Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-12-07

strength and wisdom. But while the gov
ernment is thus bound to defer to the peo-
pie, from whom it derives its existence, 1t
should, from the very consideration OF It's
origin, be strong in it's power OF resistance
to the establishment of inequalities. Mo
perpetuities and class Legislation
are contrary to the genius of free govern
ment, and ought not to be allowed. Here,
there is no room Tor favored classes or mo-
nopolies the principle Of our government
is that of equal laws and freedom of indus
try. Wherever monopoly attains foot
hold, it is sure to be a source OF danger,
discord and trouble. We shall but fulfill
our duties as Legislators by according
" equal and exact Justice to all men," spec
ial 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 mOnopolies, which,
in themselves, ought never to be granted,
and which, where they exist, must be SUBJ
ordinate and yield TO the government.
TRADE BETWEEN THE STATES.
The constitution confers on Congress the
right to regulate commerce among the sew
4ral States. 1t is of the first necessity, for
the maintenance of the Union, that com
merce should be free and unobstructed No
State can be justified in any device to tax
the transit of travel and commerce between
States. The position of many States is
such that, if they were allowed to take ad-
vantage of it for purposes of local revenue,
the commerce between States might be ill.,
iuriousy burdened, or even virtually pro-
hibited It is best, while the country is
still young, and while the tendency to
dangerous monopolies of this kind is still
feeble, to use the power of Congress 30 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 country is CON
sidered, it is plain that every obstacle to
the free circulation OF commerce be-
tween the States ought to be sternly guar
ded against by appropriate Legislation,
within the limits of the constitution.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
The report Of the Secretary of the Interi-
or explains the condition Of the public lands,
the transactions of the Patent Office and
tho Pension Bureau, the management of
our Indian affairs, the progress made in
the construction of the Pacific Railroad
and furnishes information in reference to
matters of local interest in the District of
Columbia. 1t also presents evidence of the
successful operations Of the Homestead
Act, under the provisions of which l,l60,-
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 during that period
1t is estimated that the receipts derived
from this source are sufficient to cover the
expenses incident to the survey and dis
pOsal Of lands entered under this act, and
that payments in cash to the extent of from
forty to 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 home
stead 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
States than if they had been reserved as a
solitude for future purchasers
PENSIONS.
The lamentable events of the last four
years, and the sacrifi es made by the gal
liant men of our army and navy, have swell
led the records Of the Pension Bureau to an
unprecedented extent On the 30th day of
June last, the total number of pensioners
was 81, 986, requiring for their annual pay,
exclusive of expenses, the sum of s., ,023,-
AS. The number Of applications 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 the country, will no doubt be
cheertully and promptly granted. A CRATE
ful people will not hesitate to sanction any
measures having for their object the relief
of soldiers mutiIated and families made fa-
therless in the efforts to preserve our ma
tional existence.
THE P0ST-oFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the POstmasterG General
presents an encouraging exhibit of the op-
perations of the Post-office Department dur
ing the year The revenue of the past year
from the loyal States alone exceed the max
imum annual receipts fromE all the States
previous to the rebellion in the sum of Sc
OBS, ,09l and the annual average increase
Of revenue during the last four years, COM
pared with the revenues of the four years
Immediately preceding the rebellion, was
S3 533, ,S45. The revenue of the last fiscal
year amounted to Sl4 SAG, l58, and the ex.
pcnditires to sl3 694, 1913, leaving a surplus
OF receipts over expenditures of 1861 ,430
Progress has been made in restoring the
postal service in the Southern States The
views presented by the Postmaster-General
against the policy Of granting subsidies to
ocean mail steamship lines upon establish
ed routes, and in favor of continuing the
present system which limits the compensa-
ton for ocean service to the postage earn
ings, are recommended TO the careful con-
sdcration of Congress.
THE NAVY
1t appears, from the report of the Secre-
tary of the Navy, that while, at the COM
mencement of the present year, there were
in commission $50 vessels of all classes and
descriptions, armed with 5000 guns and
manned by 81 600 men, the number of yes
sells at present in commission is III, with
$50 guns and lis men By this prompt
fClluction Of the naval forces the expenses
Ct the government nate hcrl largely dimin-
ished, and number Of vessels, purchased