The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-12-07

over Dy MIN, are earnestly Recommended ~
your special attention. Especially do |
recommend favorable consideration Of the
plan for uniting the telcgraphic system OF
the United States with the postal system.
It is believed that by such course the
cost of egraphns could be much reduced
and the service as well if not better render
ed It would secure the further advantage
of extending the telegraph through por-
lions of the country where private enter
prise will not construct it. Commerce,
trade, aud above all the efforts to bring
people widely separated into a community
of interest, are always benefited by rap
id intercommunication. Education, the
groundwork of Republican Institutions, is
encouraged by increasing the facilities to
gather speedy news from all parts Of the
country. The desire to reap the benefit OF
such improvements will stimulate educa-
tion
l refer you to the report Of the Postmas-
ter General for full details of the operations
Of last year. and for com parative statements
of results with former years.
There has been imposed upon the Ex-
ecutive branch of the government the exc
cution of the act of Congress approved
April 20, 1871, and commonly 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 to investigate
Southern outrages Under the provision of
the above act, issued proclamation, call
ing the atteu ton OF the people Of the Unit
ed States to the same, and declaring my re-
luotance to exercise any Of the extraordi-
nary powers thereby conferred upon me
except in cas-, Of imperative necessity, but
making known my purpose to exercise such
powers whenever it should become necessa-
| ry to do SO for the 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 time that com
| binatons 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
| Carolina.
Careful investigation was madean it 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 emancpated class Of the sub
stantial benefits of. freedom, of preventing
! the free political action of those citizens
who did not sympathize with their own
views. "''4s
g. Among their operations were frequent
scourgings and occasional assasinations gen.
orally perpetrated at night by disguised per-
sons The victims in all cases being citi-
zens of different political sentiments from
their own, or freed persons who had shown
a disposition to claim equal rights with 9TH
er citizens. Pious and inofensive aud we'll
disposed citizsns were the sufferers by this
lawless violence.
Thercupon, on the 18th day Of October,
1871, proclamation was issued in terms of
the law calling upon the members of those
combinations to disperse within five days,
and to deliver to the marshal or military Of
fcers OF The United States all arms, ammu-
ton, uniforms, disguises and other sand
i implements used by them for carrying out
! their unlawful purposes.
This warning not having been needed,
| on the l1ssh o. October, another proclama-
ton was issued suspending the privilef IS of
the writ of habess corpus in nine counties
ia that State. Direction Was gi'en that,
within the counties so designated. persocs
supposed upon credtable 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
of said counties, York and Spartansburg,
many arrests have been made At the last
account the number Of persons thus arrest
ed was 168. Several hundred, whose Grim
inaity 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-
cised in making these arrests, and not with
standing the large number it is believed that
no innocent person is now in custody. The
/ priscpcrs will be held for regular trial in
the judicial tribunals Of she 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
p6ISOLS dUoCOuuSO,a hu litCiC GiS S3oON Siouuo
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 aud to the laws Of the United
States. Territorial officers, however, have
been found who are willing to perform their
duty in spirit Of equity and with due
sense Of sustaining the majesty Of the law.
Neither polygany nor any characterization
Of existing statutes will be permitted with
in the Territory ofthe United States, It
is not with the religion of tho seIf-styled
/ saints that we are now dealing but with
their practices. They will be protected in
the worship Of God according to the die
tatcs Of their consciences, but they will not
be permitted to violate the laws under the
CLOAK of religion. Il may be advisable for
(, CONGRESS to consider what, in the execution
of the laws against polygamy, is to be the
status of plural wives AM, their offspring:
The propriety Of Congress passlns an
enabling act, authorizing the Territorial
!. Legislature of Utah to egtimise all chill
arso born prior to the time fixed in the act,
might be justified by its humanity to these
children. This is q suggestion only, and
not recommendation.