those who are attacked with fever or dysentery, probably eighty-possibly ninety-per cent. would be restored." The asylum at Utica, large as it is, is wholly inadequate to the demands of the State; besides, its distance from remote counties virtually excludes many who would otherwise receive its care. Careful computation has demonstrated that, during twenty years of its able management and successful operation, the advantages of the asylum to Oneida county have been more than double those enjoyed by the counties next beyond, but within sixty miles, and they are nearly three-fold those of the counties which are from sixty to one hundred and twenty miles distant. These facts prove that people will avail themselves of the benefits of these institutions somewhat in the ratio of their proximity to them. The prospective asylum at Ovid, and the one contemplated on the Hudson river, promise no more than adequate facilities for the treatment of the insane.

It will be recognized as a duty to contribute to the fund for a National Cemetery at Antietam, to preserve from desecration the remains of our gallant heroes who fell upon that historic battlefield. The State of Maryland has made large appropriations for this object, and, through its board of commissioners, has endeavored to secure the co-operation of other States. The amount originally assigned to New York State was $17,281.88. Most of the Northern States have already made appropriations for this purpose. As the General Government has initiated liberal provision in this behalf, it is now supposed that the sum of ten thousand dollars will discharge the obligation resting upon our own State. With a view of manifesting a proper interest in this national project, I appointed two eminent gentlemen to represent this State upon the occasion of dedicating the grounds selected for the cemetery, and their report will be duly transmitted for your information.

NEW YORK CITY. QUARANTINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

I invite your attention to the affairs of the city of New York: the most populous as well as the first commercial city of the western continent; intimately connected with the vital interests of all parts of the State; holding relations with every State in the Union, and every country abroad. This imperial city lies within our borders, and is justly entitled to every consideration demanded by such vast and important interests and relations. To adorn and improve it, to extend its commercial convenience and capacity, to give greater security to life and property, to protect those doing business within its limits from exorbitant and unnecessary taxation, are matters of first importance to the city, and to all parts of the State. The method by which these results may be attained, I leave to your intelligent judgment, confident that you will agree with me, that whatever appropriate legislation can effect towards these desirable ends, is clearly required at your hands.

In my last annual message I called the attention of the Legislature to the fact that the fearful epidemic which had raged with such violence in many parts of Europe, had already made its appearance in our principal seaport, and I recommended that prompt measures should be provided by law to stay its progress. This recommendation met with a ready and liberal response. Concurrent resolutions were passed by the Legislature, calling upon Congress to aid the State by placing hulks and vessels, temporarily, at the disposal of the quarantine authorities. An appropriation was also made, to enable the Quarantine Commissioners to provide such means for the care and treatment of the sick as the exigencies of the case should require. They took immediate steps to bring the action of the Legislature to the attention of Congress, and [SENATE JOURNAL.]

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secured the passage of a resolution by that body, authorizing the Secretaries of War and Navy to comply with the request of the State.

Impressed with the national importance of guarding against the consequences of the introduction of the terrible scourge into the great commercial metropolis of the country, the Secretary of War at once placed the steamship "Illinois," and the Secretary of the Navy placed the sloops of war, "Saratoga" and "Portsmouth," under the control of the State. In this connection I have the pleasure to acknowledge, also, the generous action of the Secretary of the Treasury, in placing the United States revenue cutter at the port of New York in charge of a special agent, to aid our authorities in enforcing quarantine regulations. Events have since shown that these steps were neither unnecessary nor premature. Scarcely had these preparations been made before the steamship "Virginia" arrived from Liverpool, having lost forty-six of her passengers by cholera. during the voyage, and having a large number of sick on board. The number of her sick increased while under quarantine, until it reached one hundred and ninety-six. Since that time eighteen other vessels have arrived from foreign ports, each of which brought the frightful malady to our shores. Six hundred and fifty-one persons, sick with the disease, have been treated under quarantine since these facilities were provided. The number of cases that have occurred on board of vessels during their passage, and after their arrival here, is not definitely known, but it is estimated by the Health Officer at two thousand, and that out of this number at least one thousand have died. It is believed that few, if any, cases of cholera have appeared on shore, the origin of which can be traced to the sick under quarantine. This is the highest testimony in favor of the vigilance of the Health Officer, and the efficiency of the measures adopted by the Commissioners of quarantine, to confine the disease to the vessels in the lower bay. It would seem, also, to set at rest the doubts expressed as to whether a personal quarantine, in cases of cholera, is of any practical value.

