The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1871-12-23
THE Posr-oFFIcE

panying report of the postmaster
general, exhibits gratifying increase
in that branch of the public service.
1t is the index of the growth of educa-
ton, and of the prosperity of the
people-two elements highly condu-
Give to the vigor and stability of
republics, with a vast territory like
ours, much of it sparely populated,
but all requiring the services of the
mall. 1t is not at present to be
expected that this department can be
made self-sustaining, but a. gradual
approach to this end from year to
year, is confidently relied on; and
the day is not far distant when the
post-office department of the general
government will prove much greater
blessing to the whole people than it is
now. The suggestions of the post
master general for Improvements in
the department presided over by him,
are earnestly recommended to your
special attention, especially the docu-
ments favorable to the consideration
of the plan for uniting the
TELEGRAPH 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 services as
well, if not better rendered. 1t
would secure the further advantage
by extending the telegraph through
portions OF the country where private
enterprises will not construct it. Com
merce and trade, and, above all, the
efforts to bring people widely sep
arated into a community of interests,
are always benefited by rapid in
accommodation. Education, the
groundwork of Republican institu-
tions, is encouraged by increasing the
facilities to gather speedy news from
all parts of the country. The desire
to reap the benefits of such improve
ments 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 with
former years.
There has been imposed upon the
executive branch of the government
the execution of the act of Congress,
approved April Goth, 1871, and COM
monty known as the
KU-KLUx LAW.
i In portion of the State of South
Carolina the necessity of the course
pursued will he demonstrated by the
report of the committee to investigate
Southern Outrages. Under the pro-
| visions of the above act, I issued.
proclamation calling the attention of
the people of the United States to the
same, and declaring myreluctance to
exercise any of the extraordinary pow
ers thereby 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 enjoy
ment of the rights guaranteed to them
by the Constitution and the laws.
After the passage of this law, inform
alton 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,
particularly in certain counties in the
State of South Carolina. A careful
investigation was made, and it was
found that in nine counties of that
State, such combinations were active
and powerful, embracing a sufficient
portion of the citizens to control the
local authority, and having amongst
other things, the object of depriving
the emancipated class of their sub
stantial benefits of freedom, and of
preventing the free political action
of those citizens who did not sympa-
thize with their own views. Among
their operations were frequent scour-
ings of the country and occasional
assassinations, perpetrated in the
night by persons in disguise, the vic
tins in almost all cases, being citizens
of different political sentiment from
their own, or freed persons who had
shown a disposition to claim equal
rights with other citizens. Thousands
of inoffensive and well disposed citi-
zens were the sufferers by this lawless
violence. Thereupon, on the 18th of
October, 1871.
PROCLAMATION WAS ISSUED,
in the term of the law, calling upon
the members of the combinations to
disperse within FIVE days, and to de-
liver to the marshal or military officers
of the United States, all arms, ammu-
nitions, DISCUSSES and other means and
implements used by them for carrying
out unlawful purposes. This warning
not having been needed, ON the 18th
of October proclamation was issued,
suspending the writ of habeas corpus
in nine counties in that State. Direc-
ton was given that within the coun-
ties so designated, persons supposed
upon creditable information to be
members of such unlawful combina-
tions should be arrested by the mill
tary forces of the United States, and
delivered to the marshal to be dealt