National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-12-15

will soon relieve this government Of the
difficulties experienced from these causes.
Our relations with tho varioS republics
OF Central and South America continue,
with one exception, 10 be cordial and
friendly. ] recommend some action by
Congress regarding the overdue install
ments under the award Of the Vene2ula
claims commits ion of 1865. The inter.
nal diss"niions OF this government pre-
sent no Justification for the absence Of
effort to meet their solemn treaty obi
gatious.
The ratification % tho ExtraJition
Treaty with N.cara. e. has been cx
changed.
II IL n subject for coneratnlation that
the great Emperor OF Brazil has taken
the initiatory step towards tho abolition
of slavery. Our relations with that en-
pirc. always cordial, will naturally be
made more so by this act. 1t is not too
much TO hope that the government OF
Brazil may hereafter find it for its inter
est, rs well n intrinsically right, to adj |
vance towards entire emancipation more |
rapidly than the present net contem
plates.
1t is to be regretted that the disturbed
condition of the island of Cuba continues
to he n source of annoyance end of anX.
iety. The existence of protractcd strug- |
gle iu such close proximity to our own |
territory, without apparent prospect OF
an early termination, cannot DO othe: |
than an object of concern to people, |
who. while abstaining from interference
in the affairs of other powers, naturally |
desire to see every country in the undis. |
turbed enjoyment of peace, liberty md |
tho blessing OF free institutions. Our |
naval commanders in Cuban waters have |
been instructed, in case it shoul1 becSme
ne .essary, to spare no effort to protect |
the lives and property Of boia tide Amor
lean citizens and to maintain the dignity
of the flag. It's hoped that all pend.
ing questions with Spain, growing ont
OF the affairs in Cuba, may he adjusted
in the spirit Of peace and Cancellation,
which has hitherto guided the two
powers in their treatment OF such ques
tions.
NATIONAL DEBT.
The national deDt has been reduced |
to the extent Of ei9hty-Six millions, |
dfty-sevcn thousand, one hundred and !
twenty-six dollars and eighty cents dur.
ing the year and by the negotiation
Of national bonds at lower rate of in
terest, the interest on The public debt
has been so far dimni he'd that now the
sum to be raised for the interest account
is nearly seventeen million dollars less
than on the first of March, 1869.
TAXES.
/ recommend that MI taxes from in
ternal sources he abolished. except those
collected for spirituous, vinus ana malt
liquors, tobacco in it's various forms and
from stamps. In readilstiug the tariff
| suggest that q careful estimate he made
OF the amount OF surplus revenue col
lccted under the present laws after pro-
vidng the current expenses OF tho gov
eminent the interest account Of sink
ing fund, and that this surplus he re-
ducrd in such manner as to afford the
greatest relief to the greatest number.
GOLD.
Continued fluctuations in the valne of
gold, as compared with the national cur
rency, has a most damaging effect upon
the increase and development Of tho
country, in keeping up price, of all arti-
clos necessary in every day life. 1t fos-
ters q spirit Of gambling preiudicial
alike to ma ional morals and national
finances. If the question can be met rs
to how to get fixed value to our cur
rencv, that value constantly and uni
forInly approaching par with specie;
very desirable object will be gaiAed.
THE KU KLUX
Warning not having been needed, on
the It'll Of Oct general proclamation
was issued suspendng tho privilege of
the writ of h0bedS corpus in nine counties
i'll South Carolina. Direction was given
that, within the counties SO designated,
persons supposed, upon creditnble infor-
nation, to be members of such unlawful
should be arrested by the
military forces of the United States and
delivered to the marshal to be dealt with ,,
according to law Ia two of sud coun-
'ies-lork and Spartanburg -many ar
rests have been made At the last ac
count the number of persons thus ar ..
rested was one hundred and sixty eight. !
Several hundred whose criminality was l
nhcertained to be of an inferior degree :
were released for the present. These |
have generally made confessions of their :
guilt. Great caution has been exercised l
m making these arrests, and notwith-
Standing the large number, it is believed !
hat no innocent person is now in Gus
.ody. The prisoners will be held for '
regular trial in the judicial tribunals Of t
he United States AS soon as il appear. a
81 that the authorities of the United t
States were about TO take vieor ous @
measures to enforce the law, many per- .
sons absconded, and there is good \
ground for supposing that all of such s
persons have violated the law. A full a
report of what has been done under this +
aw will be submitted to Congress by tie :
General. u
In Utah there still remain. q remnant c
,f barbarism repu2nant TO civilization, |
% decency md TO the laws OF the United .
States Territorial officers, however,
have been found who are willing to per, !
'orm their duty in spirit of equity, and !
With due sense Of sustaining the MAJ , ,
esty of the law. Neither polygamy, nor !
my other violation of existing statutes ,,
will lie permitted within the territory of |.
he United States. 1t is not with the ,.
-e,igion Of the self styled saints that We
re now dealing, but with their practices.
rhey will he protected in the worship OF !
jod. according 10 the dictates OF their !
conscience but they will not be permit :
ed to violate the laws under the cloak !.
# religion. 1t may be advisable for
congress to consider what in the egecu-
ion Of the law against polysany, is to