The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 17, 1866.

dition of cur finances than one year ago the most
sanguine could have anticipated. During the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1865, the last year of the war,
the public debt was increased to $941,902,537, and
on Oct. 31, 1865, it amounted to $2,740,854,750.
On the 31st day of October, 1866, it had been re-
duced to $2,551,310,006, the diminution, during a
period of 14 months, commencing Sept. 1, 1865, and
ending Oct. 31, 1866, having been $206,379,565.
In the last annual report on the state of the finances,
it was estimated that during the three-quarters of
the fiscal year ending June 30 last the debt would
be increased to $112,194,947. During that period,
however, it was reduced to $31,196,387, the receipts
of the year having been $89,905,905 more, and the
expenditures $200,529,235 less than the estimates.
Nothing could more clearly indicate than these state-
ments the extent and availability of the national
resources, and the rapidity and safety with which,
under our form of government, great military and
naval establishments can be disbanded, and expenses
reduced from a war to a peace footing.

cable to the inhabitants of the country providing
the means of transmission.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.

The report of the Secretary of the Interior exhibits
the condition of those branches of the public service
which are committed to his supervision, During
the last fiscal year, four million six hundred and
twenty-nine thousand three hundred and twelve
acres of public land were disposed of, one million
eight hundred and ninety-two thousand five hun-
dred and sixteen acres of which were entered under
the Homestead act. The policy originally adopted
reltive to the public lands has undergone essential
modifications. Immediate revenue, and not their
rapid settlement, was the cardinal feature of our
land system. Long experience and earnest discus-
sion have resulted in the conviction that the early
development of our agricultural resources, and the
diffusion of an energetic population over our vast
territory, are objects of far greater importance to
the national growth and prosperity than the pro-
ceeds of the sale of the land to the highest bidder in
open market. The pre-emption laws confer upon
the pioneer who complies with the terms they im-
pose the privilege of purchasing a limited portion of
unoffered lands at the minimum price. The home-
stead enactments relieve the settler from the pay-
ment of purchase money, and secure him a perma-
nent home, upon the condition of residence for a
term of years. This liberal policy invites emigra-
tion from the old and from the more crowded por-
tions of the new world. Its propitious results are
undoubted, and will be more signally manifested
when time shall have given it a wider development.

OUR POLICY TOWARDS MEXICO.

It was reasonably expected that the proceedings thus
contemplated would produce a crisis of great political in-
terest in the Republic of Mexico. The newly-appointed
Minister of the United States, Mr. Cairphell, was there-
fore sent forward, on the 9th day of November last, to
assume his proper functions as Minister Plenipotentiary of
the United States to that Republic. It was also thought
expedient that he should be attended in the vicinity of
Mexico by the Lieutenant-General of the Army of the
United States, with the view of obtaining such informa-
tion as might be important to determine the course to be
pursued by the United States in re-establishing and main-
taining necessary and proper intercourse with the Re-
public of Mexico. Deeply interested in the cause of
liberty and humanity, it seemed an obvious duty on our
part to exercise whatever influence we possessed for the
restoration and permanent establishment in that country
of a domestic and republican form of government.