The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-01-13

being. unnecessarily large and cxpen.
slVe, L regard separate or Independent
troops and batteries of these branches
OF the service, attached to brigades or
divisions, as highly important.
Inc quota of arms due Pennsylvan-
Ia has been drawn from the General
| Government. This amounted to forty.
hve hundred breach-loading riflem mus.
kets aud accoutremcnts, with proper
tomato supply of the proper ammuni-
ton. These have been distributed, as
provided by the firty.seventh section of
act OF May 4, 1861, In such manner as
In my Judgment twill most efIectually
subserve the military interests and ne.
ces5ities of the Commonwealth
AS heretofore stated, all the State
military departments created during
the war have been merged into that of
the Adjutant General. That depart
ment is now the depository of all our
military records, the importance and
value of which are constantly indicated
by the daily applications of officials of
the General and different State govern
ments, of attorneys and agents, Of sol
ulers themselves, or their representa-
| tiVcs, Tor certificates and eXcmplifica-
tions. The Adjutant General Is also
the responsible custodian of all the
military property belonging to the
Commonwealth. |, therefore,, recon-
| mend that his department receive the
favorable confederation of the Legisla-
ture, and the continuation of such ap.
Preparations as may be required for its
efficient administration.
MILITARY HISTORY.
The Legislature, in 1861, passed an
act authorizing the Governor "to ap.
point some competent person to prepare
a military history of Pennsylvania vol
unteers and militia, who had been or
might thereafter be in the field during
tne war of the rebellion. In Conformity
herewith, my predecessor apf -inted
samuel +. Bates, Esq, to perform'Ysis
dlihcult and responsible undertak f"u.
He commenced the task with zeal and
industry, and has prosecuted it with
ability. The work has proved to be far
more extensive, and required much
greater amount of labor and research
than was at first contemplated. -Four
large royal octave volumes, handsome
~ printed and substantially bound,
have been produced, and the fifth, and
last volume, will be completed before
the first of June next. The book, itself
affords the best commentary or criti.
cism of the manner in which the author
has discharged his duties. 1t puts in
concise form and perpetuates the most
important portion of our history, which
otherwise would have been forever lost.
Hereafter il will be invaluable to the
Commonwealth.
RIGHTS OF FRENCH CITIZENS.
BY the seventh article of a Consular
Convention between France and the
United States, signed February %, 1853
1T was stipulated that the citizens OF the
| respective countries should mutually
have the same rights to hold real and
personal estate, and to enjoy and trans.
nit the same. My attention has been
invited to this subject by letter from
Hon. Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State
of the United States, dated May 0, 1870,
enclosing a copy of communication
from the Minister of France to the Uni
ted StatateS, resident at Washington.
That letter, accompanied by said sew
enth article, and a copy of my reply
thereto, marked A and b. are here.
with submitted to the Legislature for
information, and with the recommend
alton that the subject be carefully con
sidcrcd, and such action taken thereon
as will make the statutes Of the State
conform to our obligations under the
provisions of said convention.
NATIONAL CEMETERIES.
On the first of July, 1870, an act of
Congress was passed ameudatory to the
act, entitled AN Act to establish and
protect National cemeteries" approved
February -, 1867. The object of these
laws IS to place under the National
Government the management aud pres
erVation OF these cemeteries, and to se-
| "a Ia s..t,t ..E Ia, i
in which they are located. This con-
sent lhas already been given as 70 the
cemetery at Gettysburg, by the act an.
prQTed April lith, 1865; and the Ma
tional authorities now ask for the same
action by the state a5 TO the cemeteries
at GlenWOOd, Lebanon, Mount Moriah.
Odd Fellows and Woodland, in Phila.
dclphla and also those at Harrisburg,
Pittsbur5 and York.
Copies Of communication on this
subject, from the Secretary of War,sand
of the act of July |, 1870, (marked c
and ID, are herewith transmitted, with
the recommendation that the consent
of the state be given, in compliance
with the laws of the United States,
The objections heretofore existing to
me payment OF the appropriation for
the use of the AntiCtam cemetery hay-
ted has been paid over to the treasurer.
IMMIGRATION.
In accordance with rcqust to that
effect, | submit, for your consideration,
Il copy OF the proceedings of the
National Immigration Convention,
(marked "E,") which was called by
the Governors of the Western States,
and was largely attended, at Indianap-
oils, Indiana, on the 23d of November,
last. The main object of the conven.
ton, 1t appears, WAS the adoption of
such resolutions as might induce differ
ent States of the Union to importune
Congress to enact such laws as would
afford Immigrants, while in tranSHu
from other lands, and upon their arri-
val IN this country, protection against
the abuses to which they are notorious.
ly subjected. AS the encouragement of
Immigration, of Il useful character, has
always been the approved policy OF our
government, the object as presented, is
regarded a5 deserving of your atten.
ton.
TIE MILFORD AND MArAMoRAs RAIL.
ROAD.
About the close of the last session of
the Legislature an act was passed and
approved, entitled "A supplement to
the Milford and MatamoraS Railroad
Company" The fourth section of this
enactment seems to have been intended
to take irom the State, and give to the
company, the ten thousand dollars bon.
us, paid into the State Treasury annu-
ally by the New York and Erie Rail-
road Company, under the fifth section
OF the act Of 2jth March, 1916. Soon