The American Annual Cyclopaedia and Register of Important Events of the Year, 1861-1865, vols. 1-5. New York: Appleton & Co., 1868.

Union States in 1864, Part 3: New Hampshire through Wisconsin

NEW HAMPSHIRE. The annual election for Governor and other State officers took place on March 8th, with the following result:

Joseph A. Gilmore, Republican................. 37,006

Edward W. Harrington, Democrat.... ... 31,340

Republican majority....................... 5,666

In 1863, when three candidates for Governor were in the field, Gilmore was 3,798 votes behind his Democratic competitor; and there being no choice by the people, he was elected by the Legislature. It was charged by the Democrats that the large Republican majority of 1864 was caused by the return of New Hampshire soldiers to vote at the State election, those only being furloughed who were Republicans. Their opponents admitted that many soldiers had returned on furlough to vote, but denied in positive terms that any discrimination, suggested by the political opinions of the soldiers, had been exercised in granting the furloughs.

The Legislature chosen at the election of 1864 stood as follows:

                          Senate.    House.    Joint  Ballot.

Republicans......... ...    9    210   219

Democrats................   8     123   126

Republican majority... 6      87   93

There was no election in 1864 for members of Congress.

The Legislature assembled on June 1st, and on the same day Governor Gilmore was inaugurated and delivered his annual message. He stated that the State debt, including $600,000 paid to the families of volunteers, amounted to about $1,900,000, an increase of $600,000 since the last annual message, and recommended the funding of this by the issue of six per cent. bonds, payable in fifteen or twenty years. Except in financial matters, the condition of the State was represented as prosperous. The action of the Legislature appearing to the Governor incomplete on financial and military matters, he summoned an extra session on August 9th, and in his message showed that it was exceedingly difficult to raise money to supply the immediate wants of the State, and suggested a forced loan from the banks for that purpose. On the merits of the military bill passed at the previous session, to provide means to fill the New Hampshire quotas under the various calls for troops, he expressed himself in strong terms of disapprobation, characterizing it as incomprehensible, cumbrous, and inefficient. He showed that at the date of his message the quota of New Hampshire lacked 5,000 men of being full, that but twenty-three working days remained to raise that number by voluntary enlistments, and that unless the Legislature authorized larger bounties, and put a stop to the extravagant competition between cities and towns, some of which were offering as much as $1,000 for a one-year recruit, the State would be subjected to the rigors of the draft.

The Legislature and the Executive failed to agree in their views of the course to be pursued to place the credit of the State on a healthy footing. A resolution was adopted recommending the Governor to apply to the banks and other moneyed institutions of the State for a temporary loan; and in case this project was unsuccessful, to apply “elsewhere.” To this the Governor replied, “that he regarded the scheme of obtaining so large a sum of money as the State immediately requires by the payment of exorbitant rates of interest, regulated only by the option of the lender, as wholly impracticable; and he recommended the appointment by the Legislature of a Committee of Finance to raise the amount of money necessary and sufficient to save the credit of the State from disgrace.”

In response to this, the Special Committee on Finance reported that the appointment of such a commission would involve a radical change in the financial system of the State, which it would be inexpedient to inaugurate at this late day of the session. The committee were also of opinion that proper effort under the existing laws would readily obtain the Page 577 necessary temporary loan and at a reasonable rate of interest. The report was adopted.

A new military bill was adopted at this session fixing bounties for recruits enlisted in insurgent States, and compensation for agents employed in that service. State bounties were also provided, ranging from one hundred to three hundred dollars, according to the number of years for which the recruit was offered. Town bounties were similarly limited, except where enrolled citizens should enlist and be credited to the localities in which they reside, in which case no limit was to be affixed to the town bounties. Under the impulse given by this latter provision, volunteering from among the enrolled citizens soon went on with such rapidity, that in the last week of August, just before adjourning, the Legislature by resolution requested the Governor to notify the War Department that, with the allowance of a few days’ grace, the whole quota could probably be filled without a draft.

The Governor and the Legislature were brought into somewhat sharp collision in reference to the “Soldiers' Voting Bill.” This having passed both Houses, was on August 17th sent to the Governor for his approval, and by him kept for more than five days after the date of presentation. On the 26th he sent a message to the House of Representatives, vetoing the bill, on the ground that, in order to enable soldiers in the national service outside the limits of the State, to vote for electors of President and Vice-President and for members of Congress, it was first necessary to amend the Constitution in that behalf. The Legislature, on the other hand, claimed that as the bill had not been returned within five days, as required by the Constitution of the State, it became a law in spite of the Governor's veto, and resolutions to that effect passed both Houses after a scene of considerable excitement. Decisions of the Supreme Court in favor both of the constitutionality of the act and of its validity, in spite of the veto, having been obtained, it became a law, and the New Hampshire soldiers voted in accordance with its provisions at the ensuing election.

The political parties conducted the Presidential canvass during the autumn months with great animation, and the vote was more evenly balanced than in almost any other State. The result of the vote for Presidential electors was as follows:

                                     Lincoln. McClellan.

State vote.................... 34.382       82,200

Soldiers' vote................. 2,018          671

                                      86,400    82,871

At the spring session of the Legislature, Aaron H. Cragin, Republican, was elected a United States Senator for six years from March 4th, 1865, to succeed John P. Hale, receiving a majority of ninety-three on joint ballot over John H. George, Democrat.

NEW JERSEY. This State appears to have made equal progress in prosperity with the most successful States of the Union. At the close of 1864, for the first time in many years the public debt on State account had been paid. It was unnecessary to levy a tax in the ensuing year for State purposes. The receipts into the treasury from the usual sources in 1864 were $431,028, and the balance on hand at the commencement of the last fiscal year $104,654; total $535,683. The disbursements for ordinary expenses and special appropriations were $396,410. Making a balance on hand November 30, of $139,273.

The receipts of the State on account of a war fund were $1,765,608 during the year; and the disbursements for the same fund in the same time were $1,723,037; balance $42,570. The liabilities of this fund on November 30th, were $2,774,600.

The amount claimed for advances to the United States up to the same period is $2,494,196; on which the State has received $1,554,159.

The State has a sinking fund to defray the interest and principal of the war debt, the balance in favor of which is $323,958.

The State has contributed to the Federal service over 70,000 men. Until May, 1864, they were furnished by volunteering, principally through the State authorities. Since that time they have been raised chiefly through United States officials, by the operation of the conscription act. The Governor of the State thus speaks, in his address to the Legislature, of the operation of the draft:

The officers who have been intrusted with the execution of the draft in this State have generally performed their duty without undue severity, and yet the system is extremely obnoxious to the people, in many cases produces difficulty and distress, is expensive, does not obtain, the men with expedition, and supplies an inferior class of troops. Some good men have been obtained by it, but usually they are unwilling soldiers, or strangers who go as substitutes for the bounty, and in many instances fail to reach the front. It is the opinion of officers most conversant with the subject, that the men raised in this way have not added materially in numbers or efficiency to the strength of the army. If the Government wants good troops, composed of residents, of the State, who feel a pride in the service and an interest in the result, it should return to the system practised in the earlier stages of the war. e best way to raise troops is to authorize recruiting officers to work in conjunction with the local authorities in their respective, neighborhoods and among their acquaintances, with the expectation of a commission. During the ten months immediately preceding the draft in this State, about fifteen thousand volunteers were recruited and mustered into the United States service.

In addition to the amounts sent by private hands, the soldiers of the State forwarded to their families, through an arrangement originally made, $812,892. Like most of the other States, New Jersey has a special agency to provide for the sick and wounded of her soldiers. In conjunction with other States, measures have been adopted to secure a cemetery for the soldiers who fell at Gettysburg, and for the establishment of one at Antietam. Page 578

Measures have been taken to complete the organization of the reserve militia of the State, and she is now provided with arms sufficient to equip all the militia that would be required for actual service in any emergency within the State. Within the last two years the State has paid for ordnance and ordnance stores, including arms of all descriptions purchased for State use, $277,408. From the militia, a limited number of companies are designated each year to compose a State guard. In case of actual or threatened invasion, riot or insurrection, this force is to be called out first for duty, in consideration of which certain privileges are granted to them. Under the act of Congress to raise troops which allowed recruiting in the insurrectionary States, application was made to Governor Parker by individuals, to recruit for townships in the State. In reply, he stated that he had determined not to appoint any general agents for the State, and thus stated his objections, which were similar to the views of the Governor of New York:

When I appoint an agent to transact business for the State of New Jersey. I expect to protect him while in the discharge of his duties. I cannot give protection to agents appointed to recruit in the rebel States. My letter of authority would not ensure their treatment as prisoners of war.

I think it will be found that but few recruits can be obtained in the rebel States. The New York “Times” of this morning alleges that men cannot now be had there, and gives this as the opinion of Gens. Grant and Sherman, and counsels that we should not rely upon filling our quota from that source, and thereby neglect recruiting elsewhere.

I am satisfied that the Union army would to-day be stronger, both in numbers and efficiency, if the Government had never recruited in the rebel States. The emancipation proclamation, and the consequent arming of the negroes, while adding to the desperation of the enemy, and building up an almost insurmountable barrier to the terms of pacification, quenched the spirit of volunteering among the people of the North. Soon after these measures were adopted it was thought necessary to pass a conscription act, although but a few weeks previous to this radical change of policy the chairman of the Military Committee in the United States Senate advised against the acceptance of volunteers then flocking in regiments to our standard.

The great change wrought by this policy is demonstrated by the present almost unanimous desire of the people to keep out of the army, and the running to and fro of nearly the whole population to seize upon any expedient to avoid personal military service, regarding not the fitness of the substitute, if the certificate of exemption can be procured. So long as the governmental policy disheartens to such an extent, a successful issue cannot be expected. To insure success the H.P. should have a heart in the struggle, be willing to do their own fighting, and not lace their reliance on a distinct and inferior race here can never be a sufficient number of negro troops in the army to compensate for the injury done the Union cause by arming them.

Each sub-district is responsible for its own quota of men, and I recognize the right of the people of each district to raise their own men in their own way. I will not, therefore, interpose my individual opinion in opposition to the will of the º: of any locality to prevent them from availing themselves of the law of Congress to fill their quota and avoid a draft. Without any knowledge, desire, or action on my part, I have been made the medium through whom the people, who desire to recruit in this way, may attain the object; and I will, on petition of the proper authorities of any sub-district, give to such person as may be named credentials to procure recognition from the United States authorities. The owner of such agents to recruit is derived from the aw of Congress, and to the General Government they must look for protection. I hope that all the districts in this State will be able to fill the quota with volunteers, and that there may be no further drafting in New Jersey.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

                                                                     JOEL PARKER.

The number of children who attended the public schools during the year is 149,672, being an increase of 6,146 over the number in 1863. The amount of money raised by tax for schools during the year was $427,067; ditto from the State, $80,000; total from all sources, $637,079. The amount of available school fund belonging to the State is $511,439. To this sum a certain amount is added annually to become a part of the permanent fund. The Normal School is no longer an experiment in the State; its beneficial influence on the cause of education has been fully demonstrated.

The grant of land made by Congress to each State, for the purpose of establishing a college for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts, was accepted by the trustees of Rutgers College in New Brunswick, and preparations made to carry out the conditions and objects of the grant. The State geological survey is now progressing, after having been for a few years entirely suspended. In the Insane Asylum there are 326 patients; 158 were discharged during the year, of whom 62 had recovered, and 44 improved in their mental condition.

The measures taken in the Federal Congress to make a post road of the railroad extending from Raritan Bay to the Delaware River were, on March 24th, the subject of a special message by the Governor to the Legislature. After reciting the bill, two questions were considered by the Governor: 1st. Whether the proposed action of Congress would affect the pecuniary interest of the State; 2d. Whether it would infringe upon the sovereignty of the State. He then reviewed the history of the contract with the joint companies, Camden and Amboy Railroad and Delaware and Raritan Canal, which would not now be repudiated, and referred the subject to the Legislature in whose province it was to inquire whether the State interests would be affected. This, however, he regarded as of small importance compared with the principle of State sovereignty which was involved. Against any infringement of the rights of the State he protested and insisted that if the Federal Government needed a road for the transportation of the mails or for war purposes, it must operate it for those purposes itself, and not through private parties for their own benefit as provided in the bill before Congress. The passage of such a law, he considered, would be an indignity to the State, although not binding. It would make parties now under judicial injunction from violating the State Page 579 laws, independent of the State. He concluded as follows:

Let, it be distinctly understood, by those who would inflict this wrong and indignity upon our State, while New Jersey will comply with every legal obligation, and will respect and protect the rights of all, she will not permit any infringement of her rights, without resorting to every lawful means to prevent it.

The result of the Presidential election in New Jersey was as follows: Lincoln, 60,723; McClellan, 68,024. Majority for McClellan, 7,301. Of the members of Congress chosen at the same time, two were Republicans and three Democrats.

One-third of the Senate and all of the Assembly of the State Legislature were elected at the same time. That body was divided as follows:

                                            Senate.        House.

