American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-12-08


than one year, the annual interest on the
public debt was reduced IN the sum of
s., 775,OOO.
/ recommend that suitable provision be
made to enable people to convert their saw |
ings into Government securities. as the best /
mode in which small savings may be well Sc
cured and yield interest. 1t is an object of
public policy to retain among our own peO- |
pie the securities of the United States. In |
this way our country is guarded against the |
sudden return from foreign countries,
caused by war or other disturbances beyond |
our limits, of the currency of the United |
States.
SHIPPING INTERESTS.
Our trade with foreign nations, and espe |
cially the export of domestic productions,
has of late years largely increased, but the
greater portion of this trade is conducted in
| foreign vessels. The importance of enlarg
| ing our foreign trade, and especially by di
rect and speedy interchange with countries
on this continent, can not be over estimat-
| ed, and it is a matter of great moment that
our own shipping interests should receive
| the utmost practical benefit from our COM
merce with other lands. These considera-
| lions are forcibly urged by the large COM
mercial cities of the country, and public at
| tention is generally and wisely attracted to
| the solution of the problems they present.
| 1t is not doubted that Congress will take
them up in the broadest spirit of liberality
and respond to the public demand by prac-
teal legislation upon this subject.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of War shows
that the Army has been actively employed
| during the wear, and has rendered very i'm
| portant service in depressing hostilities in
! the Indian country, to preserving peace and
protecting life and property in the interior,
! as well as along the Mexican border. y
long and arduous campaign has been prose-
cuted with final and complete success against
portion of the NeZ Perces tribe of Indians.
| A full account of this campaign will be found
| in the report of the General of the Army.
| 1t will be seen that in its course several bat
ties were fought, in which a number of gal
liant officers and men lost their lives. join
| with the Secretary of War and General of the
Army in awarding to the officers and me II
employed in the long and toilsome pursuit,
and in the final capture of these Indians, the
honor and praise which are so justly their
due.
July RIOTS.
The very serious riots which occurred in
several of the States of the Union in July
last, rendered necessary the employment of
a considerable portion of the Army to pre-
serve peace and maintain order. In the
States of West Virginia, Maryland, Penn
sylyania and Illinois, these disturbances
were so formidable as to defy the local and
State authorities, land the National Executive
was called upon, by the mode provided by
the Constitution and laws, to furnish militia
ry, and am gratlfed to be able to state That
| the troops sent in response to these calls for
aid in the suppression of domestic violence
were able, by the influence of their presence
| in the disturbed regions, to preserve the
l peace and restore order without the use of
l force. In the discharge of this delicate and
important duty both officers and men acted
T with great prudence and courage, and for
/ their services deserve the thanks of the
country.
THE RIO GRANDE TROUBLES.
The disturbances along the Rio Grande, in
Texas, to which have already referred,
have rendered necessary the constant en-
l ployment of a military force in that conn
t try. A full report of all recent military OPP
/ erations in that quarter has been transmit
t ted to the House of Representatives in an
q swer to a resolution of that body, and il
I will not, therefore, be necessary to enter in
= to details. L regret to say that these lawless
: incursions into our territory by armed
r bands from the Mexican side of the line, fol
the purpose of robbery, have been of fire.
;; quent occurrence, and in spite of the mos
Il vigorous efforts of the commander of oul
: forces, the marauders have generally sue
e ceeded in escaping into Mexico with theil
plumber. In May last gave orders for the
e of our troops for the suppression of these
e raids and the punishment of the
: guilty parties, as well as the
: recapture of property stolen by them. Gen
r Ord, commanding in Texas, was directed t.
q join the Mexican authorities in efforts to this
p end, and to assure them that was anxious
e to avoid giving the least Offense to Mexico
= and at the same time he was directed to give
G notice of my determination to put an end Il
Is the invasion of our territory by lawles
n gangs, intent upon the plumber of our civ
: even if it should make the crossing of thu
e border by our troops in their pursuit neces
n sary. 1t is believed that this policy has haC
e the effect to check somewhat these depreda
t, tions, and that with a considerable increaS
: of our force upon that frontier, and the es
adjustment of several additional mllitar.
posts along the Rio Grande, so as more eff
Re fectually to guard that extensive border
: peace may be preserved and the lives ant
If property of our citizens in Texas fully pro
y tected.
l. THE STANDING ARMY.
}, Prior to July l, last, the Army was, in ac-
l. cordance with law, reduced to a maximum
5, of 5000 enlisted men, being a. reduction Of
I. $500 below the force previously authorized
: This reduction was made rs required by law
lie entirely from the infantry and artlller.
y branches of the Pacific, without any reduc
d ton of the cavalry. Under the law as it now
) stands, it is necessary that the cavalry regi
e ments be recruited to 100 men in each com
If pany for service on the Mexican and Ind ial
n frontiers. The necessary effect of this legis
l. lation is to reduce the infantry and artil er,
e arms of the service below the number re
quired for efficiency, and L concur with tn
lie Secretary of War in recommending that au
l. thority be given to recruit all companies o
r, infantry to at least 30 men, and batteries o
2, artillery to at least 20 men, and power bt
n given in case of emergency to increase thu
e former to 100 and the latter to 125 men each
lie l invite your special attentionto the follow
IS ing
i RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE .sECRETAR,
is OF WAR:
lie 1. That provision be made for supplying
a to the Army more abundant and bette
/ 2. That early action be taken by Congress
l. looking to a complete revision and publica
l. ton of the Army Regulations.
5, 3. That Section 12J of the Revised Stat
lie utes, limiting the number of officers OH thu
II retired list, be repealed.
4. That claims arising under the act o
July 4, 1864, for supplies taken by the Arm
Il during the war, be taken from the offices o
If the Quartermaster and CommiSsary- Gener
o al, and transferred to the Southern Claim
f Commission, or some other tribunal having
| ir1O oIrd hQi
If prompt investigation and decision, than ar,
s possessed by these officers.
It 5. That Congress provide for an annuit,
), found for the families of the deceased sol
i diers, as recommended by the Paymaste
: General of the Army.
# THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
d The report of the Secretary of the Navy
/. shows that we have six squadrons now en-
: gagged in the protection of our foreign COM
n merce and other duties pertaining to thu
= naval service. The total expenditures fol
: the fiscal year ending June 80, 1877, were
: 1907, 937.55. There are unpaid claim
: against the Department chargeable to las
n year, which are presented to the cOnsidera
d ton of Congress by the report of the Secre
s tary. The estimates for the fiscal year com
n mencing July 1, 1878 are SIG, 230, 2344 eX
# elusive of the sum of $2,314,2 31, submitted
i for new buildings, repairs and improvement
n at the several naval yards. The appropria
tionS for the present fiscal year, cOmmenc
ing July, 1877, are $13,592 1920. TIL
amount drawn from the Treasury from Jul,
Il 1 to November 1, 1877, is s, 343 ,037, of whicl
: there is estimated to be yet available 81 ,029,-
u 52S, showing the amount of actual eXpendi
G lures during the first four months of the
| nj TO h0xrn a