The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-12-13

force in the discharge Of this delicate
and important duty. Both officers
and men acted with great prudence
and courage, and for their services de-
serve the thanks OF the country.
THE MEXICAN BORDER.
Disturbance along the Rio Grande
in Texas, to which have already re-
ferred, have rendered necessary the
constant employment of military
force in that country. A full report Oi
all recent military operations in that
quarter has been transmitted to the
House of Representatives i'll answer to
a resolution of that body, and it will
not therefore be necessary to enter i'll
to details. l regret to say that these
laWless incursiOns iutO our territory
by armed bands from the Mexican
side Of the line tor the purpose of rob-
berry have been OF frequent occurrence,
and in spite of the most vigorous ef-
forts of the commander of our forces,
the marauders have generally succeed
ed in escaping into Mexico with their
plunder. In May last l gave orders
for the exercise of the utmost vigil
ance on the part of our troops for the
suppression of these raids and the
punishment of the guilty parties, as
we'll as the recapture of property sto'
len by them. General Ord, command.
ing in Texas. was directed to invite
the CO. operation of sthe Mexican au'
thorities in efforts to this end. aud to
assure them that was anxious to
avoid giving the least oGense to Mex
leo. At the same time he was direct
ed to give notice OF my determination
to put an end TO the invasion OF our
territory by lawless bands intent upon
the plunder of our peaceful citizens,
even if the cffectual puninhment OF the
outlaws should make the crossing OF
OF the border by our troops in theii
pursuit necessary. 1t is believed that
this policy has had the effect to- check
somewhat these depredatiOns and that
with q considerable increase Of onl
force npOn that frontier, and the es.
tablishment of several additional mil
itary posts along the Rio Granae, go
as the more eflectually 10 guard that
extensive border, that peace may be
preserved and the lives and property
of our citizens IN Texas fully protected.
THE ARMY.
Previous to the first day of July last.
the army was, in accordance with law,
reduced to the maximum Of twenty
five thousand enlisted men, being a
reduction Of 800 below the force pre-
viously authorized, This reduction
was made, as required by law, entire
ly from the infantry and artillery
branches of the Pacific, without any
reduction Of the cavalry. Under the
q IL a rsey
that the cavalry regiments be recruited
to one hundred men in each company,
for service Oh the Mexican and Indian
frontiers. The necessary effect OF this
legislation is to reduce the infantry
and artillery arms of the service be-
low the the number required Tor efti-
cheney, ahd l concur with the Secre-
-tary of War in recommending that
authority be given to recruit all COM
panies OF infantry to ut least FIFTY men
and all batteries OF artillery to about
seventy.fve men, with power in case
of emergency to increase the former to
one hundred and the latter to one hun
dred and twenty. five men each: l in
vite your special attention to the fol-
lowing recommendations Of the Sec
retary Of War: First, that provision
be made for supplying to the army a
more abundant and better supply OF
reading matter. Second, that early &C:
ton be taken by Congress looking TO
q complete revision and republication
of the army regulations. Third, that
section 1858 of the Revised Statutes
limiting the number of officers on the
retired list be repealed. Fourth, that
the claims arising under the act of
July 4sb, 1864, for supplies taken by
the army during the war, be taken
from the Offices of the Quartermaster
aud COmmissary Generals and trans
ferrcd TO the Southern Claims Com
mission, or some other tribunal hav-
ing more time and better facilities for
their prompt Investigation and decis-
ion than are possible by these officers.
Fifth, that Congress provide for an
annuity fund for the families of de-
ceased soldiers, as mlnended by
the Paymaster General OF the Army.
THE NAVY.
The report OF the Secretary Of the
Navy shows that we have six squad
rons now engaged in the protection OF
our foreign commerce and other du-
ties pertaining to naval service. The
condition and operations Of the de-
partment are also shown. The total
expenditures for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1877, were $l6.H7,974. There
are unpaid clsims against lhe depart
ment, chargeable I o the last year, w hich
are presented 10 the consideration OF
Congress by the report Of the Secre-
tary. The estimates for the fiscal y ear
commencing July 1, 1878, are SIG, 233,
1n nf m nf A
23l submitted for new buildings, re-
navy yards. The appropriations Tor
July, 1877, are Sl3, ,592 932 80. The
amount drawn from the Treasury from
July lst to November lat. 1877, is So,
3l3,O3 40, OF which there is estimated
to be yet available 81 ,O29 52S 30, show.
ing the amount OF the actual expendi
lures during the first four months OF
the present, ffscall y caITto have been
Sl4 BIB, 500 10 sn HI
.rHE.PO-rorT iCE y DEi'AIsrhrENT.. Is
The report Of the Postmaster Cen
eral contains Iull aud clear statement
of the operations and condition OF the
PostOflice Department The ordinary
revenues of the, department Tor the
fiscal year ending June 10th, 1871 In
cluding rcceip from the none, order
business and from official stamps and
stamped envelopes amounted TO the
sum of $2753l, $50 2G. The additional
sum, of $7,0i3 600 was realized from
the appropriations rom the General
Treasury for various purposes, max
ing the receipts from all 8 sburces aS::,4 :
5l4 SS3 2G, The total ext endiiur. g
during the fiscal , e n amounted to $50,
4S6, ,:322 Al, l. avipg an excess of total
receipts over Total expenditures of ST.
O58, ,5G2 81. and an excess OF total ex-
pendi,ures over ordinary receipts OF
81 75l, ,737 Is. Deducting from the to-
tai receipts the sum of So, ,2GIS4, re-
ceived from international money Or
ders of the presiding fiscal year, and
deductine from the total expenditures
the sum of $ l63,SlS 20 paid on liza
bilities incurred in the previous fiscal