The weekly standard. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-16

G CARDS, 6fUoIEhS, f}FhOOlsA In xs9v esAS
Fancy Job Work done in Coiors, q aAs
: 80 - - : - = = : - = -
t lation within the limits Of the Consti-
: ton. sFsS
: The report of the Secretary of the
t Interior contains explanations of the
. condition of the public lands, the trans
/ actions of the Patent Office and the
) Pension Bureau, the management Of
our Indian affairs, the progress made
: in the construction of the Pacific Rail
Z road, and furnishes information in ref
I erence to matters of local interest in
J the District of Columbia. It also pre-
! sents evidence of the successful opera
ton of the Homestead act, under the
J provisions of which 1,160,533 acres Of
the public lands were entered during
the fiscal year-more than quarter of
] the whole number of acres sold or dis
posed of during that period. It is es-
timated that the receipts derived from
this source are sufficient to cover the ex-
penses incident to the survey and dis
lposal of the lands entered under this
act, and that payment in cash to the
extent of from forty to fifty per cent.
viii be made by settlers who may thus.
at any time, acquire title before the ex-
piration of the period at which it would
otherwise vest. The homestead policy
was established only after q long and
. earnest resistance, and proves the lands
in the hands, of industrious settlers,
whose labor creates wealth and contri-
butes tothe public resources, are worth
more to the United States than if they
had been reserved as a solitude for fll-
ttlre purchases. The lamentable events
Of the last four years, andthe sacrifices
made by the gallant men Of. our army
and navy, have swelled the records of
the Pension Bureau to an unpreeeden4
ted extent. Onthe 3Oth of June last
the total number of pensions was 3d.
986, requiring for their annual pay.
exclusive of expenses, the sum OF ST.
023, ,445. The number of applications
that have been allowed since that date
will require a large increase Of this
amount. S. f' a. .'sl's'..'s,' 81
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 fami-
lies of such as have persisted in the
service of the country, will no doubt
be cheerfully and promptly granted.
A grateful people viii not hesitate to
sanction any measures having for their
object thesreliefi of soldiers mutilated
and families made fatherless in their
efforts to preserve our national exis-
tence. .s .. -, - I.,es 49,.
s Thereport ofthe postmaster General
presents an encouraging exhibition of
the operations of the Postohice De-
partment during the year. The reye-
nues Of the past year from the loyal
States alone exceed the maximum an
nual receipts from all the States pre-
vious to the rebellion in the sum Of
G. 6.03S 091 dollars, and the annual aver
age Increase of revenue during the last
four years compared with the revenues
of the four years immediately preee-
ding therebellion, was $S, $50, ,845. The
revenues Of the last fiscal year amoun-
ted $14 4,556.158, and the expenditures
a$13,694,028, leaving asurplus of re-
ceipts over expenditures Of $861,430.
Progress has been made in restoring
the postal service in the Southern
States. The views presented by the
Postmaster Gen1 against the policy of
granting subsidies to ocean mail steam
ship lines upon established routes, and
10 10 lfayor q. continuing the present sys-
tenn, which limits the compensation to
postage earnings are recommended to
the careful consideration of Congress.
It 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 5000 guns and manned by 81 900
men, the number of vessels at present
in commission Is 117s with $50 guns
and IL, 1923 men. Ai4
BY this prompt reduction Of the ma
val forces the expenses of the Govern
mrent have been largely diminished,
and a number of vessels purchased for
naval purposes from the merchant ma
rine have been returned to the peaceful
pursuits of commerce, Since the sup
preston Of active hostilities, our for .
eign squadrons have been reestabhshed.
and consist OF vessels much more Ell
cient than those employed on similar