Republicans,......................... 8                  80

Democrats,                           12                 30

Total..........................           21                 60

NEW YORK. The vast military strength of the State of New York is strikingly shown by the number of men contributed by her to the Federal service. Since the commencement of the war on April 15th, 1861, to December 1st, 1864, the State furnished 437,701 men, including the credits under the draft of 1863. Of this number 409,426 entered the army, and 28,275 the navy. During the year 1864, 161,604 men were sent into the field. Three calls were made by the President for troops during that period, under which the quota of the State was 204,105. The credits to which the State was entitled for surplus men at earlier periods, secured to it an excess on credits on December 1st, of 5,301 men. A bureau of military statistics is kept by a suitable officer of the State, in which is preserved a record of every man in her forces, together with the battle-flags, trophies, and other evidences of the valor of her sons. To raise and maintain these troops has required immense contributions from towns, cities, and counties, to be applied as bounties to the volunteer, and as a monthly contribution toward the support of his family in his absence. In a few instances counties have by a single and vigorous effort of taxation paid up the debt thus contracted.

The enrolment of the militia so far as completed during the year, contained the names of 314,308 men. There is a National Guard organized out of this number, which upon the last inspection composed a force of 45,910 men, divided into 108 regiments and comprising 5 batteries. The Governor (Fenton), on alluding to the future condition of the military force of the State, expressed himself thus: “The importance of a thoroughly organized State Militia, in maintaining the nicely-adjusted distribution of power between the State and Federal Governments, so necessary to the well-being of our peculiar institutions, is not unworthy of consideration. This distribution, so satisfactory in times of peace, has, in some degree, been disturbed by the accessions of authority and influence to the latter, growing out of the needs and operations of this war. I am not disposed to question the constitutionality or expediency of the action of the Federal Government in the pressing emergencies of the rebellion. But it may be questioned not only how far the feeble character of the military organizations of the Northern States compelled the national authorities to resort to the present method of raising forces, but encouraged and made possible the rebellion itself. It is certain, however, that a numerous, well-disciplined militia, ready and prompt to act in any exigency, will hasten the time when the National Government may relieve itself from the burden, and the State from the danger of large standing armies.”

The deficiency in the receipts of the general fund of the State as compared with the disbursements, was less than in the previous year. The receipts were $7,787,536; the disbursements, together with the deficiency of the previous year, were $8,657,351; deficit on September 30th, $863,814. The general fund debt was reduced during the year $240,700, and amounted on September 30th to $6,278,954. During the year a direct tax of 5+ mills was levied for the following purposes: of a mill for schools; 14 mill for general purposes; 177–80 mill for bounties; 48–80 of a mill for canals, and 3–16 of a mill for the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad.

The gross earnings of the canals of the State for the four years from September 30, 1860, to 1864, were $17,722,384. After paying the expense of superintendence, collection, and ordinary repairs for the same period, the net balance of surplus revenue was $14,442,408. The surplus revenue for the year ending September 30, 1864, was $3,317,356. The canal debt is $22,327,810, on which annual interest is $1,290,262.

The tonnage of produce going eastward on the Erie Canal, derived from the Western States and the Canadas, rose from 1,034,763 tons in 1859, to 2,594,837 in 1862. The freight, both through and way, carried eastward by the two great railroad lines from 1859 to 1864, inclusive, was as follows:

CENTRAL ERIE RAILROAD. RAILROAD. […]

On September 30th there were 295 banks in the State conducting the usual business of banking, with an aggregate capital of $107,306,948; at the same time 62 banks were closing their business voluntarily and through insolvency. The amount of outstanding circulation at the same date, was $40,118,635. At the same period Page 580 the number of National Banks in operation in the State was 102; of these seventy-seven were organized subsequent to January 1st, 1864. Their aggregate capital was $21,113,800, and circulation $13,134,200. The number of these banks which had changed from the State bank system was 24.

A bill was brought before the Assembly of the State Legislature to authorize the State banks to become banking associations under the laws of the United States. The majority of the Committee on Banks, in that body, reported against the measure. Their dissent was founded on several objections, both political and financial, against the entire system. They close their report by saying:

In the mean time, your committee can see no desirable end to be attained in furnishing facilities to the banking institutions of the State to withdraw themselves from legislative jurisdiction and State control. ...Their obligations to the public and from the public to them, have all been incurred under State sanction, and should be so continued until they are extinguished. Under existing law, every bank has the option to wind up its business and distribute its assets by the consent of its stockholders, and no present necessity would seem to demand a more rapid process of liquidation. Without assuming to judge for others in matters of business, your committee would yet express unhesitatingly the opinion, that when some of the madness of the present hour shall have been dissipated in the sober experience of coming events, there will be no cause for regret on the part of those who trusted their interests to the aegis of State protection.

The agriculture of the State continued in a flourishing condition. The recruiting of the armies did not seriously diminish its productions, as the labor-saving machinery which had been introduced compensated in a great degree for the lack of men engaged in manual labor.

The immigration at the port of New York was 182,766 persons during the year, being an increase of 25,000 over the previous year.

The number of children in the State between the ages of five and twenty years, is 1,307,822, and the number who attended school some portion of the year, is 881,144. The amount of money to be apportioned for the support of common schools for the ensuing year, is $1,445,749. The Legislature, at its session early in the year, adopted a resolution declaring that no distinction should be made between the foreign and domestic creditor in the payment of interest on the State debt. This action of that body led the Governor to address them in the following message:

Executive DEPARTMENT, ALBANY, April 22, 1864.

To the Legislature : My attention has been called to a concurrent resolution which has passed both branches of the Legislature, in the following words: Whereas, All the stocks issued by this State were made payable and negotiable in this State; therefore, Resolved, That no distinction should be made between the foreign and domestic holders of such bonds as to the curº in which the principal and interest thereon should be paid. To the principle laid down in this resolution, in terms, there can be no objection offered. All the creditors of the State, whether they be of our own or foreign, should be alike paid; paid prompt y and in full all that was promised them. The Legislature, last year, adopted a concurrent resolution on this subject, in the following words:

Resolved, That the interest accruing on so much of the State debt on the first day of April as was, on the first day of March, eighteen hundred and sixty-three, held by persons residing out of the United States, and is still held by then, be paid in gold or its equivalent.

And an appropriation was made for the purchase of coin to an extent sufficient to enable the comptroller to pay in gold the interest on the stocks of New York held by persons residing abroad; and only to that extent. Although the resolution of last ear did not in terms, forbid the payment of the interest due to our creditors residing in this country, in coin, yet the absence of . appropriation for the purpose obliged the comptroller to forego such payment.

In practice, a distinction was thus made between the non-resident creditor and the resident creditor. We kept faith with the stranger who had trusted us; WE broke faith only with those of our own household.

The effect of the resolution of this year, in the absence of any appropriation, will be, that no part of the interest will be paid, as it was promised to be paid, to wit, in coin or its equivalent.

When we sought the markets of the world with our securities, we pledged ourselves to redeem them in the currency of the world. The partial neglect of plighted faith last year is now to be followed by an open refusal to pay any of our promises according to their plain sense. The disgrace of last year was limited; it was kept within ourselves; now our shame and dishonor are to be borne in the face of the world.

I look upon this matter as of so much moment to the welfare and to the character of New York and of its people that I feel constrained to ask you to give the subject a reconsideration; and to urge you to pass a concurrent resolution that shall enable the comptroller to pay all the interest which may fall due before the next session of the Legislature, in coin. In this way your resolution of this year can be carried into effect consistently with the good credit of the State, and “no distinction” will “be made between foreign and domestic holders” of the bonds. If you do not do this, let me urge you to provide, at least, for the interest that is due residents of other countries being paid in coin.

The refusal to pay in coin to our own citizens may justify itself to some minds, although not to mine, as a measure of quasi taxation; special, discriminating, and unfair, but excused by our present extraordinary condition. In dealing with our creditors in other countries no such considerations can come in. We have over them no legitimate power of taxation; these creditors of ours i. no voice nor part in our political action; we have no claim upon them that they should take a share in the misfortunes that befall us in our career. They are not of our household, nor bound to take part of our domestic calamities upon themselves. The burdens and the misfortunes of this war belong to us; it is ungenerous to shift any portion of them upon others who are not a part of us. These foreign creditors of ours are strangers who lent us their money when we wanted it; upon no security but our word of honor. If we do not É. them back their money to the strict letter of our bargain we incur a shame that can never be removed from us. We deprive New York of an element of strength which heretofore has been wisely used, and which its people have found profitable, to wit, its unquestioned credit.

Principle and policy unite to urge the action I recommend to you. It is the only way in which the State can, in truth, fulfil its contracts. It is the only way in which the State can keep itself in a position Page 581 to go into the market hereafter decently as a borrower.

The State is even now in the market for money to pay its bounties to volunteers. The whole amount of the appropriation I urge upon you will be more than repaid in the first negotiation the State may make, by the enhanced price of its securities. We shall lose more in our immediate transactions than the cost of providing the coin for this interest. ... Not only our future profit but our immediate gain will be served by adhering now to the strictest letter of our contracts.

The saving proposed by not paying in coin is small and temporary, while the dishonor is lasting, and the pecuniary loss consequent upon this dishonor, will in the end enormous.

Bad faith on the part of New York, the leading member of our confederacy, must, inevitably, weaken very greatly, if it do not destroy the credit of our Government securities in foreign markets. Compared with the importance of this State action in its effect upon the credit of the Government, the cost of paying our interest in coin is insignificant.

Aside from the consideration of interest or policy, our duty, in my judgment, was plain. It is to pay the debts of the State; to pay them in precisely the mode in which they were promised to be paid; to keep the honor of the State unsullied; and to this plain duty we should be true, cost what it  may.

                                                        HORATIO SEYMOUR.

The Governor on the same day made an appeal “to men of capital, the bankers, the merchants, and others of the people of the State who have its honor at heart, whereby at least so much of the interest as belongs to nonresident creditors, if not the whole,” might be paid in gold or its equivalent. This appeal was successful.

Provision was also made at this session of the Legislature to secure the votes of soldiers in the field at elections. By the Constitution of the State, adopted in 1846, it was provided “that for the purpose of voting no person shall be deemed to have gained or lost a residence by reason of his presence or absence, while employed in the service of the United States.” A soldier in the field, however, could not vote, because the Constitution at the same time required that each person should vote “in the election district of which he shall at the time be a resident, and not elsewhere.” Governor Seymour suggested to the Legislature of 1863, by special message, an amendment of the Constitution by which the absent soldiers could be entitled to vote. The views of this body and the Governor being in conflict, they failed to concur in an act relative to the subject, and a constitutional amendment was prepared and passed by the same body. It was subsequently concurred in by the Legislature of 1864, and submitted to and adopted by the people at a special election in March, 1864. The vote given was 306,874, and the majority in favor of the amendment, 210,716.

The necessary power having been given to the Legislature, a law “to enable the qualified electors of the State, absent therefrom in the military service of the United States, in the army or navy thereof, to vote,” was passed by the Legislature and approved by Governor Seymour on the 21st of April.

It extends the right to vote, in time of war, to qualified electors “in the actual military ser. vice of the United States, in the army or navy thereof, who shall be absent from the State of New York on the day of election.” This extension is expressly limited, by the language used, to commissioned officers and enlisted men. Sutlers, clerks, teamsters, officers' servants, and the rest of the crowd of non-combatants around every army, cannot vote except at the polls of their respective election districts. or can soldiers or sailors in the State on the day of election vote elsewhere than in the election districts in which they reside, Qualified electors of the State in the regiments of the regular army, or in such of the militia regiments as are in the service of the United States, have the same right to vote that volunteers have, if absent from the State on the day of the election.

An elector authorized to vote by the provisions of the law, can do so at any time within the sixty days next previous to the election. For that purpose he must execute a proxy, authorizing any elector of the town or city in which he resides, whom he may name in the proxy, to deliver his vote to the inspectors of the election district in which the voter resides, on the day of the election. The proxy must be signed by the person voting, and must also be attested by a subscribing witness and sworn to before any field officer, captain, adjutant, or commandant of any company or detachment on detached service, in the service of the United States, and commissioned as officers in the volunteer force of the State of New York; or, if the absent elector is in the navy, before “the captain or commandant of any vessel in the naval service of the United States to which the said absent elector may belong or be attached.” The voter is also required to make and subscribe before any such officer an affidavit of his qualification as an elector.

The elector can vote “for all officers for whom he would have a right to vote if he were present” at the election. He must fold his ballots and inclose them with his proxy in an envelope, duly sealed, on the outside of which must be his affidavit of qualification as an elector. The envelope must be inclosed in another envelope, which must be sealed and directed to the person authorized by the proxy to cast the vote, and transmitted to him “by mail or otherwise.”

The person to whom the proxy is directed may open the outer envelope, but not the inner one. On the day of the election he must deliver the inner envelope to the inspectors at the polls. If the name of the soldier making the affidavit of qualification as a voter, indorsed on the envelope, is on the list of registered electors, the inspectors will open the envelope and deposit the ballots in the appropriate boxes. If the name is not on the list, an affidavit must be made by a “householder of the district,” that he knows the soldier to be “a resident of the district,” or the envelope will not be Page 582 opened, and the soldier will lose his vote. The affidavit required is only to prove residence, and the law provides no separate affidavit of qualification of colored men, as required by the Constitution.

Conventions were held in September by the Republican and Democratic parties, and nominations made for State officers. The resolutions adopted by each convention were like in spirit and similar in views to those adopted by the Presidential conventions. The nominations of the Republicans were, for Governor, Reuben E. Fenton; Lieut.-Governor, Thomas G. Alvord. The nominations of the Democrats were, for Governor, Horatio Seymour; for Lieut.-Governor, David R. Floyd Jones.

