Year: 1874

ness for arms charged to them during the
rebellion for the dsmission of officers from
the rolls of the army without trial for the Of
fense of drawing pay more than once for the
same period; for the Encouragement Of the plan
to pay soldiers by checks, and for the establish
ment of professorship of rhetoric and Eng
lish literature at West Point. Thereasons for
these recommendations are obvious, and are
set forth sufficiently in the report attached.
also recommend that the status of the staff
corps of the army be fixed, where this has not
already been done 80 that promotions may be
made and vacancies filled as they occur, in
each grade, when reduced below the number
to be fixed by law. The necessity for such
legislation is especially felt now in the pay
department. The number of officers in that
department is inadequate to the performance Of
the duties required of them by law


The efficiency of the navy has been largely
increased during the last year, under the i'm
pulse of foreign complications which threaten.
ed US at the commencement OF last session OF
Congress. Most of our efficient wooden ships
we're put in condition for immediate service,
and the repairs of our ironclad fleet were
pushed with the utmost vigor. The result is
that most of these now are in an effective state,
and need only to be manned and put in com.
mission, to 20 at once into service. Some of
the new sloops authorized by Congress are al
ready in commission, and most Of the remain
der are launched and wait only the compile
ton of their machinery to enable them to
take their place as part of our effective force.


Two iron torpedo ships have been COM
/ II H., fbo 1oof nd Of
large double.turretted iron-clads are now un-
dergoing repairs. When these are finished,
everything that is useful of our navy, as now
authorized, will be in condition for service, and
with the advance in the science of torpedo
warfare, the American navy, comparatively
small as it is, will be found at any time power
full for the purposes of a peaceful nation.


Much has also been accomplished during
the year in aid of science, and to increase the
sum of general knowledge and further the
interests Of commerce and civilization. Ex-
tensive and much needed soundings have
been made for photographic purposes, and to
fix the proper routes of ocean telegraphy.
Further surveys Of the great isthmus have
been undertaken and completed, and two ves'
sells of the navy are employed now, in con-
junction with those of England, France,
Germany and Russia, in observations connec-
ted with the Transit of Venus, so useful and
interesting to the scientific world. The esti-
mates for this branch of service do not differ
materially from those of last year. Those for
the general support of the services being
somewhat less, and those for permanent i'm.
provements at the various stations, are rather
larger than the corresponding estimates made
a year ago. The regular maintenance and
steady increase in the efficiency of this most
important arm in proportion to the growth Of
our maritime intercourse and interests, is re-
commended to the attention of Congress. The
use ofthe navy in time of peace might be fur
ther utilized by direct authorization of the
employment of naval vessels in explorations
and surveys of the supposed navigable waters
of other nationalities on this continent, espe-
cially the tributaries of the two great rivers Of
South America, the Orinoco and the Amazon.
Nothing prevents, under existing laws, such
exploration, except that expenditures must be
made in such expeditions beyond those provi-
ded for in the appropriations. The field des-
ignated is unquestionably one of interest, and
one capable Of large development of CONNER
cial interests, advantageous to the peoples
reached and to those who may establish rela'
tions with them.


Education of the people entitled to exercise
the right Of franchise is essential to general
prosperity everywhere, and especially so in
republics where birth, education or previous
condition, do not enter into account in CIV
ing suffrage. Next to the public school, the
post Office is the great agent of education.
Our vast territory, the rapidity with which
new sections are being settled, thus increasing
the carrying of mails in a more rapid ratio
than the increase of receipts, is not alarming.


The report of the Postmaster General, here
with attached, shows that there was an in
crease of revenue in his department in 1873
over the previous year, of 81 ,674,411, and an
increase of cost of carrying the mail and pay
ing employees of $3,041 1853 81. The report
of the Postmaster. General gives interesting
statistics of his department, and compares
them with the corresponding statistics of a
year ago, showing a growth in every branch
of the department.


A postal convention has been concluded
with New South Wales. An exchange of pos
tai cards was established with Switzerland,
and the negotiations pending for several years
with France have terminated in the conven-
ton which went into effect last August.


An International postal congress was con-
vened in Berne, Switzerland in September
last, at which the United States was repre-
sented by an officer of the postofice depart
mept of much experience and qualifications
for the position. A convention for the estab.
lishment of an international postal union was
agreed on and signed by the delegates of the
countries represented, subject to approval of
the proper authorities of those countries. l
respectfully direct your attention to the re-
port of the Postmaster General, and his sug-
gestions in regard to an equitable adjustment
of the question of compensation to railroads
for carrying the mails


Your attention will be drawn to the unset
tied condition of affairs in some of the South
ern States On the 18th Of September last,
the Governor of Louisiana called on me, as
provided by the constitution and laws of the
United States, to aid in suppressing domestic
violence in that State This call was made
in view of proclamation issued or that day
by D. B. Penn, claiming that he was elected
lieutenant-governor in 1872, and calling upon
the militia of the State to arm, assemble, and
drive from power the usurpers, as he deslgna-
ted the officers of the State government. On
the next day, issued my proclamation COM
manding the insurgents to disperse within five
days from the date thereof, and subsequently
learned that on that day they had taken for
chile possession of the State House. Steps
we're taken by me to support the existing and
recognized State government, but before the
expiration of the five days, the insurrectiona-
ry movement was practically abandoned, and
the officers of the State government, with