Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-12-06

DUS ~ Jul uuLles rs leglSldIOrS Dy Ac-
eording "equal and exact justice to all
men" special privileges to none. The
Government is subordinate to the people
but, as the agent and representative of the
people, it must be held superior to mo-
nopolies, which, in themselves, ought
never to be granted, and which, where
they exist must be subordinate and yield
to the Government.
INTERNAL COMMERCE.
The Constitution confers on Congress
the right to regulate commerce among the
several States. 1t is of the first necessity,
for the maintenance of the Union, that
that commerce should be free and unob-
structed. No State can be justified in any
device to tax the transit of travel and
commerce between States. The position
of many States is such that, if they were
allowed to take advantage of it for pur-
poses of local revenue, the be-
tween States might be i~njuriously bur-
dened, or. even virtually prohibited. 1t is
best, while the country is still young, and
while the tendency to dangerous monopo-
lies of this kind is still feeble, to use the
power of Congress so as to prevent any
selfish impediment to the tree circulation
of men and merchandise. A tax on travel
and merchandise, in their transit, consti-
tutes one of the worst forms of monopoly,
and the evil is increased if coupled with a
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 of between the
States ought to be sternly guarded against
by appropriate legislation, within the
limits of the Constitution.
THE REPORT OF THE OF THE
INTERIOR-THE HOMESTEAD ACT.
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 information in reference to
matters of local interest in the District of
Columbia. 1t also presents evidence of
the successful operation of the Homestead
Act, under the provisions of which l,I60,-
533 acres of the public lands were entered
during the last fiscal year-mOre thar 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 dis
pOsal of the lands 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 before the expiration of
the period at which it would otherwise
vest The homestead policy was estab-
lished only after long and earnest resist
ance; experience proves its wisdom. The
lands, in the hands of Industrious settlers,
whose labor creates wealth and contri-
butes to the public resources, are worth
more to the United States thar if thew
had been reserved as a solitude for future
purchasers.
THE PENSION BUREAU.
The lamentable events of the last four
years, and the sacrifices made by the gal
liant men of our Army and Navy. have
swelled the records of the Pension Bureau
to an unprecedented extent. On the both
day Of June last, the total number of pen
sioners was S5,986, requiring for their an
nual pay, exclusive of expenses the sum
of SS,O23,44 4 The number of 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 stipends due, under exist.
ing laws, to our disabled soldiers and sail
oTs, 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 hes
ltate to sanction any measures having for
their object the relief of soldiers mutilated
and families made fatherless in the efforts
to preserve our national existence.
THE P%osTOFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Postmaster General
presents an encouraging exhibit of the
operations 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 So, OBS, 09l and the annual average in
crease of revenue during the last four
years, compared with the revenues of the
four years Immediately preceding the re-
hellion, was 50, 533, s45. The revenues of
the last fiscal year amounted to Sl4,556,l5 |
and the expenditures to Sl3, 694, 72S, leav-
ing a surplus of receipts over expenditures
of 1851 ,430. Progress has been made in
restoring the postal service in the South
ern 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 present system, which
limits the compensation for ocean service
to the postage earnings, are recommended
to the careful consideration of Congress.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
1t appears, from the report of the Secre-
tary Of the Navy, that while, at the com-
mencement Ofthe present year, there were
in commission $40 vessels of all classes
and descriptions, armed with 1000 guns
and manned by $1,000 men, the number
of vessels at present in commission is III
with $50 guns and l2,12s men. BY this
prompt reduction of the naval forces the
expenses of the Government. have been
largely diminished, and q number of yes
sells, 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 squadrons have been re-estab-
lished, and consist of vessels much moro
efficient than those employed on similar
service previous to the rebellion. The
suggestion forthe enlargement ofthe navy
yards, and especially for the establishment
of one in fresh water for iron-clad vessels.
is deserving of consideration, as is also the
recommendation for a different location
and more ample grounds for the Naval
Academy.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
In the report of the Secretary of War, F,
a general summary is given of the militia
ry campaigns of 1864 and 1865, ending I
in the suppression of armed resistance to Z
the national authority in the insurgent !
States. The operations of the general ad- .
ministrative Bureaus of the Wa Depart q
ment during the past year are detailed, '
and an estimate made of the a~ppropria- /
tions that will be required for military c
purposes in the fiscal year commencing r
the Both day of June, 1866. The national f
force on the LIST of Nav, 1865, il
numbered l,O0O,5l6 men. 1t is proposed a
to reduce the military establishment TO a e
peace footing, compromising fifty thous- Il
troops of all arms, organized so as to d
admit of an enlargement by filling q
up the ranks to eighty-two thousand "
TX hundred, if the circumstances o
the country should require an augmen- Il
alton of the army. The volunteer force n
las already been reduced by the discharge r.
service of over eight hundred thous- II
troops, and the Department is pro- n
rapidly in the work of further re- :
The war estimates are reduced !
rom $5l6, 240,l31 to 500, g 46l, which 4
mount in the opinion of the Department, n