Year: 1865

fairly counted and returned alerward "s'"hee' All"


cse rave ehaeayored since came into office 10 exer


.le Executive. and avoid usurping any. shall en-


deavor to persist in this course to the end.


new call has been made by the President for 900 !.
eUu men rms renders II proper that should invita-
your attention to the evils which have resulted from
a5n>es of the system of local bountes which was be-
gun IN an emergency, by the voluntary and generous
Loyalty OF cur citizens before the passage 10y Congress
of the enrolment act and has since been continued
by sundry acts of Assembly. The result has been
the last degree oppressive to our citizens and unpro-
ductve OF corresponding benefit 10 the Government.
In some counties and townships. il is believed that
the bounty tax during the last year exceeded the
erage income derived from the land. The large
offered in some places in the competition for men,
| have demoraized many of Cur people and the most
aroclouS frauds connected with the system have be-
come common The men or some of the poorer
counties have been nearly exhausted by their vol.
unteers being credited to richer localities paving
heavier oounhes The system as practced lowers the
morale OF the army itself bv putting into the ranks
oen acttated by merely mercenary motives. and who
are tempted to desert by the facility existing of
escaping detection, and the prospect of gains by
reenllstment process which they expect 70 be able
TO repeat an indefinite number of times 0fthe num-
Der of men for whom bounties have been paid ID is
believed that not oneourth have been actually placed
ih. ue ranks OF the army and even those who have
joined 1t, have probably average received
for their own onehaf of the bounty paid for them
Immense sums have thus been appropriated by cheats
and swindlers, in many cases believed to he acting
IN completely with agencies of the Government
An effort was made TO prosecute some Of the par
ties concerned IN such frauds under the Act of As
sembly of l4th of August last and they we're bound
over oy te Mayor OF this city but after the witnesses
had come here on the meeting of the they dis
appeared from the public eve. | recommend the
"hoie subject to your careful consideration, that the
system may be purged of these evils.


am 9tfclaly informed that the quota of this State
under the recent call is 66999 but am informed
OF the principle on which the draft is to he made
appears from the Presidents proclamation that it
is made chiefly to supply AN alleged deficiency in for
-mer calls am surprised at the amount Of this large
Gehciency, and can only account for the difference
between the number of men furnished bv the State
ana the detclency alleged 10 exist in the assignment
OF the present quota by the assumption that the men
never reached the army athongh enlisted ana mis-
n hnn lt-t iNfal
to which they were supposed to be credited 1t is
PROBABLE that there are very Jew counties the State
winch have not paid large hounes for number of
men sulhcIent 10 till their former quotas.


Taking the local bountes at the low average of four
hundred dollars, II Is believed that it can be demon
Strated that the people of Pennsy Iyania have thus
been robbed of more than twelve millions of dollars
during the past year. This estimate does include
the money fraudnlenty taken from men who have
actually gone into the service.


The continuance of these monstrous aud unparal-
led abuses cannot he tolerated


Sertainy more men are required to aid our gallant
soldiers IN the field in crushing this rebellion. andev-
cry consideration OF PATRIOTISM and OF regard for
brothers who are now in the face of the enemy. obi.
ges Us to spare effort TO raise the necessary force
In June last gave letters to a committee of the
prison society of Philadelphia. requesting that the
committee might be allowed to visit and examine the
prisons ana poorhouses throughout the Common
wealth transmit with this communication a copy
of the report made to by the society of the results
OF ther anors ana commend the same TO your atten-
ton with view 10 the adoption of proper measures
to reform the abuses which have been found exist


In connection with tins subject, again call your
tenton to the expedlency of providing for the recep
ton IN the penitenuaries. of persons convicted of
murder IN the first degree and who be pardoned
on serving limited term therein. 1t has become
custom that an incoming Governor should not issue
warrant OF execution in cases left unacted by his
predecessor. and it not unfrequenty happens THAT
even IN cases which are recent. while some punish
ment should be inflicted. that of death may appear to
the Executive to be too severe. The result is that
there are at this time in the various prisons,
eighteen twenty persons under sentence of death
and who may lie there for indefinite period of time.


The vast amount OF additional labor which has been
imposed upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth
M Tl nnfn IfafSn nIstfn1
necessary that the clerical force of his department
should be increased. The making out of commits
and the preparation of election blanks required by
law TO be sent to the army-the receipt fling and
ment of the yearly increasing number of the Acts Of
Assembly, and of charters obtained under general
laws and the making out of letters patent for them
all these, together with the previous heavy duties Of
the othce-torm an aggregate, the weight of which
must surely break down ms few subordnates. dill
gent. faithful and enduring they recommend
therefore that provisions be promptly made to meet
the necessities of this


1t is subject of just congratuation that notmith-
standing the distracted condition of the country our
system oil common schools continues to flourish.
The report OF the superintendent which herewith
transmit, shows that there has been increase of
scholars during the past year 1t is important TO
cure as teachers sufficient number of men of suita-
Bile education and ability. and with to this OBJ
Ject suggest for your consideration the expedency
OF making out OF the school fund itself some proTis
ion for the support of such teachers shall after
given term of service become superannuated or dsa
bied while in the performance OF their duties.


or the fund placed IN my hands by the Acts of the
10th May 1851 and of the 4th of May 1864 and be
appropriated in my judgment in military service,
have expended in the last year s6l24 IS support of
the agency at Washington-up to the Both May. last
for my personal staff and other military service, an
account of which is settled IN the office of the Audi
tor General


No similar appropriation will be required at this ses-
sion.


bill was introduced and passed the House at the
last session of the Legislature providing for the ap
poiutment of commission to ascertain the damages
done in the counties of Bedford, Fulton, Franklin,
Cumberland, York and Adams, by the rebel army in
or want of n


/ commend to your consideration the propriety of
the passage OF such bill during the present
1t Is Just TO the people of these counties who have suf
fered well to the Government that these dana
ges should be fairly ascertained and the evidence per-
petuated whatever may be the view to be taken on
future consideration by the United States or State
Government as to the propriety of paying such claims


Major General Hancock has been authorized by the
War Department to raise corps of veterans TO be
called the First Corps One of the regulations that
application by the Governor of any State. recruit
ing orficers will be designated for such State have
been requested by Geneaal Hancock to make such


application but have hitherto declined comply with
tie request IL appears to me that the families of
men raised on the plan adopted by the war Depart
ment would probably not be entitled to the relief pro-


have enqured of General Hancock wheti err the pro-
posed corps Is to form part of the regular army or of
the volunteer force and if the latter under what act
OF Congress- il is be raised. He has referred that
communication to the War Department, from which
have yet received no answer to IL.


The following letters have passed between General
Hancock and myself on this subject:


PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,


HARRISBURG, Pa Dec 29tn, 1854.


GESEEAL:-I received your letter at the moment of
my departure for Philadelphia on Mon'lay last / re-
turned tins morning and hasten TO reply.


Having knowledge of the organization of tho
corps you command than what appears in the
newspapers and orders, will be obliged II you will
inform If il is be regarded part of The reg
of the United States part of the vol
unteer service. -..tlf f..-..g


If ii is part of the army of the United States
tany have no connection with IT, Governor OF the
state If it j. organized volunteers, be pleased to
inform under what act of Congressl -a


need not say, General that would he most happy
to do all my power personally and officially to raise
a force be commanded by you. Can we not raise
you two or three regiments IN Pennsylvania in the
usual manner and according to the act of Congress
for your corps! OF course / would consult YOU in
the selection OF officers and only commission where
you approved. .HF er p