Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-12-12

-, S'N ~ vi NOngIeSS Tor admitting
Colorado into the Union and he i,-
| suGu a proclamation to that effect.
| AuuItlohal appropriations for the ar
my are asked. He says the improve
| mems ot the south pass Of the Mis-
sissippi river under James B. Ead4
ana his associates is progressing fa
vorahiy. The Navy is in a condition
| as effective as possible within thp
means and authority given the de
| partment.
LAWLESsNEsS IN THE SOUTH.
A few postmasters in the Southern
states nave expressed great apprehen-
SION OF lheir personal safety on ac-
count OF Their connection with tive
postal service, and have specially re.
duehteu lhht thelr reports Of apprehen.
ueu danger should not he made pub
| nc lest IT should result ia the loss OF
their lives i. but no positive testimony
or lnterienCe has been submitted. eX
cept in the case of u mail messenger M
Spnrtanburg, in South Carolina, who
reported that he has been violently
driven away, while in charge OF the
mails, on account of his political af1iH.
tlon. An Assistant Superintendent Of
the tallway Mail Service investigated
this case and reported that the mes.
senger had disappeared from his post
leaNlng his work Ia be performed by a
substitute. the Postmaster General
thlhks the case is sufficiently sugges-
tive to justify him In recommending
mat more severe punish ment should
be provided for the offense of assault
lug any person in charge Of the mails,
OF or retarding or otherwise obstrucl-
ing them by threats of personal inju-
ry.
THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM DEFICIENT.
The attention of Congress cannot
be too earnestly called to the necessi-
ty OF throwing some greater safeguard
over the method for choosing and de-
caring the election of President
Under the present system there seems
TO be 10 provided remedy for testing
the election in any one State. He
says the compulsory support of the
Tree school and the disfranc chisement
OF all who cannot read and write the
English language. after fixed proba-
uonr would meet his hearty approval.
sANTo DOMINGO.
The President makes an elaborate
defense of his recommendation for the
annexation of Santo Domingo. After
describing the commercial advantage
that would have accrued, he saws the
Cuban question would have been set
tied long ago in favor of free Cuba.
The President adds and concludes :
The island Of Santo Domingo is but
spaIsely settled, while it has an area
sufficient for the profitable employ
ment of several millions Of people
The soil would soon have fallen into
the hands of United States capitalists.
The products are 40 valuable in CONF |
merce that emigration there would |
nave been encouraged, the emancipa- |
tea race OF the South would have |
lound congenisl home, where their |
cIVll rights would be 20 much sought |
AFTER that the poorest among them |
could have found It means to 90.
Thus in cases of great oppression |
and cruelty, such as has been urac-
tlced upon them In many places with
in the last eleven years. Whole com |
:. ould have sought refuge in
Santa Domingo. do not suppose the |
whole race would have gone, nor is it |
desirable that they should go. Their
labor is desirable and Indispensable |
where the! now are. But the possess
sion OF this territory would have left
the negro master of the situation by
enabling him to demand his rights ut
home on pain OF finding them else.
where. do not present these views
now as a recommendation for the re-
newal OF the subject of annexation, but
l do refer to it to vindicate my pre-
vious action in regard to IT,
VALE VALE!
With the present Congress my off,
cial life terminates. 1t is not probable
that public affairs will ever again re-
ceiVe attention from me further than
as y eilisens of the Republic, always