The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-12-07

:ents during the year, and by the negotiation of
interest on the Public Debt has been so far di
ninished that now the sum to be raised for the
interest accounts nearly seyenteen million dol
EEpUcr1os OF TAXES.
II was highly desirable that this rapid dimi-
mutton shouid take place both to strengthen the
credit OF thc country and to convince its citizens
II their entire ability 20 meet every dollar OF IL
ability without b2nkrupting them but in view
of the accomplishment of these desirable ends,
its increasing ability to meet large de-
maads and the amount aircady paid, it is not
try should continue TO be taxed in order to con-
tinue this rapid payment / therefore recon-
mend modification OF both the tariff and inter
nal tax laws recommend that all taxes from
internal sources bc abolished, except those on
spirituous, vinous and malt liquors, tobacco IN
It's ysriou. forms from stamps In readJus;ing z
the tariff, 1Suggest thst careful estimate shall
be made Of the amount of surplus revenue col
lectcd under fthe present laws, after providing
the curronf expenses Of the Government. the in
terost account and Il sinking fund, and that this
surplus be reduced in such manner as to afford
the greatest relief to the greatest number. There
are many articles not produced at home, such
as medicines compounded, etc, from which very
little revenae is derived, but which enter into
general use. All such articles recommend TO
be placed ON the free list ShouId a further re-
duction prove advisable would then RECON-
mend taat is he Ina1e up i!Io-e articles which
~
or reducing tho wages Of .AnaeTiCan IabOr.
have not entered iato Bgurc>. because 20 ITO ~
would o& 10 repeat ali that has bce.. laid be;O! {
you in the report OF the Secretary Of ti;c 1Tessa-
ry.
coLLKCT1oS OF REFESTEs-
The present laws for collecting reyt uucS pay
for shzres in ali sci1u &c, which. at priuCi pal
ports of entry particularly, iaI=c the conpens.i
ways seemed 10 me ihat this system nitist al
times work pernicioaSly. 1t holds Vut an in
ducement to dishonest men, should such gel
posscssi of those offices tn he lax in their scru-
tiny of goods entered. to enable tnem To MAKE
large seizures. fOur attention IL rtepectiuI y
invited to this subject.
Continued. fluctuations in The value of Gold, u:
compared with the National Currency, has :
mosI damaging eGect upoa the increase and de
yelopmunt of the country, in keeping the ul
prices all articles necessary in every day liI(
and il fosters u spirit of grumblinS, plejudicia
alike to national morals and the national hnan
ces sifthe question eau be met to how TO ge
GXed value constantly and uniformly ap
proschins par with specie, very desirable ob
ject will be gained
For the operations Ofth army in the past year
the expense of maintaining it. the estimates fol
the ensuing year, and for continuing sea coasi
and other improvements conducted under the SUI
pervision of the w lar department refer you Il
the accompanying report OF the secretary OF W 81
/ cali your attention to the provision of the ac
of Congress approved March 3rd. 1863, vi hich dis
continues promotions in the st a corps OF the ar
y Il
that the number OF officers in each grade of the
stat corps be fixed, and that when the number IL
auy one grade falls below the number SO bxed
that the vacancy may be flled by promotion from
the grade below. l also recommend that wheI
the office of chief becomes vacant, the place ma,
be filed by selection from the corps IN which the
vacancy exists. vx
The report of the Secretary of the navy show!
the naval force with out material increase in th'
expense of supporting It 1hls Is due TO the poll
ed as our material viii adm It. of using smaller
vessels Is cruisers on the several stations. BY
these means We have been enabled to occupy a
oncea larger extent of cruising ground, to visi
more frequently the posts where the presence o.
our nag is desirable and generally to discharge
more efficiently the appropriate duties OF tnt
NAVY in time of peace. without exceeding tht
number of men or the expenditures authorized b.,
law. During the past year the Navy has, IN ad
dition to its regular service. supplied the mer
and officers for the vessels of the coast survey
and has completed the surveys authorized by
Congress Of the Isthmus of Darien and Tehaun
tepec, and, under like authority, has sent out al
expedition completely furnished and equipped
to explore the unknown ocean of the North. Ihs
suggestions OF the report as to the necessity tSi
Navy anu the plan recommended for reducing
the personel of the service to peace standard
by thegradual abolition of certain grades of of
hcers, the reduction of others and the employ
ment of some in the service of the Commercia
Marine are well considered and deserve Tho
thoughtful attention of congress. also recon-
mend that all promotions in the Navy above tht
rank of Captain be by selection, instead of by Sc
piority. fhis couIse will secure in the higher
grades greater efficiency and hold out an incen-
tive to young officers to improve themselves II
the knowledge of their profession. The present
cost of maintaining the Navy, its cost compares
with that of the preceding year, and the esti
mates for the ensuing year are contained in the
accompanying report of the secretary of the n y
W.