On September 30th Governor Seymour addressed the following circular with reference to the act to authorize soldiers to vote, to the commandants and surgeons of New York regiments in the field:

STATE of New York, Executive DEPARTMENT, ALBANY, September 30, 1864.

To — — of N. Y. S. Vols.

The Legislature of this State, at its last session assed an act which received my signature an became a law, on the 21st of April, 1864, entitled “an act to enable the qualified electors of this State absent therefrom in the military service of the Unite States, in the army or navy thereof, to vote.”

This act inaugurates a new feature in our system of elective franchise, and I feel it incumbent upon me to call your attention, to its provisions, and to ask that you see it faithfully and impartially carried out. The act provides for this in the following section:

Sec. 13. Any officer of this State or of the United State or any other person, who shall directly or indirectly control or attempt to control any such enlisted elector in the exercise of any of his rights under this act, by menace, bribery, fear of punishment, i. of reward, or any other corrupt or arbitrary measure or resort whatever, to annoy, injure, or otherwise punish any such officer or man, for the manner in which he may have exercised any such right, shall be deemed guilty of an offence against the sovereignty of this State, which shall be punished as a misdemeanor, and for which he may be indicted and tried at any future time, when he may be found within the limits of the State; and upon conviction he shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year and fined in a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars, and he shall also thenceforth be ineligible, after conviction thereof, to hold any office in this State.

The twelfth section of the act herein referred to provides for the preparation, by the Secretary of State, of blank forms and envelopes, which, together with copies of the soldiers' voting act, have been forwarded by express to the different regiments and battalions of New York State volunteers in the United States service, and to the sick and wounded New York soldiers in U, S. hospitals, under the following order:

WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL's Office, WAHINGTON, August S, 1854.

Special Orders No. 262.

19. All officers in the military service of the United States will render every facility to such Express Companies as may be charged by the Governor of New York with the delivery of the necessary forms and blanks required to secure the votes of soldiers of that State in the field. with a view to the blanks being delivered with the least practical delay.

By order of the Secretary of War, E. D. TOWNSEND, [official.]                    Assistant Adjutant General.

      E. D. Townsend, Assistant Adjutant General.

I send you a set of ballots prepared by the friends of General McClellan, and have requested the Secretary of State to forward to you a set prepared by the friends of Mr. Lincoln.

The State and Local Committees of the two political parties will send you the necessary number of ballots.

You can do much toward securing to your officers and men a fair expression of their political preferences, if you will detail one or more officers of your command of each political party, to distribute the ballots and to aid soldiers and commissioners in filling up the requisite powers of attorney. You are also requested to use every effort to send forward the envelopes, containing the powers of attorney and ballots, to the electors in the several election districts of this State, named on the back thereof—cither by express or mail, or through such reliable commissioners as may visit your command.

I feel confident that every officer from New York will feel an honorable pride in seeing that the laws of his State are carried out according to their letter and spirit, and that they will protect all under their care in the full and free exercise of their personal and political rights.

                            Truly yours, &c.

                                       HORATIO SEYMOUR.

On October 28th, Major-General Dix, commanding in the Department of the East, issued the following order relative to interference with the election:

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT of THE EAST,

NEW YORK CITY, October 28, 1864. ;

General Orders No. 80.

Satisfactory information has been received by the Major-General commanding, that rebel agents in Canada design to send into the United States, and colonize, at different points, large numbers of refugees, deserters, and enemies of the Government, with a view to vote at the approaching Presidential election; and it is not unlikely, when this service to the rebel cause has been performed, that they may be organized for the purpose of shooting down peaceable citizens and plundering private property, as in the recent  incursions on the Detroit River and at St. Albans. Against these meditated outrages on the purity of the elective franchise and these nefarious acts of robbery, incendiarism, and murder, it is the determination of the Major-General commanding to guard by every possible precaution, and to visit on the perpetrators, if they shall be detected, the most signal and . punishment. All the classes of persons enumerated, whether citizens of the insurgent states who have been in the rebel service or engaged in acts of hostility to the Government, deserters from the military service of the United States, or men drafted or subject to draft, who have fled to evade their duty to their country, are liable to punishment for the crimes they have already committed; and no effort will be spared to arrest them. For this purpose all provost marshals and their deputies within this department are commanded to exercise all possible vigilance, and to adopt such measures as may be necessary to detect persons coming into the United States for the purpose of voting or of committing depredations on private property and to prevent their escape; and it is earnestly recommended to the electors of the States in this department to take, within their respective election districts, such measures as may be required for their own security, and to aid the military authorities in frustrating the designs of rebel agents or emissaries, or in bringing the perpetrators to punishment.

Should any of these malefactors succeed in perpetrating their crimes, effective measures will be taken to prevent their return to Canada, and for this purpose special directions will be given, and suitable guards for the frontier will be provided before the day of election.

As a further precaution, all persons from the in. surgent States now within the department, or who may come within it on or before the third of November proximo, are hereby required to report themselves Page 583 for registry on or before that day; and all such persons coming within the department after that day will report immediately on their arrival. Those who fail to comply with this requirement, will be regarded as spies or emissaries of the insurgent authorities at Richmond, and will be treated accordingly. The registry in this city will be. at the headquarters of Major-General John J. Peck, second in command in the office at No. 37 Bleecker street ; and in all other places out of this city at the offices of the nearest provost marshals. The registry will contain a complete description of the persons reporting, and also their places of residence, which must not be changed without notice at the W. of registry.

                            By command of Major-General DIX.

D. T. WAN BUREN, Colonel and Ass’t Adj.-General.

Several hundred persons from the Southern States appeared at the rooms designated in this order, and were registered. Each person was examined privately, and a record taken of his or her name, a description of his personal appearance, his former and present place of residence, his business or pursuit, and a general examination of his antecedents, intentions for the future, &c., was made. If the person subscribed to the oath, and his answers were considered satisfactory, he was allowed to depart; but if he refused to take the oath of allegiance, or the officer (Major Haines) entertained any suspicions in regard to his character, he was sent to report to General Dix.

On the next day, October 29th, Brigadier-General Green commanding the militia forces of the State, issued the following order:

HEADQUARTERS FRONTIER

SYRACUSE, October 29.

General Order No. 2.

Pursuant to an order of his excellency the Governor and commander-in-chief, issued on the 12th day of August last, the General commanding assumed command of the district lying along the Canadian frontier, extending from the east line of the county of Monroe to the boundary line of the State of Vermont, and embracing the counties of Wayne, Cayuga, Oswego, Onondaga, Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Franklin, and Clinton. The General commanding now again enjoins upon all subordinate officers ºft the said district to exercise a special vigilance in guarding against any hostile invasions of this State by persons in the Canadian provinces, to the end that the peace of the State maybe preserved from violation or disturbance. A State election is to be held on the 8th day of November next, and it has been suggested that evil-disposed persons, across the border may deem this a favorable occasion to pass the frontier for the purpose of depredation upon the property of our citizens. Officers of the National Guard, within the department, are therefore reminded that unusual vigilance to intercept all such attempts will be required. But persons peacefully coming to or attending the º: at the election are not to be interfered with under any pretext whatever. The election is to be held solely under the authority of the State, and is regulated by State laws, carefully framed and emanated to prevent as well as punish all improper and fraudulent voting. The "... in their sovereignty and by their Constitution have regulated their right of suffrage, and this right can only be challenged and tried before the inspectors and judges of election. No military interference can be permitted. The General commanding recognizes danger to the public peace in the proposed attempt of a major-general, holding his commission under the Federal Government, to take under his care and supervision within the said district the election to be held as aforesaid. For this contemplated interference there is no necessity, authority, or excuse. The Federal Government is charged with no duty or responsibility whatever relating to an election to be held in the State of New York. Officers in the National Guard in this department, will therefore vigilantly repress all attempts to disturb the peace, will i. their utmost to preserve order and quiet on the day of the election, and, if necessary, will prevent all interference with the right of any person or persons F. to attend at the places where the polls shall be held.

By order of

       JOHN A. GREEN, Brigadier-General Commanding.

Milton H. Northrop, Captain and A. A. G.

On November 2d Major-General Dix issued the following instructions to the provost marshals and their deputies in his department:

HEADQUARTERS. DEPARTMENT OF THE EAST,

NEW YORK CITY, November 2.

General Orders No. 85.

To Provost Marshals and their Deputies in the Several States in this Department.

In pursuance of the intimation contained in Department: General Orders No. 80, you are hereby instructed to make such arrangements within your respective districts as may be practicable, for the detection of persons coming into the department for the purpose of voting, who have been in the service of the authorities in the insurgent States, who have deserted from the service of the United States, or who have fled to evade the draft. All such persons will be promptly, arrested and sent to these headquarters. For this purpose detectives should be employed for two or three days before the election, and the aid of the inspectors is solicited in furnishing any information which may be obtained at the polls, and which may lead to the detection of the guilty parties. Through this information, and that obtained by detectives and challengers, it is believed that those who have the hardihood to attempt to add to their other crimes that of fraudulent voting, may be brought to punishment.

No military force will be embodied at or in the vicinity of any of the polls, and there must be no interference in any manner with the exercise of the right of suffrage, or with those who are charged with the performance of any duty connected with the election in any of the States in this department under their constitutions and laws. But if the civil authorities shall call on you to aid them in keeping the peace, you are authorized and required to do so, acting in strict subordination to them.

After the election the greatest vigilance will be exercised in regard to persons crossing the frontier into Canada; and if, in any case, there is good reason to believe that they belong to any of the classes above enumerated, they will be detained and promptly reported to these headquarters for instructions.

By command of                  Major-General DIX.

D.  T. VAN BUREN, Colonel and Ass’t Adj't-General

On the same day Governor Seymour issued the following proclamation to the people of the State:

 EXECUTIVE. CHAMBER, ALBANY, November 2, 1864.

In a few days the citizens of this country are to exercise their constitutional duty of electing a Pres. ident and Vice-President of the United States, at a time when the condition of our country excites the deepest interest.

The questions of the day not only affect the personal welfare of all, and the happiness of their homes, but also are of a character to arouse the passions and lead to angry controversies between parties.

The existence of a terrible civil war and the assertion of the right of military commanders in some sections of our country to interfere with elections, have caused painful and exciting doubts in the minds of many with regard to the free and untrammelled exercise of the elective franchise. I therefore appeal to Page 584 all men of all political parties to unite with those holding official positions, in their efforts to allay undue excitement, soften the harshness of party prejudices and passions, and to avoid all measures which tend to strife or disorder.

However we may differ in our views of public policy, we are alike interested in the maintaining of order, in the preservation of the rights and the promotion of the prosperity of our State.

While we do not agree as to the methods by which these ends are to be gained, they are earnestly sought by all.

It is certain they cannot be reached by angry controversies, unreasonable suspicions or disorderly actions.

There are no well-grounded fears that the rights of the citizens of New York will be trampled upon at the polls.

The power of this State is ample to protect all classes in the free exercise of their political duties. In doing this the public authorities will be upheld by good citizens of all parties.

There is no reason to doubt that the coming election will be conducted with the usual quiet and order.

Sheriffs of counties, and all other officers whose duty it is to keep the peace and protect our citizens, will take care that every voter shall have a free ballot in the manner secured to him by the Constitution and laws. It will be their duty to see that no military or other organized forces shall be allowed to show themselves in the vicinity of the places where elections are held, with any view of menacing or intimidating citizens in attendance thereon. Against any such interference they must exercise the full force of the law, and call forth, if need be, the power of their districts.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed m name, and affixed the Privy Seal of the State, [L. s.] at the city of Albany, this 2d day of November, in the year of our Lord 1864.

By the Governor :

                                          HORATIO SEYMOUR.

    D. Williams, Jr., Private Secretary.

On the same day, November 2, the Secretary of State, Mr. Seward, sent by telegraph the following despatch to the Mayors of New York, Albany, and other cities:

                                              WASHINGTON, November 2, 1864.

This department has received information from the British provinces, to the effect that, there is a conspiracy on foot to set fire to the principal cities in the Northern States on the day of the Presidential election. It is my duty to communicate this information to you.

                                        W. H. SEWARD.

The Mayor of New York replied as follows:

MAYOR's OFFICE, NEW YORK, November 8.

Hon. William H. Seward :

Your despatch is received. I have no fears of such threats being carried out, or even attempted. However, I shall take all |...". measures, and am amply prepared. Should any Federal assistance be necessary, I shall invoke the same without delay.

C. GODFIREY GUNTHER, Mayor.

On November 4th, Major-General Butler arrived at New York City, from Fortress Monroe, and took command in this city. On the Monday afternoon preceding the election, the 6th, 7th, and 10th Conn., under Major Hawley, and other regiments, making about 7,000 men, arrived at Fort Hamilton and Governor's Island, in New York Bay. On Tuesday morning, the day of election, they were placed on board of steamers, and the vessels were stationed at various points opposite the Battery, and in the North and East Rivers. They were within call on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and could have been marched to any part of the city in half an hour. For the order of Major-General Butler, on assuming command, see UNITED STATES, p. 797.

On November 7th Major-General Peck, at Buffalo, issued the following order:

HEADQUARTERS DEFENCES OF THE FRONTIER.

