The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-12-07


to explore the unknown ocean of the North.
The suggestions of the report as to the
necessity for increasing and improving the
material Of the navy, and the plan recon-
mended for reducing the personnel of the
service to a peace standing by the gradual
aboliticn Of certain grades Of officers and
reduction of others, and the employment of
some In the service of the commercial ma
rine, are well considered, and deserve the
attention Of Congress.
| also recommend that all promotions IN
the navy above the rank Of captain be by
selection instead of by seniority. This
course viii secure in the higher grades
greater efficiency and hold out an incentive
to your officers TO improve themselves in
the knowledge of their profession.
The present cost OF maintaining the
navy, and Its cost compared with that of
preceding years, and estimates for the en-
suing year, are contained in the accompa-
nying report of the Secretary of the Navy.
THE POST OFFICE.
The enlarged receipts Of the Post Office
Department, az shown by the accompany
ing report Of the Postmaster General ex-
hibits gratifying increase in that branch
of the public service. 1t is the index of
the growth Of education and Of the pros
perity of the people, two elements highly
conducive to the vigor and stability Of re-
publics, with a vast territory Ike ours,
much Of it sparsely populated, but all re
curing the services Of the mail. 1t j. not
at present to be expected that this depart
ment can be made self-sustaining, but
gradual approach to this end from year to
Esa h6 far naespPN n rf sac on and the day
partment of the Government will prove a
much greater blessing to the whole people
than it is nov.
The Su-ces tons Of the Postmaster Gen
eral for improvements III the department
presided over by him are earnestly recon-
mended to your especial attention, especial
Is the document Favorable to the c0nsidera-
ton Of a plan for uniting the telegraph
system of the United States with the pos
tai system.
1t is believed that br such a course the
cost of te!egraphing could be much reduced,
and the service as well, if not better, rem
dcreI. 1t would secure the further advan-
tage by extending the telegraph through
portions of tho country where private en-
terprisc viii not construct it.
Commerce, trade, and, above all, The ef-
q,
into Il community Of interests, are ALWAYS
benefited BY rapid communication: and
cdacation the grand groundwork Of Re
publican institutions, is encouraged BIZ in
crcasng these facilities, together with
speedy news from all parts Of the country.
The desire to reap the benefit of such
improvements will stimulate education. |
refer you TO The report Of the Postmaster
f,r fall ,I.+,;Iz 81,
of last year, and for comparative state
ments of results Of former years.
THE KC-ELCX LAW
There has been imposed upon the cxecu-
tive branch of the government the exccu-
ton Of the act Of Congress, approved April
10Th, 1871, and commonly known as the
Ku-klux law
In a portion ofthe State Of South Carroll I
ma the necessity Of the course pursued Will
be demonstrated by the report of the com
mission 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 cxer- |
else any Of the extraordinary powers there /
by conferred upon me, except in case Of
imperative necessity, 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 guar
antced to them ~ the constitution and the
laws.
After the passage Of til. law, inf9rma /
tion was received from time to t;ne'that /
combinations of the character referred f.
in this law existed and were powerful in /
many parts Of the southern states, part:ca (
larly in certain counties in tie state of
South Carolina. Careful Investigation I
was made, and it was ascertained that in .
nine counties of that State such combina- I
nations were active and powerful, 2m5rac-
ing sufficient portion OF citizens to control .
the local authority and having. among .
other things, the object of depriyinr the F.
emancipased class Of the substantial .
benefits of freedom and of the privilege Of .
the free political action of those citizens
who did not synpathizc with their views. .
Among their operations were frequent
scourings and occasional asSassinations.
generally perpctrated at night By diguised .
persons, the victims in almost ali cases
being citizens Of different political scnti-
.nents from their own, or free persons who
mad shown Il disposition to claim equal
rights with other citizens. Thousands Of I
lnoffensive and we'll disposed citizens were
the sufferers By this lawless violence.
Thereupon on the 18th Of Oct, 1871, a
proclamation was issaed in terms of the
law. calling upon the members of the com
binations to dispense within five DAYS. and
TO deliver to tho Marshal or military of the
United States, all their arms, amunitiors.
uniforms, DISCUSSES, and other means and
implements used by them for carr ling out
their unlawful purposes.
This warning not having been needed,
on the 18th of October another proci.ma
ton was issued suspepding the PRIVILEGES
of the writ of hadeaS corpus in nine com
ties in that State. Directions were oiycn
that within the counties so designated rcr-
sons supposed upon credible information.
to be members of such unlawful combina-
tons, should be arrested BY the military
forces Of the United States and delivered
to the Marshal, to be dealt with according
to law
In two of the said counties-York and
Spartans burg-many arrests have been
made. At last accounts the number Of
persons thus arrested was one hundred and
nality was asccrtained to be Of an inferior
degree were released for the present. These
have generally made confessions Of their
guilt. Great caution has been exercised in
making arrests. notwithstanding the
large number, it is believed that no iHno-
cent person is now in custody.
The prisoners viii be held for trial in
the judicial tribunasl of the United States.
- 7 -
of the United States were about TO take
vigorous measures to enforce the law, many
persons abscoaded, and there is good ground
for supposing that all such persons have
violated the law. \ full ,eport Of what
has been done under this law will be sab
lnitted to Congress by the Attorney Gen
eral
THE MoRNoSs AND PoLIGANY.
In Utah there remains a remnant Of bar
barlsm, repugnant to civilization, decencv.
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