Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-12-07

where the presence of our flag is de-
sirable, and generally to discharge
more efficiently the appropriate du+
ties of the navy in time of peace,
without exceeding the numbers of
men or the expenditures authorized
by law. During the past year the
navy has, in addition to its regular
service, supplied the men and officers
for the coast survey, and has COM
pleted the surveys authorized by
Congress of the Isthmus of Darien
and Tehuantepec, and under like
authority has sent out an expedi-
tion completely furnished and
equipped, to explore the unknown
ocean of the North. The sugges-
tions of the report as to the neces-
sity for increasing and improving
the material of the navy, and the
plan recommended for reducing the
the pereonal of the service to a peace
standard by the gradual abolition of
certain grades of officers, the reduc-
tion of others, and the employment
Of some in the service of the COM
mercial marine, are well considered,
and deserve the thoughtful atten-
tion of Congress. 1 also recon
mend that all promotions in the
navy above the rank of Captain be
by selection instead of by seniority.
This course will secure in the higher
grades greater efficiency, and hold
out an incentive to young officers to
improve themselves in the knowl-
edge of their profession. The pres
ent cost of maintaining the navy, its
cost compared with that of the pre-
ceding year, and the estimates for
the ensuing year are contained in
accompanying report of the Secre-
tary of the Navy.
THE POSTAL DEPARTMENT..
The enlarged receipts of the Post
Office Department, as shown by the
accompanying report of the Post
master General, exhibits gratify-
ing increase in that branch Of the
public service. 1t is the index of
the growth of education and of the
prosperity of the people, two ele-
ments highly conductive to the Wig
or and stability of republics. With
a vast territory like ours, much of
it sparsely populated, but all requir-
ing the services of the mail, it is not
at present to be expected that this
Department can be made self-sus
tanning; but gradual approach to
this end from year to year is con-
idently relied on, and the day is not
far distant when the Postoffice De-
partment of the Government will
prove a much greater blessing to
the whole people than it is now.
The suggestions of the Postmaster
General for improvements in the
Department presided over by him
are earnestly recommended to your
special attention. Especially do 1
. recommend the favorable considera-
tion of the plan for uniting the tel
egraphic system of the United
States with the postal system. 1t is
believed that by such a course the
cost of telegraphing could be much
reduced, and the service as well il
not better rendered. 1t would Sc
cure the further advantage of ex-
tending the telegraph through por-
tions of the country where private
enterprise will not construct it.
Commerce, trade, and, above all,
the effoyts to bring people widely
separated into a community of in
to a community of interests, are al
ways benefited by a rapid inter
communication; education, the
grand work of republican institu-
tions, encouraged, by increasing the
facilities to get the news speedily
from all parts of the country. The
desire to reap the benefits of such
improvements will stimulate educa-
ton. / refer you to the report OF
Postmaster General for full details
of the operations of last year, and
for comparative statements of re-
suits with former years.
THE KU-KLUx LAw-ITs ENFORCEMENT.
There has been imposed upon the
Executive branch of the Govern
ment the execution Of the act of
Congress, approved April 90, 1870,
and commonly known as the Ku-
Klux law, in a portion Of the State
of South Carolina. The necessity
of the course pursued will be dem
onstrated by the report of the COM
mittee to investigate Southern out
RACES. Under the provisions of the
above act, I issued a proclamation,
calling the attention Of the people
of the United States to the same,
and declaring my reluctance to ex-
ercise any of the extraordinary
powers thereby conferred upon me,
except in case Of imperative neces-
sity, but making known my purpose
to exercise such powers, whenever it
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 constitu
tion and the laws. After the pas.
sage of this law information was re.
ceived from time to time that com
bihations of the character referred
to in this law existed and were pow
erful in many parts of the Southern
States, particularly in certain coun-
ties in the State of South Carolina.
Careful investigation was made, and
it was ascertained that in counties
of that State such combinations
were active and powerful, embrac-
ing a sufficient portion of the citi-
zens to control the local authorities,
and having among other things the
object of depriving the emanci-
pated class of the substantial bene-
fits of freedom and Of preventing
the free political actions of those
citizens who did not sympathize
with their own views. Thousands
of inoffensive and well-disposed cit
liens were the sufferers by this law
less violence. Thereupon, on the