The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-12-16

| During the past year the navy has,
IN addition to its regular services,
supplied the men and officers for the
vessels Of the coast survey, and has
completed the surveys authorized by
Congress of the Isthmus of Darien
and Tehuantepec, and under like au-
thority has sent out an expedition
completely furnished and equipped,
to explore the unknown ocean Of the
North.
The suggestions of the report as to
the necessity for increasing and i'm
proving the material of the navy, and
the plan recommended for reducing
the personal of the service to peace
standard by the gradual abolition of
certain grades of officers, the reduc-
ton of others and the employment of
some in the service of the CONNER
cial marine are well considered, and
deserve the thoughtful attention of
Congress.
l also recommend that all promo
ton in the navy above the rank Of
captain be by selection instead of Sc
niority. This course will secure, in
the higher grades, greater efficiency
and hold out all incentive to young
officers to improve themselves in the
knowledge OF tlfeir profession.
The present cost of maintaining
the navy, it's cost compared with that
of the preceding year, and the esti-
mates for the ensuing year, are con-
tanned in the accompanying report of
the Secretary Of the Navy.
| POsTOFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The enlarged receipts of the Post
office Department, as shown by the
accompanying report of the Post
master General, exhibits a gratifying
increase in that BRANCH of the public
service. It is the index Of the growth
of education and of the prosperity of
the peOple-two elements highly con-
ducive to the vigor and stability of
republics. With vast territory like
ours, much of it sparsely populated,
but all requiring the services of the
mail, it is not at present to be ex-
pected 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 Government
will prove a much greater blessing
to the whole people than it is now.
The suggestions of the Postmaster
General for improvements in the De-
partment presided over by him, are
earnestly recommended to your spe-
cial attention.
POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
Especially do I recommend favor
able consideration of the plan for
uniting the telegraphic system of the
United States with the postal sys-
TEN. 1t is believed that by such a
course the cost of telegraphing could
be much reduced and tie service as
well, if not better, rendered. 1t
would secure the further advantage
OF extending the telegraph through
portions Of the country where private
enterprise will not construct it. Com
merce, trade, and, above all, the eff
forts to bring people widely sepa-
rated into community of interest,
are always benefited by rapid in
accommodation. y. Education, the
grand work of republican institu-
tions, is encouraged by increasing g
the facilities of obtaining speedy
news from all parts Of the country.
The desire to reap the benefit of
such improvements will stimulate
education.
| 1 refer you to the report of the
Postmaster General for full details
of the operations of last year and for
comparative statements of the result
with former years.
THE KUKLUX LAW.
There has been imposed upon the
Executive branch of the Government
the execution of the act of Congress
approved April 20, 1871, and COM
monty known as the Kuklux law. In
a portion Of the State of South Caro-
lima the necessity of the course pur-
sued will be demonstrated by the re-
port of the Committee to investigate
Southern outrages. Under the pro.
visions of the above act, I issued a
proclamation calling the attention OF
the people of the United States to
the same, and declaring my reluct.
ance to exercise any of the extraor.
dinary powers thereby conferred
upon me, except in case of impera
tive necessity but making known
my purpose to exercise such powers
whenever it should become necessary
to do so for the purpose of security
to all citizens of the United States
the peaceful enjoyment Of the rights
guaranteed to them by the Constitu
ton and 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 il
e many parts Of the Southern States
! particularly in certain counties il
the State of South Carolina. Careful
investigation was made and it wa!
ascertained that in nine counties O
that State such combinations were
? active and powerful, embracing {
, sufficient portion of citizens to con