The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-12-10

and set in commission to go at once into SER
vice. Some of the new sloops authorized by
Congress are already in commission, and most
OF the remainder are launched and await only
the completion of their machinery to enable
tnem TO take their places as part OF our eff
fect1ve force. Two iron torpedo ships have
been completed during the last year; and four
OF our large turreted 1ron-clads are DOW I'M
! dergOlng repairs. When they are finished,
everything that is needful Of our navy. now
| 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 it is, will be found at any time
powerful for the purposes Of peaceful ma
| ton.
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. Ex-
tensiye and much needed soundings have been
made for photographic purposes, and to fix
| the proper routes of ocean telegraphs. Fur
Their surveys of the great isthmus have been
undertaken and completed, and two vessels of
the navy are now employed, In conjunction
| with those of England: France, Germany and
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 somewhat 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 Important 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 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 is unquestionably one of in
terest, and one capable of 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 I regard essen
tial to general prosperity everywhere, and
especially so in republics, where neither edu-
cation nor previous condition enters into
account in giving suffrage. Next to the pub
lie school, the postoffice 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
masterGeneral, herewith attached. shows
that there was an increase of revenue in this
department in 1873, over the previous year, Of
81, 674, Ali and an increase of the cost of car
i rying the mails and paying employees, Of $3,-
041 1871 The report of the Postmaster
General gives interesting statistics of his
II rfy fhnno h {1,o
corresponding statistics of year ago, shows
a growth in every branch of the department
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 a convention with that country,
which went into effect last August.
An International Postal Congress was con-
vened in Borne. Switzerland, in September last,
at which the United States was represented
by an officer of the Postofice 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 a proclamation issued on
that day by d. B. Penn, stating that he
was elected Lieutenant-Go Governor in 1872, and
calling upon the militia of the State to arm,
assemble aud drive from power the usurpers,
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-
A0SdAuou III DIS LILY uu1y. NAoA 1eSdlAy CdIloo
upon for that purpose, to prevent it's over
throw by an armed mob, under pretense of
fraud and irregularity in the election 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, it was impossi-
BILE to tell thereby who were chosen, but from
the best sources of information at my COM
mand I have always believed the present
State officers received a majority of the legal
votes actually cast at that election. repeat
what said in my special message of February
13, 1873, that in the event of no action by
Congress I must continue to recognize the
government heretofore recognized by me.
regret to say that with the preparations
for the late election, a decided Indication APP
peared in some localities in the Southern
States of determination, " 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 were formed large quantities
of arms and ammunition were imported and