Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-12-11

and English literature at West Point. The
reasons for these recommendations are OBJ
vious, and are set forth sufficiently in the
report attached. | also recommend that
the status of the staff corps of the army be
fixed, where this has not already been done.
so that promotions may be made and va
cancies filled as they occur in each grade
when reduced below the number to be fixed
by law. The necessity for such legislation
| Is especially felt now in the pay depart
ment, the number OF officers in that de-
partment being below the number adequate
to the performance Of the duties required
of them by law.
THE EFFICIENCY OF THE NAVY
has been largely increased during the last
year, under the impulse of the foreign
complications, which threatened us at the
commencement of the last session of Con-
gress. Most of our efficient wooden ships
were put in condition for immediate ser
vice, and the repairs OF our iron-clad fleet
were pushed with the utmost vigor. The
result is that most of these are now
in an effective state and need only to
be manned and put in commission to
90 at once into service. Some of the new
slOops authorized Dy Congress are already
IN commission, and most of the remainder
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-turreted iron-clads are now under
gong repairs. When these are finished
everything that is useful of our navy, as
now authorized, will be in condition for
service, and with the advance in the
science of torpedo warfare the American
no olitr - bs.
found at any time powerful enough for the
purposes of a peaceful nation. Much has
also been accomplished during the year in
AID OF SCIENCE
and to increase the sum of general know
ledge and further the interests of commerce
and civilization. Extensive and much need
ed soundings have been made Tor HYDRO
graphic purposes, and to fix the proper
routes Of ocean telegraphs. Further 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. 50 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 gen
eral support of the service being sOmew hat
less, and those for permanent Improvements
at the various stations rather larger than
the corresponding estimate made a year
ago. The regular maintenance and a steady
increase in the efficiency of this most imp0r-
tant arm, IN proportion - the growth Of
our maritime intercourse and interests Is
recommended to the attention IF Congress.
The
USE OF THB NAVY
in time of peace might be further utilized /
by direct authorization Of the employment /
OF naval vessels in explorations and surveys {
Of the supposed nayigable waters OF other I.
natiOnalities on this continent, especially I
the tributaries Of the Two great rivers Of |
SOUTH America, the Oronoco and the ANA /
ION. Nothing prevents, under existir z laws, I
such expiration, except that expenditures I
must be made in such expeditions beyond .
those usually provided for in the appropria-
tl0ns. The field designated Is unquestiOnaby I
one OF interest and one capable Of large de-
ve.0pment OF commercial Interest and az
vantage = the peoples reached, and those
who may establish relations with them.
The education Of the people entitled to
exercise the
RIGHT OF FRANCHISE.
regard essential to general prosperity
and especially - in republics,
where both education Or previous condition
% not enter into account IN giving sui
irage. Next 10 the public school the post
lthce i tie great 4 gent Of education over
0rr vast territory. The rapidity with
which new sections are being settled. thus
Increasing the carrying of mails in u more
rapid ratio than the increase OF receipts J.
not alarming.
The report Of the
posi- MASTER GENERAL,
herewith attached, shows that there was
IN Increase OF revenue in his department in
le73. over the previous year. of 81 .67iiII,
md an increase OF cost OF carrying the
mails and paying employees Of S3,Oil ,46s.
The report OF the post master general gives
interesting statistics OF his department and
Comparing them with the corresponding
tatl>tIc~ OF a year ago, shows growth in
very branch OF the department.
POSTAL CONVENTION
"a been concluded with New South Wales,
N exchange Of postal cards established with
wltzerland, and the Negotiations pending
OF several years past with France have
IN 3 convention with that c0un- a
". which Went into effect last August. c
In international postal congress was con- I
]
lst at which the United States was repre- o
eutei by an officer OF the post Office depart :
lent Of much experience and of qQalfca- ?
ION Tor the position. \ convention for !
be establishment fan international postal |
Mon was agreed upon and isnei by the b
e-esatc, oil the countries represented. sub v
,ci To the approval OF the proper auth0ri- p
les OF those countries. | respectfully d. p
Get your attention 10 the report Of the pos:
a>tcr general and u his suggestions in
gard - an equitable adj lStment of the G
lestion OF compensation to railroads for L
irrYins the mails. c,
THE TROUBLED SoUTH-L9UIsIANA. y,
Your attention vii be drawn to the IN Il
ttled condition Of affairs in some of the c
uthern states. On the ith of September nj
= the governor of Louisiana called upon AZ
z, o. provided by the constitution and r.
W o., the United States, 70 aid in sup AZ
'essng domestic violence in that state in
lls call was made in view of a proclama- IN
on issued on that day by D. b. Penn. n
aiming that he was elected Lieutenant "
lvernOr IN l,12, and calling upon the mill of
0i the-tate - arm Assemble andlirive from en-
.wer the usuIpers, "a he designated the in
lcerS OF the state government. On / {.
e next day | issued my proclamation =
= n
five days from the date thereof, and sub
luently learned that on that day they an
ID taken iorcible possession of the State II
luse. Troops were taken by me to sup m
II the existing and recognized State gov pa
nMent, but before the expiration of the pa
c days the InsurrectIOnary movement was ma
ictlcally abandoned, and the officers Of the III
ate government, with some minor excep- GU
rs. resumed their powers and duties 80
that the ke'
EsENT STATE ADMINISTRATION OF LOUISIANA M
; been the only government in that state Tn
nearly two years. that it has been
and acquies,ed in as such by
ngreSs, and more than once expresslv kn
ognized by me, 4 regard it as my clear duty. her
en- legally called upon for that purpose, Is c
prevent lis overthrow by an armed mob, vii
der pretence of fraud and irregularity in Inc
election OF le72. | have heretofore coz
led the attention of Congress to this sub ten
stating that on account of the frauds dia
l iOrgeries cODmtted at said election. ern
because 1t appeared that the returns ma
reof were never legally eanvassed, it was rit,
possible to tell thereby who were chosen: tan
from the best sources OF information at lzeC
command | have always believed the ritz
sent state officers received majority of the
4esa4 fOtes actually CAST al that election. ana
peat what | said In my special message yea
february -. 1873, that in the event of be
action By Congress ! must continue to ed.
)gnlze the gOyernmt ut heretofore recog- the
ID by me. | regret to say that with Civ
parations Tor the late elections decided info
ieations appeared IA some localities in abs
southern states Of Il determination by self
OF violence and intimidation to to
RIVE CITIZENS OF The FREEDOM oy THE dra
BALLOT bOu
iuss of their political opinions. Bands Lei
zen, masked and armed, made their ap- men
rance. white league and other societies s4 N
,nnition were ;nn,,rted 81 s;-.-iS..li sion
,ese INCONVENIENCE H. al sons
acinS demons,rat;'ns - - ~ WIN rebe
ali these InrrJers o,,o,,-,h a.iu wer,
- :, - o WIZ SOH- the