The Portland daily press., 1871-12-05


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 and were powerful in many parts of the
Southern States, particularly in certain coun-
ties of the State of South Carolina A careful
investigation was made, and it was ascertained
that in nine counties of that State such combi-
nations were active and powerful, embracing
sufficient portion of the cltlzens TO control the
local authority-the object being, among other
things, to deprive the emancipated class of sub
stantial benefits of freedom and preventing the
free political action of those citizens who did
not sympathize with their own views. Among
their operations were frequent scourgings and
occasional assassinations generally perpetrated
at night by disguised persons; their victims, in
almost all cases, being citizens OF different po-
litical sentiments from their own creed Per
sons who had shown d1sposltlon to claim
enual RIGHTS with other citizens, thousands
Of inoffensive and well disposed citizens
were the sufferers by this lawless violence
Thereupon ON the 10Th of October, 1871, proc
Iamation was issued in terms of law calling up
an members of those combinations to dispense
within five DAYS and to deliver to the marshal
| or military officers of the United States all
arms ammunitions, uniforms, DISCUSSES and
| other means and implements used by them 1or
| carving out their unlawful purposes. Inns
| warning not having been needed, ON the 18th OF
| October another proclamation was issued, sus-
| handing the writ of habeds corpus in nine coun-
| ties of the State. Direction was given that
| within the counties so designated persons sup
posed, upon respectable information, 10 De mem
| arrested by the military forces OF the United
States and delivered to the marshal, to be dealt
with according to law. In two OF said counties,
| York and Spartansburg, many arrests have been
| made At last accounts the number of persons
| thus arrested was one hundred and sixty-eight.
| Several hundred whose criminality was ascer-
tanned to be of an inferior degree were released
for the present. These have generally made
| confessions of their guilt Caution has been
| exercised in making these arrests, and notwith-
| standing the large number, it is generally be-
| lieved no innocent person is now in custody.
| The prisoners will be held for regular trial in
the judicial tribunals of the United States.
When it appeared that the authorities of the
| United States were about to take vigorous meas
| ures to enforce the law, many persons and there
| is good ground for supposing that all OF such
| persons have violated the law. full report of
what has been done under this law will be sub
mitted to Congress by the Attorney General.
| THE EXECUTION OF THE LAW IN UTAH.
In Utah, there still remains remnant of
| barbarism repugnant to civilization, to decen-
| cy and to the laws of the United States Ter
ritorial officers, however, have been found who
are willing to perform their duty in the spirit OF
| equity and with due sense of sustaining the
majesty of the law. Neither polygamy nor
any other violation of existing statutes will be
permitted within a territory OF the United
States. 1t is not with the religion of self-styl-
ed saints that we are now dealing, but with
their practices. They will be protected in the
consciences, but they will not be permitted to
| violate the laws under the cloak of religion.
1t may be advisable for Congress to consider
what, in the execution of the law against pol
ygamy, is the status of plural wives and their
| offspring. The propriety of Congress passing
an enabling act, authorizing the territorial leg
islature of Utah to egitimatize all children born
prior to a time fixed in the act, might be justi-
fed by its humanity to these innocent children.
This is suggestion only and not recommen-
dalton.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The policy pursued towards the Indians has
| resulted favorable SO far as can be judged from
the limited time during which it has been in
operation, through the exertions of various So
cieties of Christians, to whom have been en-
trusted the execution of the policy and the
board of commissioners, authorized by the law
of April 10, 1869. Many tribes of Indians have
been induced to settle upon reservations, to cul-
tivate the SOIL and to perform productive labor
OF various kinds and to partially accept. civil
cation. They are being kindly cared for in such
way that it is hoped to induce those still pur-
| suing their old habits of life to embrace the
only opportunity which is left them to avoid
| determination. / recommend liberal appropri-
aticns to carry out the Indian peace policy not
only because it is humane, christianlike and
economical, but because it is right recon-
| mend to your favorable consideration, also the
policy of granting territorial government to the
Indians in the Indian Territory west of Arkan-
sas and Missouri and south of Kansas. In do
| ing so, every right guaranteed to the Indians by
| treaty should be secured, and such course
might, in time, be the means of collecting most
of the Indians between the Missouri and the
| Pacific and south of the British Possessions in
to one territory, or one state, The Secretary of
the Interior has treated upon this subject at
length, and I recommend to you his sugges-
| tions.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
renew my recommendations that the pub
| lie lands be regarded as heritage to our chill
| dren to be disposed of only as required for &C.
