Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-12-05

ti'Poou iial1 DN undefNaluntlon ana smuggling.
~ revenue laws should be simple In their pro-
VISIONS ana easily understood. So far ~ practic-
evvle, we rates ul taxation should he in the form
OF specific duties and not al roiOreR requiring the
JuuRnleht oi experienced men to ascertain values,
anu exposing revenue TO the temptation Of fraud
THE NATIONAL CREDIT.
~ u matter of congIatulaton that notWith-
ss'hulng tne severe burdens caused by the war
the public faith with all creditors has been pre-.
served ana that rs the result VI this poiicy the
punlio credit has continuously advanced and our
t uunv securities are regarded with the highest
iaVof IN the markets Of the world trust that no
act OF the government will cast shadow npop
US credit The progress Of fefunding the public
debt mas been rapid and satisfactory. Under the
eiJn.iaot eNhung when ] entered upon the dis
charge Of the duties uf my office bonds bearing
interest NJ the rate Of four and one-half Der cent
were being rapidly sold, aud within three months
the aggregate sales Of these bonds had reached
GU Sao. sun VI szVVvooVo with my sanction the
secretary OF the Treasury entered into II new con-
tract Tor the sale Of four per cent. bonds and
wlthln thirty days after the popular subscriution
Ior sucll bonds was opened subscriptions we're had
amounting to $40 43I $50 which were Maid IN,
wlthin ninety days after the date of subscrip-
ton By mis- process within but little more than
one year the annual interest ON tile public debt
was reduced in the sum OF S3775OOG recon-
menu 'nat suitable provision be made to enable
people To easily convert their savings into govern.
ment securities rs the best mode in which small
savings may be well secured and Weld u nuder-
ate interest. II is an object of public policy to re-
T'rn among our own people the securities of the
ohlted states. In this way our country il
guarded against their sudden return from foreign
vountiies caused by wal or other disturbances
bel Ond our limits.
INCREASE OF COMMERCE
The commerce. of the United States with foreign
nations and especially the export of domestic
productions, bias Of late years largely increased
but the greater portion Of this trade Is conducted
IN foreign vessels, The importance Of enlarginp
our foreign trade and especially by direct and
speedy interchange with Countries on this CONT
nehti cannot he Ovefestmated, and ii il a matter
OF great moment that our own shipping interest
should receive to the utmost practical extent the
pehent oil our commerce with other lands These
considerations are forcbly urged by all the large
commercial cities Of the country, and public at
tenton is generally and wisely attracted to the
solution Of the problem they present It is not
doubted that Congress will take them up in the
prQadest spirit OF liberality, and respond to the
important subject
REPORT OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary Of war shows that
the army mas been actively employ ed during the
year, and has rendered very important service In
suppresSing hOstilites in the Indian country, and
III preserving peace and protecting life and prop
erty III the Interior as well as along thu Mexican
border long and arduous campaign has been
prosecuted with final complete success AGAINST a
portion OF the Nez Perces tribe OF Indians In it,
''N'S' S'Ntidl DdttlfN Ntlt lOuEnt, ia which
plumber of gallant officers and men lost their lives
Join with the Secretary of War and the General
OF the Army III awarding to the officers and men
employed IN the long and toisome pursuit. and in
the maj capture of these Indians the honor and
praise which is so justly their due
THE July RIOTS.
The very serious riots which occurred In several
of the states in July last rendered necessary tie
employment OF II considerable portion OF the arm,
To preserve the peace and maintain order in the
states of West Virginia. MARYLAND pennsy lynnia
ana Illinois. These disturbances were 50 iurmid-
able as To defy the local and state authorities and
the National Executive was called upon i'm The
mode prescribed in the Constitution and laws b,
furnish military aid am gratified u be able to
state that the troops sent in response to these
calls Tor aid III the SUPPRESSION of domestic violence
were able by the influence OF their presence in the
disturbed regions to preserve the peace and re.
store order without the use of torce In the dis.
charge OF tins delicate and important duty. both
uthcefs and men acted with great lIudepce and
courage, ana Tor their services deserve the thanks
oi the country.
THE MEXICAN RAIDS
Disturbances along the Rio Grande in Texas TO
which ! have already referred have rendered
uecessar, the constant EMPLOY ment vi "A military
ioiee III that vicinity. iul report OF all recent
military operations ~ that quarter has been ira us
United 10 the House vi Representatives in answer
to resolution of that body, and it will not, there.
