Year: 1861




| Legislature on Tuesday the 9th of April. At
| ter being read in both houses, committees of
conference were appointed with instructions
| to report by bill on the subject as early as
| practicable:


To the Senate and House of Representative of the
Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania
GENTLEMEN AS the period fixed for the
adjournment of the Legislature is approaching,
1 feel constrained by sense of duty to call
your attention to the condition of the military
organization of the State.


s; 1t is scarcely necessary to say more than that
the militia system of the State, during long
period distinguished BY the pursuits of peace
full industry exclusively, has become wholly
inefficient, and the interference of the Legisla
ture is required to remove its deficits, and to
.render it useful and available to the public
service.


Many of our volunteer companies do not
possess the number of men required by our
militia law, and steps should be forthwith ta-
ken to supply these Deficiencies. There are
numerous companies, too, that are without
| the necessary arms; and of the arms that
distributed, but few provided with the
more modern appliances to render them SER
viceable.


I recommend, therefore, that the Legisla-
ture make immediate provision for the remov
al of these capital defects; that arms be pro-
cured and distributed to those of our citizens
who may enter into the military service of the
State and that steps be taken TO change the
guns already distributed, by the adoption of
such well known and tried improvements as
will render them effective in the event of their
employment in actual service.
In this connection l recommend the estab-
lshment of Military Bureau at the capital;
and that the militia law Of the Commonwealth
be so modified and amended as to mpart to the
military organization of the State, the vitality
and energy essential to its practical value and
usefulness.


Precautions, such as have suggested, are
wise and proper at all times, in Government
like ours; but special and momentous consid-
erations, arising from the condition of public
affairs outside of the limits, yet of incalculable
| consequence to the people, and demanding
the gravest attention of the Legislature of
Pennsylvania, invest the subject to which
your action is invited by this communication,
with extraordinary interest and Importance.
We cannot be insensible to the fact that seri-
Gus jealousies and divisions distract the pub
lie mind, and that, in portions of this Union,
the peace Of the country, if not the safety of
the Government itself, is endangered. Mill
tary organizations OF formidable character,
and which seem not to be demanded by any
existing public exigency, have been formed in
certain of the States. On whatever pretexts
these extraordinary military preparations may
have been made, no purpose that may contem
plate resistance to the enforcement of the laws,
Will meet sympathy OF from
the people of this Commonwealth. Pennsyl-
vania yields to no State In her respect for, and
her willingness to protect, by all needful guar
antees, the constitutional rights and constitu-
tional independence, of her sister States, nor
in fidelity to that constitutional Union whose
unexampled benefits have been showered a.
like upon herself and them.


The most exalted public policy and the
clearest obligations Of true patriotism, there
fore, admonish us, in the existing deplorable
and dangerous crisis of affairs, that our militia
system should receive from the Legislature
that prompt attention which public exigencies,
either of the State 0f the Nation, may appear
to demand and which may seem, in your wis
dom, best adapted to preserve and secure to
the people of Pennsylvania and the Union the
blessing of peace and the integrity and stabil-
ity of our unrivalled constitutional govern
ment.


The government of this great State was es-
tabliShed by its illustrious founder ssin deeds
of peace; )" our people have been trained and
disciplined in those arts which lead to the
promotion of their own moral and physical de-
velopment and progress, and with the highest
regard for the rights of others, have always
cultivated fraternal relations with the people
of all the States devoted to the Constitution
and the Union, and always recognizing the
spirit of concession and compromise that un-
derlies the foundation of the government,
Pennsylvania offers no counsel, and takes no
action In the nature of a menace; her desire
is for peace, and her object, the preservation
of the personal and political rights of citizens,
of the true sovereignty of States, and the su-
premacy of law and order.


Animated by these sentiments, and indulg
ing an earnest hope of the speedy restoration
of those harmonious and friendly relations be-
tween the various members of this Confedera-
cy which have brought our beloved country
to condition of unequalled power and pros
perity, l commit the grave subject OF this
communication to your deliberation.


Harrisburg, April 9, 1861. A. G. CURTAIN.