The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-12-05

dunes OF the navy IN ume OF peace
without exceeding the number OF me-
or the expenditures authorized BY Law
During the past year the navy has, il
addition to its regular service, supple,
the men and officers for the vessels O
the coast survey, and has complete,
the surveys authorized by Congress o
the Isthmus of Darien and Tebuante
pee, and under the same authority ha
sent ont an expedition completely fur
nished and equipped to explore tn,
unknown oceans of the North. Tn,
suggestions Of the report as to tn,
necessity for increasing and improving
the material of the navy, and the plal
recommended for reducing the pereon
mel of the service to q peace standard
by the gradual abolition OF certain
grades Of officers, the reduction O
others, and the employment of some in
commercial marine, are well considered
and deserve the thoughtful attention o
Congress. l also recommend that al
promotions in the navy above captain
be by selection instead of by seniority
This course will secure in the higher
greads greater efficiency, and hold Out
an incentive to young officers to i'm
prove themselves in the knowledge o.
their profession. The present cost o.
maintaining the navy and its cost, com.
pared with that of the preceding year
and the estimates for the ensuing year
are contained in the accompanying re
port Of the Secretary OF the Navy.
THE PosroFFIcE DEPARTMENT.
The enlarged receipts of the Post,
Office Department, as shown by the &C.
companying report Of the Postmaster
General, exhibits gratifying increase
in that branch OF public service. 1t is
an index of the growth of education
and of the prosperity OF the people in
elements highly conducive to the vigor
and stability OF republics. With vast
territory like ours, much Of it sparsely
populated, requiring the services OF the
mails, it is not at present to be expected
that this department can be made self.
sustaining, but gradual approximation
to this end from year to year is con-
fidently relied upon, and the day ia not
far distant when the Postoffice depart.
ment of the Government will prove a
much greater blessing TO the people
than it is now. The suggestions OF the
Postmaster General for Improvements
in the department presided over by
him, are earnestly recommended to
your special attention, especially the
documents favorable to the considera-
ton OF the plan for uniting the telegraph
system Of the United States with the
postal system. 1t is believed that
BY such a course the cost of tele-
graphing could be much reduced,
and the service as well, if
not better, rendered. 1t would
secure the further advantage by ex-
tending the telegraph through portions
Of the country where private enterprise
will not construct it. Commerce, trade,
and above all the efforts to bring q
people widely separated into COM
munity Of interest, are always
benefited by a rapid intercommunica-
ton. Education, the ground work OF
Republican institution, is encouraged
by increasing the facilities for bringing
speedy news from all parts OF the coun-
try, and the desire to reap the benefit OF
such improvements will stimulate learn
ing. l refer you to the report Of the
Postmaster General for full details Of
the operation of last year, and for com.
parative statements OF the result within
four years.
THE KC-KLUX LAW
There has been imposed upon the
executive branch OF the Government
the execution Of the act OF Congress ap-
proved April 90, 1874, and commonly
known as the Ku-Klux law. In a por-
ton of the State OF South Carolina the
necessity Of the course pursued will be
demonstrated by the report Of the com.
mittee to investigate the Southern out
RACES. Under the provisions Of the
above act l issued my proclamation
calling the attention Of the people Of
the United States to the same and de-
claring my reluctance to exercise any OF
the extraordinary powers thereby confer
red upon me except in case imperative
necessity, but making known my pur-
pose to exercise such powers whenever
it should become necessary to do so for
the purpose OF securing to all citizens OF
the United States the peaceful enjoy.
ment of their rights, guaranteed therein
by the Constitution and the laws. Al
ter the passage OF this law informa-
ton was received from time to time that
ordinations Of the character referred
to in this law. existed and were power
full in many parts Of the Southern
States, particularly in certain coun-
ties in the State of South Carolina
Careful investigation was made and it
was ascertained that in counties of that
State such combinations were active
and powerful, embracing sufficient por.
tons OF the citizens to control the local
authority aud having, among other
things, the object Of depriving the
emancipated class Of the substantial
benefits of free lom and of preventing
the free political action Of those citi-
zens who did not sympathize with their
own views. Among their operations
were frequent scourging and occasional
assassinations, generally perpetrated
at night by disguised persons. the
victims in almost all cases being
citizens of different political SEN
timents from their own, or free per-
sons who had shown q disposition to
claim equal rights. with other citizens.
Thousands Of inoffensive and well
disposed citizens were the sufferers by
this lawless violence. Thereupon, on
the 18th OF October, 1871, a proclama-
ton was issued in the terms OF the law
calling upon the members OF these COM
binations to dispense within five days
opd IN de1iypr IN marahala mr. military