The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-12-15

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J which the vacancy exists.
The report of the Secretary of thu
Navy shows an Improvement in thu
number and efficiency of the nava
force without material increase in the
expense of supporting it. This is due
to tho policy which has been adopted
and Is being extended, as fast as oul
material will admit, of using smaller
vessels rs cruisers on the several sta
tions.
BY this means we have been enabled
to occupy ut once larger extent OF
cruising ground, to visit more frequent.
ly the ports where the presence of our
flag Is desirable, and generally to dis.
charge more efficiently the appropriate
duties of the navy in time of peace,
without exceeding the number of men
or the expenditure authorized by law.
During the past year the navy has, in
addition to the regular service, supplied
the men and officers for the vessels of
the Coast Survey, and has completed
the surveys authorized by Congress of
the lslhmu5 of Darien and Tehuan-
tepec, and under like authority has
sent out an expedition, completely fur
nished and equipped, to explore the
unknown ocean of the North. The
suggestions ,the report, as to the nee.
e5sity for increasing and improving
the material of the navy and the plan
recommended for reducing the person.
mel OF the service to a peace standard, !,
by the gradual abolition of certain
grades of officers, the reduction of
others, and the employment of some
in the service of the commercial marine
are well considered, and deserve the
thoughtful 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 will secure in the higher
grades greater efficiency, and hold out
an nincentiveto to young officers to improve
themselves in the Knowledge of their
profession. The present cost of main
tanning the nrvy, its cost compared
with that of the preceding year, and
the estimates for the ensuing year are
contained in the accompanying report
of the Secretary OF the Navy.
The enlarged receipts of the Post Of
flee Department, as -hown by the ac-
companying report Of the Postmaster
| General, exhibits a gratifying 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
elements highly conducive to the vigor
and stability of republics. With vast
territory like ours, much of it sparsely
populated, but all requiring the services
of the mail, il is not at present to be
expected that this Department can be
made selfsustaining. But gradual
approach to this end from year to year,
is confidently relied on, and the day is
not far distant when the Post Office De-
partment of the Government will prove
Il much greater blessing to the whole
people than it is now. The suggestions
of the Postmaster General for improve
ments in the Department presided over
by him are earnestly recommended to
your special attention. Especially dc
| recommend favorable consideration
of the plan for uniting the telegraphiC
system Of the United States with the
postal system. 1t is believed that, by
such course, the cost of telegraphinl
, could be much reduced, and the service
, AS well, ii not better, rendered.
would secure the further advantage o
! extending the telegraph through por
tions of the country where private en-
terprise will not construct it. Com.
mercc, trade, and above all, the effort.
to bring people widely separated into
community of interest, are always
benefited by rapid intercommunica
tiOn.
lican Institutions, 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 i'm
prOvementS will stimulate education
! refer you to the report of the Post
master General for full details of the
operations of last year, and for com
parative statements of results will!
former years.
There has been imposed upon the
Executive brgnch Of the Government
the execution of the act of Congress.
approved April 20, 1871, and commonly
known rs the Ku-kluX law, in portion
of the State of South Carolina. The
necessity of the course pursued will be
demonstrated by tue report of the com
milt'e to investigate Southern out
RACES.
Under the provisions of the above
act isued proclamation calling the
attention of the people Of the United
States to the same, and declaring my
reluctance to exercise any of the extra
ordinary powers thereby conferred up
on me except in case OF imperative ne
CeSsIiy, but making known my purpose
! to exercise my powers whenever II
should become necessary 10 do so fol
the purpose of securing To al citizens
OF the United States the peaceful enjoy
ment of the rights guaranteed to then
by the Constitution and The laws.
!, After the pas sssge of this law, infor
nation was received froin time to tim,
that combinations of the character re
} ferrcd to in this law existed, and wer,
: powerful in many parts of the South
| ern States, particularly in certain cOuu
ties in the State of South Carolina
. Careful investigation was made, and i
was asCertained that, in nine cOuntie
. of that State such combinations wer
active and powerful, embracing a sutfi
e cieut portion of the citizens to contrO
{ the local authority, and having, amon
4 other things, the object of depriviu,
Q the emancipGtod cless of the substantial
{ benefits OF freedom, and of preventing
the free political action of those citizen
}. who did not sympalhize with their Ow
{ views.
f Among their operations were frequen
scourgings and occasional assassination
@ generally perpetrated at night by di,
J., guised persons, the victims, in almO.
1 all cases, being citizens of different pC
# litical sentiments from their own, c
!. freed persons who had shown a dispos
t tion to claim equal rights with Othe
J. citizens, Thousands of inotiensive an
;. Well'dlSpOSeu cltiLenS were the Suuerei
It by this lawless violence.
@ ThereupOn, on the 18th day OF OctC
# Der, 1871, a proclamation was issued, /
v the terms Of the law, calling upon tn
a members of those combinations to di
perse within five day, and to deliver I
If the marshal or military officers of tn
II United States all arms, ammunition
It uniforms, DISCUSSES, and other mear
If and implements used by them for ca
II rying out their unlawful purposes.
t This warning, hot having boen heel
II ed, on the 18th of october another pr,
i clamation was issued suspending Il
IS privileges of the writ of habeas corn
r IN nine counties in that State.
d Direction was given that within Il
>, counties SO designated, persons suppO
ed, upol croditable information, to |
@ members of such unlawful combin
U tons should be arrested by the militai
+, forces of the United States, and deli
n cred to the marshal, to be dealt wi
l. according to law. In two of said cou
| ties, York and Spartanburg, many 8
If r. st5 have been made. AT the last Il