National Republican., 1877-12-04

ssrvs the peace and restore order without the
pss Of force. In the discharge Of this delicate
and Important duty both ofllcsrs and men
acted with great prudenes and courage, and
for their services deserve the thanks Of the
country.
Disturbances along the Rio Grande, IN Texas,
to which I have already referred, have rem.
dered necessary the constant employment Of o
military force In that vicinity. A full report
OF oil recent military operations In that quar-
ter has been transmitted to the House Of Rep.
resentatives In answer 70 resolution Of that
body, and II will, therefore, not be necessary
TO enter into details. Ircgret 10 say that these
lawless incursions into our territory by armed
bands from the Mexican side Of the line, for
the purpose Of robbery, have been Of frequent
occurrence, and In spite Of the most vigiiant
efforts Of tho commander Of our forces, the
marauders have generally succeeded in cscap
ing into Mexico with their plunder. In MAY
last l gave orders for the exercise Of tho ut
most vigilance on the part Of our troops for
the suppression Of these raids, and the punish
mcnt Of the guilty parties, rs we'll as the re-
capture of property stolen by them.
Gen. Ord, commanding In Texas, was d.
rected to invite the cooperation Of the Mexi-
can authorities in efforts to this end. and to
assure them that was anxious to avoid Civ
ing the least ofense to Mexico. At the same
time he was directed to give notice Of my de-
termination to put an end to the invasion Of
our territory by lawlcss brnds, intent upon the
pluntler Of our peaceful. citizens, even IL the
effectual punishment of the outlaws should
make the crossing Of the border by our troops
in their pursuit necessary. II Is believed that
this policy has had the effect to check some-
what these depredations, and that with con-
siderable increase Of our force upon that FROM
tier, and tho establishment Of several addi-
tional military posts along the Rio Grande,. so
as moro cffectually to guard that extensive
border, peace may bo preserved, and tho lives
and property Of our citizens In Texas fully pro-
tected.
Prior to tho LIST of July last the army was,
In accordance with law, reduced to the maxi
mum OF 25000 enlisted men, being reduction
Of $500 below the force previously authorized.
This reduction was made, Ms required by law,
entirely from the infantry and artillery
branches Of the service, without any reduction
Of tho cavalry. Under tho law as 1t now stands
It Is necessary that the cavalry regiments be
recruited to one hundred men In each com.
pany for service on the Mexican and Indian
frontiers The necessary effect of this lcgisla.
tion is to reduce tho infantry and artillery
arms of the service below the number required
for efficiency, and concur with the Secretary
of War in recommending that authority be
given TO recruit all companies Of infantry to al
least fifty men, aud all batteries of artillery t.
at least scventy-fvc men, with the power, In
case of emergency, to increase the former Il
twenty-five mon each.
Invite your special attention TO the follow
ing recommendations Of the Secretary Of War
First. That provision be made for supplying
to the army more abundant and better suppl,
Of reading matter.
Second. That early action bo taken by Con
gress looking to complete revision and repub
lication Of the army regulations.
Third. That section 1858 Of the Reviset
Statutes, limiting the number Of officers on tn
retired list, be repealed.
, Fourth. That the claims arising under th,
act of July 4, 1864 for supplies taken by tn
army during tho war, bc taken from the Office
, of the Quartermastcr and Commissary Gen
erals, aud transferred to the Southern Claim
Commission, or some other tribunal havinI
more time and better facilities for their promp
investigation and decision than arc possessed b:
teese officers.
Fifth. That Congress provide for an annuit!
, fund for tho families Of deceased soldiers, a
} recommended By the Psymaster-G General o
the army.
, The report Of the Secretary Of the Nav.
I shows that We have six squadrons now en-
{ gagged In the protection Of our foreign com
: merce and other duties pertaining to the nava
: service. The condition and operations Of tn
3 Department are also shown. The total ex
( psndituTes for the fiscal year ending June %
1877, were $16,O77,874.S4. There are unpai
: claims against the Department., chargcable ;
: the last year, which are presented to tho con
8 sideration Of Congress by the report Of th
: Secretary.
: July /, 1878, arc SO, ,233 234. .40-exclusive 0
the sum of 81, ,3l4, ,231, submitted for new build
I ings, repairs, and improvements at the severa
. nsvy-yards. The appropriations for the pres
( ent fiscal year, commencing July l, 1877, ar
$13, ,592, ,932 90. The amount drawn from tn
: Treasury from July ! to November I, 1877,
$5343, ,O37. 40 Of which there IL estimated to b
s yet available $l,O2s, ,52s. .3O-showing tn
S amount Of actual expenditure during the frs
: four months Of the present fiscal year to hav
d been 1885, ,509,1O.
Q The report of the Postmaster General cor
1 tains full and clear statement of the opera
tions and condition Of the Post-Ofice Depart
I ment. Tho ordinary revenues Of the Depart
Q ment for tho fiscal year ending June 30, 1877
r including receipts from the money order bus
: ness and from official stamps and stamped en-
Q velopes, amounted 10 the sum Of 81, ,531 1855
s The additional sum Of $7,0l3, 900 was realize
from appropriations from the general treasur
!, for various purposes, making the receipts fror
o all sources 1854, ,6S5.26. Tho total expendi
!. lures during the fiscal year amounted I
i $33 486, ,322.44, leaving an excess Of total re
ceipts over total expenditures of 81 ,05S 8:
= and an excess of total expenditures over ord
8 nary receipts Of s5954,737.1S.
Deducting from the total receipts the sum Q
n $685. "a received from International money
c orders of the preceding fiscal year, and deduc
/ ing from tho total expenditures the sum {
o $1,163,S $3.50 paid on liabilities incurred |
= previous fiscal years. tho expenditures and II
It ceipts appertaining to the business Of the la
y fiscal year were as follows;
expenditures. ............ tJzdz2,oOa
n | Receipts, Ordinary, from money-or-
n der business and from Official post
age stamps)..'... .....' .'.'...".. TAoS'szS
Excess Of expenditures ..... 80. Si,s4,ls0
r The ordinary revenues Of the Post-Offit
Department for tho year ending June 30, 1877
= are estimated ut an increase Of three per cen
= over those Of 1877, making $29, ,034 ,O9S.28, On
y the expenditures for the same year arc est
o mated at $50, ,t27, III, leaving an estimated d,
: fciency for the year 1873, Of 81, 800, ,672.7
y The additional legislation recommended b
h the Postmaster-G General for improvements
s. the mail service, and to protect tho postal rev
It enues from the abuses practised under eristin
., laws, Is respectfully commended to the carefi
II consideration of Congress.
l. The report of the Attorney General contain
% several suggestions rs to the administration
&c justice, to which invite your attention. TIL
% pressure of business In the Supreme Court an