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THEI DONALDSONVILLE CHIEF. VOLUME 1. DONALDSONVILLE, LA., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1871. NU [BER 16. penalbson.1illet if Oftice in Crescent Place. Published Every Saturday 3lonming --AT- Donaldmonfville, La.. -BY 4LI NDEY E.arENTL Ye EDITOR ANDI PROPRIETOR. TERMS OF SUBJNCRIPTION: .4hne copy, one year.. $3 00 .Orecopy,six mo1 ths..------- 150 Single opayabl 10 aabe invariably it advance. ADVERTISIL'G RATES: [A square is seven lines Minion type.] Space. I wk. 1 m. .3 mos. 6 mon. 1 yr. I square.... $1 00 $3 00 $. 00 $900 15 2 sqare... 2 00 O 9 00 02500 4 que.. 0 090 54 sq~uares... 4 00~ 8 00 15 00 .: 001135 00 Fceolnman... 7 00 13 0 25 01 40~ 0050 00 J column... 14 00 25 40 00 60 70 00 l oolumn... 2800 400055 a 75 .000 Transient advertisements. $1 per squa first insertion; 75 cts. each subsequent inaion. All official advertisements $1 per sqwr4 each insertion. Communications may be addressed simply Curav, Donaldsonville. La.," or to tbie edi tor and proprietor personally. Buy presents for the children about this time. It strikes us that the only claini the New Orleans organ of the Custom house faction can have to the prietix of " National," is that the money for its support virtually comes out of the National Treasury. A dying manu in a Western i tate was asked if he would like a minister to be called to his bedside. With great effort he rose up and said: Why, what should I want a niinis ter fore I never voted the Demo cratic ticket in all my life !" An affecting incident related by an exchange is that of a lady who actu ally wept her sight away within two weeks after her husband had been killed by a railroad accident. What a story those sightless balls tell of a woman's wonderful love." The Opelousas Journal relatesi that . .Aae..wayae of the Deputy Sheri s of St. Landry parish took actual pdes lion of a tract of four hundred hcres of land, under a writ of seizure, was to get down on all-fours and go around the boundary lines frog fashion. An exchange reports that About 140,0(10 barrels of apples have 'been purchased by dealers in Lockport, New York, this season, but the dpple ations of those dealers are not kntown. This joke was not the fruit of inten tion on the part of the editor, for when he discovered it he nearly.went off into a fit of applcplexy. The Citizens' Guard used to ,neer at our brother, of St. Mary, for calling his paper the Attakapas Register AND St. Mary's Bawaer. The daily rgan of the Custom-house clique, into which the Guard was merged, is called the National Republican AND Citizens' Guard, and even the at le in which the name is put in type is in imitation of the Register. The latest instance of the retuark able sagacity of animals is that of a Boston store cat that improves every favorable opportunity to abstract a five-cent nickel piece from the money drawer, which it carries in its iitouth to a neighboring butcher's shop, and drops on the counter, receiving in return the wherewith for a " square meal" of fresh beef. We admirn. such a cat as that one. In expatiating upon " printing office bores" the Americas Newspaper Be pa rter says: "When a man conies in, as one did the other day, with a -32-page pamphlet, with the backs torn off, and insists on us printinig him a copy of that same, backs and title pages included, for ten cents, ltecause .4hat is all the original copy cost; him, we feel disposed to explain to him the quickest mode of getting down stairs, free of charge." We are afraid our friends of the Iberville News have become father "puffed up with pomposity "' that they should express dissatisfaction with the compliment which we paid their journal upon the oecasion of its enlargement. When we expressed a hope that the News might *dlain a rank second to no country jouakLal in the State, we meant in point af mrcu lation and public patronage. Lt al ready holds that rank as regards . ability. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. WAsa5nsrox, December 4. 1871. Tu fL senate and Meuseof Representatives: In dresº g my third annual mes sage o the law-making branch of the goverilment, it is gratifying to be able to At te that, during the past year, sue s has generally attended the efim to execute all laws found upon the tatute books. The policy has been, not to inquire into the wisdom of the laws already enacted, but to learn their special interest and enforce then accordingly. The past year has, und( a wise providence, been one of GENERAL PROSPERITY. T( the nation it has, however, been attez ed with more than usual chas tiserients In the loss of life and prop erty )y storm and fire. These disas ters ave served to call forth the best ele .ntsof human nature in our coun try n3d to develop friendship for us oi tie part of foreign nations which goes far toward alleviating the dis tres occasioned by the calamities. The benevolent who have so gener onsl shared their means with the vic thus of these misfortunes will reap theiº reward in the consciousness of havi g perfonned a noble act, and in rece iug the grateful thanks of men, won n and children whose sufferings they ve relieved. T1 relations of the United States With4 FOREIGN POWERS cootmue to be friendly. The year has een an eventful one in witness ing wo great nations speaking one lang age and having one lineage, settl g, by peaceful arbitration, dis Plutea of long standing and liable at at Iii time to bring those nations in to 1 lsaly and hostile conflicts. An exar le has thus been set which, if succ ~uI in its filial issue, may be follored by other civilized nations, and be the final means of returning to pros ictive industry millions of men who ire now maintained to settle the disp tes of nations by the bayonet and 3-roadsword. I flansinit herewith a copy of the trea allued to, which has been con clud since the adjournment of Con gres with her Brittanic Majesty, and a c( ,y of the protocol of the confer enc of the commissioners by whom it iisnegotiated. 