Year: 1866

BILE consideration. 1t would be alike


impossible to furnish hi tory of the


associated benevolence and of the


large individual contributions to the


comfort of our people ia the field and


hospital, or of the names and servic-
es, at all times, of our volunteer sur.


geons, when called to assist in the


hospital or the battle field; nor is il
possible to do justice TO the many


patriotic christian men who were al
ways ready to respond when sum
moned to the exercise Of acts of hui
manity and benevolence.


Our armies were sustained and
strengthened in the field by the pa
triotic devotion of their friends at
home (; and we can never render
full justice TO the heave n-directed,
patriotic, christian benevolence OF
the women of the State.


During the war l had occasion,
from tims to time, to communicate
freely with the Legislature on sub
jects bearing upon the interests Of
the men representing the State in
the armies of the republic.


. 1t was the sense of unfeigned graf
titude that acknowledge how cheer.
fully and promptly the Legislature
and the people acted upon my sug-
gestions, whether forth support Of
the Government, the enlistment and
organization of troops, or for the
comfort of our people already in the
field.


Without this general Confidence
and liberal support, the labors of the
Executive would have been in vain ;
the treasure that has been expended
would have been wasted, precious
lives lost would have been an empty
sacrifice, the bruised hearts of kin
dred and friends would have been
without solaee, the strong men, whose
health has been broken aud whose
bodies have been MANNED, would have
been monuments of heroism wasted,
and the honor of this great Commons
wealth would have been degraded
amidst the f.llen ruins of the insti-
tutions of the Republic.


The report of the Hon. Thomas H..
Burrowes shows the gratifying result,
under his active management, Of the
system adopted by the State for the
maintenance and education of the
orphans Of our so ders. His report
exhibits the fact that 1,242 orphans
are now actually admitted to the
schools, and that ,846 applications
in all have been allowed, and orders
issued for their dmissian, many of
whom have been admitted since his
report. 1t will always be seen that
the largest appropriation that ever
will be required will be for this and
the two ensuing years, and that then
the amount will be gradually reduc.
cd. | have heretofore commended
this charity to you, and deem it un-
necessary to add another word, in
asking continuation of an appropri-
alton, which is to provide for and ed
ucatc the best blood of the State, and
support the living legacies which
have been bequeathed us by the men
who laid dAgn their lives for the
country. When We remember that
every sort of public and private
pledge that the eloqucnce of man
could devise or utter, was given to
our soldiers as they went forward,
that if they fell, their orphans should
become the children of the State. |
cannot for an instant suppose that
you will hesitate to continue an
appropriation which is to bless their
little ones, providing comfortable
homes, instead of leaving them in
want and desttution, many of them
to fall victims to vice and CT me.


At the time of the invasion of the
North, in 1868, by the rebel army,
the President made reguisition on
me for militia to serve during tho
emergency. The men came forward
promptly. to the number Of 36, ,538. of
whom upwards of 5000 refused to
be mustered into the service of the
United, States in consequence of
of prior occurrence
not necessary to be here stated.


In this embarrassment, the emer-
gency being very pressing, after con-
sultation W tn the President, he au-
thorized and requested me to call
them on behalf of the State, and for
the defense of the State, the United
States paying all the expenses oftheir
clothing, equipment, subsistence, &C.
1t was, however, alleged that there
was no appropriation for their pay.
To remove this difficulty the General
Government applied to banks and
ether moneyed corporations in Phil
adelphia to advance the amount of
tho pay on a pledge that, when Con-
gress met, the passage of bill to
reimburse them should be recon-
mended. These Institutions declined
this proposition, but expressed their
willingness to make the ad -ances if
| would pledge m self to recommend