TIRE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The enlarged receipts of the Post-Ofice De
partment, as shown by the accompanying report
Of the rost Master General, exhibits a gratifyins
increase in that branch OF the public service. II
is the index of the growth of education and ths
prosperity of the people, two eIements highly
cpnGpciYe to the vigor and stability of republics
w ith vast territory like ours much OF it sparse
ly populated but all requiring the services OF thG
mail 1t is not at present to be expected that thi
department can he made Self-suStaining, but
gradual approach to this emu from year to year i:
Confidently relied upon and the day is not ia
distant when the Post-Uffice department of the
government will prove much greater blessing
TO the whole people than it is now. Ihe sugges
tions OF the Post Master General for improve
ments in the department presided over by hin
are earnestly recommended to Your special attcn
tion, especially documents iVorabIe to the con
sideration of the plan Tor uniting the telegraph
system OF the UnitedStateS with the postal system
1t is believed that by such course the cost o.
telegraphing would be much reduced, and ths
service as we'll, if not better rendered. 1t would
secure further advantage by extending tn,
telegraph through portions Of the country wher,
private enterprise will not construct it. Com
merce, trade, abOvs ~ the efforts to bring peo
pie widely separated into community of inter
municstion- Education the ground ork of re
publican institutions, is encouraged by incrcas
Ing the facilinIes to gather speedy news from al
parts of the country. The desire to reap the ben
eft of such Improvements will stimulate eduea
tion. refer you to the report Oh the Postmastel
General for full details of the operations of las
year, and for comparative statements of result
with former years.
There has been I'M posed upon the ExecutiY,
branch OF the government the execution of tn,
sct of congress approved April goth, 1871, ant
commonly known as the ku kIuX law, in por
tion of the State OF South Carolina. The neces
sity of the course pursued will be demonstrates
by the report OF the Committee to investigat,
southern outrages. Under the provisions of TIN
above act issued proclamation calling the at
tention of the people Of the United states to tn
same and declaring my reluctance to exercis
any of the extraordinary power thereby confer
red upon Inc, except in case of imperative ne
cessity, but making known my purpose to exer
else such power whenever it should become nee
essary to do 80. for the purpose OF securing to al
citizens of the United states the peaceful enjoy
ment of the rights guaranteed TO them by th
this law information WAS received from time t,
time tnat combinations of the character referret
to in this law existed and were powerful IN ina
ny parts OF the southern States, particularly Il
certain counties in the state of south Carolina
Iareful Investigation was made and it was as
combinations were active and powerful, embra
cling sufficient portion of the citizens to contrp
the local authority, and having among othel
things the object OF deprivIng the emancipatec
class of the substantial benefits offreeuoni anc
OF preventing the free politic3i action Of thoSt
citizens who did not y sSInpatkize with their owl
views Among their operations were freQuen
scourings oE the country and occasional assas
einatiuns, generally perpetrated 1T night, By
disguised PERSONS, the victims in almost all ca
ses being citizens of different political seatl
ments fl Iom their own. or free persons who hao
shown disposition to claim Cquat rights WIIk
other citizens Thousands Of inoffcn>ive ano
well disposed citizens were the sufferers By This
l2wless violence 1hereupon, on The 18th of DC
toUer 1871, proclamation was issued, IN tht
terms of the law, calling upon the mcmbcrs o
the com mbination to disperse within i've dan &
aud to deliver to the Marshal or military Off
GERS of the United states all arms, ammunition
disguises and other means and implements used
by them for-cSrry ing out their unlawful purpo-
ses and other means and implements used by
them for carrying out their Unlawful purposes
Th.s Warming noe having been heeieu, on tht
18th of Oct. another proclamation was issued
suspehding the privilege of the writ of irabe;is
corpus In nine counties IN that state direction
was given that within these counties so desig.
mated, persons supposed, upon creditable in
formation. to be members of such unlawful com
binations, should be arrested by the military
force of the United states, and delivered to the
Marshal to be dealt with according to law In
two of said counties, York and Spartanburg,
many arrests have been made. At the last ac-
count the number arrested was one hundred and
sixty eight. Several hundred, whose criminal
ity was ascertaineh TO be OF an inferior degree
were released Tor the present These have gen
erAll made confessions OF their guilt. Great
caution has been exercised in making test ar
and a he ha,.