Charles City intelligencer., 1865-12-14

mercnandlse, IN their transit, cOnst.
tutcs one of the worst forms OF mo.
nopoly, and the evil is increased il
coupled with a denial of the choice
Of route. When the vast extent Of
our country is considered, Il is plain
that every obstacle to the free circaIa.
tion Of commerce between the States
ought to be sternly guarded against
BY appropriate Legislation, within tho
limits of the Constitution. r
The report Of the Secretary of the
Interior explains the condition Of TIN,
public lands. the transactions of the
Patent Office and the PensionsB Bvreas,
the management of our Indian affairs.
the progress made in the construction
of the Pacific Pailroad, and furnishes
information in reference to matters of
local interest in the District of Colum-
bia. 1t also presents evidence Of the
successful operation Of the Homestead
Act, under the provisions Of which
l,l60.533 acres of the psblic 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 deriv-
ed from this source are sufficient TO
cover the expenses incident to the sur
vey and disposal Of the lands entered
under this Act, and that payments in
cash to the extent Of from forty to fif-
ty per cent. will be made by settlers,
who may thus at any time acquire liz
tie before the expiration Of the period
at which it would otherwise vest. The
policy was established only
after long and earnest resistance ex-
perience proves its wisdom. The
lands, in the hands Of Industrious set
tiers. whose labor crestes wealth and
contributes to the public resources,
are worth more to the United States
than If they had been reserved a. .
solitude for future purchasers.
The lamentable events of the last
four years. and the sacrifices made by
the gallant men of our Army aud Ma
Wy, have swelled the records Of the
Pension Bureau to an unprecedented
extent. On the 3Oth day Of June last,
the total number Of pensioners was
IS, ,986. requiring for their annual pay,
exclusive Of expenses, the sum Of
$8,023,445. The number Of applica-
tons 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 sti-
pends due, under existing laws, to our
disabled soldiers and sailors, and To
the families of such as have perished
in the service Of the country, will no
doubt be cheerful!y and promptly
granted. A grateful people will not
hesitate to sanction any measures hav-
ing for their object the relief Of sol-
diers mutilatcd and families made
fa;herless in the Efforts to prcservs
our national existence.
The report Of the Postmaster Gene.
raj presents an encouraging exhibit Of
the opperations Of the Post Office De-
pertinent during the year. The reve-
uues 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 pc, OBS, ,09l; and the annual average
increase of revenue during the last four
years, compared with the revenues Of
the four years Immediately preceding
the rebellion. was $3.533.s45. The
revenues of the last fiscal year amoun-
ted to $l4, 1856, l5S, and the expendi.
tures to $l3 1894. 1873. leaving surplus
of receipts over expenditures of $S6l,-
430. Progress has been made in re-
storing the postal service in the South
ern States. The views presebted,b by the
Postmaster Gcncrai against the policy
Of granting subsidies to ocean mail
steamship lines upon established
routes, and in favor of continuing the
present system, which limits the COM
pensation for ocean service 10 the
postage earnings, are recommended 10
The careful consideration Of Congress.
1t appears. from the report Of, the Sec
retary of the Navy, that while. at the
commencement of the present year.
there were in commission $50 yes.
sells Of all classes aud descriptions,
armed with 5000 guns and manned
by 81 900 men, the number Of vessels
at present in commission is 1T, with
$50 guns and 1878 men,. BY. this
prompt reduction Of the naval forces
the expenses of the Government have
been largely diminished. and q num-
Der Of vessels, purchased from the .mer-
chant marine, have been returned to
the peaceful pursuits of commerce.
Since the suppression of active hos
tilities our foreign squadrons havo
been rc-estsblished. and consist of ves-
sells much more efiicent than those en-
ployed on similar service previous to
the rebellion. The suggestion for the
enlargement OF the navy yards, and
especially for the establishment of one
in fresh water for iron-clad vessels, in
deserving of consideration. ss is also
the recommendation for different To-
cation and more ample grounds for
the Naval Academy.
In the report of the Secretary OF
War, general summary is given ol
the military campaigns OF 1864 and
1865, ending in the suppression OF
armed resistance to the national au.
thority in the insurgent States. Tho
operations Of the general administra-
tive Bureaus Of the War Department
during the past year are detailed. and
estimates made Of the appropriations
that will be required for military pur-
poses in the fiscal year commencing
the 30th day Of June. 1856. The ma
tional military force on the lst Of
May, 1865, numbered l,00O.5l6 men.
1t is proposed to reduce the military
ablishment to peace footing. com.
pretending fifty thousand troops Of all
arms, organized SO az to admit Of an
enlargement by filling up the ranks to
|eighty.two thousand six hundred. il
the circumstances Of the country shall
require an augmentation Of the army.
The volunteer force has already been
reduced by the discharge from service
of over 500, 900 troops and the Depart.
ment is proceeding rapidly in the