                           BUFFALO, November 7.

General Orders No. 12.

In pursuance of orders from the East, the under signed assumes command of the forces on the frontier. The Government has not been unmindful of the exposed condition of this portion of the country now menaced by piratical invaders. The Government was slow to believe that any considerable force of the rebels would assemble in Canada for the sole purpose of murdering and pillaging undefended towns along the border. Such is, however, the fact, and rumor says plans have been matured for the commission of crimes of a blacker character than has marked any former civilization.

Major-General Dix has made ample preparations for any emergency, and my mission is to insure full protection to the frontier and to any of the civil authorities in maintaining order. No interference in elections will be permitted. Communications of the civil authorities from localities along Central Railroad and Lake Ontario will receive attention. All orders from department headquarters will remain in force; reports will be made as heretofore.

                                            JOHN J. PECK, Major-General

   Colonel S. H. Burton, Chief of Staff.

   Lieut. J. S. McVey, A. D. C.

On October 27th Moses J. Ferry and Edward Donahue, jr., State agents to receive the votes of soldiers at Baltimore, were arrested by the provost marshal, and the State agency closed. At the same time the State agency at Washington was closed, and Colonel North and other persons arrested and confined in prison. The charges alleged against the parties were the commission of frauds in connection with soldiers' votes. On the same day the military commission sitting in Washington, of which General Doubleday was president, adjourned to assemble at Baltimore. Before this commission the persons arrested in Baltimore were arraigned on a charge of fraud and forgery in procuring soldiers' votes. Ferry made a confession to the Court:

I do not recollect the time when the first papers were forged, but it was in the presence of O. K.  Wood, of Clifton County, N. Y. It was done in my office, No. 85 Fayette Street, Baltimore. I am and have been for the past two years agent for the State of New York, appointed by Governor Seymour to look after the sick and wounded soldiers of New York.

I first saw Wood on Wednesday of last week, at my office. He came and represented himself as an agent of the Central Committee of his county to look after its local ticket. He talked about the way in which votes should be taken. It was agreed that we should sign the names of soldiers and officers, and then send them, home to have local tickets filled in. I made out small papers. I signed the names of soldiers on quite a number of them. I cannot tell what names we signed. The names we signed to the papers are now in the bundle on the table. , I did not sign the names of officers, but Donahue signed any quantity of them.

There was a large package of these papers left with me which I destroyed. That package contained over 200. Donohue signed them all. The idea of forgoing these was first suggested by a man named Stephen Maxon. He is from the western part of the State of New York. He is a State Agent. It was first proposed Page 585 almost two weeks ago. I do not know how many forged papers were sent off, but I heard them say they were sent from Wºº. by the dry-goods box full. I sent a #. of forged papers to General Farrell, with the following letter:

                                                          BALTIMORE, 22d.

If you are energetic you will be able to get the within votes all arranged for the 8th of November. I should have done more to them, but I have not time. They are all on the square, the same as the blacks got theirs; neither would bear close scrutiny. Ed. Donahue said send this to you, and I have done it.

Yours truly,            DEMOCRAT.

P. S. They are all soldiers—company and regiment all Q. K. The rest I have nothing to say. If you have no use for them send them back.

                                                                              M. J. FERRY.

Mr. Ferry then entered a plea of guilty, which was accepted, and the Judge Advocate recommended him to the clemency of the Court.

On the 28th the trial of Donahue came up. The military commission consisted of the following members:

Major-General Doubleday, Brigadier General Fessenden, Colonel R. Butler Price, Lieut. Colonel T. A. Barker, Captain J. H. Platt, and Captain M. H. Ellis, with Judge-Advocate John A. Foster. The prisoner objected to the jurisdiction of the Court, on the ground that the offence charged was one which should be tried not by a military but a civil court, and pleaded guilty to having signed certain blanks with the name of C. G. Arthur, A. A. G., and that there was no such person in existence, therefore it did not constitute a crime. The Judge Advocate replied:

The offence is not one against the State of New York. To constitute a crime against the State of New York, the offence must be committed within the State. This crime was committed within the State of Maryland. If the State of New York were to attempt to punish it, it would not be known in what court to try the prisoner. The crime was not committed in that State, consequently the State of New York would have no jurisdiction. On the other hand, it is not a crime against the State of Maryland. It is neither a common law crime of forgery, which requires that it should be for the sake of gain—money; nor is it a statutory crime in Maryland. It is not a crime against the civil laws of the United States; it is not a common law forgery in the United States. Hence, if a military court have no power to try the case, it cannot be tried at all. The act of the State of New York, entitled “An Act to enable the qualified electors of this State, absent therefrom in the military service of the United States, in the army or navy, to vote,” is only intended to be a law in time of actual war, when quasi military law is the law of the land.

This crime goes directly to the efficacy of the service. The deprivation of a soldier of his right to vote, the knowledge that he was defrauded of it, would have a demoralizing effect. If his false vote be received at the F. his true vote, when presented afterward, will be rejected. The very foundation of the Government, which guards the rights of citizens as electors, is by that act attacked. And the only mode in which the offence can be punished is by the military authorities. The offence is to a great extent a violation of General Order No. 265, which commands officers to take measures to secure the freedom and fairness of the election, and to see that it shall be conducted with due regard to good order and military discipline. What greater attack in good order and discipline than this ?

The Court decided that it had jurisdiction in the case.

Witnesses swore that Donahue signed the names of soldiers, and he was found guilty and sentenced to the penitentiary for five years. Ferry was also sentenced for a term of years. The Court then adjourned to meet at Washington on November 3d for the trial of Colonel Samuel North, Levi Cohen, and M. M. Jones. These persons, together with others by the names of Reeves and Schofield, were charged with conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline, and with fraud toward the New York State electors, in that they forged the names of officers and soldiers to what purported to be ballots of said soldiers to be used at the election. They were also charged with falsely and fraudulently issuing divers and sundry blanks, which purported to be signed by officers and soldiers in the military service of the United States, authorizing certain parties to cast their votes at the ensuing State and national election with intent to defraud the true elector of his rights.

Meantime, on October 30th, Governor Seymour issued the following order:

                                                                  ALBANY, October 30.

To Amasa J. Parker, William F. Allen, and William Kelly, greeting :

It being reported that Colonel Samuel North, agent of the State of New York at Washington, together with certain other citizens of this State, not in the military or naval service of the United States, have been placed in arrest by the military authorities of the United States, and no reason for such arrest having been given to me, and being anxious to learn the fact of such arrest and the grounds therefor, to the end that no innocent persons may be imprisoned without a fair and speedy trial, and that no obstacle may be put in the way of soldiers of this State having a fair §§. according to its laws;

Know you, that I, Horatio Seymour, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby appoint, you, Amasa J. Parker, William F. Allen, and William Kelly, Commissioners for and in behalf of the State of New York, and do authorize and direct you and each of you forthwith to proceed to the city of Washington as such, Commissioners, there to inquire into the facts and circumstances relating to such arrests and alleged causes thereof, and to take such action in the premises as will vindicate the laws of the State and the rights and liberties of its citizens, to the end that justice may be done, and that all attempts to prevent soldiers from this, State, in the service of the United States, from voting, or to defraud them to coerce their action in voting, or to detain or alter the votes already cast by them in pursuance of the laws of this State, may be exposed and punished, and that your proceedings to me with all convenient speed.

(Signed)                                             HORATIO SEYMOUR.

D. Williams, Jr., Private Secretary.

This Commission reported to the Governor on November 8d. They arrived in Washington and entered upon the business committed to them on Monday, October 31st. After a preliminary interview with the Secretary of War, the following written request was submitted to him:

                                                            WAR DEPARTMENT, 

                                              WASHINGTON CITY, October 31, 1864.

The undersigned request the Secretary of War that he will give them an order to receive the soldiers' votes which have been taken and are now in the custody of the provost marshal at the New York agency in this city, as further delay to forward the votes may make it too late to use them at the approaching election.

They also request that the blanks in the office of the New York agency in this city may be handed over to an agent of the State of New York, to be Page 586 used, and that the agents may be permitted to proceed and take further soldiers' ballots, to be forwarded to the State of New York; and that a military officer of the New York Volunteers may be designated by the Department to attend at the New York agency to administer oaths to voters.

The undersigned also request a copy of the charges against Colonel North, and the others in custody.

Also, a permit for the undersigned to see Colonel North and the others in custody, and to make provision for furnishing counsel to defend them.

                         AMASA J. PARKER,

                        W. F. ALLEN,                    Commissioners

                        WILLIAM KELLY,

The Secretary assented to the request, and gave directions to his subordinates for their compliance. Several hundred ballots were obtained in different parcels through the Judge Advocate, which were all that had been seized. They had been detained five days on their way. They also visited Colonel North in prison, which visit they thus report:

The undersigned availed themselves of the permit granted them to visit Colonel North, M. M. Jones, and Levi Cohn. They found them in the “Carroll prison,” in close confinement. They then learned that Messrs. North and Cohn had been confined together in one room, and had not been permitted to leave it for a moment during the four days they had been prisoners, even for the purpose of answering the calls of nature. They had been supplied with meagre and coarse prison rations, to be eaten in their room where they constantly breathed the foul atmosphere arising from the standing odor. They had no vessel out of which to drink water, except the one furnished them for the purpose of urination. They had but one chair, and had slept three of the nights of their confinement upon a sack of straw on the floor. They had not been permitted to see a newspaper, and were ignorant of the cause of their arrest. All communication between them and the outer world had been denied them, and no friend had been allowed to see them. The undersigned complained to the acting superintendent, who seemed humanely disposed, but justified his course by the prison rules and the instructions of his superiors. he undersigned afterwards complained of the treatment of these persons to the Judge Advocate, and also to the Secretary of War and the Assistant Secretary, and were happy to learn at subsequent visits to the prisoners that the severities were relaxed and their condition made more tolerable. But at neither of these visits made to the prisoners by the undersigned, were they permitted to see them without a special permit, and only in the presence of an officer of the prison.

Application was next made to the Judge Advocate for a copy of the charges against Colonel North, without success. The Commissioners then say: “From the best investigation the undersigned have been able to make, though there may have been irregularities, they have found no evidence that any frauds, either against any elector or the elective franchise, have been committed by any person connected with the New York agency.”

They then delivered to the Secretary of War the following communication as presenting their case, together with a copy of their commission, with the request that they might be filed in the office of the War Department:

WILLARD'S HOTEL, WASHINGTON, November 1.

To Hon. Elwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War :

SIR : We beg leave to submit to and leave with | Commissioners. you a copy of the commission from his the Governor of the State of New York, under which we act in behalf of that State. From it you will perceive the nature of the duties assigned us:

In accordance with the suggestion made by yourself at our first interview yesterday, we take the liberty of submitting in writing our claims in respect to the imprisonment of Colonel Samuel North, Mr. Levi Cohn, and Mr. Morven M. Jones, now and since Thursday last in close confinement in the Old Capitol prison.

You are aware that they were, at the time of their arrest, in this city (Washington) as agents of the State under authority from the proper departments, to look after the interests and care for the soldiers from the State of New York in the service of the United States. They were not in the military or naval service of the United States, and by no law of which we are aware were they subject to the martial and military laws of the United States, or to the orders of the War Department.

Since our interview with yourself yesterday, we have seen Colonel North in the presence of his keeper: By an inadvertent omission in our permit, we did not see the other prisoners.

We have also had interviews with Colonel Foster, the Judge Advocate, having, as we understand, charge of the cases of the persons named, and have endeavored to learn the character of the offences charged against Colonel North and the others named, and the nature of the charges made against them, and the character of the proofs. This was important to enable us to inquire into and prevent any attempt or anticipated frauds upon the election laws of our State, if any such were threatened. The proofs are withheld from us.

The charges, so far as we can learn, are not for the violation º: law of the United States, but relate to acts purporting to have been done under the law of the State of New York concerning elections, and making provisions for soldiers voting in that State, it being claimed that certain irregularities have intervened which give reason to suspect that frauds and forgeries are intended, and may be consummated.

These suspected and anticipated frauds have respect solely to the election laws of the State of New York, and the action of the Government in makin the arrest is claimed to be justified upon the grounds that unless thus prevented frauds will be perpetrated against the ballot-box at the approaching election in the State of New York.

We beg leave, in behalf of the State, respectfully to protest against this jurisdiction, assumed as well over the alleged offence as over the persons of the accused, who are citizens of the State, in its employ, and entitled to its protection.

The proper business of the State agency is greatly interfered with by the arrest and detention of the agents, and the State is deprived of its proper jurisdiction over its agents and citizens, over offences against its laws, and over its own ballot-box, and the exercise of the elective franchise within its limits.

We therefore most earnestly, and at the same time most respectfully, demand, as we think we may properly do in behalf of the State, the release of the persons named from arrest, that they may resume their business at the agency, if the Governor shall see fit to continue them.

We also ask and would urge a compliance with our request that all the proofs in possession of the Government of the United States tending to show any wrongful acts, or irregularities on the part of these agents may be furnished us, that we may report them to the Governor or other proper authority, to the end that the unfaithful agents may be removed, and if guilty of any offence, that they may be properly punished.

We do not consider this a proper occasion to argue the question of jurisdiction; but it may be fit and Page 587 proper to suggest some grounds upon which we think the arrests are without jurisdiction, that you may have them before you when you pass upon our demands.

