The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-12-15


igrant turned away from the region where
bis condition would be 90 precaiious.--
With the destruction OF the monopoly,
free labor will hasten from all parts Of the
civilized world TO assist in developing va
rious and immeasurable resources which
have hitherto lain dormant. The or nine
States neares: the Gulf Of Mexico have q
soil of expberant fertility, o climate that
is friendly to long life, and can sustain a
denser population than is found as yet in
any part Of our country. And the future
influx Of population 10 them will mainly
be from the North, or from the most cul-
.ivated nations in Europe. From the suf.
feripgs that have attended during our late
struggle, let us look away 70 the future,
which Is sure to be laden for them with
greater prosperity than has ever before
been known. The removal Of the mo.
nopoly Of slave labor is q pledge that
those regions will bo peopled by nu.
merous and enterprising population that
will vie with any In the Union In com.
pactness, inventive genius, wealth and in
dustry. ti .."..
Our Government spings from and was
made for the people-not the people for
the Government. To them il owes ale.
glance; from them Il must derive its cour-
age, strength and wisdom. But, while
tie Government is thus bound to defer
to the people from whom II derives its
existence, il should, from the very con-
sideration Of its origin, be strong ip It's
power Of resistance to the establishment
OF inequalities. Monopolies, perpetuities
and class legislation, are contrary to the
genius Of free government, and ought
not 10 be allowed. Here there is no
room for vavored classes or monopolies,
the principle of our Government being
equal laws and freedom of industry
Wherever monopoly a!tains foolhold, it
is sure to be q source Of danger, discord
and trouble. We shall but fulfil our du.
ties as legislators by according "equal
and exact justice to oil 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 monopoles,
which, ir themselves, ought never to be
granted; and which, where they exist must
be subordinate end yield TO the Govern.
ment.
The Constitution confers on Congress
the right TO regulate commerce amongst
the several States. II is OF the FIRST ne.
cessity for. the maintenance Of the Union,
| that commerce ahould be free and unob.
structed. No State can be justified in
any device to tax the transit OF :ravel and
commerce between States: The position
Of many States is such that, il they were
allowed to take advantage. OF it for pur.
poses OF local revenue, the commerce be-.
tween States might be injariously bur-
dened, or even virtually prohibited. II
is best, while the country is stilI young,
and while the tendency to dangerous mo.
nopolies of this kind are still feeble, to
use the power of Congress so as to pre-.
vent any selfish impediment to the free
circulation 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 increased if
coupled with denial OF the choice OF
route. When the vast extent OF our own
country is considered, it is plain that ev-
cry obstacle to the free circulation ofcom.
merce between the States ought to be
sternly guarded against by appropriate
Legislation, within the limits OF the Con.
stitution. .......
The report of the Secretary OF the In.
terror explains the condition Of the public
lands, the transactions Of the Patent OF.
fee and the Pension Bureau, the manage.
ment OF our Indian affairs, the progress
made in the construction OF Pacific rail.
road, and furnishes information in refer
ence to matters of local interest in the
District Of Columbia. II also presents
evidence OF the successful operation of the
Homestead Act, under the provisions Of
which l,l6O,533 acros Of public lands
were entered during the last fiscal year
more than one-fourth OF the whole mum.
Der 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 disposal 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 established only after long
and earnest resistance; experience proves
its wisdom. The lands in the hands OF
industrious settlers, whose labor creates
wealth, and contributes to the public re-
sources, are worth more TO the United S.
than il they had been reserved as soli-