'This treaty pro vide3 methods for adjusting the ques ti pending between the two nations. Vamius questions are to be adjusted by hitrmm4pn. I recommend Congress at r' eatf dqy to make the necessa ry F ovis a =fur the tribunal at Gene va, and for the several commissions on tte part of the United States called for by the treaty. His majesty, the Kinf of Italy, the president of the Swi confederation, and his muajestx, the 'mperer of Brazil, have each con sent d on the joint request of the two powers to nauw± an arbitrator for the tub nal of Geneva. I have caused my hanks to be suitably expressed for -e readiness with which the joint reqi at has been complied with by the app intment of gentlemen of eni nue e and learning to these important ios ions. His majesty, the Emperor of ( nanny, has been pleased to com ply with the joint request of the two gov rnments, and has consented to act a arbitrator of the disputed water bun dary between the Uniteil States and 3reat Britain. The contracting par es in the treaty have undertaken to r gard as between themselves cer tail. mnrinciples of public law for which the .,cited States has contended from the commencement of her history. Then have also agreed to bring these pri: Miples to the knowledge of the oth r maritime powers, and invite the i to accede to them. Negotia tiox , are going on as to the form of the iote by which the invitation is to be axtended to the powers. I reconi mem j the legislation necessary on the pal of the United States to bring in to ( 4eration the articles of the treaty reb ing to the fisheries and to the oth r matters touching the relations of t e United States toward the BRT ISI NORTH AMERICAN POSSES SIONS, to ecome operative as soon as the pro ler legislation shall be held on the par of Great Britain and its posses siot R. It is much to be desired that thi4 legislation may become operative bet re the tishermen of the United Ste as begin to make their arrange me ts for the coming season. 1 rave directed a communication, of rhich a copy is transmitted here wit , to the Governors of New York, Pet isylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michi gall Illinois and Wisconsin, urging upt the governments of these States res' 'ectively the necessary action on the r part to carry into effect the obj et of the article of the treaty wh 5h contemplates the use of the car. is on either side, connected with the iavigation of the lakes and rivers for, sing the boundary, in terms of eqi ty by the inhabitants of both cot: tries. It is hoped that the im por snce of the object and the benefits to ow therefrom will secure the ape dy approval and legislative sanc tiot of the States concerned. I new the recommendation for an ap )priation for determining the tru position of the forty-ninth par all of latitude where it forms the BOUNDARY bet -een the United States and the Bri ash North Amixerican Possessions, bet see the Lake of the Woods and the umwit of the Rocky Mountains. Th early action of Congress in this rec emendation would put it in the pl jr of the War Departmmeat to place a force in the i.eld during the summer. The resumption of diplomatic rela lations between FRANCE AND GERMANY has enabled me to give directions for the withdrawal of the protection ex tended to Germans in France by the diplomatic and consular represent atives of the United States in that country. It is just to add that the delicate duty of this protection has been performed by the Consul General at Paris and the various consuls in France under the supervision of the latter with great kindness as well as with prudence and tact. Their course has received the commendation of the German government, and has wounded no susceptibility of the French. The government of the Em peror of Germany continues td mani fest a .friendly feeling towards the United States and a desire to har monize with the moderate and just policy which this government main tains in its relations .with Asiatic powers, as well as with the South American Republics. I have given assurance that the friendly feelings of that government are fully shared in by the United States. The ratifica tions of the consular and naturaliza tion treaty with the AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EMPIRE have been exchanged. I have been officially informed of the annexation of the States of the Church to the KINGDOM OF ITALY, and the removal of the capital of that kingdom to Rome. In conformity with the established policy of the United ttates, I have recognized this change. The ratifications of the new treaty of commerce between the United States and Italy have been exchanged, and the two powers have agreed in their treaty that property at sea shall be exempt from capture in case of war between the two pow ers. The United States have spared no opportunity of incorporating this rule into the obligations of nations. The Forty-first Congress, at its third session, made an appropriation for the organization of a mixed commis sion for adjudicating upon the claims of citizens of the United States against Spain, growing out of the insurrection in Cuba. and that commission has since been organized. I transmit herewith the correspondence relating to its formation and its jurisdiction. It is to be hoped that this commission will afford the claimants a complete remedy for their injuries. It has be-er madle the agreeable