Year: 1866

OF the Superintendent of Common Schools,
which exhibits the prosperous condition OF our
system of public education, and to the report of
the Surveyor General; and recommend to your


favorable consideration the many excellent sug-
gestions made by that officer.


j commend to your earnest consideration the
suggestion made by the Surgeon-General Ia his
report, herewith transmitted, on the propriety of
legislation for the protection of our people, 0v
proper sanitary measures, from the ravages OF
the cholera, which is now approaching our


shores.


commend 10 the wisdom of the Legislature


the subject Of providing for the relief of our


many manned and wounded soldiers. Possibly


this might be done by continuing and enlarging


the acts providing for boards Of relief in the


the Legislature of this or some other plan for


doing Justice to the class of men in question.


By the Joint resolution of May 16, 1861, aushori-


Zlng me to give flags to our regiments, it was


made the duty of the Executive TO receive the


flags when the regiments returned. This has


not been hitherto done, inasmuch as they have


not Yet all been mustered out As soon as this


shall have taken place, the flags win be received
with appropriate ceremonies, and recommend
that the Legislature make provision tor causing
them 10 be hung in the new Library.


l refer TO the suggestion of Brgadier-General
Todd Inspector General, on the subject of the


militia. l am not prepared to make any recon-


mendation on this subject, as l observe, with
great pleasure, that Congress Is proposing to
establish a uniform system throughout the
Unlted States.
The arsenal at Harrisburg is decaying and un-
safe. The arms and munitions OF the State there
deposited are OF the value probably OF half mil
lion of dollars. | recommend that provision be


made for repairing it, or that new arsenal be
constructed in this vicinity, Tor the purpose of
| securing their preservation.


Since my last annual message the late Presi-
| dent of the United States has fallen victim TO
the most foul and base assassination recorded ID
| history. 1t will afford enc pleasure, and will
| heartily unite with you in any expression of
| Indignation at the crime ana OF appreciation of
| the dublic virtue and services OF its victim,
| Abraham Lincoln. ...
My uniform course during the late war was to


avoid the discussion OF the policy of the General
| Government while giving hearty support to
| the national authorities IN all their measures to
suppress the Rebellion. | shall continue to pur-
| sue the same course during the embarrassments
necessarily connected with the entire restoration
| Ot the country. The principles expressed in the


message of the President at the commencement


OF the session OF Congress will receive my cor
| dial support.


During the last five years the people of this


State have suffered deeply from the calamlties OF
| war. Thousands of her men have been sain
| and others are MANNED and broken. Almost
| every family has been stricken, and everywhere
| there are widows and orphans many of then
| helpless and in poverty. 1t is o subject of sim


cere coneratulation that peace has at last re-
| turned.
am not aware OF the existence of any diff
| Guilty with other nations which may not be ami
| cably adjusted, and therefore venture to express


the hope that long years of tranquility and hap
| plness are before us. A. 6. CURTIN.