Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-12-14

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consideration of the plan for uniting the
telegraph system of the United States
with the pos al system. 1t Is believed
that by such a course the cost of tele- |
graphing could be much reduced, and the
service Is we'll if not better rendered. 1t
would secure the further advantage OF ex- |
tending the telegraph through portions
of the country where private enterprise
will not construct it, to commerce, trade,
and above all the efforts to bring peo-
ple widely separated into community OF
interests, where all may be benefited 10y a
rapid Accommodation Education, the
ground work of republican institutions,
| is encouraged by the increasing facilities
to gather speedy uews from all parts OF
the country The desire to reap the bene-
fit. of such improvements will stimulate
education. refer you to the report OF the
Postmaster General for full details OF the
operations of last year, and for compare
tive statements OF the results with for
mer years.
TIE KU-KLUX LAW.
There has been imposed upon the Exc
cutive branch of the Government the ex-
ecution of The act OF Congress, approved
April 20, 1871, and commonly known as
the Ku-k klux law, in portion of the
state of South Carolina. The necessity
of the course pursued will be demonstra-
ted by the report of the committee to in
| vestigate Southern outrages. Under the
provisions of the act | issued proclama-
tion, calling the attention OF the people of
the United States t. the same, and de-
claring my reluctance to exercise any of
the extraordinary powers thereby con-
ierred upon me except in case of impera-
tive necessity, but making known my pur,
pose to exercise such powers whenever 1t
should Jecome necessary to do SO for the
purpose of securing to all citizens of the
/ United States a peaceful enjoyment of the
i rights guaranteed to them by tho Consti-
tuition and the laws. After the passage
of the aw information was received that
combinations of the character referred to
in this law, existed and were powerful in
many parts of the Southern States, partic
ularl@ in certain counties in the state of
South Can DINA. Careful investigation
was made, and 1t was ascertaincd that in
nine counties of that State, such combi-
nations were active and powerf !, embrac-
ing sufficient portion of the citizens to
control the local authority, and having
among other things the object of depriv-
ing the emancipated class of the substan-
lial benehts of freedom, and of preventing
the free political action of these citizens
ho did not sympathize with their own
views. Among their operations were fire.
quent scourgings and occasional assassi-
nations, generally perpetrated at night by
disguised persons, the victims in almost
all cases being citizens of different poliii
cal sentiments from their own, or free
| persons who had shown disposition to
claim equal rights with other citizens.
Thousands of offensive and well-disposed
citizens were the sufferers by this lawless
violence. Thereupon, ON October IL, 1871
a proclamation was 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 or military
officers OF the United States all arms, and
ammunition, uniforms, DISCUSSES, and other
means and implements used by them for
{ arr ing out their unlawful p2rpcse This
marnin. not having been needed, on the
11ih oi October another pgoclimation was
issded suspending the privilege of the writ
of hd6eds corpus in nine counties in that
| state. direction was given that within
! the cou mites so designated, persons sup
posed, upon credible inf rnation, to be
members oi such unlawful combination,
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
Spaitansburg many arrests have been
made At the last account the number OF
persons thus arrested WIS l6S. Several
hundred whose criminality was found to
be OF an inferior degree were released for
the present These have gene. ally made
confessions of their guilt Great caution
has been exercised in making these ar
rsts, and Notwithstanding the large num-
Der, ii Is believed that no innocent person
is now in custody The prisoners will
be held for trial in the judicial tribunals
of he United States AS soon, il ap-
pears, as the authorities of the United
States were about TO take vigorus meas
ures to enforce the law, many persons alb
seconded, and there is good ground for
supposing that all of such persons have
violated the law. A full report of what
has been done under this law will be sub
mitted TO Congress by the Attorney Gen
e.al.
PoLYGAMY PROSECUTIONS.
In Utah there still remains IA remnant of
barbarism repugnant to civilization, de-
cency and 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 polygamy nor any other
Violation OF existing statutes will be per-
miited within the territory of the United
States 1t Is not with the religion of the
self styled saints that we are now dealing,
but their practices. They will be pro
tected in the worship of God according to
the dictates of their conscience, but they
M, hn t,l@
under the cloak of religion. 1t may be
advisable for Congress to consider what,
in the execution of the laws against
polygamy, is to be the status of the plu-
raj wires and their offspring. The pro
priety of Congress of passing an enabling
act authorizing the territorial Legislature
OF Utah to legitimatize all born prior to a
: time fixed i'll the act, might be justified by
Its humanity to these innocent children
This is suggestion only, and not re.
commendation.
THE INDIAN POLICY.
J The policy pursued toward the Indians
, has -esulted favorably, SO far as can be
judged from the limited time during
which it has been in operation. Through
; the exertions of the societies of Christians
TO whom it. has been intrusted, the ex
ecution of the policy of the Board of Com
! missioners authorized by the law of A pri
i 10, 1869, many tribes of Indians have beer
+ induced to settle on reservations, to cult
! vate the soil. To perform productive labor
| OF various kinds, and to partially accept
civilization. They are being cared for il
r such way, it is hoped, as to induce those
/ still pursuing their old habits of life tc
embrace the only opportunity which il
left them to avoid determination. rec
ommend liberal appropriations to carry
E cause it is human. Christianlike, and eco
t nomical, but because it is right. | rec.
, ommend to your favorable consideration
f also, the policy of granting territorial
government to the Indians of the Indiar
Territory west of Arkansas and Missouri
and South of Kansas. In doing so every
right guaranteed to the Indians by treaty
: should be secured. Such course mssiii