Year: 1866

| a


To the President.


The refusal has been persisted in, under
an opinion of the Attorney General OF the
United States, a copy Of which was sent to
me.


recommend that the Legislature make
proper efforts to have this injustice correc-
| ted


The report of David Wills, Esq, presi
! dent of the soldiers National Cemetery, at
| Gettysbu z. herewith transmitted, shows
the present condition of the cemetery As
the battle of Gettysburg resulted in glor
| ious victory, and was in fact the begin
ming of the end of the war, and occurred on
the soil of the Commonwealth, | think it
would be well that it should be commemo-
rated by an historical painting to be placed
in the Capitol of the State /; and | recon-
mehd that the Legislature take measures
for that purpose.


The State of Maryland has proposed to
her sister States that they unite with her
in establishing cemetery for our soldiers
who fell at Antietam ! herewith trans
init copies of the Maryland statute, and
other documents on this subject, and rec
ommend the passage of an act heartily
accepting the proposition Of the State of
Maryland. All the States having promptly
and generously responded to our PROPOSE
ton to have Cemetery at Gettysburg, it
would seem proper that we should recpro-
cate, and unite in this The duty is made
more sacred when we remember that more
of Pennsylvania SONS fell in that battle
than those of any other State.


The report of the State Agent at Wash
ht.re fra tod ahn hot
under his efficient management the claims
Of our soldiers are promptly examined and
paid Every effort has been made to ap-
prise our officers and men that their claims
will be collected by the State Agent (Col
Jordan), without expense to them yet 1t
is feared that mauy Of them continue to
employ private claim agents, whose fees
bear heavily on the claimants.


Since my asst annual message | have.ex-
pended of the secret service fund, the sum
OF four thousand three hundred and thirty
three dollars and twenty cents, out of which
have paid my personal staff and other
extraordinary expenses. No appropriation
is required for the increase of this fund.


invite Your attention to the reports of
the Military Departments Of the State, to
the report Of the Superintendent of Com
mon Schools, which exhibits the prosper
Gus condition of our system of public edu-
cation, and to the report of the Surveyor
General, and recommend to your favorable
consideration the many excellent sugges-
tions made by that officer


| commend to your earnest consideration
the suggestion made by the Surgeon Cen
eral i'll his report, herewith transmitted, on
the propriety Of legislation for the protec-
ton of our people, by proper sanitary meas
ures from the r-vages of the cholera, which
is now approaching our shores.


commend to the wisdom Of the Legisla-
ture the subject of providing for the relief
of our many MANNED and wounded soldiers
Possibly this might be dore by continuing
and enlargiug the acts providing for boards
of relief i'll the several counties. | recon
mend the adoption by the Legislature of
this or some other plan for doing justice to
the class of men i'll question.


By the joint resolution of May l6, 1861,
authorizing me to give flags to our regi-
ments, it was made the duty Of the Execu-
tive to receive the flags when the regiments
returned. This has not been hitherto done,
inasmuch as they have not all yet been
mustered out As soon as this shall have
taken place, the flags will be received with
appropriate ceremonies, and | recommend
that the Legislature make provision for
causing them to be hung in the new Ii
brary


| refer to the suggestion of Brigadier
General Todd, Inspector General, on the
subject Of the militia. | am not prepared
to make any recommendation on this sub
ject, as | observe with great pleasure, that
Congress Is proposing to establish uni
form system throughout the United States.


The arsenal at Harrisburg is decaying
and unsafe. The AIMS aid munitions of
the State there deposited are Of the value
probably of half million of dollars re-
commend that provision be made for re-
pairing it, or that a new arsenal be CON
structed i'll this vicinity, for the purpose OF
securing their preservation.


Since my last annual message, the late
President Of the United States has fallen q
victim to the me 81 foul and base assassina-
ton recorded in history. 1t will afford me
pleasure and will heartily unite with you
i'll any expression of indignation at the
crime, and of appreciation of the public
virtue and services of its victim Abraham
Lincoln.


My uniform course during the late war,
was to avoid the discussion of the General
while giving a hearty support
to the National authorities i'll all their meas
ures to suppress the rebellion. | shall CON
tinue to pursue the same course during the
embarrassment necessarily connected with
the entire restoration OF the country The
principles expressed in the message of the
President. at the commencement of the
session of Congress, will receive my cordi-
al support


During the last five years the people of
this State have suffered deeply from the
calamities of war. Thousands of her men
have been slain, and others are MANNED
and broken. Almost every family has been
and everywhere there are widows
and orphans, many of them helpless and in
poverty. 1t is subject of sincere congrat-
ulation, that peace has at last returned


| am not aware of the existence of any
d fficulty with other nations which may not
be amicably adjusted, and therefore ven
ture to express the hope that long years of
and happiness are before us.


A. G. CURTIN.


WHAT is II c"qnrtte? A Young lady of
m ore beauty than sense, more accomplis shmpnts