cupation and to actual settlers. These already
granted have been, in a great part, disposed of
| in such a way as to secure access to the balance
by the hardy settler who may wish to avail
himself OF them ;but caution should be exercised
even in making grants for educational 5purpos-
es, since educational interests may we'll be serv-
ed by the grant of the proceeds of the sale of
| public lands to settlers. do not wish to be I'M
IF et M sl ona s
eral Government for the encouragement of edu-
| cation.
THE CENSUS.
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 operation of the Bureau of Education
for the year. the patent office, the pension Office
| the land office and Indian bureau. r
AGRICULTURE.
The report of the Commissioner of Agricul-
ture gives the operations of his department for
the year. As agriculture is the groundwork OF
our prosperity, too much importance cannot be
attached to the labors of this department It is
in the hands of an able head with able asss-
tants, all zealously divided to introducing into
the agricultural productions of the nation all
full products adapted to any of the various eli
mates and soils of our vast territory and to Civ
ing useful information as to the method of cul-
tivation. With the plants, cereals and other
products adapted to particular localities, quiet
| ly but surely the Agricultural Bureau is work
ing great national good, and if literally sup
ported, the more widely its influence will be ex-
tended and less dependent we shall be upon the
products of foreign countries.
COMPENSATION OF OFFICIALS.
The subject of compensation to the heads of
bureaus and officials holding positions of re-
sponsibility, requiring ability and character to
I'LL them properly, is one to which your atten-
ton is invited. But few officials receive a COM
pensation equal to the respectable support of a
family, while their duties are such as to involve
millions OF interest. In private life, services
demand compensation equal to services render
| ed. A wise economy would dictate the same
rule in government service.
| ESTIMATES OF HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS.
| have not given the estimates for the sup
| port of the government for the ensuing year nor
a comparative statement between expenditures
| for the year just passed and and the one just
| preceding, because all these figures are con-
| tanned in the accompanying reports or in those
presented directly to Congress. These est-
mates have my approval
| GENERAL AMNESTY.
More than six years having elapsed since the
| last hostile gun was fired between armies then
| arrayed against each other, one for the perpet-
| uation and the other for the destruction of the
| Union, and it may well be considered whether it
is now time that disabilities imposed by the four
tenth amendment should be removed The
amendment does not exclude the ballot but
only imposes disability to hold Office upon Ger
tain classes. When the purity of the ballot is
secure, the majorities are sure to elect officers
reneeting the views of the majority. do not
| see the advantage or propriety of excluding
men from office merely because they were, be-
tore the rebellion, of character insufficient to
Ne eiected TO position requiring them to take
oaths TO support the Constitution and admitting
70 ehglDihty, those entertaining the same
It may be said that the former violated A..i
while the 1atIer not. DuT une latter did not
nave IT IN their power to do SO. If they had
t taAen this oath 1t cannot be doubted they would
nave broken it as did the former class. If there
are any great criminals distinguished above all
others Tor the part they took in oppositiOn to
the government, they might, in the Judgment
OF congress, be excluded from such an amnes-
consideration =
The condition of the Southern States is I'M
happily not such as all true patriotic citizens
would like to see. Social ostracism for opin-
ions sake, personal violence or threats towards
persons entertaining political views opposed to
zens, prevents immigration and tbe flow of
much needed capital into the States lately in re-
bellion. 1t will be happy condition of the
country when the old citizens of these States