Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-12-23


be much reduced and the service as we'll il moi
better rendered. 1t would secure q further
advantage, by extending the telegraph through
portions Of the country where private enter
prise will not construct it, to commerce, trade
and above ALL the efforts to bring a people
widely separated into a community Of interest
always benefited by a rapid intercommunica
tion. Education, the ground work of republi.
can institutions, is encouraged BY increasing
the mail facilities, together with speedy news
from all parts of the country. The desire te
} reap the benefits Of such improvements viii
stimulate education. I refer you to the report
OF the Postmaster General for full details o.
the operations Of last year, and for cainpara.
tive statements of results with former years.
THE Ku KLUx.
There has been imposed upon the Executive
branch of the Government the execution oi
the act of Congress approved April goth, 1871
and commonly known as the Nh Klux law, in
a portion of the State Of South Carolina. The
necessity of the course pursued will be demons.
trated by the report of the committee to inves.
tigatc Southern outrages. Under the provi.
sions of the above act l issued a proclamation
calling the attention of the people of the Uni
ted States to the same, and declaring my
reluctance to exercise any of the extrao aordinary
power thereby conferred upon me. except in
case of imperative necessity; but making
known my purpose to exercise such lowers
whenever it shonld become necessary to do SO,
for the purpose of securing to oil citizens OF
the United States the peaceful enjoyment of the
rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution
aud the laws. After the passage of this law,
Information 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
| several counties of South Carolina. Careful
investigation was made, and it was ascsrtained
that in nine counties Of that State such COM
bnation was active and powerful, embracing
| sufficient portion of the citizens to control
the local authorities, and having among other
things the object of depriving the emancipa-
ted class of the substantial benefits of freedom,
and of the privilege of free political action
| those citizens who did not sympathize with
| their own views. Among their operations were
frequent scourging and occasional assassina-
| tions, generally perpetrated at night by dis
guised persons, their victims in almost ALI
cases being citizens Of different political opin-
ion from their own, or free persons [Of color],
| who had shown disposition to claim their
usual rights with other citizens. Thousands
of inoffensiv and well disposed citizens were
the sufferers by this lawless violence. There
upon, on the 18th of October, 1871, a procia-
nation was issued in the terms of the law,
calling upon the members Of the combination
| to disperse within five days, and to deliver to
the Marshal or the military officers Of the
I United States all arms, ammunition, uniforms,
disguises and 9th er means and implements used
| by them for carrying out their unlawful pur-
poses. This warning not having been heeded,
on the 18th of October another proclamation
was issued suspending the writ Of habeas cor
pus in nine counties in that State, and direc-
- tIafv vrifhin thu couufips n
designated persons supposed, upon credible
| information, to be members Of such unlawful
| combinations, should be arrested by the mill
tary forces of the United States and delivered
| to the Marshal, to be dealt with according to
| law. In two of said counties many arrests
have been made. At last accounts the num-
| her of persons thus arrested was one hundred
and sixty-eight. Several Iundred whose
criminality was ascertained 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 these arrests, and notwithstanding
the large number it is believed that no inno-
cent is now in custody. The prisoners will be
| held for regular trial in the judicial tribunals
| of the United States. As soon as it appeared
that the authorities of the United States were
| about to take rigorous measures to enforce the
law, many persons absconded, and there is
good ground for supposing that all such per-
sons have been living in violation OF law. A
| fnll report of what has been done under this
law will be submitted to Congaess by the At
| torney Grnera.
| AFFAIRS IN CTAH.
| In Utalsthere still remains remnant Of bar
barism, repugnant to civilization, decency ana
the laws Of the United States. Territorial off1-
| GERS, however, have been found who are willing
to perform their duty in a spirit of'equity and
| with due sense of sustaining the majesty Of
the law. Neither polygamy, nor any other Vi
olatiou of existing statutes will be permitted
within any Territory Of the United States. 1t
is not with the religion o: the selfstylrd saints
that We are now dealing, but their practices;
They will be protected in the worship Of God
according to the dictates of their consciences,
but they will not be permitted to.violate laws
under the cloak ofrelgion. 1t may be advisa-
blr for Congress to consider what, in the exc
cution of the laws against polygamy, Is the
status ofthe several wives and their offspring.
The propriety of Congress passing an enabling
act authorizing the Territorial Legislature of
Utah to legitimatize all born prior to time
fixed in the ac:, might be sustained by consd-
erations of humanity to these innocent child
rem. This is suggestion only, and not rec
ommendation.
INDIAN RELATIONS.
The policy pursued towards the Indians has
resulted favorably, so far as can be jndget
from the limited time during which it has
been in operation through the tribes under the
various societies of Christians to whom has
been ntrusted the execution OF the policy,
and the Board OF Commissioners authorized by
the law of April TO- 1869. Many tribes of In
dians have been induced to settle upon rescrva-
tions, to cultivate the soil and perform labor
Of vsrsous kinds, and partially to accept civil
| ixation They are being cared for in such
way, it is hoped, as to induce those pursuing
their old ha bits Of life to embrace the only Op-
portunity which is left them to avoid eAter'ni-
nation. recommend liberal appropriations to
carry out the In lian peace policy, not only be-
cause it is humane, Christian-like and econom-
| ical, but because it is right. recommend TO
your favorable consideration also the policy Of
granting territorial government to Indians
on the Indian Territory west Of Arkansas aud
and Missouri, and south Of Kansas. In doing
so every right guaranteed to the Indians by
l l. ucha q nniUh