Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-12-08

the report u Guc COWiHiooSe w A"'eoe'S
Southern outrages. Under the provision OF
the above act, issued proclamation, call
ing the attention Of the people OF the Unit
ed States to the same, and declaring my re-
luctance to exercise any OF the extraordl-
nary powers thereby conferred upon me
except 10 cas-, Of imperative necessity, but
making known my purpose to exercise such
powers whenever it should become necessa-
~ to do SO forsthe purpose Of securing to
all citizens of the United States the peace
full 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 tine that COM
binations of the character referred to in
this law, existed and we're powerful in many
parts Of the Southern States, particularly
in certain counties in the State Of South
Carolina. s3 H
Careful investigation was made and 1t was
ascertained that in nine counties in that
State such combinations were active and pow
erful, embracing sufficient portion Of the
citizens to control the local authority, and
having among other things the object of
deferring the emancipated class of the SUBJ
stantial benefits of freedom, of preventing
the free political action Of those citizens
who did not sympathize with their own
views.
Among their operations were frequent
scourgings aud occasional assasinations gen
orally perpetrated at night by disguised per-
SOFAS The victims in all cases being citi-
zens of different political sentiments from
their own, or freed persons who had shown
disposition to claim equal rights with 9TH
er citizens Pious and inofensive and we'll
| disposed citizens were the sufferers by this
lawless violence.
Thereupon, on the 18th day Of October,
1871, proclamation was issued in terms Of
the law calling upon the members of those
combinations to dispense within Eve days,
and to deliver to the marshal or military Of
fcers OF the United States all arms, ammu-
ton, uniforms, disguises and other means and
implements used by them for carrying out
their unlawful purposes.
This warming not having been needed
on the 18th of October, another proclama-
tiop was issued suspending the privileges of
the writ of habees corpus in nine counties
in that State. Direction was given that
within the counties so designated. persons
supposed upon creditable information to be
members of such unlawful combinations
should be arrested by the military forces Of
the United States and delivered to the mar
shall to be dealt with according to law In two
ofsaid counties, York and Spartausburg,
many arrests have been made At the last
account the number Of persons thus arrest
ed was 168. Several hundred, whose GRIM
inslity 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 exer-
standing the large number it is believed that
no innocent person 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 Wig
orous measures to enforce the law, many
persons absconded land there are good ground
for supposing that all such persons have
violated the law. A full report of what has
been done under this law, will be submit
ted to Congress by the Attorney General
In Utah there still remains remnant
of barbarism repugnant to civilization, to
decency and to the laws Of the United
States. Territorial officers, however, have
been found who are willing to perform their
duty in spirit of equity aud with due
sense of sustaining the majesty of the law.
Neither polygamy nor any other violation
of existing statutes will BE- permitted with
bn &c ho T.
is not with the religion Of the self-styled
saints that we are now dealing, but with
their practices They will be protected in
the worship of God according to the die
tates Of their 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 laws against polygamy, is to be the
status of plural wives and their offspring
The propriety of Congress passing an
enabling aot, authorizing the Territorial
Legislature of Utah to egitimize all chill
'lren born prior to the time fixed in the act,
might be justified by its humanity to these
children. This is a suggestion only, and
not Recommendation.
The policy pursued towards the Indians
has resulted favorably So far as can be
judged from the limited time during which
it has been in operation. Through the ex-
ertions Of the various societies Of Christians
to whom has been entrusted the execution
of the policy, and the board of commission
ers authorized by the law Of April 10th,
1863, many tribes Of Indians have been in.
duced to settle upon reservations, to cuti-
vate the soil, to perform productive labor
Of various kinds and to partially accept civ
ilization. They are being cared for in such
a way, it is hoped, as to induce those still
pursuing their old habits of life, to embrace
the only opportunity which is left them to
avoid determination
recommend liberal appropriations to car
ny out tie Indian peace policy, not only be-
cause it is humane, Christian-lke, and eco
nomical, bat because it is right.
| recommend to your favorable consider
alton, also, the policy Of granting terrific
rial government TO indians 10 the Indian
territory west of Arkansas, and Missouri
and Kansas. 10 doing SO every right guar
anteed to the Indian by treaty should be
secured. Such course might, in time, be
the means Of collecting most Of the Indians
now between Missouri and the Pacific and
south Of the British Possessions into Que
territory or one State. The Secretary Of the
Interior has treated upon chs subject st
ength, and commend to YOU the suggestion
[ renew my recommendation that the
public lands be regarded as heritage to
our children, to be disposed of only as re-
quired for occupation and to actual set
tiers: Those already granted have been,
in great part, disposed of in such way
"a to secure access to the halanea hv the