Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-04

| he>e bond had reached the SUN OF $4,000 900.
| " it'll my sanction, the Secre AIRY of the Treasury
| cn.ercd into new contract iOr the sale of per
cent. bonds. AMI within thirty days after The pop
uar subsci ,ptiop lui such bonds was opened sub
| -criPuons We're h I'D amounting TO -t3,l9O,5O0,
which were paid within pincty DAYS after the date
# subscription. Is, thu roce-s, within but little
more than ycar the annual interest on the public
| debt vss reduced in the sum of s3II, 900.
lNvEsrMENrs FOR THE PEOPLE
| I recommend that suitable provisions be made
20 enable he pco; e - ca~ " convert their saw
ngs INTO government >ecui'tie-, as the best mode
| 10 winch small >tY ng~ may he well secured and
weld moderate interest. II l. an object OF pub
| lie policy to retain among our own people the Sc
| curt!cs OF the Uuittd states. In tins way our
| country is guarded against their Sudden return
| from countries cau,ed by other distur-
hance beyond our limits
COMMERCIAL RELATIONS.
| The commerce OF the United State, with for
oigu nations, ami especially the export OF domes-
| nc Productions. has Increased La gey, bat the
greater portion of tia, trade is conducted IN Tor
| r.gn Ves-tls. The importance of enlaIging our
tore IN trade aud specially by direct and speedy
| interchange with countries on til. cont ncnt, can
aet he over estimated, and l. uatter of so great
moment that our shipping interest shuud re-
ceivc - the utmost practical eNten the benefit of
our C. mmerce win ou Ter lands. These consid-
erations are fore bly ur9t by all the large com
mercltl cities of the country, aud pubic attention
T. geuet ally and wisely attracted to the solution
| of the problem they present.
II Is not doubted that Congress viii take them
IA! Ia the brOadest spirit of hbersltN aud respond
10 The public demand by practical legislation upon
| tins important SUBJECT.
ARMY OPERATIONS.
The report of tle secretary OF Wa shows that
| the amy mas been actively employed dutng the
year aud ha, rendered very important service IN
>uppr, sslug ho-iiuics in the Indian country, and
| IN preserving peace ami protecting life and prop
ettN 10 tue Interior, ~ well a along The Mexican
border. 4 long amt arduOus cHmpslgn has been
fought with iLal and complete success against the
\,l P,tces Tube of ludlau-. A full account of
this camp Ugn will be found in the report If the
general OF the army. 1t viii be seen that in It's
course several battles were fought in which
number OF gallant officers and men lost their lives.
JOIN with the secretary of war ard the general
OF the army IN awaIding 10 the officers aud men
| employed III the long aid tuIlsume pursuit and
hual capture of these Indians, the honor aud
praise which l. 30 justly their due. The very
nous riots which occurred IN several of the States
I'D july hast, rendered necessary the employment
of n consId Fable portion OF tie army to preserve
the peace and maiLta order ~ TIE states OF West
Virginia, Mary land, Peunsy lyafia auu lt,rOIs.
These diStuI hduCc. were 80 To- midtblc a to de
ty the state AUTHORITIES, aud the national e,ccu.
tive was called upon ia the mode prescribed by
the constitution aud laws, 20 tutnIsh military aid;
and am gratified To he abe state at the troops
sent in to the call, frr the suppre>sion of
domestic yloleuce, were alb e. hy the u flu, nee of
their presence III the DISTURBED regions to restore
peace aud order without the use 81 force. In the
discharge OF this delca aud important dIv both
officers and men acted with great prudence aud
courage, ana Tor then rslccs deserve the thanks
OF The cUuatry.
BORDER TROUBLES.
Disturbances along The Rio Graude 10 Ttyas
when have aheady stated, have rendered ncces-
.ary the constant employment OF military force il
that vicinity. 4 full report of all recent military
operations IN that quarter has been transmitted 10
the House of Representatives, ~ answer to a res
oHtion of that body, ami It viii not therefore he
utce-,aty to enter into details.
regret to LAY that these laSless incursons into
our Territory by armed bands from the McNCan
-iie of the liue iol the purpose of lobbiug have
been of frequent occurrence; and 10 spite OF the
most vigorous ttfJlts OF the commander of our
forces tue murderer have generally succeeded in
escaping INTO Mexico with their punder. ln May
last gave order, for the exercise of the utmost
vigilance the part of troops for the sup
preston OF these RAIDS and the Punishment of the
guilty parties, well "a the recapture of property
stolen by them. Gen. Ord, commanding in Tex
as, was directed to invite the cooperation of the
Mexican authorities in efforts to this end, and to
assure them that WAS anxious to avoid giving
the least offence to Mexico AT the same time he
directed to give notice of my determination
to put an end TO the Invasion OF our territory by
lawess hands intent upon the plumber of our
peaceful cItlzens. even If the thtctus punish
ment OF the outlaws should make the crossing of
the border by troops IN their pursuit necessa-
~.
II is believed that this policy has had the effect
to check somewhat the depredations, and that
with considerable increase of our force upon
that frontier and the establishment of several ad-
dluoual military posts along the Rio Grande, so
10 more efcctually guard that extensive border,
peace may be preserved aud the lives and ptop-
erty OF our clIlzens IL Texas fully protected.
REDUCTION OF THE ARMY.
Prior to the irst day of July last, the army was
in accordance with law reduced to the maximum
of % 600 enlisted men, being reduction of $500
below the force previously authorized. This re
duclion was made, As required by law, entirely
from the infantry and artillery branches of the
service without any reduction OF tue cavalry.
L nder the law as it now stands, it is necessary
that the cavalry regiments be recruited to one
hundred men III each company, for service on the
Mexican and Indian frontiers
The necessary effect of this legislation is to re-
dnce the infantry and artillery aims of the SER
vice below the number required for efficiency and
| concur with the secretary OF war in recomme nd
ing that authority be given to recruit all COM
ps les to at least fifty men, and all batteries OF
artillery to al least seventy five men, with power
in case of emergency to Increase the former TO
one hundred and the latter to one hundred and
twenty-five men each.
| invite your special attention to the following
recommendations OF the Secretary OF War, fist,
that provision be made Tor supplying to the army
a more abundant and better supply Of reading
matter; second, that earls acton he taken by
Congress looking TO the complete revision aud re-
! publication of tue army regulations; third, that
section l2JS Of the revised satu'e-, limiting the
number of officers the retired lit, be repealed ;
fourth, that the claims arising under the act of
July 4th 1864, for supplies taken by the army dur
! ing the war, be taken rom the etfice of the quar-
| teimas ter and cOmmissaty general and transfer
red to the Southern Claims Commission or some
other tribunal having more time and better faci-
| tiles for their prompt investigation and decision
| than are possessed by these officers; fifth, that
Congress provide for annuity fund for the
! families Of deceased soldiers, as recommended
! by the pay master general Of the army.
THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy shows
/ that we have SIX squhdrons now engaged in the
/ protection of our foreign commerce and ether du.
! ties pertaining to the naval service. The condi-
ton and operations of the department are also
shown. The total expenditures for the f.cal year,
ending June &c. 1877, were Sl6077 97i 81. There
are UNPAID claims agans' the department. charga-
BILE to the last year, which presented to the
consideration Of Congress hv the report Of the
SecIe AIRY. The estimates for the fiscal wear, com
mcncing July |, 1873, SIG, 233, 23i 40, excus-
we of the sum OF S2,3lI ,23l, submitted for new
buildings, repairs and Improvements at the sever
al navy yards. The appropriations for the present
fiscal wear, commencing july |, 1917, arc Sl3,