In view of these facts, it will become your duty to determine what further action should be taken to continue the protection and security we have enjoyed during the past year. Experience, both here and abroad, teaches that the frosts of winter present no effectual barrier to the approach of this dreaded malady. Its visitation among us in 1865 was as late as the third day of November, while eight out of the eighteen vessels above mentioned arrived after the first of November, 1866. The presence of cold weather, therefore, brings with it no guarantee of safety. Many predict that, the most serious visitation of the disease is yet to come, and that the approaching season will require more ample accommodations for the sick than have yet been provided. The joint resolution of Congress, to which I have referred, is limited in its operations to one year. The quarantine hospital how being erected on West Bank cannot probably be completed and ready for the reception of patients before the middle of the coming summer. In the meantime other accommodations should be provided. The people rely upon your wisdom and liberality to supply their officers with whatever may be necessary to protect the public health. The reports of the Commissioners of Quarantine and the Health Officer furnish information and suggestions, founded on experience, which will aid in guiding your judgment.

An act was passed by the last Legislature, creating a Metropolitan Sanitary District and a Board of Health therein, aud on the sixth day of March the organization provided for was made. The efforts of the commissioners appointed, to improve the sanitary condition of the dis

trict-which was then deplorable-aided by the fear of an impending pestilence, soon accomplished the most gratifying results. The measures of the board have secured to New York and Brooklyn, as well as to other portions of the State, a comparative exemption from the great afflictions usually attending the presence of this epidemic. The public confidence in the ability of the commissioners, quieted the fears of the people, and the great commercial interests of the State have not materially suffered. With their ability, activity and energy, and with the support and confidence of the public, it is believed they will, in time, reduce the mortality of the great cities in the Metropolitan district, aid in preserving the health and promoting the comfort of the people, and by these means add to the wealth, and increase the prosperity of the State. The act creating the Metropolitan Board of Health requires some slight amendments, to secure its greater efficiency, for which your attention is directed to their report and accompanying documents.

The several annual statements of the administration of the Police department, the Fire department, and the Commissioners of Emigration, will soon be laid before yon. These reports are replete with information of public interest, and disclose the successful operations of their respective departments.

MILITARY DEPARTMENTS.

There were, on the first day of December, 1866:

104 regiments of infantry; 3 regiments of cavalry; 1 regiment of artillery; 1 battalion of infantry; 2 battalions of artillery; 3 batteries of artillery; 1 battalion of cavalry; 1 independent battery; 2 light howitzer batteries; 1 squadron of cavalry.

Of infantry regiments thirteen will be disbanded and consolidated. There has been a marked improvement in the National Guard organization of the State during the past year in discipline and efficiency. The regiments to be disbanded and consolidated have failed mainly by reason of lack of uniforms and equipments. The appropriations granted beretofore, for the purchase of uniforms, arms and equipments, have been expended, and still several thousand men, enrolled and organized are unsupplied. The appropriation of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, made last session, payable out of fines and taxes to be collected from the reserve militia force, has not been realized.

On the first of January, 1866, the enrolled and organized force of the National Guard was slightly in excess of fifty thousand men. The last Legislature fixed upon this number as the maximum to be maintained in time of peace, and also provided that the minimum of thirty-two men, rank and file, for company organization, should be increased to sixty-four men. It is the opinion of the Adjutant-General that the former number is all that should be required in time of peace, conferring upon organizations discretionary power of increase. The militia law of the State, and the act of Congress relating to a militia system, provide that each regimental district shall have an organization, and, with one hundred and twenty-eight districts, an increased minimum will necessarily augment the force beyond the number fixed by the Legislature.

Your attention is respectfully directed to the improvements for the alteration of the Springfield and Enfield rifles, and to the action of this and other governments in adopting breech-loading small arms, with the view of securing to the National Guard of our State the advantages of this improvement. With the largest and best organized militia of any of the States, it should be our aim to raise it to the highest standard of efficiency. I have deemed the matter of sufficient practical importance to warrant the appointment of a military commission, and their report will be duly transmitted for your further information.

The unorganized arms-bearing population constitute the reserved militia. Three enrollments have been made, or attempted, since the militia law was passed, and in neither case has it escaped legal criticisms upon the mode of its execution. Under the enrollments of 1862 and 1864, no fines or taxes were realized to the treasury. The Legislature intervened in one instance, and relieved this reserve delinquent force from its payment; in another, legal objections were raised which deterred the authorities from any attempt to enforce it. In making the third enrollment during the past year, more care has been bestowed in conforming strictly to the requirements of the law, and it is expected that the militia fund will be benefited thereby.

