Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-12-12

t education @ a
y / refer you to the report of the Postmaster
General for full details of the operations of las
year, and for comparative statements of result
with former years l' q a
There has been imposed upon the Executive
branch of the government the execution Of th
act of Congress approved April 20, 1871, ant
commonly known as the Ku-Klux law. in por
ton of the State of South Carolina. The ne
cessity of the course pursued will be demonstrat
ed by the report of the committee to investl
gate Southern outrages. Under the provisions
of the above act, issued proclamation calling
the attention of the people ofthe United States
to the same, aud declaring my reluctance to ez-
erclse any of the extraordinary powers thereby
conferred upon me, except IN case ofimperative
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 guaranteed to them by
the Constitution and the laws.
After the passage of this law, information
was received from time to time that combina-
tions of the character referred to in this law ex-
listed, aud were powerful in many parts Of the
Southern States, particularly in certain counties
| In the State of South Carolina. Careful inves-
/ tlgatlon was made, and it was ascertained that
| In nine counties in that State such combinations
|
portion of the citizens to control the local au-
| thorlty, aud having, among other things, the
OBJECT OF depriving the emanclpated class OF the
substantial benefits of freedom and of prevent
ing the free political action of those citizens who
did not sympathze with their own views A.
mong their operations were frequent scourgings
and occasional assassinati0ns, generally perpe-
| trated at night by disguised persons,-the VIC
TINS in almost all cases being citizens of different
/ Il al1,.n q
| persons, who had shown disposition to claim
equal rights with other citizens. Thousands of
inofensive and well-disposed citizens were the
| sufferers by this lawless violence.
Thereupon, on the l2th of October, 1871, a
proclamation was issued in terms of the law,
calling upon the members of these combinations
to dsperse within FIVE days and to deliver to
| the marshal or military officers of the United
States all arms, ammunition, uniforms ,dlsgulses,
and other means and implements used by them
for carrying out their unlawful purposes. This
warning not having been needed, ON the 17th
of October another proclamation was issued
suspending the privileges of the writ of habeas
corpus In nine counties in that State.
Direction was given that within the counties
so designated, persons supposed, upon credita-
bic information, to be members of such unlaw
ful binations, should be arrested by the mill
tary forces of the United States and delivered
to the marshal to be dealt with according to law.
La two OF said counties York and Spartanburg)
many arrests have been made. At the last ac
count the number of persons thus arrested was
| one hundred and sxty-elght Several hundred,
whose crimnaity was ascertained to be OF an
inferior degree, were released for the present.
These have generally made confession of
their guilt Great caution has been exercised
ln making these arrests and notwithstanding
the large number, it is believed that no inno-
cent person is now in custody The prisoners
will be held for regular trial In the judicial tri-
bunals Of the United States. As soon as it
appeared that the authorities of the United
States were about to take vigorous measures to
enforce the law, many persons absconded, and
| there is good ground for supposlng that all oil
such persons have violated the law. A full re-
port Of what has been done under this law will
be submitted to Congress by the Attorney
General. ~
La Utah there still remains a remnant of bar
barism repugnant to civilization, to deceucy,
and TO the laws of the United States. Terri
| torial officers, however, have been found who
are willing to perform their duty in spirit of
equity and with due sense OF sustaining the
| majesty of the law. Neither poiygamy nor
any other violation of existing statutes will be
| permitted within the territory of the United
States 1t is not with the religion of the self
styled saints that we are now dealing, bat with
| their practices. They will be protected in the
worship Of God according to the dictates of
their consciences, but they will not be permit
| ted to violate the laws under the cloak of re-
giou It may be advisable for Congress to
| consider what, Ia tue execution of the laws
against polygamy, is to be The status of plural
wives and their otfsprlng.
| The propriety OF Congress passing an en-
abling act authorizing the territorial legislature
|
time fixed In the act might be justified by its
| humanity to these innocent children. This is a
suggestion only, and not recommendation.
The policy pursued towards the Indians has
resulted fav0raby, 80 far as can be judged
| from the limited time during which it has been
| in operation. Through the exertious Of the
| various societies of Christians, to whom has
been entrusted the execution OF the policy,
and the board Of commissioners authorized by
the law of April TO- 1862 many tribes of In
dians have been induced TO settle upon reser-
vations, to cultivate the soil, to perform pro-
| ductive labor of various kinds, aud 10 partial
| ly accept civilization. They are being cared
| ior in such way, it is hoped, as to induce
those still pursuing their old habits of life to
embrace the only opportunity which is LETT
| them TO avoid determination. | recommend
| liberal appropriations to carry out the Indian
/ peace policy, not only because it is humane,
| Christian-lke and economical, but because it is
right
| [ recommend to your favorable consideration
also the policy of granting territorial govern
| ment to Indians in the Indian territory west of
Arkansas aud Missouri and south of Kansas.
| In doing so every right guaranteed to the lndl-
| ans by treaty should be secured. Such course
| might In time be the means of collecting most
| of the Indians now between the Missouri and
| the Pacific and south OF the British possessions
into one territory or one State The Secretary
| OF the Interior has treated upon the subject at
| length, and commend to you his suggestions
/ renew my recommendation that the public
lands be regarded as heritage to our children,
to be disposed of only as required for occupa-
granted have been in great part disposed of in
such way as to secure access to the balance by
the hardy settler who may wish to avail him
self of them. But caution should be exercised
even In attaining SO desirable an object.
Educational interests may we'll be served by
the grant of the proceeds Of the sale of public
lands to settlers. | d. NOT wish to be under
stood as recommending, in the least degree,
curtailment of what is being done by the gen.
eral government for the encouragement of ed.
ucation.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior
submitted with this, will give you all the infor
nation collected and prepared for publication
in regard to the census taken during the year
1870, the operations of the Bureau of Educa
ton for the year, The Patent office, the Pension
Office, the Land office, and the Indian Bureau
The report of the Commissioner of Agricul
| t,,,o .11oa tho ororatiopa of biS 10