The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-12-10

and arrangements recently concluded
with the leading commercial countries Of
Europe and America, and the gratifying
statement is made that with the conclu-
sion OF a satisfactory convention with
France, the details of which have been
definitely agreed to by the head of the
French postal department, subject to the
approval Of the Minister OF Finance, lit
tie remains to be accomplished ny treaty
tor some time to come in respect there
ID.
Your favorable consideration is re-
spectfully invited to- tile. recommends
tions made by the Postmaster General
for an increase of service rom monthly
to semi-,nonthly trips on the mail steam
ship route to Brazil for subsidy in aid
Of the establishment Of an American line
of mail steamers between San Francis.
co, New Zeaiand and Australia; for the
establishment of post office savings
banks, and for the increase OK the sala-
ries Of the heads Of bureaus.
l have heretofore recommended the
abolition of the franking privilege, and
see no reason now for changing my
views on that subject. 1t not having
been favorably regarded by Congress,
however,I now suggest a>modi6cation of
that privilege,to correct its glaring and
costly abuses.
l wolild recommend also the appoint
ment of a committee or commission to
take into consideration the best method
equitable to private corporations who
have invested their time and capital in
the establishment of telegraph lines-of
acquiring the title to all telegraph lines
now in operation, and Of connecting this
service with the postal service of the
Naticn. 1t is not probable that this sub
ject could receive the proper considera-I
ton during the limits of short session
of Congress, but it may be initiated so
that farther action may. be fair to the
Government and to the private parties
concerned.
There are but three lines of ocean
steamers, namely, the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company's line, between San Fran
cisco, China and Japan, with provision
made for semi-monthly service after Oc-
tober l, 1878; the United States and Bra
I'll line, monthly, and the Californin,New
Zealand and Australian line, monthly,
plyiLg between the United States and
foreign ports, and owned and operated
under our flag. l earnestly recommend
that such liberal centrscts for carrying
the mails be authorized With these lines,
as will insure their continuance. II the
expediency of extending the aid Of the
Government to lines of steamers which
hitherto have not received it should be
deemed worthy Of the consideration oil
Congress, political and commercial OBJ
| jects make it advisable to bestow such
aid on a line under our flag, between
Panama and the Western South Ameri-
can ports. BY this means, much trade
now diverted to other countries might
he brought to us. to the mutual advan-
tage of this country and those lying in
that quarter of the continent of Ameri-
ca.
The report Of the Secretary Of the
Treasury will show ar alarming falling
off in our carrying trade for the last ten
or twelve years, and even for the past
year. | do not believe that the public
treasure can he better expended in the
interest of the whole people than in try
ing to recover this trade An expendi
ture OF S5,000,000 per annum for the
next five yesrs, il it would restore to us
our proportion of the carrying trade o.
the world. would be proftably expended
The price of labor in Europe has Sc
much enhanced within the last FIVE years
and the cost of building and operating
ocean steamers in the United States is
not somuch greater than in Europe, thai
believe the time has arrived for Con
gress to take this subject into serious
consideration. - ~
THE ESfoRcE1ENT OR Ku KLux ACT.
A detailed statement Of the disburse
ments through the Department of Jus
tice will be furnished by the report o.
the Attorney General, and though these
have been somewhat increased by the re
cent acts of Congress to enforce the
rights Of citizens of the United States te
vote in the several States Of the Union
and to enforce the provisions of the
Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitu
ton of the United States, the necessity
and salutary effect of these enactment:
have been apparent. Reckless and law
less men, regret to say, have associa
ted themselves together in some local.
tiles to deprive other citizens of th'
rights guaranteed to them by the Con
stitution Of the United States, and t.
that end have committed deeds of vio
lence. Bat the prosecution and punish
ment Of many of these persons have ten
ded greatly to the repression Of such dis
orders. l do not doubt that great ma
jority of the people, in all parts of tn
country, favor the full enjoyment by al
classes of persons of those rights tC
which they are entitled under the Con
stitution and the laws and l invoke tn
aid and influence Of all good citizens tt
prevent organizations whose ohjects are
by unlawful means, to interfere witt
those rights. / look with confidence tC
the time, not far, distant, when the obvi
Gus advantages of good order and peac
willinduce an abandonment of all com
binations prohibited by the acts referre'
to, and when it will be unnecessary t
carry on prosecutions or inflict punish
ments to protect citizens from the law
less doings of such combinations.
Applications have been made to m
for the pardon of persons convicted o
a violation of said acts s,upon the groun,
that clemency in such cases would tent
to tranqmlize tn, public mind, and t
test the virtue Of that policy / am dis
posed, as my sense. of justice will pei
NIT, to give to these persons favorabl
consideration; but thereon is not to b
construed as indicating any change i
my determination to enforce with vigo
such acts as the conspiracies and comb
nations therein named disturb the peac
of the country. 1t is much to be regret
ted and ia rnoretted Inv no one NOR