The importance of an effective militia to a democratic republic cannot be over-estimated. A people who really desire to avoid war will find a potent element of security and peace in a well organized militia. It may at least be questioned whether any government, however wise its foundation, can safely dispense with a well regulated citizen soldiery which may be called to the public defense in periods of public danger. Our experience as a people seems to justify this opinion. Gratitude will be eternal to the men who sprang to arms at the call of the government in 1861, and however much we may owe to their ardent patriotism, we cannot but feel that the feeble character of the military organizations in the Northern States emboldened the rebels with the hope of success, and even made probable, in their judgment, the success of the rebellion itself. If our populous loyal commonwealths had been more fully prepared with well disciplined and well armed citizen soldiers, the suppression of the rebellion might have been a work of months rather than of years.

With an enlightened people a complete military system enlists upon the side of law and order a large number of able-bodied members of community, and creates a force of sufficient strength to discourage outbreaks against the peace and quiet of society. It seems, also, to keep alive the grand traditions of the race; the chastened memories of the nation's trials and triumphs; it excites more exalted feelings of personal responsibility to the government, and inspires a chivalrous sense of national honor, which a people should ever feel who are willing to face death in defense of their rights. If not impracticable, it would still be unwise to organize the whole arms-bearing population. On the other hand, we could not create a class militia, without making distinctions opposed to the genius of our institutions. It is a source of pride to turn to our National Guard organizations and militia system as the best solution of the question yet found in the experience of any of the States.

The reports of the several Staff Officers will soon be laid before you. The duties which pertain to those departments of the public service have been faithfully and well performed. The late rebellion necessarily increased largely the military expenses, and since its suppression no considerable reduction in these departments could be made. The pe fection of the records, the issue of certificates confirming the claims of officers and privates for back pay, bounty and pensions, the continued application for State bounty, and the revision of the accounts of the State against the United States, have, together with other important duties, required a continuing large force and expenditure. But during the past year such progress has been made in the adjustment of these matters, that I shall be able to make some diminution, and still maintain the efficiency of these departments for the discharge of all important duties.

The report of the Bureau of Military Statistics will also be presented. The objects of this office are highly patriotic, and its value as a means of collecting and preserving the material for accurate history, is obvious. Through its correspondence with town and county authorities, officers of societies, and members of military bodies, the details and statistics of effort and organization throughout our State have been gathered, and now constitute a vast fund of information of public interest and utility. The report of the Chief of this bureau makes full mention of many facts and matters of importance and pride to the people.

It is not certain that the project to secure a hall of military record will be consummated. The scheme for such a building, to perpetuate the memory of the part taken by New York soldiers, sailors and citizens, in the late civil war was based upon an appeal to patriotic sympathy and gratitude. Thus far the sum contributed has been less than onefourth of the amount required for the purpose contemplated in the act of the Legislature. The failure of the plan will not be a matter of deep concern, if the new Capitol building shall be prosecuted with reasonable vigor, of which there is now little doubt. In this building a room may be set apart for the collection of relics and mementoes, which are already very numerous and of rare interest, and which will, doubtless, augment for years to come. While it is hoped that the money will be Contributed adequate to the original design, I cannot doubt, as the bureau must eventually become substantially a branch of the AdjutantGeneral's Department, that an appropriate repository for the collections may be arranged in the new Capitol near the military archives which pertain to his office.

MILITARY AGENCIES.

The subject of State aid to disabled soldiers, and to the widows and orphans of those who fell in battle during our recent war, will again engage your attention.

The military agencies at Washington and Albany, and the temporary Soldiers' Home, through which the aid of the State has been disbursed, have secured great good to those who have needed their assistance, and proved an efficient and economical means for the distribution of State aid.

The amount of business transacted at the agencies has been large. Over seventeen thousand claims have been prepared and forwarded; thirty thousand letters have been written, and six hundred thousand dollars collected. There are now fifteen thousand applications pending, on which not less than one million five hundred thousand dollars will be obtained during the coming year.

Nearly all of those making application are in extremely destitute circumstances; their necessities urging them to avail themselves of the benefit of a free claim agency. Many of the claims, when presented, are, from incomplete evidence and other imperfections, of so doubtful a character and present so many difficulties, that no attorney would undertake their prosecution without being guaranteed their fees; a condition with which, from their indigent circumstances, the applicants could not comply. The claim would thus, virtually, have to be abandoned, and the most necessitous cases would be excluded from the benefit of provisions made in their behalf by the government; and thousands of dollars would be lost to the State. A further consideration, of great importance to the recipients of these bounties, is the expedition of the process of settlement of the claims filed by these agencies. They are uniform, prepared with great care, conform strictly to the regulations prescribed by the different departments of the General Government,