules to bring the subject again before Congress,
and obtain repayment OF this sum, amounting to
SUI, 47649, with interest on the same, which the
General Government has thus lar so unWarrant-
ably withheld.
GIeat injustice has been done to private SOL
diers, who went into service under the provi'
slons OF the act of Congress, by refusing to pay
them the full bountles offered by the terms of
that act. The following letter, which / ad-
dressed to the Secretary of War, sufficiently ey-
plains the position OF this AFFAIR."
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, HARRIsBURe, Pa June
B, lS65.-Slr There are two subjects connected
WIN the discharge OF volunteers when are oil 80
much importance that feel justified IN calling your
attention to them.
sIrst. The men are being PAID only to the day of
their arrival at the place they TO be discharged.
This will cause them TO lose few days paw, depend
ing Irincl ally the promptness and disposition
of the officers the United States having the matter
III charge. 1t is matter of little moment to the
Government but the men tet 1t to be an injustice,
it, under the acts Ot Congress- they can be paid
until discharged, think Will agree with them,
Second. In Circular No, 20 from Provost Marshall
Generals Office dated July 10, 1864, under which
the volunteers now to be discharged were raised"
it Is stated that the bounty provided by law Is as
"For recruits. including representative recruits
| white OF CO oIed, $780,"
And 1t is Iurther added, that the first instament
OF the bounty viii be paid when the recruit is mus
40 a recruit who enlisted in the army for one
| year, $685."
ON these terms the men enlisted, and they are of
opinion that they are entitled to the remain0er OF
| their bounty when discouraged from service
1t is proposed, however, TO pay them but part OF
| this remainder. because the Government does not
require their services for the full term of their
istment and appears to be breach OF the contract
| between the Government and the men. The bounty
| was held out by the Government as an inducement
to enlist not as additional pay for services to be
rendered. The men became entitled to it by tue
face OF enlistment, and could only forfeit what re-
named unpaid by some misconduct, of which such
These matters are creating much unpleasant 'ee'-
! ing among the men; l need not say to you. thoy
everything; and If 1t can possibly be avoided they
ought not 10 be sent home under the feeling that the
Government, when their services are no longer re-
quired takes the first opportunity to treat them
| justly and violate ITS contract with them.
assure you that unless these difficulties are re-
lieved, there will he created general discomfort,
which will be injurious hereafter and 1t is my fer
veni desire for the success of your administration
which lea me TO BRING them directly to your notice.
Very respectfully, your Obedient servant,
| A. q. UURTIN.
To the President.
The refusal has been persisted in, under an
opinion OF the Attorney General of the United
| States a copy of which was sent to me.
recommend that the Legislature MAKE proper
| efforts TO have this injustice corrected.
The report OF David Wills, Esq, President of
the Soldiers National Cemetery at Gettysburg
| herewith transmitted, shows the present condi-
tion of the cemetery AS the battle of Gettys-
| burg resulted in a glorious victory, and was in
fact the beginning OF the end of the war, and
| occurred on the soil of the Commonwealth, l
think it would be well that it should be COM
memorated by an historical painting to be
| placed in the Capitol OF tire State; and recon-
mend that the Legislature take measures for
| that purpose.
The State of Maryland has proposed to her
| sister States that they unite with her in esta-
blshing cemetery for our soldiers who fell at
! Antietam. l herewith transmit copies OF the
| Maryland statute, and other documents on this
| subject, and recommend the passage OF an act
I heartily accepting the proposition OF the state
\ OF Maryland All the States having promptly
| andgenerously responded to our proposition to
| have cemetery at Gettysburg, 1t would seem
| proper that we should reciprocate, and unite IN
| this. The duty is made more sacred when we
| remember that more OF Pennsy lYania's sons fell
IN that battle than those OF any other State.
The report of the State Agent at Washington,
| herewith transmitted shows that under his efti-
| cient management the claims OF our soldiers are
| promptly.examined and paid. Every effort has
| oeen made TO apprise our officers and men that
their claims viii be collected by the State Agent
| Colonel Jordan) without expense 60 them; yet