1st. We claim that the military authorities of the United States have no jurisdiction of the persons of the individuals named; that they are not in the military service of the United States, or in any way subject to the orders of the military authorities; that they are the servants of the State of New York, subject to its authority and amenable to its laws.

2d. We claim that the acts charged, if proved to have been committed, are not offences against any law of Congress or any rule or order of the War Department made by authority of law.

3d. We claim that the acts, if offences at all, are only offences against the laws of the State of New York, and punishable by those laws only.

4th. The papers, whether incomplete and irregular and simply giving evidence, as is claimed, of an intended violation of the laws of New York, or complete in form, although forgeries in fact (if it is claimed there are any such, of which we are not informed), are evidence of no crime against the United States, and are of no value anywhere except in New York, where alone they can be used in the perpetration of any fraud, and that fraud would be against the sovereignty, the laws, and the people of that State.

5th. It is not to be presumed that the laws of New York are insufficient to guard against fraud of the character anticipated, or that they would be so badly administered that the frauds can be successfully accomplished, or if accomplished that the guilty will go unpunished.

But if this were not so, and it were morally certain that the frauds could and would be accomplished with impunity, the General Government would have no jurisdiction in the premises.

6th. The alleged fraudulent act would not be an offence against the soldier in the field. He cannot be deprived of his proper vote by any number of forgeries, and the presentation and reception of fictitious votes affect the whole people of the State and not the soldier alone.

7th. If the acts alleged could deprive the soldier of any right, it would be a right pertaining to him as a citizen and not as a soldier. He votes, if he votes at all, as a citizen of the State, and not as a soldier of the United States. For protection in his rights as a citizen he looks to the State only.

We will add that the laws of the State provide that parties guilty of the acts of which the parties named are suspected, shall upon their return to the State be punished.

In this connection we would refer to the cases of Ferry and Donahue, who, we learn, have been recently tried at Baltimore for acts to some extent of the same character as those charged upon Messrs. North, Cohn, and Jones. Ferry and Donahue were, at the time of their arrest, in Baltimore, in the capacity of State agents, under authority from Governor Seymour, and if we are not entirely mistaken in our views of the case, their trial was a nullity, for want of jurisdiction in the court or commission by which they were tried.

We therefore ask that these men be surrendered by the United States Government to the State Government, that they may be tried, and if guilty of any offence against the laws, be suitably punished.

Permit us also respectfully to suggest, without desiring to reflect on any of the agents of the departments, that the haste with which such trials were pressed through, and their ex parte character, the accused being without counsel, especially in a time of intense partisan feeling like the present, and before a court of supposed party bias, without at all bringing in question the integrity of the court, may well lead the public to distrust the fairness of the trial. We submit that if jurisdiction of the alleged offences is to be assumed and exercised by a military tribunal, it should not be the means of depriving the accused of the presumption of innocence, or the aid of counsel, or of ample time to prepare for the defence.

The undersigned beg leave to ask for an early reply, and are, respectfully,

                           Your obedient servants,

                                                AMASA J. PARKER,

                                               W. F. ALLEN,

                                               WILLIAM KELLY.

This communication was referred to the Judge Advocate General, Holt. The Commissioners then requested that the trial might be postponed until after the election, and that the prisoners might be released, in case their request of November 1st was refused, on parole, to which the following answer was given:

                                                 WAR DEPARTMENT,

                                     WASHINGTON CITY, November 1,

Messrs. Amasa J. Parker, W. F. Allen, William Kelly, Commissioners, &c.

GENTLEMEN: In reply to the request contained in our letter of this date, that the trials of Colonel North, Mr. Cohn, and Mr. Jones, may be postponed until after the approaching election, I am directed by the Secretary of War to say that the Chief of the Bureau of Military Justice, Brigadier-General Holt, to whom the letter was referred, reports as follows: “The within paper , is not regarded, as presenting any legal rounds for postponing the trials referred to. It is believed that the cases should be allowed to take the ordinary course.”

With regard to your request of this date for the release on their parole of the persons alluded to, General Holt further reports as follows: “It is expected that the trial of these parties will be proceeded with to-morrow. No reason is perceived, therefore, for paroling them.”

Such being the view of the chief of the Bureau of Military Justice, the Secretary of War does not feel authorized to pursue a different course on the applications presented by you.

The Secretary regrets that it has not been in his power to make an earlier response to your application. I am, very respectfully, gentlemen,

                            Your obedient servant,

                                            JAMES A. HARDIE,

                                Colonel Inspector-General U. S A.

The Commissioners then addressed a letter to the President, enclosing a copy of their communication of November 1st, and stating the other proceedings in the case. They also addressed a final note to the Secretary of War, saying:

Although no formal reply has been made to our demand of the 1st inst., for the discharge of the prisoners, we think we may regard the answer to the requests referred to as clearly indicative of the determination of the Government to hold the persons accused, and try them by a military commission.

In this view, our duties as Commissioners have been fully discharged, and we expect to leave during the day for New York.

The report to the Governor then closed with a summary of the results of their commission :

Under these circumstances, after having retained counsel for the persons accused, the labors of the undersigned are brought to a close, their power is exhausted, and nothing remains but to report their proceedings.

The demands made in behalf of the State of New York are thus refused. The persons arrested are to be summarily tried before a military commission, clearly, in our opinion, without jurisdiction, in violation Page 588 of their personal rights, in usurpation of the just powers of our State, and in the midst of an exciting political contest; and, though up to this time, the morning of Thursday, the 3d of November, when we are leaving Washington, no charges have been served on the accused, and perhaps none have yet been framed, yet we are told the trial shall proceed immediately, and that the time asked for to procure witnesses for the defence shall not be afforded.

The trial of Colonel North proceeded with numerous adjournments through several weeks, when he was acquitted and discharged.

At the election there were 730,821 votes polled, taking the highest elector on each ticket, of which Mr. Lincoln received 368,735, and General McClellan 361,986; being a majority of 6,749 for Mr. Lincoln.

For Governor the total vote was 730,821, of which Mr. Fenton received 369,557, and Mr. Seymour 361,264, being a majority for Mr. Fenton of 8,293. By the vote for members of Congress, 20 Republicans and 12 Democrats were elected.

The Legislature elected was divided as follows:

                      Senate. House.

Republicans... ... 21     76

Democrats...... ... 11     52

Total....................82     128

On November 15 Major-General Butler issued an order taking leave of his command in the State, and tendering his thanks to the provisional division under Brigadier-General Hawley, from the Army of the James, and the regiments of regulars from the Army of the Potomac detailed for special duty, for their promptness, efficiency, &c., and to other officers who had tendered their services.

Considerable correspondence took place between the War Department and the Governor, relative to the quota of the State under the calls for troops during the year.

On November 25th an attempt was made by incendiaries to set on fire a large number of hotels in New York City. The attempt was made during the evening. The Major-General (Dix) commanding the department immediately commenced an investigation, and one of the culprits, Robert Kennedy, was arrested and subsequently hung. Previous to his execution he made the following statement:

After my escape from Johnson's Island I went to Canada, where I met a number of Confederates. They asked me if I was willing to go on an expedition. I replied, “Yes, if it is in the service of my country.” They said, “It's all right,” but gave me no intimation of its nature, nor did I ask for any. I was then sent to New York, where I stayed some time. There were eight men in our party, of whom two fled to Canada. After we had been in New York three weeks we were told that the object of the expedition was to retaliate on the North for the atrocities in the Shenandoah, valley. It was designed to set fire to the city on the night of Presidential election, but the phosphorous was not ready, and it was put off until he 25th of November. I was stopping at the Belmont House, but moved into Prince street. I set fire to four places—Barnum's Museum, Lovejoy's Hotel, Tammany Hotel, and the New England House. The others only started fires where each was lodging, and then ran off. Had they all done as I did we would have had thirty-two fires and played a huge joke on the Fire Department. I know that I am to be hung for setting fire to Barnum s Museum, but that was only a joke. I had no idea of doing it. I had been drinking and went in there with a friend, and, just to scare the people, I emptied a bottle of phosphorus on the floor. We knew it wouldn't set fire to the wood, for we had tried it before and at one time had concluded to give the whole thing up.

There was no fiendishness about it. After setting fire to my four places I walked the streets all night, and went to the Exchange Hotel early in the morning. We all met there that morning and the next night. My friend and I had rooms there, but we sat in the office nearly all the time, reading the papers, while we were watched by the detectives, of whom the hotel was full. I expected to die then, and if I had it would have been all right; but now it seems rather hard. I escaped to Canada, and was glad enough when I crossed the bridge in safety.

I desired, however, to return to my command, and started with my friend for the Confederacy via Detroit. Just before entering the city he received an intimation that the detectives were on the lookout for us, and, giving me a signal, he jumped from the cars. I didn't notice the signal, but kept on, and was arrested in the depot.

I wish to say that killing women and children was the last thing thought of. We wanted to let the people of the North understand that there are two sides to this war, and that they can't be rolling in wealth and comfort while we at the South are bearing all the hardships and privations.

In retaliation for Sheridan's atrocities in the Shenandoah valley, we desired to destroy property, not the lives of women and children, although that would of course have followed in its train.

Done in the presence of Lieut.-Colonel Martin Burke.

MARCH 24—10.30 P.M.

For the commerce of New York, see COMMERCE.

OHIO. The prosperity of this great State has continued, notwithstanding the severe demands of the war upon her. The receipts into the State Treasury, with the balance of the previous year, amounted in November to $8,679,966, and the total disbursements were $6,679,006; leaving a balance of $2,000,000. The expenses of the State i. proper were $1,450,663, and the disbursements $1,053,040, leaving a balance on November 15th of $397,622. During the year, $364,058 of the public debt has been redeemed, and a balance of $719,836 remained to the sinking fund. The debt of the State, including a loan of 1864 for military purposes, consists of the

Foreign debt............................... $12,815.212

Domestic debt.............................       685,538

Total................................            $13,500,750

The valuation of real estate in Ohio for 1864 was $655,498,100; of personal property, $1,006,696,116. In fourteen years the advance in the value of personal property has been 250 per cent.

The report of the Commissioner of Statistics presents some interesting facts relative to the effects of the war on banks, debts, and litigation. The result upon the State banks was shown in their returns from 1860 to 1863, as follows:

Decrease of capital.......................... $800.424

of circulation. ... ………………….1,882,576 

of discounts... ... ……………………881,050

Increase of deposits......................... 6,195,036

The total diminution of capital, circulation, and specie, was $3,863,628. The deposits have more than doubled, being an actual increase of $6,195,036.

In November, 1864, the account stood as follows, the number of banks being forty-seven :

Capital.................................... $4.408,829

Circulation............................... 5,116,471

Deposits.................................11,115, 818

Discounts................................ . 9,436,994

Specie ................................... . 1,180,802

In addition to the two great facts exhibited by the bank returns, that deposits increased and debts diminished; there is another of equal importance, that litigation has diminished, or more properly that suits for the collection of debts have diminished.

During the year the Federal Government called upon the State for troops to be furnished within that period as follows:

February 1st, 1864.............................51,456

March 14th…………………………. 20,598

July 18th……………………………..50,797

Total………………………………122,857

By a revision of credits this quota was reduced to 102,653. To fill deficiencies under the two first calls, a draft was ordered in May, which produced 7,711 men; of whom 6,290 paid commutation amounting to $1,887,000, and the remainder, 1,421, went into the service in person, or by substitutes. For the same purpose a draft was ordered under the last call, commencing in September; the deficiencies of the sub-districts amounted to 9,006. The draft more than filled the quota. On December 1st the excess amounted to 2,984 men. The voluntary absenteeism from the State of persons liable to military service, on the approach or during the pendency of the draft, was estimated to exceed twenty thousand. Those who were not drawn returned when the quotas of their districts were filled ; and those who were drafted remained away, with a few exceptions where substitutes were procured. A large number left during the ten days allowed by law between draft and notification. To meet all these deficiencies supplementary drafts become necessary, and then the same process went on until, in some cases, there were not men enough left in the townships to fill the quota. Many men drafted in one section of the State went into other sections; many went into other States and the territories, and not a few fled to Canada. The number of Inch furnished by the State to the Federal service to December 31st, 1863, was 200,452.

In April the Governor tendered to the Federal Government the service of thirty thousand militia for one hundred days. At the same time the Governors of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, tendered a proportionate quota. The reasons which induced this offer are thus stated by Governor Brough:

The policy of this movement did not admit of doubt or hesitancy. The summer campaigns were about to open in Virginia and Tennessee. Both of them must necessarily operate upon continually lengthening lines of communication, requiring, large forces to protect them. At the same time it was necessary that the Virginia army should cover and protect the National Capital, and that of Tennessee hold safe the border. In previous campaigns we had suffered from this species of depletion to an extent that seriously impaired the value of our successes. At the time of considering this proposition a large body of hardy and veteran troops were engaged in garrison duty, and guarding lines of communication, which could be as well done by less experienced men. To relieve these, and throw them forward, was to give to each of our operating armies a large reserve force. The time before the opening of the campaigns was too short to admit of a call, with its attendant of a draft, even if the legislation of Congress, not then completed, had admitted of such a measure. The policy was, therefore, apparent, of supporting our Page 630 active armies by the militia, until legislation could be perfected, and an additional call be made.

