The Van Buren press., 1871-12-12

medicine. compounded essences. from which
very little revenue is derived. but which en-
ter into general use All such articles rec
onmrnd to be- placed on the free list. Should
further reduction prove advisable, ! would
then recommend that II lie made on those ar
ticles whici, II can without disturbing
home productions or reducing the wages OF
American labor. have not entered into fly
ures, because 10 do so would be TO repeat all
that i laid before you in the report Of the
secretary Of the treasury.
The present laws for collecting revenue pay
collector. OF customs small salaries, but pro-
vide for shaf.s in all seizures. which. at the
principal ports of entry particularly. raise the
compensation OF these officials large sum
IL has always seemed to me that this system
must. at times. work pernieiously. II holds
out an inducement to dishonest men. should
such get possession oftheso Offices. TO be lax
in their scrutiny of goods entered. to enable
them finally to make large seizures. Your
attention Is respectfully invited to this sub
ject. Tf ; >
SPECIE PAYMENT.
The continued fluctuations III value OF gold
as compared with the national currency, has
a most damaging effect upon the increase and
development OF the country In keeping up
the prices of all articles necessary in every
day life. Ii fosters spirit of gambling in
the national finances. and if the question can
be met a. To how to get liked value TO our
value, constantly and uni
formly approaching par with spccie--a very
desirable object will be gained.
THE ARMY.
For the operation of the army In the past
year, the expense of maintaining 1t. the esti-
mates for the ensuing year. and for the con-
tinuing season, coast aud other improvements
tI,~x xstatn nf
department, refer you to the accompanying
report of the secretary of war;
THE KC-kLUx LAW.
There has been imposed upon the cXecu-
tive branch Of the government the execution
of the act of Congress, approved April 26.
1871. and commonly known as the ku-kluX
law, in portion of the State of South Car
oina. The necessity of the course pursued
will be demonstrated by the report Of the
to investigate southern outrages,
under the provisions of the above act.
ISSUED PROCLAMATION
Calling the attention of the people Of the
United States to the same. and declaring my
reluctance to exercise any of the eXtraordi-
nary powers thereby conferred upon me-, eX-
rept in case OF imperative necessity !, but
making known my purpose to exercise such
power whenever it should become necessary
10 do so for the purpose OF securing to all the
citizens of the United States the peaceful en-
joyment of the rights guaranteed to them by
the constitution and the laws. After the
passage OF this law information was received
from time to time that combination of the
character referred to in this law existed. and
were powerful in many parts of the Southern
States particularly in certain counties in the
State of South Carolina.
CAREFUL INVESTIGATION
Was made and it WAS ascertaned that in
nine counties Of that State such combinations
were active and powerful, embracing suiti-
cient proportion of the citizens to control the
local authorities. having among other things
the object OF drpriving the cmancipated class
OF the substantial benefits of freedom, and OF
the free political action OF those
citizens who did not sympatLize with their
own views. Among their operations were
frequent scourginys and occasional assassin
ations. generally perpetrated at night by dis.
guiscd persons-thc victims in almost all
eases being citizens of different political sem
timcnts from their own. or free persons who
had shown disposition to claim equal rights
siye and wcl-dsposcd citizens were the suf-
ferers BY this lawl-,s violence Thcrcupon
on the 18th of October. ISL n proclamation
WAS issued in terms of the Law, calling upon
the members Of the combination to disperse
within five days. or to deliver TO the marshal
or military officers OF III, United States all
arms. ammunition. uniform. disguiscs. and
other means aud implements used by them
for carry ing ont their unlawful purposes
This warming not having bsen needed, OF
the 18th of October
ANOTHER PROCLAMATION
Was issued. suspending the privilege OF th'
writ OF habras col pus in nine counties IN tha
State. Direction was given that with n thu
counties SO designated persons supposed. up
Oh creditabl- Information. to be members o
such unlawful combination. should be arrest
ed by the military forces Of the United
States and delivered to the marshal, to b'
dealt with according to law. In two of salt
counties many arrests have been made. a
the last accounts the number OF persons thu
arrested WAS l6S
THE PoLYGAMIsTs.
In Utah there still remains remnant o
barbarism repugpant to civilization, decency
and to the laws of the United States. Terri
torial officers, however have been found wh'
are willingto perform their duty In a spiri
of equity. and with a due sense of sustaining
the majesty of the law. Neither polygainy
nor any other violation of existing laws, viii
be permitted within tho territory Of the Uni
tcI sNidltN. II ~ NV w ttll tiit iNliSi'H VI
self-styled saints tnat We are now dealing
but their practices. They will bs protected
in the worship OF God according to the die
tates of their conscienccs. but they will no
be permitted to violate the laws under tn
cr,ak of isligion. IL may be advisable TO
CorSrr,s TO cor slider what. in the execution
of the laws against poligamy. is to be TIN
status of plurality Of wives and their or
spring The propriety Of Congress passIn,
an enabling act authorizing the territofl"
legislature of Utah to legiiimotize all 6orl
prior to a time liked in the act, might be Ju.
Tilted by its humanity To those ,Dnooept chi
dren. This is a suggestion only, and not
recommendation.
The policy pursued toward
THE INDIANS
Has resulted favorable so far no can be jldg
ed from the limited time during which IL la
been In operation. Through the cXrrtion o
the various societies Of Christians to whom
has been intrusted the execution Of the poll
cy. aud the board of commissioners author
lied by the law Of April 10, 1869, many tribe
have been induced to settle on reservation. u
cultivate the soil, and to partially accept civ
Iization. They are being cared for in such I
way. it Is hoped, ms to induce those still pur
suing their Old habits of life to embrace tn,
only opportunity which is left them to avoit
determination ! recommend liberal appro
priations to carry out the Indian peace poll
cy. not only because 1t is humane. Christian.
like and economical. but because 1t Is right
recommend to your favorable consideration
also, the policy of granting territorial gov
erumcnt to Indians of the Indian territory
west OF Arkansas and Missouri, and South
of Kansas In doing so. every right guaran'
teed TO the indians by treaty would be se'
cured. Such a course might be the means o.
collecting most Of the Indians now between
the Missouri aud the Pacific and south Of thu