PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. 



647 



bo demonstrated by the report of the committee to 

 investigate Southern outrages. 



Under the provisions of the above act I issued a 

 proclamation calling the attention of the people of 

 the United States to the same, and declaring my re- 

 luctance to exercise any of the extraordinary powers 

 thereby conferred upon me except in case of impera- 

 tive necessity, but making known my purpose to ex- 

 ercise such powers whenever it should become neces- 

 sary to do so for the purpose of securing to all citi- 

 zens of the United States the peaceful enjoyment of 

 the rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution 

 and the laws. 



After the passage of this law, information was re- 

 ceived from time to time that combinations of the 

 character referred to in this law existed, and were 

 powerful in many parts of the Southern States, par- 

 ticularly in certain counties in the State of South 

 Carolina. Careful investigation was made, and it 

 was ascertained that, in nine counties of that State, 

 such combinations were active and powerful, embrac- 

 ing a sufficient portion of the citizens to control the 

 local authority, and having, among other things, the 

 object of depriving the emancipated class of the sub- 

 stantial benefits of freedom, and of preventing the 

 free political action of those citizens who did not 

 sympathize with their own views. 



Among their operations were frequent scourginga 

 and occasional assassinations, generally perpetrated 

 at night by disguised pei-sons ? the victims, in almost 

 all cases, being citizens of different political senti- 

 ments from their own, or freed persons who had 

 shown a disposition to claim equal rights with other 

 citizens. Thousands of inoffensive and well-disposed 

 citizens were the sufferers by this lawless violence. 

 Thereupon, on the 12th day of October, 1871, a proc- 

 lamation was issued, in terms of the law, calling 

 upon the members of those combinations to disperse 

 within five days, and to deliver to the marshal or 

 military officers of the United States all arms, am- 

 munition, uniforms, disguises, and other means and 

 implements used by them for carrying out their un- 

 lawful purposes. This warning not having been 

 heeded, on the ITth of October another proclamation 

 was issued suspending the privileges of the writ of 

 habeas corpus in nine counties in that State. 



Direction was given that, within the counties so 

 designated, persons supposed, upon credible infor- 

 mation, to be members of such unlawful combina- 

 tions should be arrested by the military forces of the 

 United States, and delivered to the marshal, to be 

 dealt with according to law. In two of said counties, 

 York and Spartanburg, many arrests have been made. 

 At the last accounts, the number of persons thus ar- 

 rested was one hundred and sixty-eight. Several 

 hundred, whose criminality was ascertained to be of 

 an inferior degree, were released for the present. 

 These have generally made confessions of their guilt. 

 Great caution has been exercised in making these 

 arrests, and, notwithstanding the large number, it is 

 believed that no innocent person is now in custody. 

 The prisoners will be held for regular trial in the 

 judicial tribunals of the United States. As soon as 

 it appeared that the authorities of the United States 

 were about to take vigorous measures to enforce the 

 law, many persons absconded, and there is good 

 ground for supposing that all of such persons have 

 violated the law. A full report of what has been 

 done under this law will be submitted to Congress 

 by the Attorney-General. 



In Utah there still remains a remnant of barbarism 

 repugnant to civilization, to decency, and to the laws 

 of the United States. Territorial officers, however, 

 have been found who are willing to perform their 

 duty in a spirit of equity, and with a due sense of 

 the necessity of sustaining the majesty of the law. 

 Neither polygamy nor any other violation of existing 

 statutes will be permitted within the territory of the 

 United States. It is not with the religion of the self- 

 styled saints that we are now dealing, but with their 



practices. They will be protected in the worship of 

 God according to the dictates of their consciences, 

 but they will not be permitted to violate the lawf> 

 under the cloak of religion. It may be advisable for 

 Congress to consider what, in the execution of the 

 laws against polygamy, is to be the status of plural 

 wives and their offspring. The propriety of Con- 

 gress passing an enabling act, authorizing the Terri- 

 torial Legislature of Utah to legitimize all children 

 born prior to a time fixed in the act, might be justi- 

 fied by its humanity to these innocent children. This 

 is a suggestion only, and not a recommendation. 



The policy pursued toward the Indians has result- 

 ed favorably, so far as can be judged from the limited 

 time during which it has been in operation. Through 

 the exertions of the various societies of Christians, to 

 whom has been intrusted the execution of the policy, 

 and the Board of Commissioners authorized by the 

 law of April 10, 1869, many tribes of Indians have 

 been induced to settle upon reservations, to cultivate 

 the soil, to perform productive labor of various kinds, 

 and to partially accept civilization. They are being 

 cared for in such a way, it is hoped, as to induce 

 those still pursuing their old habits of life to embrace 

 the only opportunity which is left them to avoid ex- 

 termination. I recommend liberal appropriations to 

 carry out the Indian peace policy, not only because 

 it is humane, Christianlike, and economical, but be- 

 cause it is right. 



I recommend to your favorable consideration, also, 

 the policy of granting a territorial government to the 

 Indians in the Indian Territory, west of Arkansas 

 and Missouri, and south of Kansas. In doing BO, 

 every right guaranteed to the Indian by treaty should 

 be secured. Such a course might } in time, be the 

 means of collecting most of the Indians now between 

 the Missouri and the Pacific, and south of the British 

 possessions, into one Territory or one State. The 

 Secretary of the Interior has treated upon this sub- 

 ject at length, and I commend to you his suggestions. 



I renew my recommendation that the public lands 

 be regarded as a heritage to our children, to be dis- 

 posed^ of only as required for occupation, and to 

 actual settlers. T^ose already granted have been, in 

 great part, disposed of in such a way as to secure 

 access to the balance by the hardy settler who may 

 wish to avail himself of them. But caution should 

 be exercised even in attaining so desirable an object. 



Educational interests may well be served by the 

 grant of the proceeds of the sale of public lands to 

 settlers. I do not wish to be understood as recom- 

 mending in the least degree a curtailment of what is 

 being done by the General Government for the en- 

 couragement of education. 



The report of the Secretary of the Interior, sub- 

 mitted with this, will give you all the information 

 collected and prepared for publication in regard to 

 the census taken during the year 1870 ; the opera- 

 tions of the Bereau of Education for the year ; the 

 Patent-Office ; the Pension-Office ; the Land-Office, 

 and the Indian Bureau. 



The report of the Commissioner of Agriculture 

 gives the operations of his Department for the year. 

 As agriculture is the groundwork of our prosperity, 

 too much importance cannot be attached to the labors 

 of this Department. It is in the hands of an able 

 head, with able assistants, all zealously devoted to 

 introducing into the agricultural productions of the 

 nation all useful products adapted to any of the va- 

 rious climates and soils of our vast territory, and tw 

 giving all useful information as to the method of 

 cultivation, the plants, cereals, and other products 

 adapted to particular localities. 



Quietly, but surely, the Agricultural Bureau is 

 working a great national good, and, if liberally sup- 

 ported, the more widely its influence will be extend- 

 ed, and the less dependent we shall be upon the 

 products of foreign countries. 



The subject of compensation to the heads of bu- 

 reaus and officials holding positions of responsibility. 