The States of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, had another manifest interest in this movement. In order to save our southern borders from incursions and raids, it was evidently sound policy to so strengthen our main armies as to furnish full employment for the rebel forces in their own territory. . In this particular the result fully justified the wisdom of the movement. But one raid was attempted during the season, and that was checked and overwhelmed in Kentucky before reaching the Ohio River.

The offer was at once accepted by the Federal Government. The National Guard of the State were called together at their respective rendezvous on May 21. On that day, amid a storm of snow and rain, more than forty thousand met and reported for duty without question or reservation. From these were organized forty-one regiments and one battalion, with an aggregate strength of 35,982 men. Of these, one regiment and the battalion were reserved at Johnson's Island, one regiment at Camp Chase, one at Gallipolis, and two at Camp Dennison. The remaining thirty-six regiments, embracing an aggregate strength of 31,051 men, were sent out of the State into Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Six of these regiments went to the front under General Butler; two of them were in the battle of Monocacy, where they suffered a loss of four killed and seven wounded, and a number of prisoners; one was stationed at Martinsburg, W. where it suffered a loss of over two hundred prisoners; one regiment was with General Hunter in his severe march to Lynchburg and back, reporting the loss of only one man; other regiments were stationed at Baltimore and Washington, and saw active service in the raid upon the latter city. . Of the force retained in the State, the 156th, 168th, and 171st, were all thrown into Kentucky to meet the raid of Morgan, where they did good service. In the fight near Cynthiana the 168th had nineteen wounded, of whom two died. The Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel were both included in the list of wounded—the former very severely. In the surrender by General Hobson a large number of this regiment was included, but they were afterwards paroled, as the retreat of Morgan was necessarily so expeditious that he could not retain them.

The vote of the State at the Presidential election was 470,532, of which the soldiers' vote was 50,713. This vote was divided between the Presidential candidates as follows:

                                     Lincoln. McClellan.

Home vote. . . . . . . . . . .224.008 195, 811

Soldiers' vote................ 32,751,     9,746

Total..................             264,975   205,557

Majority for Mr. Lincoln on the home vote, 28, 197; majority on the soldiers' vote, 31,221. Total majority, 59,418.

A Secretary of State was chosen at the State election in October. The vote was as follows:

                              Republican. Democrat

Home vote........... ....... 204,459  177,849 

Soldiers' vote................ 32,751   4.569

Total.......... ................. 237,210  182,439

Majority for Smith on the home vote, 26.619: majority on the soldiers' vote, 28,151. Total majority, 54,751 Of the members of Congress elected, 17 were republicans and 2 democrats.

The agriculture of the State has continued to advance, notwithstanding the reduction of the supply of labor. Less grain is raised than in former years, but in its place tobacco, sorghum, wool, &c. The corn crop of 1863 was an average one of twenty-seven bushels to the acre. This was a general reduction of . seven bushels per acre in consequence of the drouth. The average wheat yield was about the same as in previous years. The number of acres planted was 1,811,278. The oat crop was less than an average one. The potato crop was sixty-four bushels to the acre. The average yield of tobacco was eight hundred pounds per acre, and 47,262 acres were planted. Hogs have decreased in number, but sheep have increased.

The pork packing in Ohio, as compared with other States in 1864–15, was as follows: […].

The shipments to the eastern market were, in 1864–5, over the New York and Erie Rail. Page 631 road, 26,705; over the Pennsylvania Central Railroad, 181,841.

The State has a Reform School, or schools, for juvenile offenders, established on a farm of several hundred acres, about six miles southwest of Lancaster, in Fairfield County. The institution is founded on the principle that it is better to prevent than to punish offences. […].

The number of marriages in the State in 1864 was 20,881. The war has reduced the average number in three years one thousand. The number of naturalizations was 4,098. The whole number naturalized during the last seven years was 45,475. The number of indictments during 1864 was 2,859; convictions, 1,157. The suits and judgments were less than one-half the number in 1860. The number of violent deaths was 495, and the proportion of suicides 14 per cent. The aggregate number of paupers in the State is 20,000, or one in 128 of the population.

The various educational and charitable institutions of the State are in a prosperous condition.

The following is a list of the Colleges in the State :

Ohio University....... Athens..... 

Baldwin University....Berea ......

Ger. Wallace College  Berea

Xavier's College....  Cincinnati

Farmer's College...  College Hill

Capital University.....Columbus

Ohio Wes. University.. Delaware

Kenyon College........ Gambler

Dennison University...Granville...

West Reserve College...Hudson.....

Marietta College......Marietta....

Mt. Union College.....Mt. Union... 

Oberlin College........ Oberlin..... 

Miami University......Oxford ..... 

Wittenberg College..... Springfield . 

Otterbein University...Westerville.

Wilberforce University. Xenia ......

Antioch College?....... Yel. Springs

An order was issued in August by General Heintzelman, in command of the Department, forbidding the railroad companies to transport arms on their roads either in the form of merchandise or otherwise. On October 27th great excitement was created at Cleveland by rumors of a raid by Confederates from Canada. The civil authorities. military, and the United States authorities, made great preparations to receive the raiders. General Hooker, in command of the Department, issued the following order:

HEADQUARTERs NORTHERN DEPARTMENT,

CINCINNAT1, October 27th, 1864. 

CIRCULAR.

The commander of this Department has received information that it is the intention of a large body of men on the northern frontier, on each side of the line, open on one side, and in disguise on the other, to so organize at the ensuing National Election as te interfere with the integrity of the election, and when in their power to cast illegal votes; in fact, in any way interfere with the honest expressions of the electors.

In view of the foregoing facts, it is made the duty of all officers of the Government, both civil and military, as well as loyal citizens, to guard well the integrity of the ballot-box.

All military officers, including Provost Marshals and their assistants, will be held to a strict account. ability for the adoption of such measures within their districts or commands, as will not only prevent illegal voting, but to arrest and bring to justice all who attempt such voting, or endeavor to prevent the honest exercise of the elective franchise. The citizens and civil authorities of the towns and cities on the northern frontier are particularly re

____________________________

* The German Department of Baldwin University, organized as a distinct College in June, 1864.

f Suspended temporarily at the close of the year. Page 632

quested to give any information they may have; or may from time to time receive, to the Provost Marshals or military authorities, whose duty it is to inform the nearest Provost Marshal General or other military authority, and to take measures to arrest and confine any and all connected with such organizations. The it. raid on the Lakes and in New England are ample evidence that neither life nor property are safe.

All Provost Marshals and assistants, and all military commanders, will take measures to obtain and report at once any information that may lead to the prevention of this interference with the rights of the people, or aid in the arrest and punishment of the offenders; they from time to time will report by telegraph any new facts. Local authorities will receive all the aid within the control of the military commander,

By command of                    Major-General HOOKER.

[Official : C. H. POTTER

OREGON. The area of this extreme northwestern State is estimated at 95,248 square miles, and its population in 1860 was 52,465. It was estimated in 1864 to be 70,000. The Governor of the State is Addison C. Gibbs; Secretary of State, Samuel E. May; Treasurer, Edwin N. Cooke. Their terms of office expire on the second Monday of September, 1866. Their full term of office is four years. The election for State and county officers is held on the first Monday of June, biennially, except for the officers above mentioned. The last State election was held on June 6, 1864. The Legislature assembles biennially at Salem, on the second Monday in September. The Senate is composed of eighteen members elected for four years, and the House of thirty-eight members elected for two years. There are twenty counties in the State, containing about 14,718 voters in 1864, the taxable property of which was estimated in 1862 at $23,886.95. At the election in June, 1864, for member of Congress, J. H. D. Henderson received 8,728 votes, and J. K. Kelly 6,093; majority for Henderson, 2,635. Each house of the Legislature chosen at this election contains a Republican majority.

At the Presidential election the vote of the State was as follows: Lincoln, 9,888; McClellan, 8,457; majority for Mr. Lincoln, 1,431.

There are eleven newspapers published in the State, two of which are daily, one daily and weekly, and the others are weeklies.

PENNSYLVANIA. The uniform prosperity of this wealthy State experienced no c during the year except the destruction occasioned by the enemy in some of the Southern counties. Agriculture was prosperous and industry well rewarded. The internal system of improvements undertaken by the State some years ago created a heavy debt, the burden of which still continues. On December 1st, 1864, it was as follows:

Amount of public debt of Pennsylvania, as it stood on the 1st day of December, 1863.......

Deduct amount redeemed at th State Treasury during the fiscal year ending with November 30th, 1864, viz.:

Five per cent. stocks........... 

Four and a half per ct. stocks... 

Interest certificates............

Public debt December 1st, 1864......

Funded debt, viz.:

Six per cent. loans, ordinary ...

Five per cent. loans, ordinary ...

Four and a half per cent. loans, ordinary..................... Unfunded debt, viz.:

Relief notes in circulation...... certificates outstanding . . .

Interest certificates unclaimed.

Domestic creditors' certificates.

Total public debt  $39,496,536 73

The State holds bonds received from the sale of the public works, amounting to ten million three hundred thousand dollars. These bonds in the sinking fund reduce the public debt to $29,079,603.

Some dissatisfaction was created among the holders of the State bonds by the refusal to pay the interest due upon them in specie. This is the second occasion upon which the State has considered it necessary to adopt this course. The embarrassments which the country experienced in 1837 caused a suspension of payment in specie by Pennsylvania; but in June, 1840, the Legislature passed an act which approximately sufficient money to reimburse the bondholders for the difference in value between specie and suspended bank currency, and then declared by resolution “that hereafter the interest falling due on Pennsylvania stocks, shall always be paid in specie or its equivalent."

Page 649 Upon this pledge the existing loans were made, and mostly at the low rate of five per cent. interest. A correspondence upon the subject took place between the State Treasurer and one of the English bondholders, Sir Henry Holland, in December, in which the Treasurer states his views of the necessity as follows:

The Legislature last year saw fit to alter that policy, and our interest is now paid in United States notes.

This action of our Legislature was induced by the extraordinary circumstances in which the nation was placed, and I am free to give it as my opinion that, although the United States have hº their notes a legal tender in all transactions, and we have no State revenue in coin to meet our interest, that our justification in a departure from paying it in coin can only be found in one of those State necessities which vindicate a nation in temporarily postponing its obligations, in order to preserve the power to discharge them at a future day. 

I am also free to say, that my feelings of sympathy for the holders of our securities in your country have been very much weakened by the action of your people since the expression of my opinion to the Legislature to which I have called your attention.

For four years our National Government has been struggling to put down a most wicked and causeless rebellion upon the part of some of the States of this Union, and the enormous expenses incident upon this war in which we have been engaged to preserve the life of the nation, must be met by the various States of the Union, and the amount of those expenses which has thus been thrown upon the citizens of our State would have paid the entire amount of our debt more than four times over.

In this struggle we looked for no assistance whatever from your people or your Government, and desired none; but we did hope and believe, and had a right so to believe, that your people and your Government would give no countenance or assistance to the rebels who were in arms against our Government and its authority. In this we have been disappointed; and I believe that but for the granting of belligerent rights to the rebels by Great Britain, and the assistance and countenance which they have received from her people, we should have long since put down this rebellion, and you would have had no occasion to “protest” against what you term “a repudiation of the obligations of a State.”

It is true we have no positive evidence that the holders of our bonds in your country are among those who have given him or countenance to our enemy, but it is also true that all the public expressions of sympathy in your country for our nation in this its hour of trial have come, with a few noble exceptions, from that class in your midst who are unable, from their position in #. to own public securities of any kind.

We have looked in vain for any openly-expressed sympathy for our nation from that class in your country who represent its wealth and official position, with the few exceptions I have before admitted, while we do know that our enemy has received so much aid, assistance, and sympathy from this class of your people, and protection in many instances from your Government, º it has needlessly prolonged this rebellion, and added hundreds of millions to the expenses necessarily incurred by the State in its suppression, besides largely increasing the sacrifice of life and the sufferings of the people.

While I do not offer these facts as an excuse for our State for the action she has taken, as she needs no excuse at my hands, I do allude to them as reasons why the holders of her securities in your country have much less cause for complaint than they otherwise would have, and why your protest does not that weight and force which, in my opinion, it would possess did these facts not exist.

The receipts of the Treasury during the fiscal year, ending November 30th, together with the balance of the preceding year, were $6,880,644. The payments during the same period were $4,938,441; leaving a balance of $1,942,203. The revenue derived from a tax on banks during the year was $539,606. So many of them are now becoming National Banks, that this source of revenue may now be considered as substantially extinguished.

The contribution of the State to the military service of the United States has been as follows:

Troops sent into service during 1864:

Organizations for three years' term....... ….9,867

Organizations for one hundred days' term. 7,675

Organizations for one year's term..... ... ... 16,094

Volunteer recruits.......................................26,567

Drafted men and substitutes.......................10,651

Recruits for regular army........................... 2,974

Reenlistments of Pennsylvania vol Infantry . 889 — 17,876 91,704 Troops sent into the service of the United States since the commencement of the rebellion, including the ninety days' militia in the Departments of the Monongahela and Susquehanna in 1863:

During the year 1861................... .......... 180,504 

1862.. ...................................................... 71,100  

1863……………………………………..43,046 

1864..........................................................73,828

Reenlistment of Pennsylvania volunteers...17,876

Total……………………………………836,441

The twenty-five thousand militia of 1862 are not included in this statement.

