The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-12-17
VOL. XXI. NO. %.


| much OF the maritime strength Of some other na-
tons, but neither continental situation nor our
| foreign policy requires that we should have
large number of ships OF this character while this
| situation and the nature Of our ports continue to
make those of other nations little dangerous TO US
under any circumstances. Our navy does contain
however, considerable number OF Ironcads of the
monitor class, which, though properly cruisers
are powerful and effective for harbor defense and
Tor operations near our own shores OF these all.
substantial lily rebuilt their wooden beams replaced
with iron their hus strengthened and ther engines
| ana machinery thoroughly repair d, so that they
| are now in most efficient condition and ready for
sea as soon as they can be manned and put
| iron clads belonging to our navy by far
! the most powerful Of ships for fight
| ing purposes, also in hands undergoing
complete repairs, and could be ready for peri
| ods varying from four 10 six months. With these
f6rPedo 70 Soat @ o% eg our a
fleet Will % De- & for purposes 9 defense at home qgal t9
our wooden navy also cruisers Of various sizes 10 the
sion in the Atlantic and could DC ready fo duty
as fast men could be enlisted for those already
| in commission ufthese, onethird in effect
ships and though some of the remainder need
siderable repairs ON their boilers and maclneIy.
they nll are or can readily 10 made effective: Ihis
constitutes fleet of more than % ships. of which
y are Ion-clad, now in hand the Atlantic coast.
The navy has been brought TO this condition by iu-
dictous and practical application of what could he
u eet the u polb f es sE
pTociamation or dspley and tbongh n bos scessr
ly straightened the Department its ordinary
Pcudture, and far the fron-clads concerned
has added nothing to the cruising force OF the navy
yet the result is not the less satisfactory, because it
Is to be found in great increase of real rather than
apparent force The expense incurred in the main
tenancS Of effective naval force in all its branches
ntYsssary large but such force is essential to
our pfsitiOn, relations and character and affects
throueout the whole sphere Of naval responsibility
The estimates for the regular support Of this branch
of the service for the next amount little less
in the aggregate than those made for the current
Tor Objects not included in tie ordinary maintenance
Of the navy but believed e. be Of pressing import
at once 20 an9fd s9neient neans lor the immediate
undergoing repairs which must otherwise advance
slowly and only as money can be spared from cur
armed with the destructive weapons of modern war
Instructed officers will present a force powerful for
the home purposes of responsible though peaceful
OUR POSTAL SERVICE.
The report Of the Postmaster General, herewith
transmitted gives full history of the workings Of
the department for the year Just past. 1t will be
observed that the deficiency to be supplied from the
for the preceding year. In country vast in
settled it be expected that this important ser
vice Will be more or less burden upon the Treasury
for to come but there is branch Of the
public service which interests the whole people
than that of cheap and rapid transmission Of the
mails. The commercial advantages to be gained by
a direct line of American steamers 70 the South
American states will far outweigh the expense Of
service, By act of Congress, approved March End,
1875, almost all matter, whether properly mail mat
mail in packages not exesedng four pounds in Weight
Transmission OF real mail matter goes this would
seem entirely proper but suggest that the law be
Of ali descriptions aDd limit this transportation to
all articles enumerated and which may 10 classed
mail matter proper
THE INTERIOR BUREAU
The discovery of gold in the Black Hills, portion
a large emigration miners to that point r. far
the effort t2 protect the teaty rights Of the IRdans
will certainly witness large increase of emigration
fields having failed it will be necessary for Congress
TO adopt some measures TO relieve the mharrassen
the Interior suggests that the supplies now appro-
pTiated for the sustenanCe of that people being
a gratuity, may be issued withheld, at his dscre
which have referred in several Of my former annual
messages, remains practically unchangei' The Sec
full report Of the conditions of that Territory and
will make it the subject Of special report at early
day. 1t may then be necessary make further
recommendation in regard to legislation Tor the gov
increase of the business of the Patent oce indicates
NY OF ne oI Se Once are a. eH-
the General Land Office shows that there were Al
acres less disposed ofduring this during last
year. More than one half the decrease in lands
disposed Of under the homestead and timber culture
found in the grasshopper scourge and the erouths |
which prevailed extensively in of the frontier
courage and deter entries by actual settlers. The
tr domain SO "a a scres of vcb ,; az s3I cIes
