Year: 1865

the various prisons, some eighteen or twenty per-
sons under sentence of death and who NAV lie there
for an indefinite period of time.


The vast amount OF additional labor which has
been imposed upon the Secretary of the Common
wealth bv the existing state Of affairs renders II
absolutely necessary that the clerical force Of his
department should be increased. The marking cut
Of commissions for large army of volunteers lii
the field, and the preparations Of election blanks
required by law to be sent TO the armythe receipt
fling and recording the returns of the yearly In
creasing number Of acts of Assembly, and Of char
ters obtained under general laws and the making
out OF letters patent for them-all these together
with the previous heavy duties OF the ofice-frorh
an aggregate the weight Of which must ultimately
break down his few su5ordinates diligent, faithful
that provision be promptly made to meet the neces-
sites Of this case


It is subject Of just congratuation that notwith-
standing the distracted condition OF the country,
our system of common schools continues to -four
sh- The report Of our Superintendent, which
herewith transmit, shows that there has been In
crease of scholars during the past year. 1t is inn
portant TO secure a. teachers sufficient number of
men OF suitable education and ability, and with a
view to this object, suggest for your consideration
the expedency Of making out Of the school funds
itself some provision for the support Of such teach
eFs as shall after given term of service become
superannuated or disabled while in the perform
ance of their duties.





10Th May, 1861, and Of the 4th of May 1854 and
10 be appropriated in my judgement in military ser
vice, have expended in the last year So l24 6S in
support Of the agency at WashiDgton-up until the
30th of May last, for my personal staff and other
military service an account of which is settled ia
the Office of the Auditor General.


No similar appropriation viii be required at this
session.


A bill was introduced and passed the House at
the last session of the Legislature providing for the
r. d
ages done in the counties OF Bedford, Fulton
Franklin, Cumberland, York and Adams, by the
rebel army in 1863, which failed IN the Senate for
want of time


commend to your consideration the propriety of
the passage of such bill during the present ges
sion 1t Is Just to the people Of these counties Ehb
have suffered, as well as to the Government that
these damages should be fairly ascertained and the
evidence perpetuated, whatever may be the view 10
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 a corps of veterans,
to be called the First Corps. One of the regula
tions is that an application by the Governor of any
State recruiting officers viii be designated for such
State. / have been requested by General Hancock
to make such application, but have hitherto de-
elined to comply with the request. Ii appears to
me that the families of men raised on the plan
adopted by the War Department would probably
not be entitled to the relief provided by our own
laws for the families of volunteers. have inquired
of General Hancock whether the proposed corps
is to form part of the regular army of the volan
teer force and If the latter under what act of Con-
gress it is to be raised He has referred thai com
municatien to the War Department from which
have as yet received no answer to IT.


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


PENNSYLVANIA ExEcETIAE CHAMBER,


HARRIsBURG, Pa, Dec 29th, 1864.


GENERAL IL received your letter at the moment
Of my departure for Phl1aaelphla on Monday last
/ returned this morning and hasten TO reply.


Having no knowledge of the organization of the
corps you are to command than what appears in
the newspapers and orders viii be obliged if you
viii inform me if it is to be regarded as part of the
regular army of the United States part of the
volunteer service.


IF il is part of the army of the United States, /
certainly have no connection with it. as Governor of
the State If it is organized as volunteers be pleas
ed to inform me under what act of Congress


/ need not say, General, that would be most
happy to do al mypower personally and otclaiiyto
raise a force to be commanded by you. Can not
raise you two or three regiments in Pennsylvania in
the usual manner and according TO the act Of Con-
gress, for your corps Of course i would consult
you in the selection of officers and only commission
where you approved


| cannot understand the importance of my asking
that persons be sent to Pennsylvania to induce Fete
rams to 60 to the District of Columbia TO enlist.
certainly win do nothing to embarrass the plan pro-
posed.


We have benefits, by general and special legsla-
ton in Pennsylvania which attach to the volunteer
and his family. While | win do nothing TO deter the
veterans of the State from entering your corps, /
hesitate to connect myself with mode of enlistment
which may deprive them of such benefits, unless it
is my duty under the law.


| am, General, very respectfully,


Your ohedient servant,


A. G. CURTIN