duty of the United States to preside over a con ference at Washington between the plenipotentiaries of ALLIED SOUTH AMERICAN REPUBLICS, which has resulted in an armistice, with the reasonable assurance of a permanent peace. The intimate, friendly relations which have so long existed between the United States and RUSSIA continue undisturbed. The visit of the third son of the Emperor is a proof that there is no desire on the part of his government to diminish the cordiality of these relations. The hospitable reception which has been given to the Grand Duke, is a proof that, on our side, we share the wishes of that government. The inexcus able course of the Russian Minister at Washington rendered it necessary to ask his recall, and to decline to longer receive that functionary as a diplo matic representative. It was impos sible, with self-respect or with a just regard of the dignity of the country, to permit Mr. Catacazy to continue to hold intercourse with this government after his abuse of the government officials, and his persistent interfer ence, through various means, with the relations between the United States and other powers. In accordance with my wishes this government has been tdlieved of further intercourse with Mr. Catacazy, and the manage ment of the affairs of the imperial legation has passed into the hands of a gentleman entirely unobjectionable. With JAPAN we continue to maintain intimate re lations. The cabinet of the Mikado has, since the close of the last session of Congress, selected citizens of the United States to serve in offices im portant in the several departments of the government. I have reason to think that this selection is due to an appreciation of the disinterestedness of the policy which the United States have pursued toward Japan. It is our desire to continue to maintain this disinterestedness and just policy with CHINA, as well as Japan. The correspond ence transmitted herewith shows that there is no disposition on the part of this government to swerve from its established course. Prompted by a desire to put an end to the barbarous treatment of our shipwrecked sailors on the Corean coast, I instructed our minister at Pekin to conclude a convention with COREA for securing the safety and humane treatment of such mariners. Admiral Rogers was instructed to accompany him with a sufficient force to protect him in case of need. A small survey ing party was sent out and on reach ing the coast was treacherously at tacked at a disadvantage. Ample opportunity was given for explana tion and apology for the insult; neither came. A force was then landed andaixfter an arduous march over a rugged and difficult country, the forts from which the outrages had been committed were gallantly is saulted and were destroyed. Having thus punished the criminals and vin dicated the honor of the flag, the expedition returned, finding it hi practicable under the circumstances to conclude the desired convention. I respectfully refer you to the corres pondence relating thereto herewith submitted and leave the subject for such action as Congress may see fit to take. The REPUBLIC OF MEXICO has not yet repealed the very objec tionable law establishing what is known as the free zone on the frontier of the United States. It is hoped that this may be done, and, also, that more stringent measures may be taken by that Republic for restrain ing lawless persons on its frontier. I hope Mexico by its own action, will soon relieve this government of the difficulties experienced from these causes. Our relations with the var ious republics of CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA continue with one exception to be cordial and friendly. I recommend some action by Congress regarding the overdue installments under the award of the VENEZUELA claims commission of 1866. The in ternal dissensions of this government present no justifieation for the absence of effort to meet their solemn treaty obligations. The ratifications of an extradition treaty with NICARAGUA have been exchanged, and it is a sub ject for congratulation that the great empire of BRAZIL has taken the initiatory steps toward the abolition of slavery; our relations with that empire having always beex friendly will naturally be made more so by this act. It is not too much to hope that the government of Brazil may hereafter tinl it to its interest, as well as intrinsically right, to ad vance towards an entire emancipation more rapidly than the present act contemp!ates. The true prosperity end greatness of a nation is to be found in the elevation and education I of its laborers. It is a suxlject for re gret that the reforms in this direction, which were voluntarily promised by the statesmen of Spain, have not been carried cut in West Indian colonies. The laws and regulations for the ap parent abolition of SLAVERY IN CUBA, leave most of the laborers in bondage, with no hope of release until their lives become a burden to their em ployers. I desire to direct your at tention to the fact that the citizens of the United States are large holders, in foreign lands, of this species of property forbidden by the fundamental law of their adopted country. I re commend to Congress to provide, by stringent legislation, a suitable re medy against the holding, owning or dealing in slaves, or being interested in slave property in foreign lands, either as owners, heirs or mortgagees, by persons of the United States. It is to be regretted that the disturbed condition of THE ISLAND OF CUBA continues to be a source of annoyance and of anxiety. The existence of a protracted struggle in such close proximity to our territory, without any apparent prospect of an early