The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-02-08

t&xkzk -
10000 refused to be mustered into the
service the United States, in consequence
of circumstances of prior occurrence not
necessary to be here stated.
In this embarrassment, the emergency
being very pressing, after consultation
with the President, he authorized and re-
quested 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 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
10 reimburse them should be recommend
ed. These institutions declined this pro-
position, but expressed their willingness
70 make tho advances il I would pledge
myself to recommend to the Legislature
the passage of such an act in case Con-
gress should not provide for reimbursing
them. Under these circumstances, re-
ceived from the Executive of :he United
States the pledge which he had proposed
TO give to the banks, &C., and upon that 1
gave the necessary pledge to them, aud
they advanced the required funds accord
ingly. The following telegram from the
Secretary of War will show in part the
ground on wtich / acted;
WASHINGTON. July %, 1868.
To- His Ercellehcy, Gov. \. G. CURTIN:
Your kilograms, respecting the pay of mill
l1s.d a.
24th of June, have been referred to the Presi-
dent for instructions, and have been under
his consideration. lie directs me to say that
while no law or appropriation authorizes the
payment by the General Government of troops
that have not been mustered into the service
OF the United States, he will recommend to
Congress to make appropriation for the
payment of troops called into State service to
repel an actual inva asion, including those of
the State of Pennsylvania. If in the mean
time, you raise the necessary amount, rs
has been done III other States, the appropria-
lion will be applied to refund the advance to
those who made it.
Measures have been taken for the payment
of troops mustered into the United States
service, soon the muster and pay rolls
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 Var.
When Congress met, the Executive of
the United States did not recommend the
passage OF the necessary act. | have uu-
derstood that the subject was called to
the attention Of the proper committee, by
The Secretary of War, but as the Presi-
dent did not send q message explaining
the circumstances of the case, the appro-
prlatioL failed, as the members of Coz
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 Executive for its repayment), and the
case OF The voluntary expenditure OF mo-
uey for military purposes of Pennsylvania
and most of the other States.
| viii add that the men came into the
service fo- the emergency only, aud on the
faith that they should be discharged as
soon as, in my judgment, the emergency
should have ceased. The emergency
ceased Immediately alter the battle CT
Gettysburg, which commenced on the LIST
of July 1868 yet the men, against my
urgent and repeated remonstranecs, were
Kept in the service long afterward and
used by the United States for various
purposes. The last of them were not dis
charged till in September.
recommend that the Legislature adopt
measures to bring the subject again be
fore Congress, and obtain repayment of
this SUN, amounting to SCI ,476 43, with
interest on the same, which the General
Government has thus Car so unwarrantably
withheld
Great injustice has been done to private
soldiers, who went into service under the
provisions of the act of Congress, by re-
iusiug to pay them the full bounties offer
I'D by the terms of that act. The follow
iHc letter which | addressed to the Secre-
tLry of War, sufficiently explains the po-
sition ?e this affair:
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER.
HARRIsBURG, Pa, June 5, 1865.
SIR There are two subjects connected
with the discharge of volunteers which are of
80 much Importance that | 1eel 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
a. few days pey, depending principally upon
the promPtnGss and disposition of the officers
or the United States having the matter in
charge. 1t is q matter of little moment to
the Government, but the men feel it 70 be an
Injustice, and if, under the acts of Congress,
they can be paid until discharged, l shink
you will agree with them.
Second. The Circular No. % from Provost
Marshal Generals Office, dated July 10, 1864, |