The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-12-15

| and unObStTdcted. No State can be
justified in any device to tax the trans
/ it of travel and commerce between
! States. The position of many States il
such that, if they We're allowed to take
advantage of it for purposes of local
! revenue, the commerce between States
/ might be iniuriously burdened, or even
! virtually prohibited. 1t is best, while
! the country is still young, and while
I the tendency to dangerous monopoIies
Of this kind is still feeble, to use the
! power of Congress so as To prevent any
! selfish impdiment to the free cireula-
/ tion 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 in
creased if coupled with denialof the
choice of the 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 a.
gainst by appropriate legislation with
in the limits of the Constitution.
The report of the Secretary of the In
| terror explains the condition of thepub-
| lie lands, the transactions Of the Patent
Otficeand the Pension Bureau, the man.
agement of our Indian affairs, the prog
reSs made in construction Of the Pa
citic railroad, and furnishes inforna-
ton in reference to matters of local in
tereSt in the Dietrs It OF Columbia. 1t
also presents evidence of the successful
operation OF the Homestead Act, under
the provisions of which ,l60,5 ,533 acres
pf +bc Y,r,hlio la N ,t-.o ,4 O,.o,I Il ,,,.;,, -
the last fiscal year-more tran 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 Incl
dent to the survey and disposal of the
lands entered under this Act, and that
payments in cash to the extent of from
forty TO fifty per cent. viii be made by
settlers, who may thus at any time ac-
qure title before the expiration Of the
period at whichit would otherwise vest.
The Homestead policy was established
only after long and earnest resistance;
experience proves its wisdom. The
lan|'s, 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.
The lamentahle events of the last four
years, and the sacrifices made by the
gallant men of our Army and Navy,
have sWeIled the records of the Pen
sior Bureau toan unprecedented extent.
On the 30th day OF June last, the total
ring for their annual pay, exclusive of
expenses, the sum Of SS,023, ,445. The
number Of applications that have been
allowed since that date will require q
large increase Of this amount for the
next fiscal year. The means for the
payment of the stipendS due, under ex-
listing laws, TO OOurdisabled soldiers and
sailors, and TO the families of such as
have perished in the service of the
country, will no doubt be cheerfully and
promptly granted. y grateful people
will not hesitate to sanction any meas
ureS having for their object the relief
of soldiers mutilated and families made
fiuherlesS in the efforts TO preserve our
national existence.
The report Of the Postmaster General
presents an encouraging exhibit of the
operations Of the Post Office Depart
ment during the year. The revenues
Of the past year from the loyal States
alone exceeded the maximum annual
receipts from ali the States previous to
the rebellion, in the sum OF S6,03S, ,09l
and the annual average increase of rev
enue during thelaSt four years, cOmpa-
red with the revenues of the four years
Immediately preceding the rebellion.
was 81, ,533, ,S45. The revenues of the
last fiscal year amounted to Sl4, ,556, ,15S,
and the expenditures to S13,694, ,72S,
leavinga surplus of receipts over eX-
penditures Of 1851 ,430. Progress has
been made in restoring the postal ser
vice in theSOuthern States. TheViews
presented by the Postmaster General
against the policy Of granting subsidies
to ocean mail steamship lines upon es-
tabiished routes, and in favor of con-
tinuing the present system, which linn
its the compensation for ocean service
to the postage earnings, are recommen-
ded to thecarefuI consideration of Con-
greSs.
1t appears, from the report Of the
Secretary of the Navy, that while, at
hecOmmencemento Of the present year,
there were in commission $50 vessels of
all classes and descriptions, armed with
$1,000 guns, and manned by 81 ,000 men,
the number Of vessels at present in
commission is III, with $50 guns and
12,12S men. BY this prompt reduction
of the naval forces the expenses Of the
Government have been largely dimin-
ished, and number of vessels, purcha-
sed for naval purposes from the mer-
chant marine, have been returned to
the peaceful pursuits Of commerce.
Since the suppression OF active HOSTILE
ties our foreign squadrons have been
re-eStablIshed, and consist of vessels
much more efficient than those employ
ed on similar service previous to the re-
belliOn. The suggestion for the en-
largement0f the navy-yards, and espe-
cially for the establishment of one in
fresh water for iron-clad vessels, is de-
serving of consideration, as is also the
recommendation for a different loca-
ton and more ample grounds for the
Naval Academy.
In the report Of theSecretary of War,
a general summary given of the mil
itary campaigns of 1864 and 1865, end
ing in the suppression of armed resis-
tance to the national authority in the
insurgent States. Interpretations of the
general administrative Bureaus of the
War Department during the past year
are detailed, and an estimate made of
the appropriations that will be requi-
red for military purposes in the fiscal
year commencingthe 30th day of June,
1866. The national military force on
the 1st of May, 1860 numbered ,00O,-
SIC men. 1t is proposed to reduce the