Cflmnwttfofalijj of Umat jiMsefts. A PROCLAMATION TO THE PEOPLE OF MASSACHUSETTS. Executive Department, Boston, November 18, 1868. * Fellow Citizens : — Under the Act of the General Court, passed this day, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts offers a bounty of three hundred and twenty-five dollars ($325) to every volunteer who shall enlist and be mustered into the military service of the United States, to serve for three years, or during the war, but not to exceed three years, as a part of the contin- gent of Massachusetts, under the last call of the Presi- dent. This bounty, however, will not be paid to any minor without the consent of his parents or guardians, if he has any in the State. Any volunteer who wishes, can deposit his bounty, or any part of it, with the Treasurer of the Common- wealth, subject to his own order, and receive interest on it at five per cent, a year. Thus, for such part of 2 his money as he does not wish to use immediately, he can make the treasury of the State his savings bank, and it will be earning him interest as a safe invest- ment. Or, if he wishes to use it from time to time, it can be sent to the treasurer of his own town or city, and there paid out to the volunteer’s own order. Or he can draw out a part of it, and leave the re- mainder to accumulate on interest, and be drawn for when wanted. Persons entitled to State aid, under the laws of the Commonwealth, may receive it, notwithstanding the payment of this bounty. ' This bounty is payable equally to veteran soldiers, w x ho have served nine months or more, and to new recruits ; and is in addition to the bounty paid by the United States. Those volunteers who prefer, may, instead of the larger bounty in hand, receive fifty dollars upon enlist- ing, in addition to the seventy-five dollars paid in ad- vance by the United States, and afterwards receive a monthly additional pay of twenty dollars per month, making, with the regular monthly pay from the United States, thirty -three dollars per month. And this is in addition to the instalments of bounties offered by the United States. This monthly pay of twenty dollars D4-i 3 W Wt per month will be payable at the office of the Treasurer of the Commonwealth, upon the soldier’s order ; and a system will be devised in relation to drawing such orders, for the purpose of guarding both the soldier and the treasury against fraud. This monthly pay, if the soldier wishes, or any part of it, may be deposited in the treasury, as a Savings Bank, drawing five per cent, interest, or may be drawn upon the soldier’s order, as above mentioned. In case of the volunteer’s choosing to receive the B 4 increased monthly pay instead of the larger bounty in hand, he will receive the same pay of twenty dollars per month for six months after his honorable dis- charge for disability after six months’ service ; and if he dies in service, his widow or heirs will receive the same additional six months’ pay after his death ; with the limitation, that it will not continue more than three years in the whole. If residents of one town, or one ward of a city, enlist in another, they will, nevertheless, be counted in the quota of the town or ward where they reside, until that quota is full. Whoever enlists, knowing he is physically disquali- fied for military duty, with the fraudulent intent of 4 obtaining the bounty and then getting discharged for such disability, is liable to imprisonment in the State prison not exceeding ten years, or fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or imprisonment in jail not more than two years. Massachusetts soldiers now in service, and having not exceeding one year more of their present enlist- ment to serve, may re-enlist, and receive the same bounties with those above mentioned ; with the same privilege of choosing to receive the $325 down, or $50 down and $20 additional monthly pay instead ; and with the same privilege of making the State treasury their Savings Bank, and receiving interest ; and of having their six months’ pay continued after discharge, or in the event of death, to their widows or heirs, on the terms above mentioned. Soldiers in old regiments may re-enlist in their own regiments ; and veterans, (that is, returned soldiers who have served at least nine months,) may enlist in either of the following new organizations, namely, the 2d Regiment of Heavy Artillery, commanded by Colonel Frankie ; the 56th Regiment of Infantry, commanded by Colonel Griswold ; the 57th, commanded by Colonel Bartlett ; the 58th, commanded by Colonel Richmond ; the 59th, commanded by Colonel Gould ; (the latter four being also called the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th Veteran Regiments respectively;) or in the Battalion of Veteran Cavalry now recruiting at Readville, or they may join any existing regiment or company. In addition to the above bounties, offered by the Commonwealth, bounties will also be paid by the United States, as follows : — To every recruit who is a veteran volunteer, that is, every able-bodied man, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, who has heretofore been enlisted, and has served for not less than nine months, and can pass the surgical examination re- quired by the mustering regulations of the United States, one month’s pay in advance, and a bounty and premium amounting to $402, as follows : — 1. At the general rendezvous, and before leaving the same to join his regiment or company, one month’s pay in advance, . . . $13 00 First instalment of bounty, . . . . 60 00 Premium, 2 00 Total pay before leaving general rendezvous, $75 00 [This will be paid in cash, or checks for transmittal, in whole or in part, as the man may desire.] 2. At the first regular pay-day, or two months after muster in, an additional instalment of bounty, $50 00 6 3. At the first regular pay-day after six months’ service, an additional instalment of bounty, $50 00 4. At the first regular pay-day after the end of the first year’s service, an additional instal- ment of bounty, 50 00 5. At the first regular pay-day after eighteen months’ service, an additional instalment of bounty, 50 00 6. At the first regular pay-day after two years’ service, an additional instalment of bounty, 50 00 7. At the first regular pay-day after two and a half years’ service, an additional instalment of bounty, 50 00 8. At the expiration of three years’ service, or to any soldier who may be honorably dis- charged after two years’ service, the remain- der of the bounty will be paid, . . . 