Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1865-12-14

virtually prohibited. 1t is best
while the country is still young
and while the tendency to danger
Gus monopolies of this kind is std
feeble, to use the power of Con
gress SO as to preventany selfish i'm
pediment to the free circulation Of
men and merchandise. A tax or
travel and merchandise, in THEN
transit, constitutes one ofthe worst
forms of monopoly, and the evil
is increased if coupled with de.
NAL 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
commerce between the States ought
to be sternly guarded against by
appropriate legislation, within
the limits Of the Constitution.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The report of the Secretary Of
the Interior explains the condition
of the public hands, the transac-
tions of the Patent Office and the
Pension Bureau, the management
of our Indian affairs, the progress
made in the construction of the Pa
ciEc railroad, and furnishes infor-
anation in reference to matters Of
local interest in the District of Co.
lumbia. 1t also presents evidence
of the successful operations Of the
Homestead Act, under the provis-
ION of which / 100, 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 du-
ring 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 payments
in cash to The extent Of forty or
fifty per cent. will be made by set
tiers, 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 eXpe-
'rience proves its wisdom. Tie
lands, in the hands of industrious
settlers, whose labor creates
wealth and contributes to the pub !
lie resources, are worth more to
the United States than if they
had been reserved as a solitude for
future purchasers.
THE PENSION BUREAU. !
The lamentab!e events Of the
last four years, and the sacrifices
male 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 June last, the total
number of pensioners was S5,9S6, !
requiring for their annual pay,
exclusive Of expenses, the sum of /
SS.G23,445. The number of APP
plications 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 existing laws, to our disabled
soldiers and sailors, and to the
families of such as have persisted
in the service Of our country, will
no doubt be cheerfully and prompt
lv granted. A grateful people
will not hesitate to sanction any
measures having for their object
the relief of soldiers mutilated
and families made fatherless in the
efforts to preserve our national en-
istence,
THE POSTAL SYSTEM. i
The report of the Postmaster
General presents an encouraging
exhibit of the Post Office Depart
ment during the year, The reve-
nues of the past year from the
loyal States alone exceeded the
maxium annual receipts from all
the States previous to the rebellion,
in the sum of S6,03S,09l; and
the annual average, icrease OF rev.
enue during the last four years,
compared with the revenues of the
four years Immediately preceding
the rebellion, was s., 533,S45.-
The revenues of the last fiscal ,,
year amounted to Sl4,556.l5S,
and the expenditures to Sl3,694,- /.
72S, leaving a surplus of receipts
over expenditures of 1851 $50
Progress has been made in restor-
;nr tha noctal Snrvicp in the South