Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-12-12

Z
chief of corps becomes vacant. the place
may be filled by n selection from the corps
in which the vacancy exists.
THE NAVY.
The report Of the Secretary OF the Navy
shows an Improvement I'm the number and
efficiency of the naval force, without ma
teral increase in the expense OF support
Il. This is due TO the policy which has
been adopted and is being extended rs
fast as our material will admit. OF using
smaller vessels as cruisers on the several
stations. BY this means. we are enabled
to occupy, ut once. larger extent OF
cruising ground. to visit more frequently
tn ports where the presence OF our Nag
is desirable and generally to discharge
more efficiently the appropriate duties OF
the navy in time OF peace. without exceed
ing the number OF men or the eXpendi-
lures authorized by law. Durin. the past
year, the navy has, in addition TO the reg
ular service, supplied the men and officers
p, for the vessels OF the Coast Survey, which
has completed the surveys authorized by
Congress on the Isthmus Of Darien, and
Tehuantepec, and under authority. has
sent ont an expedition, completely fur
nished and equipped, TO explore the un-
known ocean of the North.
The suggestion OF the report "a TO the
necessity for increasing and improving
the material OF the navy and the plan
recommended for reducing the personel
OF the service to peace standard, by the
gradual abolition OF certain grades OF Of
iicers, reduction OF others and the employ
ment of some In the commercial marine,
are well considered and deserve the
thoughtful attention of Congress. 1t also
recommends that all promotion in the
navy above the rank OF Captain. be by
selection instead by authority. This
course will secure, in the higher grades,
greater efficiency and hold ont an ineen-
tive 10 young officers IL improve them
selves in the knowledge OF their proies-
sion.
The present cost OF maintaining the
navy compared with that of the preceding
wear. and the estimates for the ensuing
year are contained in the accompanying
report Of the Secretary OF the navy.
POSTAL DEPARTMENT.
The enlarged receipts of the PostOffice
Department rs shown by the accompany
in9 report Of the Post-MaSter General,
exhibit gratifyin. condition In that
branch OF the public service. IL is an
index OF the growth OF the education and
OF the prosperity Of the people-two ele-
meats highly conducive to the Yigor and
stability of Republics, with a vast terri
tory like ours sparsely populated, but all
requiring the services OF the mail. II is
not at present TO be expected that this
Department can be made Self-suStaining
but gradual approach 10 this end, from
year to year, i confidently relied ON: and
the day is not far distant when the Post
Office Department of the Government will
prove Il much greater blessing to the
whole people than il j. now.
The suggestions Of the Po,t-Master
General for improvements in the Depart
ment presided over by him, are earnestly
recommended TO your special attention.
Especially do [ recommend favorable
consideration OF the plan for uniting the
telegraph system Of the United states with
the proposed system. 1t is believed that
by such course, the cost OF telegraphln.
could be much reduced and the service rs
well ii not better rendered. IL would
secure the further advantage OF extending
the telegraph through portions OF the
country where private enterprise viii not
|
all the efforts TO bring people widely
separated. into Il community Of interest,
are always benefited by rapid intercOm-
municston. The groundwork OF the Re
publican institution is encouraged By IN
creasing the facilities to gather speedy
news from all parts Of the country. The
desire TO reap the benefit of such improve
ments will stimulate education. ! refer
| 81, III NJ In # or
General for full details of the operation,
oflast year and for comparative state
ment OF results with former years.
THE KU KLUN DIsTU RBANCES.
There has been imposed upon the eX
ecutive branch of the Government the eX-
ecution of the act Of Congress, approved
April 20th. 1871, and commonly known
as the Ku Klux law. Ina portion of the
State of South Carolina the necessity OF
the course pursued will be demonstrated
b. the report of the committee to investi-
gate Southern outrages. Under the pro-
visions OF the above act issued proca-
nation calling the attention of the people
Ofthe United States 10 the same. and de-
claring my reluctance TO exercise any OF
the extraordinary powers thereby con-
ferred upon me, except in case OF impera-
tive necessity, but making known my pur-
pose to exercise such power whenever /:
should become necessary TO do so for the
purpose of securing to all citizens of the
United States the peaceful enjoyment OF
the rights guaranteed TO them by the
Constitution and the laws.
After the passage of this law, intorma-
ton was received from time to time that
combinations of the character referred to
in this law existed and were powerful in
many parts OF the Southern States, par
ticularly In certain counties of the State OF
South Carolina 4 careful investigation
was made. and it was ascertained that in
nine counties of that State such combina-
tons were active and powerful, embrac-
ing a sufficient portion Of the citizens TO
control the local authority-the object be-
inc. among other things, TO deprive the
emancipated class of substantial benefits
of freedom and preventing the free politi'
cal action of those citizens who did not
sympathize with their own views. Among
their operations were frequent scOurgings
and occasional aSSassinations. generally
perpetrated at night by disguised persons {;
their victims. in almost all cases, being
citizens of different political sentiments
from their own creed. Persons who had
shown disposition to claim equal rights
with other citizens, thousands OF inotfen-
sve and we'll disposed citizens were the
sufferers by this lawless violence. There
upon. on the 18th of October, 1871, q
proclamation was issued in terms Of law
calling upon members Of those combina-
tons TO disperse within five days and to
deliver to the marshal or military officers
of the United States all arms, ,ammuntions,
uniforms. dsguises and other means and
implements used by them for carrying out
their unlawful purposes. This warning
not having been needed, oil the 18th Of
October another proclamation was issued.
suspending the writ of habeas corpus in
nine counties of the State. Direction was
given that within the counties so dessna-
ted persons supposed, upon respectable