The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-12-08
OTTAWA FREE TRADER: SATURDAY, DECEMBER g. 1877.

Attention is also called to the necessity OF enacting
more vigorous laws for the protection of the revenue
| and for the punishment OF frauds and smuggling
| All revenue laws should be simple in their provis-
ions and easily understood. 80 far practicable,
the rates of taxation should be In the form of specf
iC duties. and not al yalOrem, requiring the ludg
ment of experienced men to ascertain values and cN
| posing the revenue TO the temptation of fraud.
CUSTOMS ABUSES.
Nv attention has been called, during the recess OF
Congress to the abuses existing in the collection OF
the customs. and strenuous efforts have been made
for their correction by Executive orders Inc rec
concentrations submitted to the Secretary OF the
Treasury by commission appointed 10 examine IN
to the collection of customs duties AT the port oil New
York contain many suggestions for the modlhcatloh
OF the customs laws, to which the attention Oh 'oh
grcss i invited
PUBLIC CREDIT
II is matter of CongratulatOn that notWlt hstahu
ing the severe burdens caused by the war the puhc
faith with all creditors, has been preserved anu ~
the result of this policy the public credit mas con
tinuOusly advanced, and public securities are re-
"arded with the highest favor in the markets OF ne
world. trust that no act of the Government VIII
cast shadow upon Its credit
PUBLIC DEBT.
The progress OF retunding the public debt has been
rapid and satisfactory Under the contract existing
when entered upon the discharge of the duties Of
my office bonds bearing interest at the rate of "a
per cent were being rapidly sold, and within three
months the aggregate sales ofthesc bonds had reach
ed the sum of S20OOc0.OoO.
with NV sanction. the Secretary of the Treasury
entered into contract for the sale of per cent
bonds and within thirty days after the popular sub
were had amounting to $50, 1850, which were paid
for within ninety days after the date of subscription
By this process, within but little more than
wear, the annual interest on the public debt was re
duCed IN the sum of S3,II5,UOO.
SAVINGS FUNDS.
recommend that suitable provision he made 10
enable the people to easily convert their savings in
to Government securities, rs the best mode in
which small savings may be wcll-secured and yield
Il moderate interest.
lis an object of public policy to retain among
our own people the securities of the United States.
In this way our country Is guarded against Their
sudden return from countries caused by war or 9th
er disturbances, beyond our limits.
THE COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES
with foreign nations, and especially the export OF
domestic productions has OF late years largely IN
creased but the greater portion of this trade is con
Quoted in foreign vessels. The importance OF en-
larging our foreign trade, and especially by direct
and speedy interchange with countries on this CON
tinent cannot be oyerestimated. and it is matter
of great moment that our own shipping interest
should receive to the utmost practical extent. the
benefit of our commerce with other lands THESE
considerations are forcbly urged by all the large
commercial cities of the country, and public atten-
ton Is generally and wisely attracted TO the soiu'
ton OF the problems they present. II Is not doubt
ed that Congress will take them up in the broadcast
spirit Of libcraliy, and respond to the public de
mand by practicable legislation upon this subject
THE ARMY.
The rcport of the Secretary of War shows that
the army has been actively employed during the
year, and has rendered very important service IN
depressing hostilitcs in the Indian country, ana
preserving peace and protecting life and property IN
the interior as well a. along the Mexican border
long and arduous campaign has been prosecuted
with final and complete success, against portion p
of the NcZ PcrCes tribe of Indians y full account
of this campaign will be found IN the report of
the General of the Army 1t vii! be seen that III
its course several battles were fought, in which
number of gallant officers and men lost their hVes.
ioin with the Secretary of War and the General OF
the Army ia awarding to Tue oiheers ana men en- en-
final capture of these lndlaus the honor ana praise
which is so justly their due.
