The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-08


M nufacture of arms; for relieving the various
states from Indebtedness for arms charged to
them during the rebellion; for dropping officers
rom she rolls OF the army without trial for
tne oHenee OF drawing pay more than once for
| the same period; for the discourapement of
the plan to pay soldiers by checks; and for the
establishment of a professorship of rhetoric
ana English literature at West Point
The reasons for these recommendations are
obvious and are set forth sufficiently in the re-
port attached | also recommend that the
status OF the staff corps of the army be fixed.
where TINS has not already been done, so that
| promotions may be made and vacancies filled
| as they occur in each grade when reduced be.
| low the number to be fixed by law The ne.
cessity for such legislation is especially felt
s,So now in the pay department.. The number OF
officers in that department is below the mum.
| Der adequate to the performance of tho duties
| required of them by law.
The efficiency of the navy has been largely
increased during the last year. Under the i'm.
pulse OF the foreign complications which threat
ened us at the commencement of the last ses-
sion OF Congress many of our efficient wooden
ships were put in condition for immediate SER
vice AID 1the krepair Of our iron clad fleet
pushed with the utmost vigor The result is
| that most of these arc now in an effective
state and need only to be manned and put into
commission TO go at once into service. Some
OF the new sloops authorized by Congress are
already in commission and more of the remain
der are launched and wait only the Completion
OF their machinery to enable them to take their
places as part of our effective force Two iron
torpedo ships have been completed during the
last year and four OF our large double turretted
iron-clads are now undergoing repairs When
these are finished everything that is useful of
our navy as now authorized win be in condition
for service and, with the advance in the science
OF torpedo warfare, the American navy COM
paratiyely small as it is, will be found at any
time powerful for the purposes of peaceful
nation.
seieniiGc Expeditions.
Much has also been accomplished during the
year in aid OF science and to increase the sum
of general knowledge and further the interests
OF commerce and civilization. Extensive and
much needed soundngs have been made for
photographic purposes and to fix the proper
rodte OF ocean teegraphs, Further SURVEYS of
the great islhmus have been undertaken and
completed, and two vessels of the navy are now
employed in conjunction with those of Eng
land, France, Germany and Russia in obserya-
tons connected with the transit of Veuus so
useful and interesting to the scientific world.
The estimates for this branch of the public
service do not differ materially from those of
last year, those for the general support of the
service being somewhat less, and those for per-
manent improvements at various stations
rather larger than the corresponding estimate
made year ago. The regular maintenance
and a steady increase in the efficiency of this
most important arm in proportion to the
growth of our maritime intercourse and inter-
ests is recommended to the attention of Con-
gress. The use of the navy in time of peace
might be further utilized by direct authori~
zatiOn of the employment of naval vessels in
explorations and surveys of the supposed nayi-
gable waters of other nationalities on this con-
tinent especially the tributaries of the two
great rivers of South America, the Orinoco and
the Amazon. Nothing prevents under the ex-
ist:ng law such an exploration except that ex-
penditureS must be made in such expeditions
beyond those usually provided for by the ap-
preparations. The field designated is urques-
tiOnably one of interest and one capable of
upVpI0Dmnnt nj al MI a1-
vantageous to the people reached and those
who may establish relations with them
Postal Matters.
The education Of the people entitled to exer-
else the right of franchise, / regard essen
tal to general prosperity everywhere and, es-
pecially SO in republics where neither education
nor previous condition enters into account in
giving suffrage. Next to the public school the
post-Otfice is the great agent of education over
our vast territory. The rapidity with which
new sections are being settled thus increasing
the carrying of mails in q more rapid ratio
than the increase of receipts, is not alarming.
The report of the Postmaster General here
with attached, shows that there was an in
crease OF revenue in his department. in 1873
over the previous year of S167, AL 100, and am
increase of cost OF carrying the mails and pay.
ing employees of S304 LAG, ,S9l. The report of
the Postmaster General gives interesting sta
tstics OF his department, and compares them
with the corresponding statistics of a year ago,
showing growth in every branch of the de-
partment. A postal convention has been con-
cuded with New South Wales; an exchange of
postal cards established with Switzerland; and
the negotiations pending several years with
France have terminated in convention with
that country which went into effect last Au-
gust. An international postal congress was
convened IN Berne Switzerland, in September
last at which the United States was represent
ed by an officer of the postoffice department of
much experience and of qualifications for the
position. A convention for the establishment
of an International postal union was agreed up
on and signed by the delegates of the countries
represented, subject to the approval aof the
proper authorities of those countries | re-
spectfully direct your attention to the report of
the Postmaster General and to his sug g.estions
in regard to an equitable adjustment of the
question of compensatons to railroads for car
rying the mails.
The Southern Troubles.
Your attention will be drawn to the unsettled
condition of affairs in some of the Southern
States. On the 14th of September last the Gov.
ernor of Louisiana called upon me, as provided
+ by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, to aid in suppresSing domestic violence
in that state. This call was made in view of a
proclamation issued on that day, ID. B. Penn
claiming that he was elected Lieutenant Gov
ernor in 1872, and calling upon the militia of
the state to arm, assemble and drive from pow
er the usurpers, as he designated the officers of
the state department On the next day issu-
ed my proclamation, commanding the insur-
thereof, and subsequently learned that on that
day they had taken forcible possession of the
State House. Steps were taken by me to sup
port the existing and recognized state govern-
ment, bnt before the expiration of the Eve days.
the insurrectionary movement was practically
abandoned and the officers of the state govern
ment, with some minor exceptions resumed
their powers and duties Considering that the
present state administration of Louisiana has
been the only government in that state for
nearly two years, that it has been tacitly ac-
knowedged and acquiesced in as such by Con-
gress and more than once expressly recognized
by me, regarded i. as my clear duty, when
legally called on for that purpose to prevent its
overthrow by an armed mob under the pretence
of fraud and irresuarity in the election of 1872.
| have heretofore called the attention of Con-
gress to this subject, stating tlat on account of
frauds and forgeries committed at said election,
and because it appears that the returns thereof
were never legally canvassed, it was impossible
to tell thereby who was chosen; but from the
best sources at my command have always be-
lieved the present state officers received q ma
.jority of the legal votes actually cast / repeat
what said in my special message OF February
18th, 1873, that in the event of no action by
Congress, must continue to recognize the gov
ernment heretofore recognized by me.
L regret to say that with preparations for the
election, decided indications appeared in some
localities of the Southern States of determin-
alton, by acts of violence and intimidation, to
deprive citizens of the freedom of the ballot,
because of their political opinions. Bands of
men, MASKED ana armed, made their appear
ance; White Leagues and other societies were
formed; large quantities of arms and ammuni-
tion were imported and distributed to the or
CARNATIONS; military drills, with Renacins
demonstrations, were held, and, with all these,
murders enough were committed to spread ter
ror among those whose political action was TO
bs suppressed, if possible, by these proceed
ings. In some places colored laborers were
compelled to vote according to the views of
their employers, under threats of discharge If
they acted otherwise, and there are too many in
stances in which, when these threats were dis
regarded, they were remorsely executed by
those who made them.
1 understand that fifteenth amendment to
the constitution was made to prevent the like
state of things, and the act Of May 3lst, 1870,
with amendments, was passed to enforce its
provisions; the objects OF this being to guaran-
tee to all citizens the right to vote and protect
them in the full enjoyment of that right. En-
joined by the constitution to take care that the
laws be faithfully executed, and convinced by
undoubted evidence that violations of said act
had been committed and that wide spread
and fagrant disregard Of it was contemplated,