White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1871-12-14

greater efficiency and hold ont an incentive to
young officers to improve themselves in the know
ledge of their profession. The present cost of
mai1lta,ning the navy, its cost compared with
the ensuing year and contained in the accompany
ing report Of the Secretary Of the Navy.
The enlarged receipts Of the PostOfiice Depart
ment. rs shown by the accompanying report Of
crease in that branch Of the public service.
1t is the index Of the gfswth Of education and
OF the prosperity Of the people, two elements
highly conducive 10 the vig0r and stability of the
republic. With vast territory like ours, much Of
1t sParsely populated, but all requiring the ser
vices OF the mall it is not at present to be expec-
ted that this department can bc made elf-sustan-
ing, but a gradual approach to this end from year
to year Is confidently relied on and the day is not
far distant when the Postoficc Department of the
government will prove . much greater blessing
to the whole people than 1t is now. The susges-
tons OF the P0stmastrr-General for improvements
in the department presided over by him are earn
esfly recommended to yOnr special attention, of
the plan for uniting the telegraph system Of the
Unitesi States with the postal system. 1t is be-
lieved that by such course the cost of telegraph
ing could be much reduced, and the service as
well, if not better, rendered 1t would secure the
further advantage by extending the telegraph
through portions of the country where private
enterprise will not constructit. Commerce, trade,
and, above ALL the efforts to bring people wide
ly separated into a community Of interests are
always benefited by rapid ntercommnnication.
Education. the groundwork Of republican i'll
stitutions. is encouraged by the increasing facil-
ties to gather speedy news from all parts Of the
| country. The desire to reap the benefit OF such
improvements will stimulate education. refer
Won to the report of the Postmaster-General for
full details of the operations of last year, aud for
comparative statements of the results Of former
years.
There has been imposed upon the executive
of of
act of Congress approved April 90, ls7I, and COM
monty known rs the Kn-Klux law, in portion
Of the State of South Cnrolina. The necessity Of
the course pursued will be demonstrated by the
report of the Committee to Investigate Southern
Oufrages. Under the lrovisiOns of the above act,
issued a proclasnatioI salling the attention Of
the people Of the United States to the same, and
declaring my reluctance to exercise any Of the
extraordinary power thereby conferred upon Inc,
except in ease of imperative necessity, but ma
king known my purpose to exercise such powers
whenever il should bec0me necessary to do SO for
the purpose of securing all citizens of the United
States the peaceful enjoyment Of the rights suaran
teed to them by the Constitution aud the laws.
After the passage of this law, information was
received from time to time that combinations 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. A careful investigation
was made and it was ascertained that in nine
Counties Of the State combinations were active
and powerful, embracing sufficient portion Of
the citizens to control the local authority, and
having, among other things, the object of depri-
wing the emancipated class Of the substantial
benefits of freedom, and of preventing the free
political action of those citizens who did not
sympathiZe with their own views. Among their
operations frequent scourgings and occasional
assassnations. generally perpetrated at night by
disguised persons, the victims in almost all cases
being citizens of different political sentiments
fron their nyy., mr. free DerSOnS who had shown n
disposition to claim equal rights with other citi
zens. Thousands of in0ffensve and well disposed
citizens were the sufferers by this lawless vio-
lence. Therefore, on the 18th of October, ISL, a
proclamation issued. in the terms of the law,
calling upon the members of the combinations to
disperse within five days, and to deliver to the
Marshal, military officers of the United States
| all arms, ammunition, uniforms, disguises, and
other means and implements used by them for
CARRYING ont their unlawful purposes. The war
ming not having been needed, ON the 18th of
October another proclamation was issued, suspen-
ding the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in
nine Counties in that State. Direction was given
| that within the Counties SO designated persons
supposed, upon cre,litable information, to be
members of such unlawful combinations should
be arrested by the military forces Of. the United
States, and delivered to the Marshal, to be dealt
with according To law. In two of said Counties,
York and Spartanbnrg, many arrests have been
made. At the last account the number Of per-
SONS thus arrested was one hundred and sixty
| eight. Several hundred whose criminality was
asccrtained TO be of an inferior degree were re-
leased for the present, These have generally
made confession of their guilt. Great caution has
been exercised in making these arrests and, not
withstanling the largtliumber, it is believed that
10 innocent person is now in custody. The prison.
ers will he held for regular trial in the judicial
tribunals of the United States. As soon rs it ap-
pearel that thr authorities of the United States
were about TO take vgurotis measures to enforce
the law, many persons alscon'le'l, and there is
good ground for surprising that all of such per-
SONS have violated the law. A full report of what
has been done under this law will be submitted to
Congress by the AttorneyGeneral.
In Utah there still remains remnant of barbar-
ism, repugnant to civilization, dccency, and to
the laws of the United States Territorial ofli-
GERS, however, have been found who are willing
to perform their duty in spirit OF equity and
with due sense Of maintaining the majesty Of
the law Neither polygamy nor any other viola
tion of existing statues will be permitted within
the territory of the United States. 1t is not with
the religion of the selfstyle'l saints that We are
now dealing, but their practices. They VIII he
protected in the worship of God according to the
dictates of their cons,iences, but they will not he
permitted TO violate the laws under the cloak OF
religion 1t may be advisable for Congress To
consider what i'll the execution of the laws against
plopgany, is to le the status of the plural wives
and their offspring. The propriety of Congress
passing an enabling act, authorizing the Terrific
rial Legislature of Utah to legitimatizc all born
prior to time fixed in the act, might be Justified
by its humanity TO these innocent children This
is a suggestion only, and not q recommendation.
The pc!icy pursued toward the Indians have
resulted fayorably, far can he Judged from
the limited time during which it has been in
operation. Through the exertiOns of the varions
societies of Christians to whom has been intrus-
ted the execution Of the policy, and the Board Of
Commissioners authorized by the law of April IL,
lS69 many tribes of Indians have been induced
to settle on reservations to cultivate the soil and
perform productive labor of various kinds, and to
partially accept civilization. They are being
cared for in such way, it is hoped, as to induce
those still pursuing their old habits Of life to EN-
brace the only opportunity which is left them to
avoid determination. l recommend liberal ap-
preparations to carry ont the Indian peace policy,
not only because it is humane, Christian like, and
economical, but because it is ght. i recommend
to yonr favorable consideration also the policy of
granting a territorial government to the Indians
of Indian Territory west of Arkansas and Mis-
souri,. and south of Kansas. In doing SO every
right guaranteed to the Indians by treaty should
be secured Such a course might be the in~liis
of collecting most Of the In,lia;is now between the
Missouri and the Pacific, and south of the British
possessions, into one Territory or one State.
The Secretary of the Interior has treated upon
this subject at length. and recommend to you
his suggestions.
renew my recommendations that the piiblie
lands he regarded heritage to our children To
be disposed of only regpirs<l ltarseeapafion ana
to actual settlers. Those already granted have