Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-12-08

= IAN many auEHeetloue lut Tue mouluc&klun
!. the customs laws to which the attention
a Congsess Ia invited. q
3 THs PuRLIc CREDIT.
II il q matter Of generalization that, nc
withstandlng tho severe burdens caused by Il
= war, the public faith with all credito
, has been preserved, and that % the result
, this policy the public credit has continuous
! advanced, and our public securities arc regar
ed with the highest favor In the markets OF u
world. trust that no act Of the governmol
vii an cast shadow upon , its credit. .v
has been rapid and satisfactory. Under II
contract existing whom entered upon the di
charge Of the duties Of my Office bonds bearin
interest al the rate Of ~ per centum were b,
ing rapidly sold, and within three months th
aggregate sales Of these bonds had reached th
sum OF e?00 300, 900. With my sanction tn
secretary Of the treasury entered into ne'
contract for the sale Of four per centum bond,
and within thirty days after the popular sui
scription for such bonds was opened subscrir
tions were had amounting TO S75, 496, $50, whic
were paid for within ninety days after the dat
Of ofsubscription. by this process, within but littl
more than one year, the annual interest on tn
public debt was reduced In the sum Of t3,775,
900.
| BONDS FOR OUR SMALL cAPIrALIsTs.
| Irecommend that suitable provision be mad,
ings into government securities as the bes
mode in which small savings may be well 60
cured and yield moderate Interest. It is OF
object Of public policy to retain among oul
own people the securities Of the United States
In this way our country Ii guarded against
their sudden return from foreign countries
caused by war or other disturbances beyond
our limits.
AMERICAN SHIPPING.
lao - t.J NJ. 10,
eign nations, and especially the export Of do
mestic productions, has Of late years largely
increased, but the greater portion Of this trade
is conducted in foreign vessels. The import.
ance OF enlnging our foreign trade, and es.
pecially by direct and speedy interchange with
countries on this continent, cannot be owe resti.
mated, and 1t 10 matter Of great moment that
utmost practical extent the benefit Of our com.
nerce with other lands. These considerations
are forcibly urged by all tho large commercial
cities Of the country, and public attention Is
generally and wisely attracted to the solution
OF the problems they present.
It tis not doubted that Congress will take them
up in the broadest spirit Of literality and re-
lation upon this important subject
THE ARMY.
The report OF tho secretary OF war shows
that the army has been actively employed dur
ing the year, and has rendered very important
service In suppressing hostilities in the Indian
and in preserving s and 5
the Mexican border. A long and arduous came
paign has been prosecuted with final complete
success against portion Of the Nez Perces
tribe Of Indians. full account of this cam
paign will be found in the report of tho general
Of the army. 1t will be seen that in its course
several battles were fought, in which a number
of gallant officers and men lost their lives.
join with the secretary Of war and the general
Of the army in awarding to the officers and men
employed in the long and toilsome pursuit, and
in the fnal capture Of these Indians, the honor
and praise which is SO justly their due.
The very serious riots which occurred in sew
eral Of the States in July last rendered nsces-
sary the employment Of considerable portion
order. In the States Of West Virginia, Mary
land, Pennsylvania and Illinois these disturb
ances were 80 formidable as to defy the local
and State authorities, and the national executive
was called upon, in the mode provided by the
constitution and laws, to furnish military aid
I am gratifed 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 peace and restore order
without the use Of force. In the discharge Of
this delicate and important duty both officers
and men acted with great prudence and courage.
and for their services they deserve the thanks Of
the country.
Disturbances along the Rio Grande, in Texas,
to which have already referred, have rem
dered necessary the constant employment Of .
military force in that vicinity. "A full report
Of all recent military operations in that quarter
has been transmitted to the House Of Repre-
sentativcs in answer to resolution Of that
oIr, ND will MT hA
to enter into details. I regret to 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
and, in spite Of the most vigorous
efforts Of the commander Of our forces, the
marauders have generally succeeded in escap-
ing into Mexico with their plunder. In May
last gave orders for the exercise of the ut
most vigilance on the part Of our troops for
The suppression Of these raids, and the punish |
nent OF the guilty parties as we'll as the re-
capture Of property stolen BY them. General
Ord, commanding in Texas, was directed to in !
vite the cooperation Of the Mexican authori- |
les in efforts to this end, and to assure them |
hat was anxious to avoid giving the least
directed to give notice Of my determination to |
put an end to the invasion of our territory by !
awless bands intent upon the plunder Of our |
peaceful citizens, even II the effectual punish
nent Of the outlaws should make the crossing |
If the border by our troops in their pursuit |
1t is believed that this policy has |
lad the effect to check somewhat these depre- |
lationr, and that, with considerable increase |
II our force upon that frontier, and the estab- |
ishment Of several additional military posts |
long the Rio Grande 80 as more effectually to |
,uard that extensive border peace may be
and the lives and property Of our
itizens in Texas fully protected.
10 kl,<G H. 80 T,,1~ Io.k 4,
vns. in accordance with law, reduced to the
maximum of twenty-five thousand enlisted
nen, being reductionof twenty-five hundred
,elow the force previously authorized. This
eduction was made as required by law entirely |
rom the infantry and artillery branches Of the
ervice, without any reduction of the cavalry.
Under the law as it now stands it is necessary
hat the cavalry regiments be recruited to one
hundred men in each company for service on
he Mexican and Indian frontiers. The neces-
ary effect OF this legislation is to reduce the
Infantry and artillery arms Of the service below
he number required for efficiency, and concur
nth the secretary of war in recommending that
uthority be given to recruit all companies of
Infantry to at least fifty men, and all batteries
t artillery to at least seventy-tive men, with
ower in case of emergency to increase the
srmer to 100 and the latter to 122 men each.
invite your special attention to the following
Of the secretary Of war
First-That provision be made for supplying
0 the army q more abundant and better supply
I reading matter.
Second That early action be taken by Con-
ress looking to . complete revision and re-
ublication Of the army regulations.
Third-That section 1888 Of the revised
tatutes, limiting the number Of officers on the
etred list, be repealed.
Fourth That the claims arising under the
ct of July 4, 1864, for supplies taken by the
rmy during the war, be taken from the Offices
( the quartermaster and commissary generals
nd Transferred to the Southern claims COM
lission, or to some other tribunal having more
me and better facilities for their prompt in
estigation and decision that are possessed by
lese Offices.
Fifth-That Congress provide for an annuity
md for the families of deceased soldiers, as
by the paymaster-general Of the
rmy.
The report Of the secretary Of the navy shows
lat We have six squadrons now engaged in the
rejection Of our foreign commerce, and other
utica pertaining to the naval service. The
,nditions and operations of the department
re also shown. The total expenditures for
10 fiscal year ending June 30, 1877, were &c.
IL, 974.54. There are unpaid claims against
le department chargeable to the last year,
hich are presented to the consideration
Congress by the report Of the secre-
Try. The estimates for the fscal year
July l, 1873, are GIG, ,233, ,23i.4O.
1clusive OF the sum Of %, 314, ,231 Submitted
,r new buildings repairs and improvements I
/ 4 mn 4 .