Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-12-05

'cIbluR IL. |
NAVAL IMPROVEMENTS.
This is due to the policy which has
,sen adopted and is being extended as
ast our material will admit of using small
sr vessels as cruisers on the several sta
lions. By these means we have been enabled
% occupy at once larger extent of cruis-
ing ground, to cause more of the officers
in each grade of staff corps to be fixed, so
that whenever the number in any one
grade falls below the number 80 fixed,
that the vacancy may be filled by promo
ton from the grade below. also recon-,
mend that wien the office of chief of
corps becomes vacant, the place may be
filled by selection from the corps in which |
the vacancy exists
The report of the Secretary, of the |
surveys authorized by Congress of the |
Ishtmuses of DArien and Tehauntepec, |
shows that the same authority has ssnt out
an expedition completely furnished and
equipped to explore the unknown ocean of
the north. The suggestions of the report
show the necessity of improving and in.
reesing the material of the navy.
presence of our lag i. desir,
able. generally discharge more efficiently
the appropriate duties Of the Navy in
time OF peace, without exceeding the
number of men in the expenditure author
lied by law
F. Daring tie past year the rsvy has, in
addition to its regular service, supplied
The men and officers for the vts3el5 of the
coast survey, and has >mpe led the officers
TO improve themselves in the knowledge
of their profession. The present cost of
maintaining the ra7y compared with that
of the preceding year, and the estimates
| tor the eL suing year, ere contained IN the
accompanying report cf the Secretary of
the navy. They are reduced to peace
standing by the abolition of certain grades
Of officers. The reduction Of others and
| the employment CT some in the service of
| the Commercial marine are vel consider
I'd ana deserve the thoughtful attention OF
| Congress. l also recommend that all pro-
motions in the navy above the rank of
Captain, &c, by selection instead of by
seniority. This course will secure in the
higher grades greater efficiency AID hold
out an incentive to the young
| THE POSTAL SERVICE.
| The receipts of the Post Office Depart
ment, es shown by the accompanying re-
port Of the Postmaster General, exhibit Z
gratifying increase in that branch of the
pnblic service. It is the index Of the
growth of education and Of the prosperity
Of the people, two elements highly condu
Give to the vigor and stability of the Re
public With a vast territory like ours
much Of it sparsely populated, but all re
curing the services Of the mail. it is moi
at present to be expected that the depart
ment can be made self sustaining. But 6
gradual approach to this end from yeal
to year is confidently relied on, and the
day is not far distant when the Post Office
Department of the government will prove
much greater blessing 70 the whole PED
pie than it is now.
KU-KLUx oUTRAGEs
There has been imposed upon the execu
! tive branch of the government, the execu
tion ofthe act of Congress approved Apr
20, 1871 and commor ly known as"The Ku
Klux Law" In q portion Of the State O
South CaToliaa the necessity of the cours
: pursued will be demonstrated by the re
ports of the committee, to investigate south
} ern outragts Under the provisions O
: the above act issued proclaim alton call
= ing the attention of the United States Il
the same, and declaring my reluctance t
e exercise any of the extraordinary power
E thereby conferred upon me, except in cas-
{ of imperative necessity. But maxim;
known my purp Sc to exercise such pow
{ ers wherever it should btc3me necesssr
. to do 30 for the purpose of securing to a
e citizens of the United States the peacefr
= enjoyment Of the rights guaranteed by th
;. Constitution and the laws.
c After the passage of this law Informs
g ton was received from time to time tbs
V combinations Of ctaratteF referred to i
o this law existed, and were powerful
: many Tarts of the Southern States, parti
e ularly in certain c. unties in the State
$ South Carolina Careful investigation W,
= made and it was ascertained that in mir
n Counties of that State such combination
were active aud powerful, embracing a su
flcient portion of the citizens to coutr,
the local authority, and having, anon
= other things, the object of deprIving tt
emancipated class of the substantial BEN
8 fits of freedom ard tina privilege Of oil
ical action. Among their operations wei
: frequent scourings Of the country aud c,
= casionsl asssssina!ions, generally perpetr
:, ted at night by disguished persons, ii
= victims in lmost all cases heirg citizel
= of different political sentiments from tss
:, own, or tree persons who hal shown
u disposition to claim equal rights. Tho
~ sands of inoffcnsiye and well disposed Ct
- liens were the sufferers by this lawle
= violence.
~ Tbereupon, on the 18th of Octobt
= 1871, a proclamation was issued in te,r
:; of the law, calling upon the members
49, the combination TO disperse within fl
y days, ami to deliver to the marshal
military officers of the United States .
rms, ammunitions, uniforms, DISCUS,
y and other means and implements used
~ them fer carrying out their unlawful PIT
- poses. This warning not having be,
:. needed, on the 18th of October anoth
70 proclamation was issued suspeading &
Io privilege of the writ of haboas corpus
40 uine counties Of that State. Directs
70 was given that within the counties SO d
~, lgnated, persons supposed upon credit
" BILE information TO be members Of SD
unlawful combinations should be arrest
~ by the military forces of she Unit
u. ~ States and delivered to the mar.hal,
= be dealt with according ~ !
~ law. In two Of the counties, Yolk a
Spartinsburg, many arrests have b.
made, at last accounts the number of p,
sons thus arrested was one hundred o
AS sixty eight. Several hundred who
Ise criminallty was ascertained to be of an
p ferior degree, were released fer the pr
ry ent. These have generally made conf
of sions Of their guilt. Great caution
lsl been exercised in making test ,
es. rests. Notwithstanding the large numb
ed it 10 believed that no innocent person
n now in custody. The prisoners will
AT held for regular trial in judicial siibun'