The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-01-12
the soldiers orphans schools, for the
school year terminating May 81, 1873.


, oChNiui VIII Dc lOuuu dD lultG
esting document. 1t is replete with
valuable information in regard to which
every citizen of the Commonwealth is
deeply concerned. The present condi.
tion and efficiency of the military or.
ganization of the State, recognized as
the "National Guard" is in most in.
stances such as to give general satisfac.
tion. From very small beginning,
at the close of the war, they have assum.
ed an attitude most creditabe to the
patriotic ardor of our young men, some
of whom during the past year have
been enabled to avail themselves of an
opportunity to prove their usefulness
In the field.
The effective force of the National
Guard Is at present nineteen regiments,
and three battalions, comprising, with
unattached organizations, three hun
dred and eighty.two companies, viz
Eight artillery, twenty cavalry, and
three hundred and tifty-four infantry.
OF the regimental organizations, thir-
teen are in. the First division, one in
the Second, three in the Eighteenth,
and two in the Ninth. The aggregate
of enlisted men Is sixteen thousand
seven hundred and thirty-four, and the
commissioned officers number one
hundred and forty.two. The Fifth bri-
gade of the First division, organized in
accordance with an act of the last Leg
islature, is composed of three regiments
of cOlored troops.
The entire force is handsomely equip.
ped, and generally well drilled and dis.
ciplined, and prepared to meet any or
dinary emergency in which its services
may be required or demanded by the
constituted authorities.
The riotous condition of affairs in
Luzerne county during the months of
April and May last, demonstrate the
necessity for and efficiency of these vol
untary military organizations. For a
full account of these disturbances of the
peace, and the operations of the volun-
teers ordered into service, you are
referred to the report of the Adjutant
| General Edwin S. Osborne, command
| ing the Ninth division of the National
| Guard, which will be found in the re-
port Of the Adjutant General. From
this document and other facts daily
communicated to me during the eX-
istence of the Scranton troubles, it is
evident that our citizen soldiery cannot
| be too highly esteemed for their services
on that occasion and their usefulness
! is demonstrated should similar, or any
other civil disturbances, hereafter occur.
But for the prompt and iudicious
management of the National Guard on
the occasion of these riots, one of our
| most prosperous cities might have been
reduced to ashes, millions of property
destroyed, many valuable lives sacri.
| feed, and scenes of general ruin and
devastation produced.
By act of the Legislature provision
was made for the expenses necessary for
the suppression of the disturbances in
Luzerne county. They amounted to
thirty seven thousand eight hundred
| and siXty.sev dollars and thirty-six
cents. The various items comprising
this sum, prorerly audited, and paid
by the State Treasurer, will be found
in detail in the report of the Adjutant
| General.
The history of the volunteers in the
late war is completed and ready for
distribution. IL embraces five royal
Seh Sehgo v99mReso 19nR OF and Much labor and re-
search. Accompanying this you will
receive the final report of the Historian.
WRITs OF ERROR IN CRIMINAL CASES.
At the session of 1870, the Legislature
passed an act entitled IAN act to allow
wrts of error in cases of murder and
voluntary manslaughter," the first sec.
tion of which provides that a writ of
error shall be of right, and may be
sued out upon the oath of the defendant
or defendants, as in ciuH cases." The
second section makes it the duty of the
judges of the Supreme Court, in all such
cases, to review both the law and the
evidence. The importance of this sub
ject, and the neglect Of the Legislature
to act upon it in response to the request
| in my last annual message, makes it
incumbent upon me to repeat my re-
| t,I. l.; "A, -
the law required the defendant to allege
that some error had been committed by
the court on the trial, and to show
cause, within thirty days, why the writ
| of error should be granted; but this law
| gives a writ, whether any error is al
legged or not, and allows the defendant
seven years in which to issue it, accord
ing to the practice in ciuil cases. Here
tofore the Executive did not ordinarily
issue the warrant for execution of any
criminal until the expiration of the
thirty days within which he was per-
mitted to apply for his writ of error.
That limitation of thirty days being
now virtually repealed, and seven years
substituted therefor, is it expected the
warrant shall be withheld for the seven
years? If not, when may it properly
issue? And if issued at any time with
y
inal supersede it at any time he pleases
by his writ of error? And may it not
be reasonably expected that this will
be the practical result in many cases
This would seem like trifling with very
serious matters; and l respectfully sub
NIT whether the act should not be re.
pealed, or very materially modified,
without delay. In my message of 10th
February, 1870, returning the bill with
my objections, / gave sundry reasons
why it should not be approved, and
the views therein expressed remain un
changed.
COAT. MINES
S,.;o - ,o-o
Dulins tlle SESSION oI lolV tne Legls ~
haI, ia.uiG passed Jaw proviaing I2r lnt
i,eaiaii ani anu Sa'1'y pi P1isoIs h & iployeo
ti, ~ ooat tidint, Mniuit mas Seeii prouuc
tiys JNs a; " pgle1claL W lesui,si iev 'nele ar
9nIi,, Tv annoIsh ~ % shbppiis al oiuel ho y
iu'iy aecGnrpilsn a., ,me 4tsiteu olyects
IN u previous inessaSe ! enueavoreu u
lnaSo ~ aPpeai 'iia. NJ eAlenslN