The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-12-13

! ueiueuts WHICH, from speculative point OF
view, might raise alarm, will quietly settle
themselves.
Now that slavery is at its at end or near
its end, the greatness of its evil, in the point
OF view of public economy, becomes more
and more apparent. Slavery was essential
ly monopoly Of labor, and as such locked
the states where it prevailed against the in
coming Of free industry. Where labor was
man was excluded from employment, or had
but the second best chance Of finding it, and
the foreign emigrant turned away from
the region where his condition would
be so precarious. With the destruction Of
the monopoly, free labor will hasten from
oil parts Of the civilized world to assist in
developing various and Unreasonable re-
! sources which have hitherto lain dormant.
The eight or nine state nearest the Gulf Of
Mexico have Il soil Of exuberant fertility,
climate friendly to long life, and can sus-
tain q denser population than il found as
yet in any part Of our country. And the
future influx of population to them will be
mainly from The north or from the most civ
ilized nations in Europe. From the suffer-
ings that have attended them during our
late struggle, let us look away to the future,
| which is sure to be laden for them with
greater prosperity than has ever before
been known. The removal Of the monopoly
Of slave labor is pledge that these regions
will be peopled by numerous and enter
prising population, which will vie with any
i. the Union in compactness, inventive ge-
MUS, wealth and industry.
Our government springs from and was
made for the people-not the people for the
government. To them it owes allegiance
! from them it must derive its courage,
strength and wisdom. But, while the gov
eminent is thus bound to defer to the peo-
pie, from whom it derives its existence, it
should, from the very consideration of its
origin, be strong in its power Of resistance
! to the establishment Of inequalities. Mon
opolies, perpetuities and class legislation,
are contrary to the genius of free govern
ment, and ought not to be allowed. Here,
there is no room for favored classes or mo-
nopoles; the principle of our government
! is that of equal laws and freedom of indus
try. Wherever monopoly attains foot
| hold, it is sure to be source of danger,
discord and trouble. We shall fulfil our
duties as legislators by according equal
and exact justice to all men," special priv
! ileges to none. The Government is subor-
dinate to the people, it must be held supe-
rior to monopolcs, which, in themselves,
ought never to be granted, and which, where
! they exist, must be subordinate and yield
| 10 the government.
| The constitution confers on congress the
right to regulate commerce among the sew
! eral states. 1t is of the first necessity, for
1 the maintenance Of the Union, that COM
merce should be free and unobstructed No
state can be justified in any scheme to tax
! the transit of travel and commerce between
states. The position OF many states is such
that, if they were allowed TO take advan-
| tage Of it for purposes of local revenue, the
commerce between states might be injuri-
ously burdened, or even virtually prohibited
\ 1t is best, while the country is still young,
and while the tendency to dangerous mon
opolies Of this kind is still feeble, t. use the
power OF congress so rs to prevent any sell
fish impeachment to the free circulation Of
men and merchandise tax on travel and
merchandise, in their transit, constitutes
one OF the worst forms Of monopoly, and
I the evil is increased if coupled with denial
of the choice o. route. When the vast ex-
I tent of our country is considered, il is plain
! that every obstacle to the free circulation of
commerce between the States ought to be
sternly guarded against by appropriate le-
gislation, within the limits of the constitu-
ton.
The report of the secretary of the inte-
rior explains the condition Of the public
lands, the transactions of the patent Office
and pension bureau, the management of
our Indian affairs, the progress made in
the construction of the Pacific railroad, and
furnishes information in reference to mat
ters of local interest in the District of Co.
lumbia. It also presents evidence Of the
successful operation Of the homestead act,
! -
acres of public lands were entered during
the last fiscal year-more than one-fourth
Of the whole number Of acres sold or other
wise disposed Of during that period. 1t is
estimated that the receipts derived from
this source are sufficient to cover the ex
penses incident to the survey and disposal
\ of the land entered under this act, and that
payments in cash to the extent of from forty
to fifty per cent. will be made by settlers,
who may thus at any time acquire title be-
! fore the expiration Of the period at which
1t would otherwise vest The homestead
policy was established only after long and
earnest resistance; experience protests its
wisdom The lands, in the hands of indus
trious settlers, whose labor creates wealth,
and contributes to the public resources, are
are worth more to the United States than
if they had been reserved as solitude for
future purchasers.
The lamentable events of the last four
years, and the sacrifices made by the gallant
men Of our army and navy, have swelled
the records Of the pension bureau to an
unprecedented extent. On the 30th day of
4 June last. the total number of pensioners
was IS, 1856, requiring for their annual pay.
exclusive of expenses, the sum of IS. 0o3.
4io. The number Of applications that have
been allowed since that date will require
large increase Of this amount for the next
fiscal year. The means for the payment of
the stipends due, under existing laws, TO
our soldiers and sailors, and to the families
of such as have persisted in the service of
/ the country, will no doubt be cheerfully and
promptly granted. A grateful people will
not hesitate TO sanction any me ,surcs hav-
ing for their object the relief Of soldiers
mutilated and families made fatherless in the
efforts made to preserve our national exist
ence.
The report Of the postmaster general pre-
sents an encouraging exhibit Of the opera
/ tons Of the post office department during
4 the year. The revenues Of the past year
from the loyal states alone exceeded the
maximum annual receipts from all the states
previous to the rebellion, in the sum of
/ S6,o3S.o9l; and the annual increase of
revenue during the last four years. COM
pared with the revenues of the four years
immediately preceding the rebellion, was
SIS. o33.S45. The revenues of the last fiscal
year amounted to Sl4, 556, lbs, and the ex-
penditures to Sl3,694.72s. leavinga surplus
OF receipts over expenditures of SS6l, 44O