Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-12-14

emigrant turned away from the region wher,
his condition would be so prccarious. Will
the destruction of the monopoly, free labo,
will hasten from all parts Of the civilized
world to assist in developing various and i'm
measurable resources which have hitherto
lain dormant. The eight or nine State,
nearest the Gulf of Mexico have a soil ofex
uberant fertility, climate friendly to Ions
life, and can sustain dcnscr population
than Is found as yet in any part of our coun
try. And the future influx of population
to them will be mainly from the North, Of
from the most cultivated nations in Europe
From tho suifcrings that have attended
them during our late struggle, let US loOl
away to the future, which is sure to be adei
for them with greater prosperity than ha.
ever before been known. The removal oI
the monopoly of slave labor is a pledge thai
those regions will be peopled by numerous
and entcrprising population, which will vic
with any in the Union in compactncss, in
vcntivc genius, wealth and industry.
Our Government springs from and wa.
made for the peopc--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
ernment is thus bound to defer to the peo
pie, from whom it derives its existence, il
should, from the very consideration Of it.
origin, be strong in its power of resistance
to the establishment of inequalities. Mon
opolics, perpetuticS, and class legislation,
are contrary to the genius OF free govern
mcnt, and ought not to be allowed. Here
there is no room for favored classes or mon.
opolics, the principle of our government is
that Of equal laws and freedom of industry
W herevcr monopoly attans u loothold, it is
sure to be source of danger, discord, and
trouble. We shall but fulfill our duties as
legislators by according equal and exact
justice to all men," special privileges to
none. The Government is subordinate to
the people; but, as the agent aud reprcscn-
tativo of the people it must be held superior
to monopolios, which, in themselves, ought
never to be granted, and which, where they
exist, must be subordinate and yield to the
Government.
| The Constitution confers on Congress the
! right to regulate commerce among the sew
eral States. 1t is Of the first necessity, for
the maintenance Of the Union, that that
commerce should be free and unobstructcd.
| No State can be justified in any device to
tax the transit of travel and commerce be.
/ tween States The position of many States
is such that, If they were allowed to take
advantage OF it for purposes Of local reve-
nue., the commerce between States might
be injuriously burdcncd, or even virtually
prohibited. 1t is best, while the country is
still young and the tendency to dangerous
monOpolics Of this kind is still feeble, to use
the power of Congress so as to prevent any
selfish impedlmcnt to the free circulation of
men and merchandise. A tax on travel and
merchandise, in their transit, constitutes
one OF the worst forms Of monopoly, and the
evil is increased if coupled with denial Of
the choice of route. When the vast extent
Of our country is considered, it is plain that
every obstacle to the free circulation ofcom-
mcrce between the States ought to be stern
ly guarded against by appropriate lcglsla-
ton, within the4imits Of the Constitution.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior
explains the condition Of the public lands,
the transalons of the Patent Office and the
Pension Bureau, the management Of our
Indian affairs, the progress made IN the con
structOn Of the Pacific railroad, and furnish
cs information in reference to matter of To-
cal interest in the District Of Columbia. 1t
also presents evidence of the successful ope-
ration ofthe Homestead Act under the pro-
visions of which |, l6O, ,533 acres of public
lands were entered during the last fiscal
year--more than one fourth of the whole
number of acres sold or otherwise disposed
OF during that period. 1t is estimated that
the receipts derived from this source are
sufficient to cover the expenses incident to
the survey and disposal of the lands entered
under this Act, and the payments in cash tt
the extent of from forty to fifty per cent
will be made by settlers, who may thus at
any time acquire title before the expiration
OF the period at which it would otherwise
vest. The homestead policy was establish
cd only after long and earnest resistance
experience proves its wisdom. The lands,
III the hands OF industrious settlers, whose
labor creates wealth and contributes to the
public resources, are worth more to the Uni
ted States than if they had been reserved as
II solitude for future purchasers.
The lamentablc events of the last four
years, aud the sacrifice, made by the gallant
men of our Army and Navy, have swellcd
the records Of the Pension Bureau to an un-
! preccdcntcd extent. On the 3Uth day OF
june last, the total number Of pensioners
was oj,?S6, requiring for their annual pay,
exclusive of expenses, the sum Of IS O2l,
lio. The number ol applications that have
been allowed since that date will require a
large increase Of this amount for the next
fiscal year. The means for the payment of
the stipcndS due, under existing laws, to
our disabled soldiers and sailors, and to the
families OF such rs have persisted in the SER
vice Of the country, will no doubt be cheer
fully aud promptly granted. A grateful
people will not hesitate to sanction any mea-
sures having for their object the relief of
soldiers mutiated and families made faith
crleSs III the efforts to preserve our national
existence.
The report of the Postmaster General pre-
: sents an encouraging exhibit of the opera
tons OF the Post Office Department during
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 Sc,
/ O3S,Vol and the annual avaragc increase
OF revenue during the last four years com
pared with the revenues Of the four years
immediately preceding the rebellion, was
/ S3,a53, $40. The revenues of the last fiscal
year amounted to II |, 800, ljS, and the cx-
pcndlturcS to ! Sl3,Gg4,I2 leaving surplus
of receipts over expenditures of SS6l, I3O,
Progress has been made in restoring the
postal service in the Southern States. The
views presented by the Postmaster General
against the policy grant subsidies to ocean
mail steamship lines upon established droutcs,
and III favor of continuing the present Sys-
TEN, which limits the compensation for
ocean service to the postage earnings, are
recommended to the careful consideration of
Congress-
1t appears, from the report of the Secre-