The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-12-11

and set in commission TO go at once into ser
vice. Some OF the new sloops authorized py
Congress are already in commission, ana most
of the remainder are launched and await only
the completion Of their machinery TO enable
them to take their places as part OF our OF
fective force. Two iron torpedo ships nave
been completed during the last year. ana iour
Of our large turreted iron-cads are now I'M
dergoing repairs. When they are hnisheu,
everything that il needful OF our navy no"
authorized, will be in condition for service,
and with the advance in the science OF Tor
pedo warfare. the American navy, compare
lively small as il is, will be found at any time
powerful for the purposes OF peaceful ma
tion.
Much has also been accomplished during
the year in aid OF science and TO Increase the
sum of general knowledge, ana further the
interests of commerce aud CIVILIZATION. Ia
tensive aud much needed soundiDgs have been
made for photographic purposes, ana 10 nix
the proper routes OF ocean telegraphs. Fur
ther surveys of the great isthmus have been
undertaken and completed, and two vessels Oh
the navy are now employed, In conjunction
with those Of England, France, Germany ana
Russia in observations connected with the
transit Of Venus, 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, the general support OF the service
being some what less. and those for improve
ments at various stations rather larger than
the corresponding estimates made year ago.
The regular maintenance and steady increase
in the efficiency Of this most importanC arm,
in proportion TO the growth OF our maritime
intercourse and interests, is recommended TO
the attention of Congress.
The use of the navy during peace might be
further utilized by a direct authorization OF
the employment of naval vessels in surveys of
the supposed navigable waters of other ma
tionalities on this continent, especially the
tributaries OF the two great rivers Of South
America, the Orinoco and the Amazon.
Nothing prevents, under existing laws, such
explorations except that expenditures must
not be made in such cases beyond those usu-
ally provided FOR by the appropriations. The
field designated 10 unquestlonably one OF i'll
tere-t, and one capable of a large develop
ment of commercial interests advantageous
to the people reached, and to those who may
establish relations with them.
The education Of the people entitled to ex-
ercise the right Of franchise | regard essen
tial to general prosperity everywhere, and
especially 30 i'll republics, where neither edu-
cation nor previous condition enters into
account III giving suffrage Next to the pub
lie school, the postofiice Is the great agent of
education over our vast territory. The rapidity
with which new sections are set
tied increases the cost OF the carrying
of mails in more rapid ratio than the in
crease OF receipts. The report Of the Post
master General, herewith attached, shows
that there was an increase OF revenue i'll this
department in 1878. over the previous year, OF
II, GA, All. and an increase OF the cost of car
ryng the mails and paying employees, of 3d.
! O4l, 1871. The report OF the Postmaster
General gives interesting statistics Of his
department, and, comparing them with the
corresponding statistics OF year ago. shows
| Il.
A postal convention has been concluded
with New South Wales, an exchange of
postal cards established with SwitZer-
land, and the negotiations pending
for several years past with France have ter
minated in convention with that country,
which went into effect last August.
An International Postal Congress was con-
vened IN Berne. Switzerland, in September last,
at which the United States was represented
by an officer of the Postoffice Department OF
much experience and of qualification for the
position. a convention for the establish
ment of an International Postal Union was
agreed upon by the delegates of the countries
represented, subject to the approval Of the
proper authorities of those countries.
respectfully direct your attention to the
report of the Postmaster General and to his
suggestions in regard to an equitable ADJUST
ment of the question Of compensation TO rail-
roads for carrying the mails.
Your attention will be drawn to the unset
tied condition of affairs in some of the South
ern States. On the 14th Of September last
the Governor 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 proclamation issued on
that day by ID. B. Penn, stating that he
was elected observation-disclosures in 1872, and
calling upon the militia Of the State to arm,
Il
as he designated the officers of the
State government. On the next
day l issued my proclamation, commanded
the insurgents to dispense within five days
from the date thereof, and subsequently
learned that on that day they had taken
forcible possession OF the State-House Troops
were taken by me to support the existing and
recognized State government, but before the
expiration of the five days the insurrecti nary
movement was practically abandoned, and the
officers of the State government, with some
minor exceptions, resumed their powers and
duties. Considering that the present State
administration of Louisiana had been the only
government in that State for nearly two
years that it had been tacitly acknowledged
and acquiesced in as such by Congress, and
more than once expressly recognized by me,
l regarded it as my duty, when legally called
upon for that purpose, to prevent its over
throw by an armed mob, under pretense of
1872. l have heretofore called the atten-
ton of Congress to this subject, stat
ing that on account of the frauds and
forgeries committed at said election, and
because it appears that the returns thereof
were never legally canvassed, 1t was impossi-
BILE to tell thereby who were chosen but from
the best sources Of information at my COM
mand l have always believed the present
State officers received majority of the legal
votes actually cast at that election. / repeat
what | said in my special message of February
49, 1873 that in the event of no action by
Congress l must continue TO recognize the
government heretofore recognized by me.
regret to say that with the preparations
for the late election, a decided indication ap-
peared in some localities in the Southern
States of determination, by 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 white leagues and
other societies we've formed large quantities
Of arms and ammunition we're imported and
distributed to these organizations military
drills, with menac ing demonstrations, were
held, and with all these murders enough were
committed to spread terror among those
whose political action was to be suppressed
il possible by these intolerant and criminal
proceedings. In some places colored laborers
we're compelled to vote according to the
wishes of their employers, under threats OF
diacharpa IL thav acted otherwee. and there