The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-12-14
RIDGWAY PA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER IA, 1871.

| more frequently the posts where the presence OF
more efficiently the appropriate duties OF the navy
In time ol peace without exceeding the number OF
men or the expenditures authorized by law. Dur.
ing the past year the navy has, In addition to It's
regular service, supplied the men and ofiicers for
| the vessels OF the coast surveys and has compet
| ed the surveys, authorized by Congress, OF the
| lsihuus Of Darien, and Tehuantepec, and under
| ike authority has sent out an expedition, com.
| petely furnished and eqlpped to explore the up-
known ocean OF the north.
The suggestions Of the report as to the necessity
| Tor increasing and approving the mateIie OF the
navy, and the plan recommended for reducing the
personnel OF the service TO peace standard by the
gradual abolition OF certain grades OF officers, the
| reduction Of others, and the employment Of some
in the service OF the commercial marine, are well
| consid. red and deserve the thoughtful attention
| OF Congress- / also recommend that all promo.
tions In the navy above the rank OF captain be by
selection instead of by seniority; this course will
hold out an incentive TO young officers to improve
themselves in the knowledge OF their profession.
The present cost Of maintaining the navy its cost
compared with that OF the proceeding year and the
estimates for the ensuing year, are contained in
the accompany report ofthe Secretary orthe Navy.
Posr.oFF1cR DEPARTMENT.
The enlarged receipts of the Postofflce Depart.
ment. as shown by the accompanying report of
the Postmaster-General, exhibit a gratifying In
crease In that branch OF the public service. 1t is
the index OF the growth OF education and of the
prosperity Of the people, two elements highly cons
ducive to the vIgor and stability OF republics
populated. but all requiring tile services Of the
mail IL Is not at present to be expected that the
department can be made self.sustaining, but a
gradual approach to this end from year to year Is
confidently relied on, and the day Is not far dis
| taDt when the Postofiice Department of the gov.
eminent will prove much greater blessing to the
whole people than 1t Is now. The suggestion of
the Postmaster. General for improvements in the
department presided over by nm are earnestly
recommended to your special attentions: espec ally
do recommend favorable consideration OF the
plan OF uniting the telegraph system OF the United
states with the postal system. 1t Is believed that
by such course tEe cost OF telegraphing could be
much reduced, and the service as WELL If not bet
ter rendered. 1t would secure the further advan.
tage OF extending the telegraph through portions
OF the country WI ere private enterprise will not
construct 1t. Commerce, trade, and above all the
efforts TO bring people widely separated into
community OF interest, are always benefited by a
rapid intercommunicaton Education the ground.
work OF republican institutions. is encouraged by
the increasing facilities to gather speedy news
from all parts OF the country. The desire to reap
the benefit OF such Improvements will stimulate
education. refer to the report OF the Postmaster.
General for full details OF the operations Of last
year, and for comparative statements OF results
with former years.
KU.KLux LAW.
There has been imposed upon the executive
brahch OF the government the execution OF the act
OF Congress approved April 20, 1871, and common.
~ 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 re-
port OF the Committee to Investigate Southern
act issued proclamation calling the attention
VI the people OF the United States 10 same and de-
carlng my reluctance TO exercise any OF the extra.
ordinary powers thereby conferred upon me, ex-
cept In case ofimperative uec, ssity, but making
known my purpose to exercise such powers
whenever 1t should become necessary to do 30 for
lhe purpose OF securing to all citizen OF the
United States the peaceful enjoy ment OF the rights
guaranteed to them by the Constitution q, d the
laws. After the passage Of this law Information
was received from time u time that combinations
VI the character referred 10 in this law existed,
ana were powerful In many parts OF the Southern
states, particularly In ceriain counties In the State
Jf South Carolina. Careful Investigation was
made, and It was ascertained that in nine counties
oi that state such combinations were active and
powerful, embracing sufficient portion of the cit.
iZens to control the local authority, aud having
among other things the object OF depriving the
enlanclpated class Of the substantial benefits oi
freedom, and ofpreventing the free political action
Of these citizens who did not sympalhiZe with their
own views. Among their operations were ire
quent scourgings and occasional assasslnations,
generally perpetraed at night, by disguised per.
sons, the victims In almost ali cases, being citizens
o Inherent political sentiments irOln their own, or
freed persons who had shown disposition TO
claim equal rights with other citizens. Thousands
oil lnonensive aud well disposed citizens were the
sufferers by this lawesS violence. Thereupon,
on the 18th OF october, a proclamation was issued
IN the terms OF the law calling upon the members
Of those combinations to disperse within five days,
and 10 deliver to The marshal military officers OF
the United States all arms, ammunition, 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 ha6eas
cor pas IN nine counties In that State. Dire ctlon
was given that within the counties 80 designated.
persons supposed, upon creditable Information, 10
be members OF such unlawful combinations shoull
oe arrested by the military forces OF the United
states and delivered 10 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 account the number of persons
thus arrested was one hundred and sixty eight.
nlNah hn.a
tained 10 be OF an inferior degree were released
Tor the present. These have generally made COLI
LESSONS OF their guilt. Great caution has been
ercised In making these arrests, ami not Withstand
ing the large number, IL Is beiei ed that no inno
cent person Is now in custody. The prisoners will
be held Tor regular trial IN the judicial tribunals of
the United States. As soon as 1t appeared that
the authorities OF the United States were about to
take vigorous measures to enforce the law, many
persons abscohded, and there is good ground for
suppOsing that all OF such persons have violated
the law. A full report OF what has been done un-
der this law will be submitted 10 Congress by the
Attorney-General.
THE NoRAoSs.
In Utah there still remains a remnant OF barbar.
ISM repugnant to civilization, to decency and To
the laws OF the United States Territorial oflicers
however, have been found who are wiling TO per.
form their duty IN spirit OF equity, and with
due sense or sustaining the majesty OF the law.
Neither polygamy. nor any other violation OF exist
ing statutes VIII be permitted within the territory
o. the United states 1t is not wiih the religion OF
the sel-sIyed saints that We are now dealing,
but with their practices. They will be protected
IN the worship oI God according to the dictates OF
their conscience; 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 law against polygamy, Ia TO
he the status OF plural wives and their offspring.
The propriety OF Congress passing an enabling act
authorizing the territorial legislature OF Utah to
IegitimZe all children born prior TO time fixed In
the acl, might be Justified by its humanity TO those
innucelt children. This Is suggestion only ana
not recommendation.
THE INDIANS.
The policy pursued towards the Indians has re.
limited time during which II has been In opera.
tion. Through the exerlions OF the various socle-
lies cf Christians To whom has been entrusted The
execution OF the policy, and the Board OF COmmis.
sloners authorized by the law OF April 10, 1859
many tribes Of Indians have been induced TO se.-
tie upon reservations TO cultivate the SOIL to per
form productive labor Of various kinds and 10 par.
tally accept civilization. They are cared for In
such way, II Is hoped, as To induce those who
are still pursuing their old habit OF life to embrace
the only opportunity which Is lett them 10 avoid
ex erminatlOn. 4 recommend liberal apprOpria-
lions TO carry out The Indian peace policy, not
only because IL Is hulnaue Uhrlslianlike anu econ-
UmicaI, but because 1t is tight.
| recommend 10 your favorable consideration
the policy OF also granting a territorial govern
meDt to the Indians In the Indian Territory, west
Of Arkansas ana Missouri and south OF Kansas
In doing go, every right guaranteed to the Indians
ny treaty shoulc be secured. buch course might
ia time be the means OF collecting most OF the In.
dans now between the Missouri and the Pacific