The system of bounties to volunteers was attended with serious evils in some parts of the State. In some counties and townships the bounty tax during the year is estimated to have exceeded the average income derived from the land. The large sums offered in some places in the competition for men have demoralized many of the people, and the most atrocious frauds connected with the system have become common. The men of some of the poorer counties have been nearly exhausted by their volunteers being credited to richer counties which paid higher bounties. Of the number of men to whom bounties have been paid, it is believed that not one-fourth have been actually placed in the ranks of the army, and even those who have joined it have probably not, on an average, received for their own use one-half of the bounty paid for them. The quota of the State under the call for 300,000 in December, 1864, was 66,999. The opinion of the Supreme Court of the State, declaring the conscription act unconstitutional, was by a change in the judges reversed. The question came up on a motion to dissolve an injunction granted at the time of the first decision.

An act was passed by the Legislature at its special session in August to enable the soldiers in the field to vote at elections. The first requisite for a voter, if a soldier, was that he should be assessed and pay a tax of ten cents in the township in which he belonged. This Page 650 tax was in lieu of all other personal taxes. The place of such election was thus designated:

A poll shall be opened in each company, composed, in whole or in part, of Pennsylvania soldiers, at the quarters of the captain, or other officer thereof, and all electors, belonging to such company, who shall be within one mile of such quarters on the day of election, and not prevented by order of their commanders, or proximity of the enemy, from returning to their company quarters, shall vote at such ºf and at no other place; officers other than those of a company, and other voters, detached and absent from their companies, or in any military or naval º or in any vessel or navy yard, may vote at such polls as may be most convenient for them, and when there shall be ten or more voters at any place, who shall be unable to attend any company poll, or their proper place of election, as aforesaid, the electors present may open a poll, at such place as the may select, and certify in the poll-book, which shall be a record of the proceedings at said election, substantially in manner and form as hereinafter directed.

The officers of the election were to be chosen by the persons present, and the election was to be conducted as within the State, so far as relates to ballots, poll-books, challenges, &c., &c. The result, with the poll-book, was then to be sent to the prothonotary of the county where the voters belonged. Officers and soldiers on detached service, in numbers less than ten, were authorized to send their votes to a friend to be deposited by them on the day of election.

The entire vote of the State, at the Presidential election, was 572,702, which was given as follows:

                                      Lincoln. McClellan.

Home vote..................  269,679      263,967

Soldiers' vote..................26,712       12,349

                                     296,391       276,316

Majority for Mr. Lincoln on the home vote, 5,712; do. on the soldiers' vote, 14,363. Total, 20,075.

Of the members of Congress chosen at the election in October, 16 were Republicans and 8 Democrats.

The Legislature chosen at the election in October was divided as follows:

                                    Senate. House.

Republicans...................... 20    64

Democrats.........................13     36

Republican majority.......... 7     23

On July 3d a force of the enemy moved u the Shenandoah valley to invade Maryland. At that time Pennsylvania was called upon for volunteers to be mustered into the Federal service for a hundred days. Six regiments were thus organized in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washington and its vicinity, and a battalion of six companies. In the latter part of the month the regiments were withdrawn to Washington, and only the battalion remained.

On Friday, the 29th of July, the Confederate brigades of Johnson and McCausland, consisting of from 2,500 to 3,000 mounted men, with six guns, crossed the Potomac at Clear Spring Ford. They commenced crossing at ten o'clock, A. M., and marched directly on Mercersburg. There were but forty-five men picketed in that direction, under command of Lieutenant McLean, U. S. A., and as the enemy succeeded in cutting the telegraph communication, which from that point had to pass west by way of Bedford, no information could be sent to General Couch, by telegraph, who was then at Chambersburg. The head of this column reached Chambersburg at three o'clock A. M. on Saturday, the 30th.

The brigades of Vaughn and Jackson, numbering about 3,000 mounted men, crossed the Potomac at about the same time, at or near Williamsport; part of the command advanced on Hagerstown; the main body moved on the road leading from Williamsport to Greencastle. Another column of infantry and artillery crossed the Potomac simultaneously at Sheppardstown, and moved toward Leitersburg. General Averill, who commanded a force reduced to about 2,600 men, was at Hagerstown, and being threatened in front by Vaughn and Jackson, on his right by McCausland and Johnson, who also threatened his rear, and on his left by the column which crossed at Sheppardstown, he therefore fell back upon Greencastle.

General Averill, it is understood, was under the orders of General Hunter, but was kept as fully advised by General Couch as was possible, of the enemy's movements on his right and to his rear. General Couch was in Chambersburg, where his entire force consisted of 60 infantry, 45 cavalry, and a section of a battery of artillery, in all less than 150 men. The six companies of men enlisted for one hundred days remaining in the State, and two companies of cavalry, had, orders from Washington, joined General Averill. The town of Chambersburg was held until daylight, by the small force under General Couch, during which time the Government stores and trains were saved. Two batteries were then planted by the enemy commanding the town, and it was invested by the whole command of Johnson and McCausland. At 7 o'clock, A. M., six companies of dismounted men, commanded by Sweeny, entered the town, followed by mounted men under Gilmore. The main force in line of battle, a demand was made for $100,000 in gold, or $500,000 in Government funds, as ransom, a number of citizens were arrested and held as hostages for its payment. No offer of money was made by the citizens of the town, and even if they had any intention of paying a ransom; no time was allowed, as the enemy comment. immediately to burn and pillage the town, disregarding the appeals of women and children, the aged and infirm. General Conch withdrew his command, and did not himself leave until the enemy were actually in the town. General Averill's command being within nine miles ºf Chambersburg, efforts were made during the night to communicate with him. In the mean time, the small force of General Couch held the enemy at bay. General Averill marched on Chambersburg, but did not arrive until after the town was burned and the enemy had retired. Page 651 He pursued and overtook them at McConnellsburg, in Fulton County, in time to save that place from pillage and destruction. He promptly engaged and defeated them, driving them to Hancock and across the Potomac.

On April 6th the Department of Monongahela was annexed to that of the Susquehanna, to, General D. N. Couch assumed command of both.

Some difficulties occurred in Clearfield County between persons who had refused to respond to the draft and the officers who were sent to apprehend them. One or two persons were killed. Recruiting agents from nearly every county in the State were appointed by Governor Curtin to obtain men from the insurrectionary States to fill the State quota.

The amount of hard and soft coal mined and sent to market within the limits of the State during 1864, is estimated as exceeding fourteen millions of tons. At seven dollars per ton, this staple brought ninety-eight millions of dollars. For the details relative to the development of petroleum, see PETROLEUM.

The question whether the law making United States Treasury notes a legal tender for debts, was applicable to the discharge of money due for ground-rents on a stipulation to pay the amount in coin, was several times before the courts of Pennsylvania, and was differently decided. In April a decision was rendered in the District Court of Philadelphia, in the case of Mervine vs. Sailor—being an action to recover damages for a breach of covenant. Defendant had covenanted to pay a yearly ground rent of $570. “lawful silver money of the United States, each dollar weighing seventeen pennyweights and six grains at least.” When the July rent became due, the defendant tendered the amount in United States Treasury notes, which plaintiff refused to receive, demanding silver dollars. Suit was brought, and the defendant pleaded tender as aforesaid. To this plea the plaintiff filed a replication averring that the defendant did not tender in silver dollars, etc., but in promissory notes or paper money of the United States, of the nominal value of $285, but of 40 per cent. less exchangeable value. To this the defendant filed a special demurrer, averring that the promissory notes so tendered were lawful money of the United States and a legal tender in payment of all debts. The opinion of the court was delivered by Judge Hare, rendering judgment on the demurrer for the defendant, thus deciding that the treasury notes are a legal tender and should have been received in payment of the rent. Judge Sharswood delivered a dissenting opinion.

In May, Judge Agnew, of the Supreme Court, delivered an important opinion in the case of Shallenberger vs. Brinton, in which he decides that a ground-rent is a debt, and payable in legal tenders, in a case where the covenant was to !". the interest in “lawful silver money,” and the clause of extinguishment stipulated for the principal of the ground-rent in lawful money as aforesaid. Judge Agnew decided differently from Judge Allison in two similar cases in which he had delivered opinions.

In November, in the United States Circuit Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania— Judges Grier and Cadwallader on the bench—an opinion was delivered in the case of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company ca. Chas. Moulson et al., which was before the court in the shape of a bill in equity to compel the defendants to accept in extinguishment of the principal of certain ground rents, to the amount of $300,000, the legal tender notes of the United States. The opinion of Judge Grier was as follows:

Coined money, in modern times, forms but a very small portion of the current money used in commercial transactions. Paper money representing credit has long been used as current and lawful money. But no one could be compelled to accept the promise of a bank to pay money instead of the coin itself. The notes of the Bank of the United States, issued under the authority of the Government, were current money, and lawful money, because issued by such authority, but were never made a legal tender for the payment of debt.

A contract made in the United States for the payment of a certain number of dollars would be construed as meaning, not Prussian dollars or Spanish milled dollars, but lawful coin of the United States. The addition of the description “lawful money of the United States” is entirely º, and does not change the nature of the obligation. The statutes of Congress always make a distinction between a lawful or current money and that which shall be a tender for payment of debts. Hence, we find that when such is the intention, the language is, “And shall be a legal lender,” etc.

Some coins of the Government are a legal tender below a certain amount, but not beyond. Thus, by act of 9th February, 1798, after the expiration of three years all foreign coins except Spanish milled dollars shall cease to be a legal tender. By act of April, 1806, “foreign gold and silver coins shall pass current as money within the United States,” and be a legal tender for the payment of all debts, etc., at the several and respective rates following, etc. Again, by act of 28th June, 1834, “the following gold coins shall pass as current money, and be receivable in all payments by weight at the following rates,” etc.

Hence we find that in all cases where other money than the coinage of the United States ordered to be received as current or lawful money, the statute carefully provides the rate and conditions under which they are made a legal tender for payment of debts. It is clear, therefore, that Congress has always observed the distinction between current and lawful money which may be received in payment of debts, if the creditor sees fit to accept it, and that which he may be compelled to accept as a legal tender. It is clear, also, that if Congress make any other thing than their own coin a legal tender, it may be used as such. Thus, in the act authorizing the National Banks, their notes are made a legal tender for certain debts due to the Government for taxes, etc., but not for debts due from one citizen to another. The Treasury notes are made lawful or current money. “ and a legal tender for debts,” etc., as between individuals. As this is the first act in which this high prerogative of sovereignty has been exercised, it should be construed strictly. It is doubtful in policy and dangerous as a precedent.

The only question then is whether this case comes within the letter of the statute. Is the money which Page 652 may be paid to extinguish a ground-rent within the category of the act? Is it a debt? The owner of the land is not bound to pay it. The owner of the rent cannot compel him to pay it. There is no obligation as between the parties. It cannot be converted into an obligation by the election of one of the parties without the consent of the other. A man may execute his bond to me voluntarily, but unless I accept it he does not become my debtor.

These ground-rents, in the nature of a rent service, are somewhat peculiar to Pennsylvania, and little known in other States. But the Supreme Court of the State has clearly settled and determined their nature. The cases are too well known to the legal profession to need a quotation. “A rent service of the Court in Bosler vs. Kuhn—8 Watts & Sergeant, 186) is not a debt, and a covenant to pay it is not a covenant to pay a debt. The annual payments spring into existence, and for the first time become debts when they are demandable.”

I am of opinion, therefore, that the tender offered by the bill in this case is not authorized by the statute, and that the respondents cannot be compelled to extinguish their estate in the land by such a tender as that now made. The bill must, therefore, be dismissed.

RHODE ISLAND. Although one of the least of the States of the Union, Rhode Island has engaged in the war as heartily for her power as the largest. Her contributions to the Federal army, from the commencement of hostilities to December 31, 1864, were about 22,707; as follows:

Three years' men (volunteers)...............................................18,200 

Three years' men (drafted)....... ..................................................168

Three years' men (substitutes for drafted men)………………...677

One year's men (volunteers)……………………………………891

Nine months' men…………………………………………….2,227

Three months' men……………………………………………3,144

U. S. and regiments in other States................................. (about) 900

United States Navy........................................................(about) 2,000

The number of men furnished from May 26, 1863, to January 27 1865, was as follows:

In the year 1863........................2005

1864..........................................1,392

1865..........................................123

During this period there were also enlisted:

In the regular army, &c..... ........................413

Veterans reenlisted in the field and credited to Rhode Average, 64 men enlisted a week. During this period the United States Government has called upon Rhode Island to furnish as her quota 12,393 men, as follows:

June 30, 1863, the call for 300,000.. ... 2.880

February 1, 1864, 500,000……………8,469

March 14, 1864, 200,000……………..1,888

July 18, 500,000………………………8,197

December 19,…..300,000.................... 1,459

By a draft in July, 1863, credits in men and commutations, amounting to 1,296, were realized. For naval enlistments, extending back to 1861, about 1,500 were allowed, and in credits 1,800 for men enlisted prior to 1863, making the State deficient at the close of the year 1,459 men. An amendment to the State Constitution, so as to permit soldiers to vote, was submitted to the people early in the year, and a vote exceeding the requisite three-fifths was given for it. This secured its adoption. At the same time there was submitted to the people an amendment of the Constitution to permit unnaturalized citizens to vote who had served in the war. This lacked sixty-four votes of the requisite three-fifths majority. It was therefore rejected, as was also an amendment to abolish the registry tax.

page 724 An election for Governor was held in March. The candidates were James Y. Smith, Republican; Geo. H. Brown, Democrat; and Amos C. Barstow, Conservative. The vote was as follows: Smith, 8,840; Brown, 7,302; Barstow, 1,339; majority for Smith over Brown, 1,538; ditto over Brown and Barstow 199.

