The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-12-12


year, and for continuing sea coast and
other Improvements, conducted under
the supervision OF the War Department,
refer You to the accompanying report
of tie Secretary of War.
| call your attention to the provisions
OF the act of Congress approved March
3, 1869, which discontinues promotions
in the staff corps of the army until pro-
vided for hy law. recommended that
the number Of officers in each grade of
the staff corps I've fixed, and that when
ever the number il any one grade falls
oelow the number so fixed that the VA
cancy may be filed by promotion from
tie grade below.
| also recommend that when the offs e
OF chief Of corps becomes vacant the
place may be filled by selection from
the coIps in which the vacancy exists.
TIE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy shows sn Improvement in the
number and efficiency of the naval force,
without material increase in the expense
Of supporting it. This is due to the
policy which has been adopted and is
being extended as far as our material
will admit, Of using smaller vessels as
cruisers on tie several stations. BY
these means We have been enabled to
occupy at once larger extent of cruis-
ing ground, to visit more frequently the
ports 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 Of the
expenditures authorized by law.
During the past year the navy has,
in addition to its regular service, sup
piled the men and officers for the vessels
OF the coast survey, and has completed
the surveys authorized by Congress of
the lsthnus Of Darien and Tehuantcpec,
aud under like authority has sent out an
expedition, completely furnished and
equipped, to explore the unknown ocean
of the North
! The suggestions Of the report as to
the necessity for encouraging Snl i'm
} proving the materiel of the navy, anI1
) the plan recommended for reducing the
personnel of the service tG 3 pesce stan
dard by the gradus,. abolition of certain
grades OF officers, the reduction of 9TH
ers and tue employment of some in the
service Of the commercial marine, are
well considered ,and deserve the thought,
ful attention of Congress
> I also recommed that all promoters
4 in the Navy above the rank Of CAPTAIN
e he by selection instead of seniority
d This course will secure in the higher
;, grades greater efficiency, and hold out
T an incentive to young officers to improve
1 themselves in the knowledge of their
4 profession.
II The present cost of maintaining the
/, Navy, and its cost compared with that
Il of the preceding year, and the estimates
Il for the ensuing year, are contained in
'e the accompanying report of the Secre
E tary of the Navy.
A. THE PoSToFFlCE DEPARTMENT.
e The enlarged receipts of the Post
u office Department, as shown by the &C
5, CONF anying report of the Post Maste
II General, exhibits a gratifying increase
Of in that branch of the public service. l
II is the index Of the growth of education
s. ana Of the prosperity of the peopls,tw'
elements highly conducive to the yigo
3 and stability Of republics. With a vas
+ territory like ours, much of it sparsel.
e, populated, but all requiring the service
ii Of the mail, it is not at present to b
III expected thGt this department can b
$, made self sustaining. but gradual ap
prosch to this end from year to year i
confidently relied Oh, and the Postoffic
Department of the Government wi
~ prove much greater blessing to tn
ls whole people than it is now.
a The suggestions of the Postmaste
't' General for improvements in the depart
'h ment presided over by him, are earnest
" ly recommended to your special atter
VI ton, especially the documents lookin
,h to the favorable consideration of tn
plan for uniting the telegraph system c
HE the United States with the nostal system
1t is believed that by such course til
id cost Of telegrsphing could be much re
tn duced. and the service IS well, if no
nd better, rendered. 1t would secure th
70 further advantage Of extending the te
tv egraph through portions of the countr
W where privste enterprise will not COZ
=. struct it Commerce, trade and ahov
of all the efforts to bring people widel
IA separated into community Of Interests
nd are always benefited by rapid intel
ii. communication. Education, the grounC
he work of republican institutions, is Ell
in couraged by increasing the facility
get more speedy news from all parts {
on the country. The desire to reap th
rs benefit of such Improvement will stiml
late education.
l refer You to the report of the Pos
in master General for full details Of til
'se operations Of last year, and for comps
rs, ative statements of the results with TO
I'm mer years.
THE KU KLuX LAW.
7 There has been imposed upon the G,
=. ecutive branch of the Government tn
~ execution Of the act Of Congress al
" "a proved April Goth, 1871, and common
~ ly known as the Ku-Klux law in a po
n ton of the State of South Carolina. I'll
ra nv necessity of the course pursued will |
u uJ demonstrated by the report of the con
:, :" mittec to investigate Southern outrage
~ ~ Under the provisions Of the act il
~ y, sued proclamation calling the after
~ ,Ia tion of the people of the United State
w w 10 the same, and declaring my reluc
~ ance to execute any of the extraordin;
- ry powers thereby conferred upon m
% o. except in case OF imperative necessit,
la h, but making known my purpose to exc
~ ~ else such powers whenever it should b
~ M come necessary to do so for the purpos
y. oa Of securing to all citizens Of the Unite
'"o w. States the peaceful enjoyment of I'll
' ;e rights guaranteed to them by the COZ
% stitution and the laws.
" After the passage Of this law, info
nation was received from time to tin
tbot ~ al, ota ~