The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-12-13

Of men and mesohapdse. A tax on trav-
81 and merchandise, in their transit, con-
stitutes one Of tho worst FERNS Of monap-
oily, and the. evil is increased If coupled
with q denial Of the chcise Of route ~
When the vast extent Of our country is
considered, il is plain that every obstacle
10 the free circulation Of commerce be-
tween the States ought to be sternly
guarded against by appropriate legisla-
tom within the limits Of the Constitu.
Tie report Of the Secretary Of the In
terror explains the condition Of the pub
lilo lands, the transactions Of the Patent
Office and thc Pension Bureau, the man.
agement Of our Indian affairs, the pro.
gross made in the construction Of the Pa
cifc, railroad, and furnishes information
In reference to matters Of local interest
in the District Of Columbia. 1t also pro.
sents evidence of the successful .operation
Of the Homestead Act, under the provi-
sions Of which 1,l60,533 acres Of public
lands were entered during the last fiscal
year-7more than one-fourth Of the whole
number Of acres sold or otherwise dis
posed Of during that period. 1t is esti:
mated 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 the
payments in cash to the extent Of from
forty to fifty per cent. will be made by
settlers, who may thus at any time &C.
quire title before the expiration Of the
period at which it would otherwise vest.
The homestead policy was established on
ly after long and earnest resistance; ex-
periencs proves its wisdom. The lands,
in the hands OF industrious settlers,
whose labor creates wealth and contrib.
utss to,the public resources, are worth
more to the United States than if they
had been reserved as a solitude for future
purchasers
The lamentable events Of the last four
years, and the sacrifices made by the gal.
liant men Of the Army and Navy, have
swelled the records Of the Pension Blu.
reau to an unprecedented extent. On
the 30th day Of June last, the total num-
Der of pensioners was 1896, requiring
for their annual pay, exclusive Of expens
esu the sum Of S3,02S,445. The number
of applications that have been allowed
since. that date will requirs q large in.
crease 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 che
families Of such as have persisted in the
service Of the country, will no doubt be
eheerfully and promptly. granted. A
grateful people will not hesitate to sane.
tion any measures having for their Oh.
ject the relief of soldiers mutilated and
families made fatherless 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 Department
during the year. The revenues Of the
past ysas from the loyal States siUus tx
ceoded the maximum annual receipts
from all the States previous to the rebel.
hon, in the sum Of s6,098, 09l, and the
annual increase Of revenue during the
last four years, compared with the reve-
nues Of the four years Immediately pre-
ceding the rebellion, was So, 533, 845.-
The revenues of the last fiscal year
amour ted to sl4,556,l5S, and the ex-
peuditures to 81, 1884, 1873, leaving q sur.
plus Of receipts over expenditures of
SS6l,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
grant-subsidies to ocean mail steamship
lines upon established routes, and in "a
vorF Of continuing the present system,
which limits the compensation for ocean
service iothe postage earnings, are re-
commended to the careful consideration
Of Congress.
lt-appeafs. from the report Of the Sec
retary Of the Navy, that while, at the
commencement Of the present year, there
were in commission $50 vessles of all
classes and descriptions, armed with g..
600 guns and $1,000 men, the number
ofyesssls at present in commission is 1T,
with $50. guns and 12,12s men. by
this prompt reduction of the naval forces
the expenses of the Government have
been largely diminished and a number
Of vessels, purchased for naval purposes
from-the merchant marine, have been re.
turned TO the peaceful pursuits of com
pierce. Since the suppression Of active
kostilities u foreign squadrons have
been r~e-established, and consist Of vessels
much mere efficient than those employed
on similar service previous to the rebel
hen The suggestion for the enlargement
Of the navy.yards, and especially for the
I Establishment Of one in fresh water for
irods clad vessels, Is deserving Of consider.
alton, as Is also the Recommendation for
Q different location aud moro ample
grounds for the Naval Academy.
In the report Of the Secretary Of War,
general summary. is given Of the militia
ry campaigns Of 1864 and 1865, ending
Nm The suppression Of armed resistance to
the. national authority 10 the insurgent
States, The operations Of the general
administrative Bureaus Of the War De
spsftment during the past year are detail.
ed and an estimate made of the appro-
priaiicns that;w will DO required for militia
~ purposes in the fiscal year commencing
thei90th day OfJuue, 1866. Tho nation.
81 military force on the LIST Of Nay, 1865,
numbered l,600,5i6 men. II 10 proposed
{ Qrndnon the military aa~tahliahmanf m n