lore, be necessary to enter into details regret to
say lutSt HtNltsS ms into
Oy armed bands from the Mexican side of the lin,
Tor the purpose ol robbery have been Of frequent
occurrence and in spite of the most vigorous eff
loils vi the COMMANDER ul our forces the nafaud-
eis have generally succeeded 10 escaping into
Mexico with their plumber, In Ma, last | gave
uidefs for the exercise of the utmost vigilance on
the part oil our troops Tor the suppression OF these
RAIDS and the punishment OF the guilty parties AZ
wen as tue recapture of propert! stolen by them
General ord, commanding In lexis. was ,llrectud
10 Invite tile CODperttlOu ti the Mes
Ties IN efforts to this end and to assure them that
was ANXIOUS 10 avoid giving the least oil ese to
Mexico. AT the same time lie Was directed To give
hollce Oh my determination 10 put an end To the
INVASION OF our territory by Iawless bands intent
upon the pluhder oi our peaceful citizens, even If
the ehectual punishment ul the outlaws should
make Tie crossing of the border by our troops III
Their pursuit necessary. Ii H. believed that THE
policy has had the elect To check somewhat these
depiedatlons, and that with a considerable in
crease Of our lOrce upon that frontier ana the
lshmeht oil several additional military posts along
the Rio Glunde so to more efiectutly guard
that extensive border, peace may be preserved,
anu Tue llNes aud property vi citizens IN Texas
iuliy protected.
NUMERICAL FORCE OF THE ARMY
Prior to the first day OF July last the army was.
Ia accordance with law, reduced to the maximum.
ol 21,VoO enlisted men, being reduction vi 100
uelow the lolce previously authorized. This re.
duetion was made, us required by law, entirely
from the infantry and artillery blanches OF TIT
service, without any reduction oil the cillalr,
hder the law rs IL now stands 1t is necessary that
the cavalry regiments be recruited To one hundred
men IN each company, fos service on the Mexican
and Indian frontiers. The necessary effect OIL
this legislation is 10 reduce the infantry and ar
tlllerN arms OF the service below the number re-
quired for efficiency, and concur with the secre-
Laiy OF War III recommending that authority be
given 10 recruit all companies OF infantry 10 AT
least fifty men, and all batteries OF artillery To al
least seventy tive men, with power III OF oner
gencS to increase the former to one hundred aud
the latter To one hundredand w enty two each
RECOMMENDATIONS INpoRsEp.
invite your special attention 10 the following
recommendations of the Secretary ol War: Inst
That provisions be made for supplying to the
army a more abundant and better supply of read
ing IN tier, Second-lhat early action he taken
by Congress looking TO a complete revision and re-
publication of the army regulations. Ihird-lhat
the section OF the Revised Statutes limiting the
number of officers on the etircd list be repealed
Fourth That the claims arising under the act OF
July 4th, 1864, for supplies taken by the army
during the war be taken from the offices of the
Qnartermaster and Commssary Generals and
transferred To The Southern Claims Commission oi
some other tribunal having more time and better
facilities for their prompt investigation and de-
ci>ion than are POSSESSED by these officers Filth
- That Congress provide ior au annuity fund for
the families OF deceased soldiers, as recommended
by the las master-General OF the army.
THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy shows
that we have six squadrons engaged In the
protection of our foreign commerce and other du-
ties pertaining 10 the naval service. The condi-
ton and operations of the department are also
shown. The total expenditures iOf the fiscal yeaI
ending June 20, 1877, were Sl6,01T,17i "a There
are unpaid claims against the department charge
able 10 the last year which are presented u The
consideration OF Congress by the report of the Sec
rotary The estimates for the fiscal year commenc-
ing July |, 1878, are Sl6, 23, ~ 40 exclusive of
the sum ui S22l4 23l submitted fur new build.
ings, repairs and imprU, ements at the several
navy yards, The appropriations iUr the present
fiscal year commencing July |, 1877, are Sl3 bgl-
a32 30 The amount drawn from the treasury
from July 10 November |. 1877, is 50 S43 O37 40
Of which there is estimated to be yet available
81, 029, 30, showing the amount of actual ex-
penditure during the first four months of the pres
ent fiscal year to have been ~, 3l3, 500 10.
rosT-oFFIcE DEPARTMENT
The ordinary revenues of the department for the
fiscal year ending June 10Th 1877, including re-
official stamps and stamped envelopes, amounted
10 the sum Of S2I ,53l ,5S5 26 the additional sum
of S7,OlJOOO WAS realized Ifoiu Appropriations
from the general treasury lut various PURPOSES
making the receipts from all sources S;A 5I4-
500. The total expenditures during the fiscal
year amounted To SIS, Isl, 81 A, leaving an ex-
oi total receipts over total expenditures of
Sl,05S, 52 81 and an eAcess OF total expenditures
over ordinary receipts OF s5,g5i, 1877 Is, Deduct
ing from the total receipts tile sum oil SOS 26l 81
received from international money orders OF the
preceding fiscal year aud deducting from the
total expenditures the sum OF 81 1853 SiS 20 paid
on liabilities, incurred In previous fiscal years
the expenditures and receipts appertainng 10 the
business OF the last fiscal year were as follows;
En- l. fap.t ROY