Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-12-09

Tor continuing scacoast and other i'm.
provcments conducted under the super
vision of the War Der artment, refer
you to the accompanying report of the
Secretary of War. call your attention
to the provision of the act of Congress
approved March Sd, 1869, which discon-
tinues promotions in the staff corps of
the army, until provided for by law.
recommend that the number of officers
III each grade of the staff corps be fixed,
and that whenever the number in any
one grade falls below the number SO
fixed, that the vacancy may be filled by
promotion from the grade below. Inlso
recommend that when the office ui chief
of corps becomes vacant, the place
may be filled by selection from the corps
i'll which the vacancy exists.
THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
shows an Improvement in the number and
efficiency OF the naval force, without material
increase in the expense nf supporting it. This
is due to the policy which has been adopted,
and is being extended as fast Us our material
will admit, of using smaller vessels as cruisers
ON the several stations BY these means we
have been enabled to occupy a, once larger
extent of cruising ground, to visit more fire.
quently the posts where the presence of our
flag is desirable and generally To discharge
more efficiently the appropriate duties of the
Navy in Time of peace, without exceeding the
number OF men or the expenditure authorized
by law. During the past year the Navy has,
in addition 10 its regular SERVICE supplied the
men and officers ior the vessels of the Coast
Survey, and has completed the surveys au-
thorized by Congress of the Isthmus OF Daren
aud Tehuantepec, and under like authority,
has sent out an expedition completely furnish
ed and equipped 10 explore the unknown
ocean of the North. The suggestions of the
report as to the necessity tor increasing and
improving the material Of the Navy and the
plan recommended for redgcing the personnel
OF the service TO peace standard, by the
gradual abolition of certain grades of officers,
and reduction of Others, und the employment
ot some in the service of the commercial ma
! line hre well considered and deserve the
thoughtful attention of Congress. | also re-
commend that all promotions in The Navy
above the rank of captain be by selection, in
stead of by seniority. This course will secure
| IN the higher grades greater efficiency and
hold out an incentive 10 young Officers To i'm
prove themselves in the knowledge of their
! profession. The present cost of maintaining
the navy, its cost compared with that of the
preceding year and the esismaics for Ihc en-
suing year are contained in the accompanying
report OF the Secretary Of the Navy.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The enlarged receipts of The post Office de-
partment, rs shown by the accompanying re-
! port OF the Postmaster General, eXhioits q
gratifying increase in that branch Of the pub
| lie service. |, is the index ol the growth of
education and the prosperity of The people,
two clements highly conductive to the vigor
| and stability Ot republics. Wtth vast terri
tory like ours, mach of it spalsely popula ed ,
bat all rtquiri & the services OF the mail, it Is
not ut present To be expected that this d.pIrt-
ment can be made sei:susluinng, but Il gradu-
III approach to this end from year to year is
confidently relied upon, and the day is not far
distant when the post Office d 'partment of the
government will prove much greater bless
/ ing to the whole people than it is now. The
suggestions Ot the post Master General for im-
pTovcmeniS in the department pr, Si1cd over
by him are earnestly recommended 10 your
special attention, especially documents favora-
bic to the consideration OF the plan tor uniting
the telegraph system of the United States vita
the postal system. Ii is believed that by such
course the cost of tclegraphius could be
much reduced, and the service ns well, if not
better, rendered. 1t wOull secure u further
advantage by extending the telegraph through
portions OF The country where private enter
prise will not construct it. Commerce, trade,
and, above all, the efforts 10 bring people
widely separated into q community OF inter
ests, are always benefited by II rapid incrcom-
munication, Education, the ground work Of
republican institutions, Is encouraged by in
creasing the facilities TO gather speedy news
from all paris Of the country Tn" desire 10
reap the benefit Of such improvements will
stimulate education. l refer you to Tie report
OF the Postmaster General Tor fall details Of
the operations of last year, and for cempura-
tive statements Of results with former years.
TIE KU KLUx LAW.
l.
branch of the Government the execution Of
the act of Congress approved April 20ih, 1871
and commonly know rs tue Ku kiuX law i'll ~
portion of the State of South Carolina. The
necessity Of the course pursued will be demon
siralcd hy the report OF the Committee to IN
| vesligatc southern outragcs. Under the pro
| visions of the above act, issued n prOcama.
ton, calling the attention of the people Of the
United States to the same, and declaring my
reluctance 10 exercise any of the eXlraUruina-
| ry power thereby conferred upon me, except
i'll ense of imperative necessity, but making
known my purpose TO exercise such power
whenever 1t should become necessary to do so
| for the purpose Of securing to all the citizens
of the United States the peaceful enjoyment OF
all rights guaranteed to them by the Constitu-
| tOn aud the laws. Alter the passage OF this
law, information WAS received from time 10
| tmr that combinations of the character refer.
red Ia in this law, existed and were powerful
| IN many paris oil Inc southern States, partlcu-
larly in certain counties in the State OF South
Carolina Careful investigation was made,
| and Il WIS ascerlaincd 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 de-
privIng the cmancipated class Of the substan-
tial benefits of freedom and, of preventing the
Tree political action of those citizens who did
not sympathlze with theif own views. Among
their operations were frequent sc0urings of
the country and occasional assassinations-
generally perpetratcd at night, by disguised
persons, the victims in almOs, all casrs being
citizens Of different political sentiments from
their own, or free persons who had shown u
disposition to claim equal rights with other
citizens. Thousands or inotfensivc and well
disposed citizens were slfercrs by this lawless
violence. Thereupon, on the 18Th OF October,
1871, pronunciation was issued, in the terms
of the law, calling uuou the members of the
combination to disperse within five days, and
| to deliver to the Marshal or military officers OF
the United States all arms, ammunition, dis
guises and other means aud implements used
by them for carrying out their unlawful pur-
| nnapg This warming mt having hnpn handaA