The legislature elected was divided as follows:

                                Senate. House,

Republicans .................28   55

Democrats……………..9   18

Republican majority.....14 87

The vote at the Presidential election was as follows: Lincoln, 13,692; McClellan, 8,470. Majority for Mr. Lincoln, 5,222.

The finances of the State are represented by the Governor as “in a satisfactory condition.” All the loans authorized by the legislature, amounting to $4,000,000, had been negotiated on favorable terms. The State had ample means to meet all immediate claims upon her, through the considerable sums due from the Federal Government, which it was expected soon to realize. The expenses attending the call for troops in December were not included in this estimate.

The Governor recommended to the legislature to enact some measures which should secure to the banks of the State additional privileges in their exchanges, as under the new burdens imposed by taxes upon circulation and deposits the business of banking was scarcely remunerative. He recommended the privilege should be granted to such as became National banks, to resume their chartered rights under their old organization at any period they might elect.

On December 8th some wealthy citizens were arrested by order of the Federal commander of the Military Department, under charges of having furnished supplies to the enemy. The proceedings of the Governor relative thereto he thus states: On the 8th of December, 1864, by order of Major. General Dix, commanding the Department of the East several of our citizens were arrested and removed beyond the limits of the State. It became the duty of the Executive to inquire into the authority and reasons ſº such a procedure; this was done personally. As the result of the inquiry, it appeared that the offence charged was within the exclusive cognizance of the officers of the General Government, and nothing further could be effected than to secure the assurance of an early investigation, which it is to be hoped will result in establishing the innocence of the parties charged.

The apparent commercial prosperity of the State continues as favorable as during any previous period of her history.

VERMONT. The number of troops furnished by Vermont to the army from the commencement of the war to October 1st, 1864, was $2,710, which showed an enlistment during the first nine months of 1864 of 14,486 men. The infantry and cavalry regiments of the State, though proportionally few, have borne an honorable part in the war, and proved among the most staunch and trustworthy troops in the service.

Page 807 The annual State election took place in September, and resulted in the choice of John Gregory Smith, Union Republican, by a majority of 19,415 over Timothy P. Redfield, Democrat, in a popular vote of 44,689. The remainder of the Republican State ticket was elected by similar majorities. In 1863 the majority for Governor Smith was 17,751. The following was the result of the election for members of the Thirty-ninth Congress:

Union Republican.        Democratic.

Dist. 1–F. E. Woodbridge, 9,449.....S. M. Wells,.....3,667

“ 2—J. S. Morrill,.....12,409.....R. McC. Ormsby, 4,793 

“  3  O. Baxter…………..9,408     G. Harrington,....3,281

In the succeeding November the Union Republican electors for President were chosen by a majority of 29,097 in a vote of 55,741, and cast the vote of the State for Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson.

From a report of the Senate Committee on Finance of the Vermont Legislature, it appears that the debt of Vermont amounts to $1,640,845, or $5.21 for each person in the State. A claim of $90,000 against the General Government, if collected and paid, will reduce the debt by that sum. The debt is principally funded, and is payable in 1871, 1874, and 1876. The total expenditures for 1864, including interest on the debt and war expenses, were $1,228,993, and the receipts were $931,853, making the increase of the State debt for the year $233,447. Upon an examination of the financial resources of the State, it appears that, in increase of population and in many of the branches of industry, Vermont is behind the other New England States. The last census shows that the ratio of increase in population is only 0.31 per cent., while the other New England States range from 2.65 to 42.10 per cent. In manufactures Vermont also compares unfavorably with the other New England States, but makes a better record in flour, meal, and lumber. The valuation of the State was increased but 32.83 per cent. In the other States the increase has been from 42 to 185 per cent. The committee attribute this unfavorable condition of affairs to the laws of . Vermont, which do not encourage business enterprise. They allow the seizure of property by attachment, and afford no relief to the unsuccessful man of business by laws of insolvency. Hence many of the enterprising business men of the State have sought homes elsewhere.

On November 1st the Legislature reëlected the following board of judges of the Supreme Court: Chief Justice, Luke P. Polard; Assistant Justices, Asa O. Aldis, John Pierpont, James Barrett, L. C. Kellogg, and Asahel Peck; W. G. Veavey, of Rutland, was elected reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court.

On October 19th the town of St. Albans, on the Vermont Central Railroad, about 15 miles from the Canada frontier, was the scene of a raid, accompanied by wanton bloodshed, by Southern refugees from Canada, under the leadership of one Young, a rebel officer, which for a time filled the northern part of the State with alarm. At 3} P. M. a body of between 30 and 40 rebels, well organized and armed, who had been quietly assembling during the previous week, made a combined attack on the St. Albans, Franklin County, and First National Banks. Not more than one or two persons were in any one of these institutions at the time; and these being easily overpowered, the raiders were enabled to abstract a sum in bank notes amounting in the aggregate to $211,150. They then seized upon all the horses they could find, either in the streets or in livery stables, and mounting, rode off toward Canada. The whole affair occupied less than twenty minutes. Previously to their departure they wantonly fired upon a number of unoffending and unarmed citizens, of whom several were wounded, one fatally. While robbing the banks, they stated that they were acting under orders from the rebel General Early, and were retaliating for acts committed by Federal troops in the valley of the Shenandoah. The robbery was skilfully planned for the day succeeding the market day, when the town was unusually dull; and to the unexpectedness with which it came must be attributed its success. Secret attempts had also been made to fire the town, which fortunately failed. As soon as the inhabitants had recovered from their surprise, a body of men was at once organized to pursue the raiders, who, however, being well mounted, had a considerable start. The authorities of the State were also promptly notified, and men and arms arrived in large numbers in St. Albans within a day or two. The neighboring border towns immediately took every precaution to guard against similar attacks, .." for several days an active system of patrols was maintained. As a further means of arousing the vigilance of the country, the St. Albans' banks offered a reward of $10,000 for the recovery of the plunder and the capture of the raiders. These were vigorously pursued by the armed citizens, dropping by the way a considerable number of the purloined bank notes, but succeeded in escaping over the frontier into Canada, where nearly the whole gang were eventually captured either by the armed citizens of Vermont, who started in pursuit, or by the Canadian authorities. The latter, in accordance with instructions from the Governor General, Lord Monck, showed considerable activity in procuring the arrest of the raiders. . Those of the latter arrested by American citizens were at once turned over to the local authorities. The legal proceedings to which the raid gave rise in Canada are described under the head of FOREIGN RELATIONS.

VIRGINIA, WEST. The vote cast in West Virginia at the Presidential election was 33,590; of which Mr. Lincoln received 23,152, and General McClellan 10,438. In the Legislature there is no division of parties. The regular State election took place in October. Governor Boreman was reëlected without opposition, having received 19,098. The Republican members of Congress were also chosen with very little opposition. The State fortunately escaped from the alarming military invasions under which it had suffered in previous years, and remained comparatively settled and undisturbed. The most interesting event in its history was the development of vast supplies of Petroleum. (See PETROLEUM.)

WISCONSIN. This agricultural State engaged in the war with ardor, and has vigorously responded to all the calls for troops which have been made since its commencement. Wisconsin has sent to the field twenty-four regiments of infantry, four regiments and one company of cavalry, one regiment of heavy artillery, thirteen batteries of light artillery, and one company of sharpshooters, making an aggregate of seventy-five thousand one hundred and thirty-three men. Of this number thirty-two thousand nine hundred and seventy have been lost to the service by deaths, discharges, and desertions, leaving in the service, at the close of 1864, forty-two thousand one hundred and sixty-three men. To this number should be added three regiments of one hundred days' men, furnished during the year. Two drafts for men were made in the State. In 1863 the enrolment was 121,202 and the number drafted was 14,935. Of this number 880 were held to service in person or by substitute; 2,689 failed to report; 6,285 were exempts, and 5,081 paid commutation, amounting to $1,524,300. In November, 1864, under the corrected enrolment, the number subject to draft was 96,068. Of these there were drafted 17,534, of whom 3,439 were held to service in person or by substitute; 6,724 were discharged after draft, and 7,367 failed to report. Great contributions were made by the women in almost every town and village of the State to the welfare of the soldiers, and generally through aid societies. The amount of the State debt is two million five hundred thousand dollars. With the exception of one hundred thousand dollars, this debt was created for war purposes, and is a legitimate charge against the Federal Government. The balance in the Treasury at the close of 1864 was $107,620. The disbursements during the year from the War Fund for the families of volunteers, were $615,693. The taxable property in the State was estimated in 1863 at $153,000,000, exclusive of $30,000,000 railroad property. The State tax is about five and one-half mills on each dollar of the taxable property. Of the total revenue—$802,196– paid into the Treasury during the year, the tax on banks produced $52,016, and the tax on railroads, $128,003. During the year there was paid $42,500.00 for the Hospital for the Insane; $41,371.55 for the State Prison; $16,175.00 for the Deaf and Dumb Institute; $19,250.00 for the Institute for the Blind; $12,004.50 for the State Reform School. The whole amount of the productive school fund is $2,052,353; and of the income, $151,010 were appropriated to public schools. The amount of the productive fund of the State University is $157,170. The National Bank Law produced serious results upon the banks of the State. Their circulation at the end of the year was about $2,500,000. This was secured by deposits with the Comptroller of stock amounting to $2,700,000. About one-half of these securities consisted of Wisconsin war bonds. The circulation of eighteen or twenty banks was secured entirely by these bonds. It was necessary to throw these on the market to substitute the national bonds for them.

At the election for President the total vote of the State was 149,342: of which Mr. Lincoln received 83,458; General McClellan 65,884. Majority for Mr. Lincoln 17,574. The Legislature was divided as follows:

                               Senate. House.

Republicans..................25      67

Democrats .................... 8  33

Total…………………33 100

In some parts of the State the popular vote was less than in 1860. This diminution was ascribed to the war.

Jason Downer was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of the State to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Byron Paine.

One of the oldest men in the world is a resident of Wisconsin, having reached the age of one hundred and thirty-nine years. He is thus described in the “State Journal: ”

Joseph Crele was born in Detroit, of French parents. The record of his baptism in the Catholic Church of that city shows that he is now one hundred and thirty-nine years of age. He has been a resident of Wisconsin for about a century. He was first married in New Orleans one hundred and nine years ago. Some years after he settled at Prairie du Chien, while Wisconsin was yet a province of France. Before the revolutionary war, he was employed to carry letters between Prairie du Chien and Green Bay. It is but a few years ago that he was called as a witness in the Circuit Court, in a case involving the title to certain real estate at Prairie du Chien, to give testimony in relation to events that transpired eighty years before. He now resides with a daughter, by his third wife, who is over seventy years of age.

The residence of the family is only four or five miles out of Portage City. From citizens of that place we learn that the old man is still active, is able to chop wood, and to walk several miles. He speaks English quite imperfectly, but converses fluently in the French language. He goes to elections, and, like a sensible old gentleman, votes the Union ticket. Stoops a little under the burden of years, but not more than many men of seventy. In person he is rather above the medium height, spare in flesh, but showing evidences of having been in his prime a man o sinewy, strength. Concerning his habits, a subject of much interest in connection with an instance of such extraordinary longevity, we have been able to learn but a little, except that he is an inveterate smoker.

A very good daguerreotype picture of him, taken in 1856, may be seen at the rooms of the State Historical Society.

Three score years and ten ordinarily constitute the full span of a vigorous human life. This man's existence has been prolonged for almost twice that period. Those who began the journey of life with him are dead and their very bones are dust. Babes that he might have dandled on his knee at an age when most men are bowed with decrepitude, have grown into manhood, passed through the ordinary vicissitudes Page 816 of life, become gray and feeble and sunk into old men's graves, and this man still lives | He walks about among a generation whose grandsires were unborn after he had passed the usual period of manly Fº All his contemporaries are gone. No wonder f at times, as we understand is the case, a haunting sense of loneliness overwhelms him. Though he has led a rude border life, and probably has little of sentiment in his composition, yet, in some dim way at least, he experiences the feeling, so touchingly expressed by Wordsworth, writing under the shadow of more than seventy years, of

“One to whom Heaven assigns that mournful part,

That utmost solitude of age to face.”

And with his simple and unsophisticated conceptions respecting a Deity, this feeling of solitariness; of remaining thus long the sole survivor of a generation; of walking about in this latter half of the nineteenth century, and in these days of telegraphic despatches, monitors, steam presses, and religion—he was a man capable of bearing arms in the days of Braddock's defeat!—the sense, we repeat, of this exceptional and anomalous lot, joined with his crude and untutored notions upon religious subjects, has induced in his mind the curious fancy that perhaps God has overlooked him.


Source: The American Annual Cyclopaedia and Register of Important Events of the Year, 1861-1865, vols. 1-5. New York: Appleton & Co., 1868.