The avant courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1871-1872, 1871-12-14
Ian, MONTANA TERRITORY THURSDAY DEcEMHEIs a. 1871

Under the provisions Of the above not, / is
sued proclamation calling the attention Of
the people of the United States to the saine, I
and declaring my reluctance to exercise any
Of the extraordinary powers thereby confer
red upon me, except in case af necessity, but
making known my purpose to exercise ssaeh
powers whenever it should become necessary
to do 50 for the purpose of securing to all
persons or the United States the peaceful en-
joyment Of the rights guaranteed to them BY
the Constitution and laws. After the pas
sage OF this law, information was received
from time to time that combinations Of char
sacters referred to in this law existed and were
powerful in many parts Of the Southern
States, and especially in certain counties of
South Carolina. IA careful investigation
was nlasle, and it was ascertained that
sitak inc Of the counties of that State
such combinations were active and powerful,
RemDracia i sufficient portion Of the citizens
to contrd me local authority and having
sther things the object OF depriying
the emancipated class Of the substantial bene-
fits OF freedom and of the privilege OF free
political action of those citizens who did not
sympathize with their own views. AWong
their operations were frequent scourgings and
occasional assassinations, generally perpetrat-
ed at night by disguised persons, their vic
Tins in almost all cases being citizens Of dit
ferent political sentiments from their own;
tree persons who had shown a disposition to
claim the usual rights with other citizens !.
Thousands Of inofensiye and well disposed
citizens were the sufferers by this laWless vio-
lencs Thereupon, on the 18th Of October
1871, a proclamation was issued in the terms
of the law, calling upon 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,
uniforms; disguises; and other means and im-
pleillents used by them for carrying out their
unlawful purposes. This warning not hay-
ing been needed, on the 18th Of October an
other proclamation was issued, suspending
the writ OF fdbeds corpus hi nine counties IN
that State. Direction was given that within
the counties so designated, persons supposed,
upon creditable information, to be members
of such unlawful combinations, should be
arrested by the military forces Of the United
States, and be delivered to the Marshal to be
dealt with according to law. In two OF said
counties many arrests have been made. At
the last accounts the number Of persdnB thus
arrested was 1853. Several hundred whose
criminality was ascertained to be Of an infe-
rior degree, were released for the present.
| These have generally made confessions OF
their guilt. Great caution has been exer-
cised in making these arrests, and notwith-
standing the large number, it is believed that
no innocent person is now in custody. The
prisoners will be held for regular trial in the
judicial tribunals of the United States. As
soon as it appeared that the authorities of the
United SaaHes were about to take vigorous
| measures to enforce the law. many persons
absconded, and there is good reason for sup
posing that all of such persons have been
violaters of the law. A full report Of what
has been done Under this law will be submit
ted to Congress by the Attorney General.
| THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
renew my recommendation that the bub-
lie lands as the heritage of our childrens be
disposed Of only as required for occupation,
and to actual settlers. Those already granted
have been, in a great part, disposed OF IN
such way as to secure access to the balance
| by the hardy settler, who may wish to avail
himself OF them; but caution should be ex-
ercised even in attaining SO desirable an Oh
| ieet. Educational interests may well be Sc
cured by the grant of proceeds OF the sale
| of public lands to settlers. 1 do not wish to
| be understood as recommending in the least
degree curtailment Of what is being done
| by the General Government for the encour-
agement of education.
/ INTERIOR BUDGET.
The report of the Secretary Of the Interior,
submitted with this, will give yon the lnfor-
nation collected and prepared for publication
| in regard to the census taken during the year
OF 1870, the operations OF the bureau of Edu-
| cation for the year, the Patent Office, the
Pension Office, the Land Office aud the In
dian Bureau.
| THE DEPARTMENT or AGRICULTURE.
The report Of the Commissioners of Agri-
/ culture gives the operations OF his Depart
| ment for the year. AS agriculture is the
ground work of our prosperity, too much i'm
! portance cannot he attached to the labors OF
this Department. It is in the hands OF an
| able head, with able assistants, who are all
/ zealously devoted to introducing into the ag-
/ ricultural productions Of the nations all use
full products adapted to any OF the various
/ climates and soils of our vast tsrritorys and
| giving all useful information is 70 the method
i of cultivation of plants, cereals and ether
products. Ilie Agricultural Bureau Is work
ing great national good, and, if literally
supported, the more widely its influence vii
/ be extended and the less dependent we shall
! be upon the products Of foreign countries.
! BUREAU COMPENSATION.
/ The subject Of compensation to the heads
of bureaus and officials holding positions Of
responsibility and requiring ability and char
aeter to fill properly; is one to which your at
tention is invited. But few OF the officials
receive compensation equal to the respecta-
BILE support of family while their duties
are such as to involve millions Of interest
| I'd private life services demand q compensa-
| ton equal to the services rendered. a wise
ECONOMY would dictate the same rule in the
government service.
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES:
have not given the estimates for the sup