The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-01-19

present, useless ana antlquated mOde Ol
militia training. AS the Adjutant Gen
ersl construes the present law, each
man liable to military duty may be re-
quired to muster three days each year,
which is equal to tax of at least three
dollars per annum imposed upon every
such man. In lieu of the present sys.
TEN the Adjutant General recommends
the organization of specific volunteer
force, and to meet the expense thereof
proposes a per capita tax of one dollar
per annum as the price of exemption
fiom military duty. This tax he esti-
mates would yield sixty thousand dol.
lars per year, one-half Of which, accord
ing to his showing, wOuld go into the
School Fund.
This plan is the most simple and fea.
sible yet presented, for thorough,
cheap and effective militia organization,
and merits careful examination by the
Legislature.
The Adjutant General, for reasons
which be states, found il necessary to
draw a part of the salary of his clerk
from the appropriation of December,
| lS6S, for the payment of certain mi 'itary
claims. This course became necessary
in order to retain the services of gen
tleman long familiar with the duties Of
the office, and | suggest that it be sane
tionrd by the Legislature.
1t will be seen that payments of some
of the claims allowed heretofore by the
Board of Claims, is prevented by pro
vision in the Code, which requires the
balance of the appropriation made for
liquidsting such claims to revert to the
State Treasury. The Adjutant General
thinks it but just, snd in this concur
with him, that the time for the payment
of claims, already audited and allowed,
should be extended to tie close of the
present fiscal year.
The report shows the necessity of
speedily completing the record of the
service of West Virginia soldiers, and l
fully endorse all that is said upon this
point, and recommend such legislation
as is needed to have this important work
finished during the present year.
SOLDIERS FAMILIES.
No provision has yet been made by the
State for the care of the destitute fami-
lies of soldiers who fell in the war to
save the Union. The nation is preserv-
ed; yet the obligation which we assumed,
to care for the widows and orphans of
those who died 10 preserve it, remains
in great measure unfultilled. Nothing
more, am sure, is needed than to call
your attention to this matter, already
too long neglected.
REGIMENTAL FLAGS.
recommend that some provision be
made for the preservation of the battle
flags carried by the different regiments
of West Virginia soldiers during the
rebellion. AT present they are lying
loosely around with no one to look alter
them. A trifing sum, sufficient to pro-
cure a case in which to place them, is
all that is needed. These tattered and
torn relics are associated with the most
thrilling events in our history, and have
q peculiar interest to the gallant men
sti living, who followed them in the
fierce conflicts of the war.
ANTIETAM NATIONAL CEMETERY.
The report of G. l.. Cranmer, Esq,
Trustee of the Antietam National Gem.
etery, which submit to you, gives a
clear and satisfactory statement of the
progress made in improving and orna-
menting the grounds of that beautiful
burial place. This account cannot fail
to be deeply interesting to us, as hun
dreds of West Virginia soldiers sleep
their last sleep in that cemetery, on the
same spot where they fell iE defence OF
their country.
NATIONAL CEMETERY AT GRAFTON.
Ireceived from General w. I. Sher-
man, then Secretary of War, q commu-
nication bearing date September IA,
1869. requesting me TO make application
10 the Legisl stature for its assent to the
purchase of land already made by the
United States, under the act of Con-
gress of February 22d, 1867, for the pur-
pose of a National Cemetery at Grafton,
West Virginia, and for the cession Of
exclusive legislation over the same, as
required by section 3, Article of the
Constitution of the United States: sub
ject to the provisions OF section OF the
act of Congress of March ID, 1875.
This request By the War Department
is made in pursuance of authority
granted in section of the act of Con-
gress of April 2Sth, ISIS.
respectfully suggest early action in
the matter.
PERMANENT SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.
By the act of February %, 1869, the
permanent seat of government for this
State was located at the town of
Charleston, in the county of Kanawha.
The second section of the act authorizes
the GoveJnor to select and secure SUIT
able buildings within the corporate
limits of said town for the State Execu-
tive offices; also for the Library and for
the accommodation of both branches Of
the Legislature aud the Supreme Court
of Appeals" bRt as the last section pro.
vides that the act shall not take effect
until the lst day of April, 1870, l did
not feel that had as yet power to make
definite arrangements for the purposes
mentioned. l deemed it my duty, how
ever, to further as far as possible what
seemed to be the intention of the Legis-
lature. With this view have CORES
ponded with prominent citizens of
Charleston, and am authorized by them
to say that until the Capitol building
now being erected is finished, ample &C.
commodatiops will be provided in the
town for the State officers, Legislature,
Supreme Court of Appeals and State
Library, by the time fixed in the act for
the removal of the seut of government.
CODE OF WEST VIRGINIA.
The act for the publication and dis
tribution of the Code of West Virginia,
passed February 1s, 1869, authorized
James II. Ferguson to prepare the same
for publication. With the exception of
the preparation of the index, the work
committed to him has been performed,
and the Code, except the index, has
been printed.
The act referred to appointed the
Clerk Of the House of Delegates to su-
perintend the printing and publication
of the work, which he has done with
his usual promptness and accuracy. In
order to supply the immediate demand
for the Code, a number OF copies with
out the index were stitched and sold 10
such persons as desired them.
hope soon to lay before You a state
,,apt from, In5ga Farouson piyinp mar