40 00 All of the above payments of bounty will be in addition to the regular monthly pay of thirteen dollars per month. To all other recruits, not veterans, accepted and enlisted as aforesaid, one month’s pay in advance, and in addition, a bounty and premium amounting to $302, will be paid, as follows : — 1. At the general rendezvous and before leaving the same to join his regiment or company, the recruit will be paid one month’s pay in advance, ....... $13 00 First instalment of bounty, .... 60 00 Premium, 2 00 Total pay before leaving general rendezvous, $75 00 [To be paid in cash or checks for transmittal, in whole or in part, as the recruit may desire.] 7 2. At the first regular pay-day or two months after muster-in, an additional instalment of bounty will be paid, ..... 3. At the first regular pay-day after six months’ service, in addition to his pay, he shall be paid an additional instalment of bounty, . 4. At the first regular pay-day after the end of the first year’s service, in addition to his pay, an additional instalment of bounty will be paid, . . . . 5. At the first regular pay-day after eighteen months’ service, in addition to his pay, an additional instalment of bounty will be paid, 6. At the first regular pay-day after two years’ service, in addition to his pay, an additional instalment of bounty will be paid, 7. At the expiration of three years’ service, or to any soldier who may be honorably discharged after two years’ service, the remainder of the bounty will be paid, ..... $40 00 40 00 40 00 * 40 00 40 00 40 00 If the government shall not require these troops for the full period of three years, and they shall be honorably mus- tered out of the service before the expiration of their term of enlistment, they will receive, upon being mustered out, the whole* amount of bounty remaining unpaid, the same as if the full term had been served. The legal heirs of recruits who die in service will be entitled to receive the whole bounty remaining unpaid at the time of the soldier’s death. If the recruit continues in service for three years, the monthly pay of $13, and the bounty received as aforesaid, will amount, when averaged over the whole term of service : 4 8 For veteran volunteers, per month, to . . $24 90 For other soldiers, not veterans, per month, . 21 30 If discharged at the end of two years, the pay and bounty received will be at the following rates : — For veteran volunteers, per month,' . . . $29 70 For other soldiers, not veterans, per month, . 25 50 If honorably mustered out in less than two years, as not being required, the monthly rate of compensation will become increased, as the term of service is diminished. In addition to this, the volunteer is furnished with his rations, clothing, and medical attendance, and is paid in cash for such part of his allowance of clothing as he does not draw. * Men enlisted under this Order will be permitted to select their own regiments, which, however, must be old regiments in the field, excepting in the cases of those veterans who enlist in veteran organizations, and with the further ex- ception that other new recruits, while they may, if they choose to do so, enlist in the veteran regiments, the provi- sions of this Order in respect to bounties will not be enjoyed by them. Veterans may enlist in either of the above five veteran regiments or veteran battalion, or in any old regiment or company, and receive the veteran bounty of $402, from the United States. Other new recruits may enlist in either of the old regiments in the field, and receive the bounty of $302, from the 9 United States above-mentioned ; and on enlisting in the new battalion of cavalry, at Readville, recruiting for the First Regiment of Massachusetts Cavalry, commanded by Colonel Sargent, will also receive the bounty of $302, from the United States. The comparative advantage to the soldier of the alternative offers made by the Commonwealth may be stated thus, viz. : 1st. By accepting the $50 and monthly pay of $20, he will have received $330, from the State at the end of fourteen months ; i. e., $5 more than the bounty of $325. And for every month’s additional service he will have $20 more, and if honorably discharged for disability after six months’ service, he will receive six months’ pay thereafter, i. e., $120 besides, — the whole monthly pay however, not to be for more than three years. The total received from the State for the $50 bounty and $20 per month would in three years be $770. 2d. By accepting the bounty of $325, he makes sure of that sum, and he waives his chances of more. Let the soldier elect according to his best judgment of his own interest, and let him, at all events, unless he knows precisely what to do with his money now 10 for the advantage of his family and himself, leave his money in the treasury, where it will draw interest and remain while he is absent without any risk of loss. There can be no better investment for him on the whole and in the long run, except paying his debts, if he owes any. I know that the people of Massachusetts do not fight for money nor vulgar glory. They fight for their, country, to subdue the enemies of her rights and their own liberties, under the better impulses of duty, patriotism and manly honor. But the purpose of the State is to provide for the comfort and protection of the soldier’s household, so that the highest duties of patriotism may be found consistent with those of domestic affection. I am directed, therefore, to tender to Volunteers, under the New Call , their alternative, Bounty or State Pay. The offers of the Commonwealth come alike to the new recruit, the returned veteran, and to the old soldier still in the field. The offers of the United States are alike to all these classes, saving only that recruits, (not being discharged soldiers of nine months’ experience,) will receive from 11 the United States $ 100 instead of $300, if they select a regiment not now in the field. A General Order will soon issue from the Office of the Adjutant- General, containing any details needed in addition to those of Order No. 30. % Fellow Citizens: — I have endeavored with clear- ness and simplicity to present the offers made by our governments, State and National, to render convenient the military service. Let the duty of this occasion be performed in the spirit of men worthy of the name and the blood of Massachusetts, worthy to bear in their charge the fortunes of a Nation, its civilization, its liberties, and its life. Your country proposes the opportunity of duty crowned with honor. Posterity waits to render you its undying gratitude. Humanity offers you the bless- ings of them who are ready to perish ! JOHN A. ANDREW, Governor.