termination, cannot be other than an object of concern to a people who while abstaining from interference in the affairs of other powers, natu rally desire to see every country in the undisturbed enjoyment of peace, liberty, and the blessings of free in stitutions. Our naval commanders in Cuban waters have been instructed, in case it should become necessary, to spare no effort to protect the lives and property of bona fide American citizens, amn to maintain the dignity of the flag. It is hoped that all pend ing questions with Spain growing out of the affairs of Cuba may be ad justed in that spirit of peace and con ciliation which has hitherto guided the two powers in their treatment of such questions. To give importance and to add to the efficiency of our relations with JAPAN AND CHINA, and to further the retaining of' the good opinion of those people, and to secure to the United States its share of the commerce destined to flow be tween these nations and the balance of the commercial world, I earnestly recommend that an appropriation be made to support at least four Ameri can youths in each of these countries, to serve as a part of the official family of our ministers there. Even then our representatives would not be placed upon an equality with the rep resentatives of Great Britain and' some other powers. As now situated, our representatives in Japan and China have to depend, for interpret ers and translators, upon natives of those countries, who know our lan guage imperfectly, or procure for the occasion the services of employes in foreign business houses, or the inter preters of other foreign ministers. I would also recommend liberal meas ures for the purpose of supporting the American lines of steamers now ply ing between San Francisco and Japan and China and the Australian line,our only remaining lines of ocean steam ers, and of increasing their service. The enlarged receipts of THE POST-OFFICE department, as shown by the accom panying report of the postmaster general, exhibits a gratifying increase in that branch of the public service. It is the index of the growth of educa tion, and of the prosperity of the people-two elements highly condu cive to the vigor and stability of republics, with a vast territory like ours, much of it sparely populated, but all requiring the services of the mail. It is not at present to be expected that this department can be made self-sustaining, but a gradual approach to this end from year to year, is confidently relied on; and the day is not far distant when the post-otlice department of the general government will prove a much greater blessing to the whole people than it is now. The suggestions of the post master-general for improvements in the department presided over by him, are earnestly recommended to your special attention, especially the docu nments favorable to the consideration of the plan for uniting the TELEGRAPH SYSTE3i of the United States with the postal system. It is believed that by such a course the cost of telegraphing could be much reduced, and the services as well, if not better rendered. It would secure the further advantage by extending the telegraph through portions of the country where private enterprises will not construct it. Com merce and trade, and, above all, the efforts to bring a people widely sep arated into a community of interests, are always benetitted by a rapid ii terconununication. Education, the groundwork of Republican institu tions, is encouraged by increasing the facilities to gather speedy news from all parts of the country. The desire to reap the benefits of such improve ments will stimulate education. I refer you to the report of the post master-general for full details of the operations of last year, and for cow parative statements of resnlts with former years. There has been imposed upon the executive branch of the government the execution of the act of Congress, approved April 20th, 1871, and com monly known as the KU-KLUX LAW. In a portion of the State of South Carolina the necessity of the course pursued will be demonstrated by the report of the committee to investigate Southern outrages. Under the pro visions of the above act, I issued a proclamation calling the attention of the people of the United States to the same, and declaring my reluctance to exercise any of the extraordinary pow ers thereby conferred upon me, except in case of imperative necessity, but making known my purpose to exercise such powers whenever it should become necessary to do so, for the purpose of securing to all citizens of the United States the peaceful enjoy ment of the rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution and the laws. After the passage of this law, inform ation was received fronm time to time, that combinations of the character referred to in this law existed and were powerful in many parts of TIHE SOUTHERN STATES, particularly in certain counties in the State of South Carolina. A careful investigation was made, and it was found that in nine counties of that State, such combinations were active and powerful, embracing a sufficient portion of the citizens to control the local authority, and having amongst other things, the object of depriving the emancipated class of their sub stantial benefits of freedom, and of preventing the free political action of those citizens who did iiot sympa thize with their own views. Among their operations were frequent scour ings of the country and occasional assassinations, perpetrated in the night by persons in disguise, the vic tius in almost all cases, being citizens of different political sentiment from their own, or freed persons who had shown a disposition to claim equal rights with other