Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-12-17
Y navigable waters in such manner as tc

ObStruct naVlgatlOn.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy,
the President says, gives a history of the
operations of his department and the pres
ent condition of the work committed to his
charge. The Secretary details in full the
course pursued by him to protect the rights
of the government in respect of certain
vessels unfinished at the time Of his acces-
sion to office and also concerning the dis
patch boat, Dolphin, claimed to be COM
pleted and awaiting the acceptance OF the
Department. No one can fail to see from
recitals contained in this report that only
the application of business principles has
subjects and that whatever controversy has
arisen was caused by the eXaction on the
part of the Department of contract oblIga-
tions, as they were legally construed. He
urgently recommends thoroughly reOr-
ganized navy department..
The President approves the recommenda-
tion of the Postmaster-General that the
charge on domestic money orders of five
dollars or less, be reduced to five cents. He
also approves the recommendation of the
Postmaster General, that another assistant
be provided for his department.
TO facilitate the dispatch of business in
the United States Courts, the President says
there seems to be an imperative necessity
for remedial legislation, and recommends
the plan suggested by the Attorney General,
the main features of which are: A transfer
of all original jurisdiction of the Circuit
Courts to the District Courts, and an in
crease of judges for the latter where neces-
sary; an addition of judges to the Circuit
Courts and constituting them exclusively
courts of appeal, and reasonably limiting
the appeals thereto; further restrictions of
the right to remove cases from State to Fed
eral Courts, permitting appeals to the Su,
preme Court from the Courts of the District
of Columbia and the Territories, only in the
same cases as they are allowed from the
State Courts and guarding against an un-
necessary number of appeals from the Cir
cult Courts. He also thinks the marshals
and district attorneys should be paid sala-
res, adjusted by rule which would make
them commensurate with the service fairly
rendered.
After discussing at some length the In
dian question rs presented in the report of
the Secretary of the Interior, the President
says: recommend the passage of a law
authorizing the appointment of six COM
missiOners, three of whom shall be detailed
from the army, to be charged with the duty
of careful inspection, from time to time, Of
all Indians upon our reservations, or subject
to the care or control of the Government,
with view of discovering their exact con-
dition and needs, and determining what
steps shall be taken on behalf of the Gov
eminent to improve their situation in the
direction of their self-support and complete
civilization, that they ascertain from such
inspection what, if any, of the reservations
may be reduced in area, and in such cases
what part, not needed for Indian occupa-
ton, may be purchased by the Government
from the Indians and disposed of for their
benefit; what, if any, Indians may, with
their consent, be removed to other reserva-
tions, with the view of their concentration
and sale on their behalf, of their abandoned
reservations; what Indian lands now held
in what manner and to what extent the In
dians upon the reservations can be placed
under the protection of our laws and sub
iected to their penalties, and which, if any
Indians should be invested with the right of
citizenship. The powers and functions OF
the commissioners in regard to these sub
jects should be clearly defined, though they
should, in conjunction with the Secretary OF
the Interior, he given all authority to deal
definitely with the questions presented,
deemed safe and consistent.
The complicated condition of the public
land laws is set forth, and the President
calls attention to the recommendation Of the
Secretary of the Interior with reference to
|
these laws.
The cleansing of the pension rolls of names
that have been placed thereon by fraudulent
means, and other reforms in the pension SER
vice are recommended.
The President discusses the Mormon ques-
ton as follows: In the Territory of Utah
the law of the United States passed for the
suppression Of polygamy has been energeti-
cally and faithfully executed during the past
year with measurably good results. A num-
Der of convictions have been secured for
unlawful cohabitation, and in some cases
pleas of guilty have been entered and a
Slight punishment imposed upon promise
by the accused that they would not again
offend against the law nor advise, counsel,
aid or abet in any way its violation by
others.
The Utah commissioners express the opin-
ion, based upon such information as they
are able to obtain, that but few polygamous
marriages have taken place in the Territory
during the last year. They further report
that, while there cannot be found upon the
registration lists of voters the name of il
man actually guilty of polygamy, and while
none of that class are holding Office, yet at
the last election in the Territory all the Off
GERS elected, except in one county, were
men, who, though not actually living in
the practice of p0lygamy, subscribe to the
doctrine of poygam0us marriages as Dl-
vine revelation and Il law all the higher
and more binding upon the conscience than
any human law, local or national. Thus is
the strange spectacle presented of a commu-
nifty protected by a Republican form Of Gov
ernment to which they owe allegiance sus-
tanning by their suffrages principle and
belief which sets ut naught that obligation
of absolute obedience to the law of the land
which lies at the foundation of Republican
institutions.
The strength, the perpetuity and the des-
tiny of the nation rest upon our homes, es-
tablished by the law of God, guarded by
parental care, regulated by parental au-
thority and sanctitied by parental love.
These are not the homes of polygamy.
as they mould the characters and guide the
actions of their sons, live according to Gods
holy ordinances, and each, secure and hap
py in the exclusive love Of the father of her
children, sheds the warm light of true wo-
manhood unperverted and unpolluted upon
all within her pure and wholesome family
circle. These are not the cherries, crushed
and unwomanly mothers Of polygamy.
The fathers of our families are the best citi-
zens of the Republic. Wife and children
are the sources of patriotism and conjugal
and parental affection beget devotion to
the country. The man who, undefiled
with plural marriage, is surrounded in his
single home with his wife and children, has
a stake in the country which inspires him
with respect for its laws and courage for its
defence. These are not the fathers of polyg-
amous families. There is no feature Of this
practice, or the system which sanctions it,
which is not opposed to all that is of value
IL Io