Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-12-15
SLAVERY

SLAVERY.
In presenting the abandonment Of armed
resistance to the national authority, on the
part Of the insurgents, as the only indispen-
sable condition to ending the war on the part
OF the Government, retract nothing hereto
fore said as to slavery. | repeat the decara-
ton made year ago, that while | remain in
my present position l shall not attempt to
retract or modify the Emancipation Procla-
nation nor shall | return to slavery any per
son who is free by the terms Of that procla-
nation or by any of the acts of Congress. II
the people should, by whatever mode OIL
MEANS make it my executive duty to re-en.
slave such persons, another and not l, must
be their instrument TO perform it.
WHEN THE WAR WILL CEASE.
In stating a single condition of peace,
mean simply to say that the war will cease
on the part Of the Government whenever il
shall have ceased on the part of those who
began it. a. LINCOLN.
Report of the Postmaster General.
The postal revenues for the year ending
the 30th June last were So ,43S, 253 rs, and
the expenditures of the department during
the same period Sl2 644, 1856 20, showing an
companying table exhibits the annual postal
revenues and expenditures from 1854 to 1854,
from which it appears that the average annu-
al receipts Of the department from 1859 to
1861, inclusive, were IS, 745, 282.62, and the
average annual expenditures tor the same Pc
riod were Sl4, 482, O0S.44, showing an aver
age annual excess of expenditures over re-
ceipUs of s., 1856, 725S2. The average annu-
al receipts from 1852 to 1864, inclusive, were
SlO,81, 53O.97, and the expenditures SILL
694, 1872, showing an average annual eX-
cess Of expenditures over receipts Of $685.
25475.
The excess of receipts in 1864 over 1861,
the first year of the rebellion, was 1885,
9573S.
Although the proportion of receipts as
against the expenditures has, doubtless, been
increased, on account of the suspension OF
the postal service in the insurrectionary
States, the P. NJ. General says this exhibit
furnishes the evidence of an improving tinan
cial condition of the department, and is high
ly creditable 10 the administration of his i'm
mediate predecessor.
The estimate Of expenditure for 1864 was
fixed at S13,O0O,O00, in which was included
the sum Of Sl,000,O0O, specially appropria
ted for the overland mail service, being
1855 ,213.8O more than the amount actually
expended.
On the other hand, the revenues of 1864
were estimated at an increase of five pei
centum on those of 1862, making 8,714 600
while they actually reached $12,438, 253 IS,
or 50, 724, 253.73 more than the estimate
This increase equals 428 per cent.
The increase of expenditures in 1864, com
pared with those of 1868, is liz per centum
aDI +bn in RI he
same year ll8 per cent.
This exhibit promises an increase of the
revenues for 1865 over the estimate submit
ted III the report Of last year.
Estimates for 1866:
The expenditures of all kinds for the
fiscal year ending June 50, 1866,
(see table No. % are estimated at $l4098, 800 C(
The gross revenue for the ear 1866,
including foreign postage and mis-
cellaneous receipts, is estimated at
an increase of six per centum
the revenue of 1854, making. go. 3,164,547 rs
Estimat ed deficiency ofrevenue COM
pared with estimated expenditures 913,952 q
From this must be deducted the
amount of the permanent appro-
priations to compensate the de-
partment for carrying free mail
matter, under acts of March 3,
1S47, and March 3, 185l.......... 100000 OF
By whicA he estimated deficiency
is reduced to ,.................... 213.952 q
But it is believed enough of the presen
| appropriation for transporting free mail mat
ter will remain available to make good thi
| deficiency.
STAMPS.
During the fiscal year 334, O54 61O postage
stamps Of the value of $40, III, 1927, 26, GA,
| 800 stamped envelopes, amounting to 1865,
! 512 so, and 1,574, 500 newspaper wrappers
amounting to S31 400, were issued The to
tai value of these Issues was $l0,974, 329 50
: which, compared with the issues of the pre-
| yiOus year, (S1O, 1888, 1907 shows an increas,
Of $685., 569 so, or about 81 per cent. Tn
value of the stamps and stamped envelope
I sold was Sl0,7 $50 So, and the amount use
/ in the prepayment Of postage was 9,878, Is
| 81. Notwithstanding this enormous issue, tn
| losses Of stamps in the mails amounted onl
to 81, 206, and of envelopes to S3l so. Du
ring the year 1859, (the year immediatel,
. preceding the adoption of this system Of reg
! istratiOn,) the value Of postage stamps issue
announced to S5,279, 405, whilst the losses il
! transmission during the last six months 0
that period were S4,373. Since that tim
the losses have decreased, although the ISSUE
has increased about 928 per cent.
ROUTES, &C.
Since the 1st of July last, special agent
have been stationed at leading points to sup
| ply the army with postage stamps. The
agent at City Point has sold S29, 773. SO wortl
and the agent at Chattanooga S5,210 since
! that time.
On the 30th of June last there were in. op
| Grafton 6,O83 mail routes, the number of con
tractors was 1858. The length of these
routes was 139, l73 miles, the service as fol
! lows: Railroad, 22,6I6 miles; steamboat
| 1918 miles; celebrity, certainty, and securi
| IT," 109,278 miles-costing S5,818, 469, di
! vided as follows, viz: Railroad, %, 301, "a:
miles of transportation at 50, SGT, O44, abou
! IL cents mile; steamboat, pip, 134 a
| 1858, 2T4, about y cents a mile "celerity
certainty, and security" 30,90I, 281 at g,
998.I51, about 7 10 cents mile The
| length Of routes was decreased 425 miles
whilst there was an increase in the annua
transportation of SO, 342 miles, and in the
cost of SRI, 1913. The aggregate compensa
ton of route agents, local agents, mail mes
sengers, baggage masters in charge of, expires
mails. and agents employed on steamers con
veying mails to southern ports, was s546,
! 753.48, which, added OF the cost of service il
operation on 30th June, 1864, (s5, 81S,469.
makes the total cost of mail transportation a
that date Sc, 365, 2224S.
The details in regard to the various lead
ing mail routes, and respecting the contract
OF the Department are fully and clearly Sc
forth. An appropriation of SIC, 900 is recon
mended to prepare set of maps, by State
or groups of States, showing all perrnanen
routes, distances, and post offices, with othe
| statistical information.