Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-07

Indians. A large military force at great ex-
pense is now required to patrol the boundary
line between Kansas and the Indian Territory.
The only punishment that can At present be
inflicted is the forcible removal of the in
truders and the imposition of a pecuniary
fine, which in most cases it is impossible to
collect. There should be penalty BY i'm
prisonment in such cases. The War Depart
ment should not be left, by reason of made
quate provision for the Indian bureau, to
contribute for the maintenance of the Indian,
as at present.
Our CoAsr DEFENoEs.
Referring to the report of the Chief Of En-
gineers on our Notifications, especially on
coast defences. he recommends an increase
Of the strength of the engineer battalion by
which the efficiency of our torpedo system
would be improved.
A LARGER NAVY WANTED.
call your special attention also to
the appended report of the Advisory Board
which he convened to devise suitable meas
ures for increasing the efficiency of the navy
and particularly to report as to the character
and number of vessels necessary to place it
upon a footing commensurate with the nee
essities of the government. l cannot too
every consideration Of national safety,
economy and honor. imperatively de-
mands q thorough rehabilitation of our
navy. With a full appreciation of the
fact that compliance with this suggestion
of the head of that department and of
the Advisory Board must involve a large ex-
penditure of the public money, earnestly
recommend such appropriations as will accom-
plish an end which seems to me so desirable.
Nothing can be more inconsistent with true
public economy, than Withholding the means
necessary to accomplish the objects intrust-
ed by the Constitution to the National
Legislature. One of those objects
and one which is of paramount
importance-is declared by our funda-
mental law to be the provision for the
common defence" Surely nothing is more
essential to the defence of the United States
and of all our people than the efficiency Of
our navy. We have for many years main
tanned with foreign governments, relations Of
honorable peace, and that such relations NAV
izen of the republic. But if we read the
teachings of history, we shall not for
get that in the life of every ma
ton emergencies may arise when
a resort to arms can alone save it from dis
honor. No danger from abroad now threat
ems this people, nor have we any cause to
distrust the friendly professions of other gov
ernments; but for avoiding, as well as for re-
pelling danger that may threaten us in the fu
ture, we must be prepared to enforce any
means which we think wise to adopt We
must be ready to defend our harbors against
aggression; to protect the highways of com
merce, the varied interests of our foreign
trade and persons and property of our citizens
abroad to maintain everywhere the honor Of
our flag and the distinguished position which
we may fully claim among nations OF the
world.
The POSTAL SERVICE.
Reviewing to the Postmaster Generals re-
port he invites the attention of Congress to a
system Of savings depositaries in connection
With this department. He says that nearly
all the expensive routes have been susperseded
by railroad service. The cost Of the star
service must therefore rapidly decrease in the
Western States and Territories. have en-
Joined upon officials who are charged with
the conduct of the star route cases on the
part of the government, and upon the emf
nent counsel who before my accession to the
Presidency were called to their assistance,
the duty of prosecuting with the utmost rgor
of the law, all persons who may be found
chargeable with frauds upon the postal service.
Referring to the acting Attorney Generals
suggestion as to the necessity of modifying
the present system of courts of the United
States, a necessity due to the large increase
of business, especially in the Supreme Court,
he says In view of the fact that Congress
has already given much consideration to this
subject. l make no suggestion as to details,
but express the hope that your deliberations
may result in such legislation as will give
early relief to our over burdened courts.
OUrRAGEs IN ARIZONA.
Referring to the disturbance during
the past year in the territory of Arizona
known as .'Cow Boys" probably numbering
from fifty to one hundred men, whom the
local authorities have been unable to repress,
the President says: 1t is worthy of consider
ton whether acts which of necessity tend to
embroil the United states with the neigh
boring governments, should not be declared
crimes against the United States. Some Of
the incursions alluded to may perhaps be
within the scope Of the law. 1t may, per-
haps, be thought proper to provide that the
setting on foot within our own territory Of
brigandage and armed marauding expeditions
against friendly nations and their citizens,
shall be punishable as an offence against the
United States.
AS IL secis W HlC tnot thc shouiu
be afforded the protection which is accorded
to States by the constitution, suggest legis-
lation to that end.
SENSIBLE INDIAN PoLIcY.
1t seems to me, too, that an exception
might well be made for permitting the mil
itary to assist the civil Territorial authorities
in enforcing the laws of the United States.
1t is often impracticable to summon a civil
posse N places where officers Of justice re-
quire assistance, and where a military force
is within easy reach. 1t is but recently that
any effort has been made for the solution of
the Indian question, at once serious, deter
mined, consistant and promising success.
1t is proftless to discuss here which Of the
many makeshifts of our policy has been
chiefly responsible for disturbances whose
recital occupies so large space upon the
pages Of our history. We have to deal with
the appalling fact, that though thousands Of
lives have been sacrificed and hundreds of
millions of dollars expended in the attempt
to solve the Indian problem. it has until
within the past few years seemed scarcely
nearer a solution than it was half q century
ago. But the government has been caution
ly but steadily feeling its way to the adoption
of policy which has already produced graft
flying results, and which, in nv Judgment. is
likely IL Congress and the Executive accord,
to relieve US of long frontier difficulties which
have been hitherto troublesome.
First. recommend passing an act max.
ing the laws of the yarious Stafea and Terri.