The very serious riots which occurred in several
of the states in July last rendered necessary the EN-
plOyment of a considerable portion OF the army 10
preserve the peace and maintain order IN the states
of West virginia. MARYLAND. PENNSYLVANIA and Hi
nois These disturbances were so formidable Ar 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
and gratifcd to be able TO state that the troops
sent in response TO these calls for aid in the sup
preston of the domestic violence were able by the
to preserve the peace and order without the
Use of force In the discharge of this deicate and
imDortnnt duty both nfiioors and h'll u'I'u WIN
great prudence and courage, and for their services
deserve the thanks OF the country.
THE BORDER
disturbances along the Rio Grandc. in Texas, to
which have already referred. have rendered neccs-
sary the constant employment of military force in
that vicinity. \ full report of all recent military
operations in that quarter has been transmitted to
the House of Representative in answer to resolu-
tion Of that body, and II will not therefore be neccs
sary enter into details. regret TO say that these
awlcsI excursions into our territory by armed
bands from the Mexican side of the line for the pur
poses of robbery, have been Of frequent occurrence
and, in spite of the most vigorous eAOrts OF the
commander of our forces, the maraudcrs have gen
orally succeeded in escaping into Mexico with their
plumber In May last, | gave orders Tor the EHer
troops for the suppression of these raids and their
punishment of the guilty parties, as well as the re
capture of the property stolen by them. Gen Ora.
commandment in Texas, was directed TO invite the
cooperation of the Mexican authorities in efforts to
this end. and assure them that | was anxious TO
avoid giving the least ocnse 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 bands, intent upon the plunder
of our peaceful citizens, even The clcctua punish
ment of the outlaws should make the crossing OF
the border by our troops in their pursuit necessary
1t is believed that this policy has had the effect TO
check, somewhat, these dcpredatOns, and that with
a considerable increase of our force upon the from
tier, and the establishment of several additional
military posts along the Rio Grandc, 80 rs more eff
icctuay to guard that extensive border, peace may
be preserved, and the lives and property OF citizens
IN Texas fully protected
THE ARMY AGAIN.
Prior to the first day of July last the army was,
in accordance with law, reduced to the maXum of
5000 enlisted men, being reduction of 1850 below
the force previously authorized. This reduction was
made required by law, entirely from the infantry
and artillery branches of the service without any re-
duction of the cavalry.
Under the law as il now stands, il is necessary
that the cavalry regiments should be recruited TO 100
men in each company for service ON the Mexican
and Indian frontiers. The necessary effect OF this
arms of the service below the number required Tor
efficiency, and concur with the Secretary OF War In
recommending that authority be given to recruit all
companies of infantry TO at least fifty men, and all
batteries of artillery 10 at least seventy-hNe men
with power, in OF an emergency, to increase the
former to 100 and the latter to 10 men each.
| invite special attention to the following re-
Communications of the Secretary of War: FIRST, that
provision be- made for supplying to the army more
abundant and better supply of reading matter. Sec
ond that early action be taken by Congress looking
To a complete revision and republication of the army
regulations Third, that Section 2js ui the Revised
Statutes limiting the number OF officer on the re-
tired list he repealed Fourth that the claims arts
ing under the of July T. 1864, for supplies taken
hy the army during the war, be taken from the of
fees of the Quartcrmistcr and Commissary Gener
ais and transferred TO the Southern Claims Commits
sion. or some other tribunal having more time and
better abilities for their prompt investigation and
decision than possessed by these officers. tifth.
that Congress provide for annuity iund for the
families OF deceased soldiers, recommended by
the PaNmastcr General of the army.
THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy shows
that have >iN -quadronS now engaged IN the pro
lection Of our foreign commerce and othcr duties
pertaining To- the naval service. The condition and
operations ui the department are also shown. The
total expenditures for the fiscal year ending June
3lth, lS,1. were Sl6,OT1.g7i5t There are unpaid
claims gp,ttuSf fh, dcnartmpnt ChaTgcahle To the