Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-12-18


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Also the several departments. We give
that relating TO the Post Office Department,
and to the War and Emancipation policy
entire:J
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
During the past fiscal year, the financial
condition of the post office department has
been one of increasing prosperity, and
am gratiied in being able TO state that the
actual postal revenue has nearly equailed
the entire expenditure, the latter amounting
TO S11, ,3I4 246, and the formerto ll,l63,-
789. thus leaving deficiency of only Sl50,-
All. In 1860, the year Immediately pre-
ceding the rebellion, the deficiency amount
ed to S., 5,656705, the postal receipts of that
year beng S2,645.722 less than those OF
1868. The decrease since 1860 in the an
nual amount Of transportation has been only
about % per cent, but the annual expend-
iture, on account of the same, has been re-
duced 35 per centum. II is manifest there.
fore, that the post office department may
become self-sustaining in few years, even
with the restoration of the whole service.
THE SHIP CANAL.
The attention of Congress during the las t
session was engaged to some extent with a
proposition fer enlarging the water commu-
nication between the Mississippi river and
/ the northeastern seabo4rd, which PROPOSE
\ tion however failed for the time. Since
then, upon a call of the greatest respecta-
bilty, convention has been held at Chica-
60 upon the same subject, a summary OF
( whose views is contained in memorial ad-
dressed to the president and Congress, and
which | now have the honor to lay before
you. That this interest is one which ere
long will force its own way, / do not enter
tain doubt, while il is submitted entirely
to your wisdom as to what can be done now.
Augmented interest is given to this subject
by the actual commencement of work upon
the Pacific railroad under auspices so favor
able 10 rapid progress and completion. The
enlarged navigation becomes paIpaole
need to the great road.
PROGRESS IN THE WAR.
When Congress assembled a year ago
the war had already lasted nearly twenty
months aud there had been many conflicts
on both land and sea with varying results
The rebellion had been pressed back into
reduced limits. Yet the tone ofpuohc opin-
ion at home and abroad was not satsfacto
ry. With other signs, the popular elections
then Just passed indicated uneasiness among
ourselves, while amid much that was cold
and menacing, the kindest words coming
from Europe were uttered in accents o
pity that we were too blind to surrender {
hopeless cause. Our commerce was sut
fering greatly by few armed vessels, bull
upon and furnished from foreign shores, ant
we were threatened with such addition;
from the same quarter as would sweep oul
trade from the sea and raise our blockade
/ We had failed to enlist from European gov
ernments anything hopeful upon :his subject
EMANCIPATION AND NEGRO SOLDIERS.
The preliminary emancipation Proclama
ton issued in Sept. was running ITS assigne'
period TO the beginning of the new year
| A month later tile final proclamation came
including the announcement that co!oret
men of suitable condition would be receives
into the war service. The policy of eman
cipaton and of employing black soldier
gave TO the future new aspect, about whic
hoLe and fear and doubt contended in un
certain conflict. According TO our politica
system, as matter of civil administrator
the ger eral government had no Lawful
power TO effect emancipation in any State
and for long time it had been hoped tina
the rebellion would be suppressed withoutre
sorting to il as military measure. 1t wa
all the while deemed possible that the nc
cessity for it might come, and that if
should, the crisis of the contest would the
be presented. 1t came, and as was antic
pated, it was followed by dark and Doubt,
days.
Eleven months having now passed, W
are permitted to take another review. Th
rebel borders are pressed still further baCl
ard by the complete opening of the Missi
sippi the country dominated by the rebe
lion is divided into two distinct parts wit
no practical communication between then
Tennessee and Arkansas have been sui
siantially cleared of insurgents, and Unfit
ential citizens in each, owners of slaves an
advocates of slavery at the beginning
The rebellion, now declare openly Tor emal
cipation in their respective States. OF tho
States not included in the emancipatiC
proclamation, Maryland and Missouri, ne
: ther Of which, three years ago, would tc
crate any restraint upon the extension