citizens. Thousands of inoffensive and well disposed citi zens were the sufferers by this lawless violence. Thereupon, on the 13th of October, 1871, A PROCLAMATION WAS ISSUED, in the term of the law, calling upon the members of the combinations to disperse within five days, and to de liver to the marshal or military officers of the United States, all arms, ammn nitions, disguises and other means and implements used by them for carrying out unlawful purposes. This warning not having been heeded, on the 17th of October a proclamation was issued, suaspending the writ of habeas corpus in nine counties in that State. Direc tion was given that within the coun ties so designated, persons supposed upon creditable information to be members of such unlawful combina tions should be arrested by the mili tary forces of the United States, and delivered to the marshal to be dealt with according to law. In two of said counties-York and Spattenburg many arrests have been made. At the last account the number of persons thus arrested was one hundred and sixty-eight. Several hundred whose criminality was ascertained to be an interior degree were released for the present, these generally having made confessions of their guilt. Great caution has been exercised in. making THESE ARRESTS, and, notwithstanding the large num her, it is believed that no innocent person is now in custody. The pris oners will be held for regular trials 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 laws, these parties absconded, and there is good ground for supposing that all such persons have violated ths law. A full state ment of what has been done under this law, will be submitted to Co' gress by the Attorney General. In Utah there still remains a rem nant of barbarism repugnant tocivili zation, decency and the laws of the United States. Territorial officers have been found who are willing to perform their duty in a spirit of equity and with a due sense of sustaining the majesty of thla law. Neither POLYGAMY nor any violation of existing statutes will he 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 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 law 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 off spring. The propriety of Congress passing an enabling act, authorizing the territorial Legislature of Utah to legitimize all born prior to a time fixed in the act, might be justified by its humanity to these innocent children. This is a suggestion only, and not a recommendation. The policy pursued toward THE INDIANS has resulted favorably so far as the law can be judged, from the limited time during which it has been in op eration. Through the exertions of the various societies of Christians, to whom has been intrusted the execu tion of the policy, and the board of commissioners authorized by the law of April 10th, 1869, many tribes of In dians have been induced, to settle on reservations, to cultivate the soil and perform productive labor of various kinds, and to partially accept civili zation; 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 extermi nation. I recommend liberal appro priations to carry out the INDIAN PEACE POLICY, not only because it is humane, chris tian-like and economical, but because it is right. I recommend to your fa vorable consideration also the policy of granting the power of territorial government to the Indians of the In dian territory west of Arkansas and Missouri, and south of Kansas. In doing so, every right guaranteed to the Indians by treaty should be se cured. Such a course might be the means of collecting most of the In dians 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 subject at length, and recommended to you his suggestions. I renew my recounnen dations, that the PUBLIC LANDS may be regarded as an heritage for our children, to be disposed of only as required for occupation and to actual settlers. Those actually grunted have been in great part disposed of in such a way as to secure access to the bal ance by the hardy settler who may wish to avail himself of them; but caution should be exercised in attain ing so desirable an object. EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS may well be subserved by the grant of the proceeds of the sale of public lands to settlers. I do not wish to be understood as recommending in the least degree a curtailing of what is being done by the general govern ment for the encouraging of educa tion. The report of the Secretary of the Interior, submitted with this,will give. you information, collected and plre: pared for publication, in regard to the CENSUS taken during the year 1870; the op eration of the bureau of education for the year; the patent office; the pen sion office; the land office and the In dian bureau, and the report of the commissioner of AGRICULTORE gives the operations of his department for the year. As agriculture is tho groundwork of our prosperity, too much importance cannot be attached to the labors of this department, which is in the hands of an able head, with able assistants, all zealously devoted to introducing into the ag ricultiural productions of the nation all the useful products adapted to any of the various climates and soils of our vast territory, and giving all useful information as to the method of cultivation of the plants, cereals and other products adapted to particular localities. Quietly, but surely, the agricultural bureau is working a great deal of good, and if liberally support. ed, the more widely its intiuence will be extended, and the less dependent we shall be upon t!e products of for eign countries. The suhicet of COWPENSATION to the heads of the bureau and ofti. CONTINULEl) ON FOURTH rAf;E.