The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-12-16


c,.ryu. and cs ecially SO in
yenrbl;cs where both education or
reuon condition does not enter IN
81 account in giving suffrage Next
to the public school, the p~ostofiee IS
she great agent o~fed0cation over our
vast territory. The rapidity With
which new sections are being settled,
thus increasing the carry Of mails on
a more rapid ratio than the increase
OF receipts, is not alarming.
THE REPORT or TUE POSTMASTER oEN.
ERAL,
herewith attached. shows that there
was an increase Of aetenue in this
departmeut in 1873 over The previous
year Of Sl.GT4,4ll, and an increase
Of cost Of carrying the mails by pay
ing employees, OF $304,lfG 81. The
report OF the Postmaster General
gives interesting statistics Of bis de-
paitment. and compares then with
the corresponding statistics ola year
ago. showing a growth n every
branch OF the department.
A postal convention has been con
cluded with New South Wales, an
exchange Of postal cards established
with Switzerland, and the negotia-
lions pending for several years past
with France have Terminated in q
convention with that country, which
went into effect last August. An In
t~eruational Postal Congress was con
vened in Berne. Switzerland, IN sep
tember last. at which the Cniteo
States was represented By an ohieef
Of the Postohice Department u maca
experience and of Equalization Ter the
position. A convention for Tie cs-
adjustment of.an international pos
tail union was agreed upon and sign
ed by delegates Of the countries rep
resented. subject to the approval OF
the proper authorities Of those coun-
tries. / respectfully direct your at
tention to the report Of the Post
master General, AID to his sugges-
lions in regard 20 al equitable ad-
iustment oil the question Of compea-
sation TO railroads for carrying the
mails
AFFAIRS Is TIE s0uTn.
Your attention will be drawn to
The unsettled condition Of affairs ID
some Of the Southern States On the
18th Of September last the Governor
Of Louisiana called upon me, IS pro-
vided by the Constitution and laws
OF the United States, to aid IN sap
pressing domestic violence ia That
State. This. call was made in view
Of a proclamation issued on that day
by d. b. Penn, claiming that he was
elected Lieutenant Governor in 1872
and calling upon the MALTA Of the
State to arm, assemble and drive
from power the usurpers, as be des-
ignated the officers OF the State gov
eminent. On the next day issued
my proclamation commanding the
insurgents to dispense within five
days from The date thereof. and sub
sequently learned that on that day
they had taken forcible possession Of
the State house. Steps were taken
by me to support the existing and
recognized State government but
before the expiration of the FIVE days
the discretionary movement was
practically abandoned, and the OFF,
GERS of the State government, with
some. minor exceptions, resumed
their powers and duties. Consider
ing that the present State admins
tratioa Of Louisiana has been the
only government IN that State for
nearly two years, that IL has been
tacity acknowledged and acquiesced
in rs such by Congress, aud more
thar once expressly recognized by
me. | regarded it as my clear duty,
when legally called upon FOR that pnr-
pose, to prevent its overthrow by an
armed mob under p~retense Of fraud
and irr~egularity in the election Of
1872.
/ have heretofore called the atten-
fion If Congress to this subject sta
ting that on account Of the frauds
aud forgeries committed at said cleo
ticn and because it appears that the
returns thereof were never legally
canvassed, it was impossible to tell
thereby who were chosen but from
sthe best sources of information a.
my command, l have always believed
The present State officers received a
msjority Of the legal votes actually
cast at that election. | repeat what
said in my special message OF Feb
ruary %, 1878, that in the event Of.
no action ~ Congress. / must con-
time to recognize the government
heretofore recognized by me.
THE WHITE LEAGUES.
l regret TO say that with prepare
lions for the late election. decided in
dications appeared in some local.
lies in the Southern States Of a de-
termination, 10y acts OF violence and
intimidation TO deprive citizens of
the freedom of the ballot because Of
their political opinions. Bands Of
men, masked and armed, made their
appearance F; White Leagues and 9th
er societies were formed large guam
titles Of arms and AMMUNITION were
imported and distributed to these or
CARNATIONS military drills with
menaciug demonstrations were held.
and with all these. murders enough
were committed to spread terror
among those whose political action
was to be suppressed if possible 10y
these intolerant and criminal pro
ceedings. In some places colored Ia.
borers were compelled to vote accor.
ding 20 the wishes oftheir EMPLOYERS
under threats Of discharge il they
acted otherwise, and there are toe
many instances in which, when these
threats were disregarded. they were
remorselessly executed by those who
made them. ! understand thet the
Fifteenth Amendment to the Consti-
tuition was made to prevent this. and
like state ofthings. and the act of
May 81, 1870, with amendments. was
issued TO enforce its provisions. the
object ofboth being to guarantee 10
all citizens the right to vote. and to
protect them in the free enjoyment of
that right Enjoined by the Con.
Effauffon - fal-n &C., - /