Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-12-12
NAVY DEPARTMENT.

condition of that branch Of the public service
its wants and deficiencies, expenses incurred
during the past year, and appropriations tor
the same. It also gives complete history OF
the service of the navy for the past year in
addition to regular service.
1t is evident that, unless early steps are
taken to improve our navy, in very few years
the United States will be the weakest nation
upon the ocean, of oil the great Powers. With
an energetic, progressive, business people like
ours, penetrating and forming business rela'
tions with every part Of the known world, a
navy strong enough to command the respect
of our flag abroad is necessary for the full
protection of their rights. I recommend care
full consideration by Congress of the recon-
mendation made by the Secretary OF the
Navy.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
Detailed statements of the disbursements
through the Department Of Justice will be
furnished by the report of the Attorney. Gen
eral and though these have been somewhat
increased by the recent acts of Congress to
enforce the rights of citizens of the United
States to vote in the several States of the
Union, and to enforce the provisions of the
fourteenth amendment to the Constitution OF
the United States and the amendments there
to, cannot question the necessity and saluta.
ry effect of those enactments. Reckless and
lawless men, I regret to say, have associated
themselves together in some localities, to de-
prive other citizens of those rights guaranteed
to them by the Constitution of the United
States, and to that end have committed deeds
of blood and violence; but the prosecution
and punishment of many of these persons
have tended greatly to the repression of such
disorders. I do not doubt that great ma
jority Of the people in all parts of the country
favor the full enjoyment by all classes of per.
sons, of those rights to which they are entitled
under the Constitution and laws, and l invoke
the aid and influence of all good citizens to
prevent organizations whose objects are, by
unlawful means, to interfere with those rights.
look with confidence to the time, not far
distant, when the obvious advantages of good
order and peace will induce an abandonment
of all combinations prohibited by the acts re-
ferred to, and when it will be unnecessary to
carry on prosecutions or infict punishment to
protect citizens from the lawless doings of
such combinations. Applications have been
made to me to pardon persons convicted of a
violation of said acts, upon the ground that
clemency in such cases would tend to tran
quilize the public mind and to test the virtue
of that policy I am disposed, as far as my
sense of Justice will permit, to give these ap-
plications favorable consideration, but any
action thereon is not to be construed as indi-
eating any change in my determination to en-
force with rigor such acts so long as the con-
spiracies and combinations therein named dis
turb the peace Of the country. 1t is much to
be regretted, and is regretted by no one more
than myself, that necessity has ever existed
to execute the enforcement act No one can
desire more than that the necessity of ap-
plying it may never again be demanded.
LANDS.
During the last fiscal year there were dis.
posed of out of the public lands 11,864,975
acres, quantity greater by 1,O99,270 acres
than was disposed of the previous year. Oh
this amount l ,370, ,320 acres were sold for cash
389 ,460 acres located with military warrants
4,671, 1892 acres are taken for homesteads
693, ,613acres located with college scrip, 1884,
8S7 acres granted to railroads, 465,347 acres
granted to wagon roads, 714,755 are given to
States as swamp lands, $50 acres located by
Indian scrip. The cash receipts from all
sources in the Land Office amounted to SO, ,218,.
100. During the same period 22,O16,6O6
acres of the public lands were surveyed; which
added to thequantity before surveyed, amounts
to $50, 3,365,780 acres, leaving 1887, ,633, ,628
acres of the public lands still unsurveyed.
The reports from the subordinates Of the
Land Office contain interesting information
in regard to their respective districts. They
uniformly mention the fruitfulness of the soil
during the past season and the increased yield
of all kinds of produce. Even in those States
and Territories where mining is the principal
business, agricultural products have exceeded
the local demand, and liberal shipments have
been made to distant points.
THE CENSUS.
The ninth census is about completed. Its
early completion is subject of congratulation
inasmuch as the use to be made of the statis-
tics therein contained depends greatly on the
promptitude of publication. The Secretary
of the Interior recommends that census be
taken in 1875, which recommendation should
receive the early attention of Congress. The
interval at present established between the
Federal census is so long that the information
obtained at the decennial period as to the ma
terial condition, wants, and resources of the
nation is of little practical value after the ex-
piration of the first half of that period. 1t
would probably obviate the constitutional
provisions regarding the decennial census ta-
ken in 1876 should it be divested of all polit-
ical character, and no reapportionment of
Congressional representation be made under
it. Such census, coming as it would in the
last year Of the 6rst century Of our national
existence, would furnish noble monument of
the progress of the United States during that
century.
EDUCATION.
The rapidly-increasing interest in education
is most encouraging feature in the current
history of the country, and it is no doubt true
that this is due, in great measure, to the ef-
forts Of the Bureau Of Education. That Of.
flee is continually receiving evidences which
abundantly prove its efficiency from the vari.
Gus Institutions of learning and education of
all kinds throughout the country. The re-
port of the Commissioner contains vast
amount of educational details of local interest
The bill now pending before Congress provi-
ding for the appropriation of the net proceeds
of the sales of public lands for educational
purposes, to aid the States in the general edu-
cation of their rising generation, is measure
of such great Importance to our real progress,
and is so unanimously approved by the leading
friends of education, that I recommend it to
the favorable attention Of Congress.
AGRICULTURE.
The report of the Commissioner of Agri.
culture gives a very full and interesting &C.