surveyed during the past year, leaving J. l5i,
AL 762 acres still unsurveyed. The report of the
Commissioner presents many interesting suggestions
in regard 10 the management and disposition Of the
public domain and the modification Of the existing
laws and the apparent Importance of what should ]
insure for them the careful considera ion Of Con-
decrease, the hghe number having been reached |
during the year ending June ~. ls52 During the
showing net decrease of 20. but while the number
on the Tension rolls has increased si4733i3 This is
caused by the increased average rate Of pensions,
creased from $50 p in 1872 to sio5 y in is75 70 each
invalid peRsioner an increase in tho ayerage
During the year ending June 20 1879 there was paid
@ being !s lees GSn
paid the preceding, year This reduction IN The The
reasc in the amount of arrearnges due on allowed
creased by the Of tho preceding session Of
Congress. At the close Of the last fiscal there
we're on the pension rolls "a 81 persons, Of whom
2lo3S3 g. were army penSionors Io5i7s icing invalid
were navy pensioners, Of whom $50 were invalids
and l77s4 widows anddepcndent relations 2lrls
III @ 5i a1 S I Mn VIZ % - m ~ t ~ @
mcnt of pensions for the next fiscal year. amount
Of s96j,COO less than the estimate for the present
The geological expeditions have been prosecuted
with energy during tine year, covering an area Of
do. Utah, and New Mexico. developing the afrcui-
tural and mineral resources, and furhishtng inter
region region '''0'"' anu o9'"''' oi '''
The method for the treatment Of the Indians
stSadily pursued and With satisactory results il
has been productive Of evident Improvement in the
condition of that race and will be continued, with
only such notifications further experience may
pointed to take charge Of the articles aud material
to ~ th Ps %aT oe fGe ps me Treasury ~ he he
partmcnt Of Agriculture, .he Smithsonian Institute
uted under the Legislation Of last session to tho Inter
tional Exhibition to be held at Philadelphia dur
The discharge Of the duties which have dcyoiyed up
means - mt their command give Assurance thai he
goyernmental contribution VIII be made 3ne ct the
has observed considerable economy in the matter of
the erection of governmental buildings for the Gov
timated viii not exceed say So,LVD: This amount
has been Withdrawn under the law from the apPr9-
Priatons Of fye of the PRINCIPAL dopaTtments which
means TO render their respective practical exhibits
complete and satisfactory, the Exhibition being an
contribution, it Is my opinion that its contribution
h a be & OF 6t e9STsS}er @ ~ qG9 @ o gsf
contributor. The advantages TO the country Of n
IS Of the rst mPoranee While an iaderent or in
participation by the government would be
themselves. l commend the estimates Of the BoaTd
iof lI9 h,cessaIg aIigial "a hpPl"p ~ W
Europe. almost without eXception-many Of the
Eastern Powers have manifested their friendly SEN
timens toward the United states and the interest 81
us in celebrating the Centennial Of the nation; and
be given to this exhibition by such legislation, and
10y such appropriations as will insure its success
useful works Of art md zkil the commingng Of the
citizens of foreign countries and our own, and the
of ideas and manufactures, viii far
exceed any pecuniary outlay we may make.
transmit herewith the report OF the commissioner
Of griCuture together with the reports Of the Com
missiOners. the Board Of Audit and the Board Of
Health Of the District Of Colum ba, TO all Of which
| invite your attention. The Bureau of Agriculture
has accom- plishcd much in disseminating useful
knowledge to the agriculturst, and also Introducing
new and useful productions adapted 90 our soil and
eiilate and worthy Of the continued encourage
mcnt Of the Government.
The report of the Commissioner of Education,
which accompanies the report Of the Secretary Of the
Interior, shows gratifying progress in educational
mDtters. In nearly every annual message that
have had the honor Of transmitting TO Congress
have called attention 70 the anomalous, hot 10 say
scanda Ous condition Of Affairs existing in the Terri
tory of th and have asked for definite legislation
10 correct il. That polygamy shOuld exist in free
and Christian country without the
power prevent 70 fragrant n crime against decen-
~ md morality seems prepoaterOus. True, there is
law 90 sustain this unnatural vice, but what is
needed is law 10 punish IN a crime and at the
time 20 fix the status Of the innocent children,
the spring Of this SYSTEM and Of the possibly in
lOccnt plural wives. but Institution pOlygamy
should be banished from the land. While this h be-
done invite the attention Of Congress another
though perhaps no less evil, the importation
Chinese women, but feg Of whom brought 10
our shores TO pursue honorable or useful occupa-
tious. Observations made while visiting the Terri
tories uf Wyoming, Utah and Colorado, during the
past autumn, convinced me that existing laws regu-
atng the disposition of public lands. timber etc,
md probably the mining laws themselves. very
defective and should be carefully amended and