Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-12-14

such improvements Will stimulate education
refer you to the report Of the Postmaster
General for full details Of the operations Of
last year, and for comparative statements Of
the results with former years.
THE KU-KLUx Law.
There has been imposed upon the
Executive branch Of the Government
the execution Of the act OF Con-
gress, approved April 20, 1871, and COM
monty known as the .'Ku-Klux law" in a
portion Of the State Of South Carolina. The
necessity of the course pursued will be
demonstrated by the report Of the
committee appointed to investigate the
Southern outrages. Under the provisions of
the above act, issued a proclamation. call
ing the attention OF the people Of the United
States 10 the same, and declaring my re-
luctanee to exercise any Of the extraordina-
~ powers thereby conferred upon me, ex-
cept in the case OF an imperative necessity,
but making known my purpose to exercise
such powers whenever it should become
necessary to do so for the purpose Of secur-
ing 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 com
binations of the character referred to in this
law existed, and were powerful in many
parts of the Southern States, particularly in
certain counties in the State Of South Caro-
lima. Careful investigation was made, and
1t was ascertaned that in nine counties Of
that State such combinations were active
and powerful, embracing sufficient portion
Of the citizens to control the local authority,
and having, among other things, the object
Of depriying the emancipated class Of the
substantial benefits OF freedom and OF privi-
lcgc, and the free political action of those
citizens who did not sympathize with their
own views. Among their operations were
ased nj
tions, generally perpetrated at night by dis
guised persons, the victims, in almost all
cases, being citizens of different political
sentiments from their own, or freed persons
who had shown disposition to claim equal
rights with other citizens. Thousands of
inoiicnsive and we'll disposed citizens were
the sufferers by this lawless violence.
1871, a proclamation was issued, in
terms Of the law, calling upon the mem
bcrs Of the combination to dispense within
five days, and to deliver to the Marshal or
military officers Of the United States all
arms, ammuntions, uniforms DISCUSSES, and
other means and implements used by them
for carrying out their unlawful purposes.
This warning not having been needed, on the
18th Of October another proclamation was
issued, suspending the privilege of the writ
OF habeas corpus in nine counties In that
State. Direction was given that within the
counties so designated persons supposed,
upon credible information, to be members
of such unlawful combinations, should be
arrested by the military forces of the United
States, and delivered to the Marshal, to be
dealt with according to law. in two of the
said counties york and Spartansburg) many
arrests have been made. At last account the
number Of persons thus arrested was 16S.
Several hundred, whose criminality was as
csrtained to be Of an inferior degree, were
pAI. Il f..-f J.n Ln,,n
orally made confessions Of their guilt. Great
caution has been exercised in making these
arrests. Notwithstanding 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 vigorous measures to enforce
the law, many persons abscondcd, and there
Is good ground for supposing that all of such
persons have been violating the law. A full
report of what has been done under this
law will be submitted to Congress by the At
torney-Gencral.
THE MoRMoNs.
In Utah there still remains "A remnant of
barbarism repugnant to civilization to dcccn-
cy and to the laws of the United States. Ter
ritOral officers, however, have been found
who are willing to perform their
duty In spirit Of equity, and with a
due sense of sustaining the majesty Of the
law. Neither polygamy, nor any other VIC
lation 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, but their
practices. They will be protected in the
worship of God according to the dictates of
their cOnscicnccs, but they will not be per-
mittcd to violate the laws under the cloak
of religion. 1t may be advisable for Con
pr To pyh of in of
the laws against polygamy, is to be the sta
tus Of the plural wives and their offspring.
The propriety of Congress passing an en-
abling act, authorizing the Territorial Leg
islaturc OF Utah to legitimatizc all children
born prior to time fixed in the act, might
be justified by its humanity to these limo
cent children. This is n suggestion only,
and not recommendation.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The policy pursued toward 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-
crtons of the various societies of Christians
to whom has been entrusted the execution
of the policy, and the Board of Commits.
sioners authorized by the law of April 10,
1869, many tribes Of Indians have been in
duccd to settle upon reservations, to cultivate
the soil and perform productive labor of va
rious kinds, and to partially accept civ
lllIatlun. Incy are Dclng cared Tor IN Such
a way, 1t Is hoped, rs to induce those still
pursuing their old habits of life to embrace
the only opportunity which is left them to
avoid determination. l recommend liberal
appropriations to carry out the Indian peace
policy not only because 1t is humane, Chris
tian-likc and economical, but because il is
right. | recommend to your favorable con
sidcration, also, the policy Of granting ter
ritorial government to the Indians in the
Indian Territory west of Arkansas and
Missouri and south of Kansas. In doing SO,
every right guaranteed to the Indians by
treaty should be secured. Such course
might In time be the means of collecting
most of the Indians between the Missouri
and Pacific and south of the British Posses
sions, into one Territory or one State, and the
Secretary of the Interior has treated upon
this subject at length and recommend to
you his suggestions.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
renew my recommendations that the pub
lie lands be regarded as heritage to our
children, to be disposed Of only as required
for occupation, and to actual settlers Those
already granted have been in great part dis
posed Of in such 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 attaining so de-
sirabe an object. Educational interests may
well be served by the grant Of the proceeds
of the sale of public lands to settlers. / do