The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1865-12-14

i oiu uHouSud uC0cu. 4SO CldtS can D
justified in any device to tax the transite
travel & commerce between States. Til
position of many States is such that, i
they were allowed to take advantage q
it for purposes Of local revenue, tn,
commerce between States might be In
| juriousiy burdencd, or even virtual,
prohibited. It is best, while ths
country is still young, and while tht
tendency to dangerous monopolies oi
this kind is still feeble, to use the power
OF Congress so as to prevent any selfish
inpediment to the free circulation d
men and merchandise. "A tax on travel
and merchandise, in their transit, con
stitutes one of the worst forms of mon
opoly, and the evil is increased il
coupled with denial Of the choice oi
route. When the vast extent of our
country is considered, it Is plain that
every obstacle to the free Circulation of
commerce between the States ought to
be sternly guarded against by appro-
pirate legislation within the limits Of
the Constitution. sesEs s'ts.'i' 'i.a
The report Of the Secretary Of the In
terror explains the condition of the public
lands, the transactions of the Patent
Office and the Pension Bureau, the
management of our Indian affairs, the
progress made in the construction Of the
Pacific railroad, and furnishes informa-.
tion in reference to matters of local in.
terest in the District of Columbia.
1t also presents evidence Of the sue.
cessful operation of the homestead act,
under the provisions of which [ 1G0 ,533
acres of the 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 that paw
ments 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 before the expiration Of the
period at which it would otherwise vest.
The homestead policy was established
only after long and earnest resistance;
experience proves its wisdom. The
lands, in the hands of industrious set
tiers, whose labor creates wealth and
contributes to the public resources, are
worth more to the United States than
if they had been reserved as a solitude
for future purchasers M IS
The lamentable events Of the last
four years, and the sacrifices made. by
the gallant men of our army and navy
have swellcd the records of the pension
bureau to an unprecedented extent. On
the Both day of June last, the the tot tot al n
number of pensioners was S5,906, re.
quiring for their annual pay, exclusive
of expenses, the sum Of SS,023, AS
The number of applications that have
been allowed since that date viii re
quire a large increase of this amount
for the next fiscal year The means fol
the payment of the stipends due, under
existing laws, to our disabled soldiers
and sailors, and to the families of sucl
as have perished in the service of th'
| country, will no doubt be cheerful,
and promptly granted. "A grateful
people will not hesitate to sanction an,
measures having for their object til
relief Of soldiers matilated am
| families made fatherless IN the effort
to preserve our national existence.
The report of the Postmaster Genera
presents an encouraging exhibit of tn
operations of the Postoffcc Departmen
/ during the year. The revenues of tn
past year from the loyal States alon,
exceeded the maximum annual receipts
from all the States previous & to the re
bellion, in the sum OF Sc, OBS, ,091; ane
the annual average increase of resenu,
during the last four years, comparet
with the revenues of the four years i'm
mediately preceding the rebellion, wal
So, ,533, ,S45s The revenues of the las
fiscal year amounted to SD, 500, ,15S, ame
the expenditures to S13 ,694, ,72S, leaving
a surplus of receipts over expenditure.
of 1851 30. Progress has been made.if
restoring the postal service in thu
Southern States. The views presented
by the Postmaster General against the
policy of granting subsidies to ocean
mail steamship lines upon established
routes, and in favor of continuing the
presentisystem, which limits the com
pensation for ocean service to the
postage earnings, are recommended to
the careful consideration Of Congress.
h 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 vessels of all
classes and descriptions, armed with
1900 guns and manned by $1,000
men, the number of vessels at present
in commission iss177, with $50 guns and
II, ,123 men.ga by; this prompt reduction
of the naval forces the expenses of the
government have been largely diminish-
ed, and number of vessels purchased
for naval purposes from the merchant
marine, have been returned to the
peaceful pursuits of commerce. Since
the suppression of active hostilities our
foreign squadronss have been reestab.
lished, and consist Of vessels much more
efficient than those employed on similar
service previous to the rebellion. The
euoooefionf 1oy fbo nv,1s ,.,,.,.. -. r n .