Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-19
From Washington.

Washington, Is. The Secretary of the
Treasury has issued a circular to the Collect
or of Customs, relative to the exaction of
fee of 20 cents at certain ports, for collectors
| official certificates to the oath of master,
taken previously to the entry or clearance of
a vessel, directly from, or to foreign port.
The future eXacton of this fee is prohibited,
owing to doubts of its legality,
Commissioner Pleasanton has written let
ter to Assessor Jourdan of Brooklyn, thank
ing that officer for the indefatgabie manne.
in which he performed his duties during the
recent raid on illicit distileries, and express
ing his deep sympathy with the family of
Granger Gilbert, who was killed. The Com
missioner in conclusion says 1t may not
be improper to inform your whole force that
in view OF the growing perils of the civil ser
vice, it is my intention to recommend to
Congress through the proper channels, that
pensions shall hereafter be granted to those
disabled, and to the families of those slain in
the internal revenue service, who merit the
same consideration as the sailor or soldier
manned or killed on the battle field.
The Deputy L. S. Marshal at Rutherford,
n. c., assisted by detachment of the 4th
|. S. Artillery, recently arrested five illicit
distillers, burnt five still-houses, and destroy
ed large quantity of material near that city.
The supply of beer stamps is now equal to
the demand and the Commissioner of Internal
Revenue is furnishing them promptly to all
applicants.
| Capt. Barnard reports from Camp Bidwell,
Northern California, that he has sent Lieut..
Kyle and party of men to Fall River and
Big Valley, to investigate the reports of ap-
pretended danger from Indians in those To-
calities. Capt. Barnard also says that the
Indians say that their agent will give them
nothing, and that they are forced to hunt for
roots. If this be true, when the season is
over they may steal stock to live on. General
Ordin in forwarding Capt Barnard's COM
munication, says that if the Indians in their
hunger should kill stock or cattle, the ranch
men will probably retaliate in shooting some
stray and perhaps innocent Indians, and in
this way lead to difficulties. l think if the
Indian department in Nevada is powerless to
give food to starving Indians, the military
commanders should be authorized TO send
food in limited quantities, which would be
less expensive than having to fight them
Every precaution will be taken to prevent
difficulty, but starving Indians cannot be
reasoned with.
! The Indian bureau has received informa-
ton of the death of Amigo, principal chief of
the Navijo nation.
Vincent Collier, Indian Commissioner, in
tends to visit Arizona and New Mexico to
assist Superintendent Pope in his efforts to
induce the famous Apache Chief, Cochise to
visit Washington and make peace with the
white people. John d. Lang of Vassalboro',
Me-, has been asked to take Mr.. Golfers
place in Washington while he is absent.
The ku-Klux Investigating Committee to-
day examined Joshua l.. Morris, Attorney
General of Mississippi, native of Tennessee,
and ten years resident of Mississippi, and
a Confederate judge during the war. lie had
no personal knowledge of the Ku-klux, but
knew of its existence in the State the organi-
cation being confined to two tiers of counties
on the Alabama line He said it was almost
| impossible to convict them, not only for rea-
sons that they are disguised and people are
afraid to testify against them, but because
public sentiment in localities where such of
fences are committed is generally disposed to
ignore them altogether. The main purpose of
the organization is to intimidate negroes, and
control the negro vote. A great mass of the
people of the State are ell-disposed and or
derby, but allow themselves to be influenced
by their old leaders who consider negro suf-
trage an outrage, and have determined to re-
move it when in power, and in the meanwhile
to render it as harmless as possible.
In the opinion of the witness the existence
of the ku-kluX organization will be as plainly
apparent in the next election as 1t was in
1868 and 1869. Judge Benning of Columbus,
Ca, and Capt Paine of Savannah, Ga, were
briefly examined, but testified only to the
condition of affairs in their immediate neigh
borhoods, which they reported as perfectly
peaceful, and they know nothing about the
ku- klux elsewhere.