White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1865-12-14

alton oI itd origin, Ue stTOnp III It's power
of resistance to the establishment Of inc.
qnali, es. Manopoiie,. perpetnitre.. and
class legislation. are contrary to the gsni
Us of free government. anil ought not to
be allowed. Here. there is no room fnr
favored classes or monoplies; the. p, Incl
pie OF our Government is that OF equal
laws sn freedom Of in ,us,ry. Wherever
monopoly sttsins a footholl. it is snre to
be a source OF danger. discord and trouble.
We shall bu. fulfill onr duties as legisla-
tors by according .'equal and exact jus
tice to all men," special privileges to
none The Government is subordinate to
the people; but as the agent and represen-
tative of the people. it must be held su-
perior to monopolies. which, in them
selves. ought never to be granted. ,snd
which, where they exist. must he subor
dinate and yield to the Government.
The Constitution confers on Congress
the right to regulate comneree among the
several States. 1t is of the irst necessity.
for the maiutenance Of the Union, that
that commerce should he free and unob-
s'ructed. 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 advantage Of it for pur-
poses of local revenue. the commercs be-
tween States might be injnriously burden
ed. or even virtually prohibited. 1t Is
best. while the country is still young. and
while the tendency to dangerous monopo-
lies of this kind is still feeble. to use the
power OF Congress so as to prevent any
selfish impediment to the free circulation
of men and merchandise. a tax on trav.
ell and merchandise. in their transit, con-
stitutes one Of the worst forms OF monop-
oily. and the evil j. increased if coupled
with denial OF the schoice of rontr.
When the vast extent of our country is
considered. it is plain that every obstacle
to the free circulation Of commerce be-
tween the States ought to be sternly guard
ed against by appropriate legislation.
within the limits of the Constitution.
The report of the Secretary OF the Interior
explains the conditions of the public lands. the
transactions of the Patent Office and the PEN
sion Bureau, the Management If our Indian af-
fairs, 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. Ii also presents evidence
of the successful operation of the Homestead
Act. under the provisions Of which 1850. .533
acres OF the public lands were entered during
the last fiscal year-Ipore than one fourth of
the whole number of acres sold or otherwise
disposed Of during that period. 1t is estima
TED 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 forty to fifty per cent. will be
made by settlers. who may thus at any time ac-
quire title before the expiration Of the period
ut which it would otherwise vest The home
stead policy was established only after long and
earnest resistance; experience proves its wis
DOM. The lands, in the hands of industrious
settlers, whose labor creates wealth and. con
tributes to the public resources, are worth more
to the United States than if they had been re
served as solitude for future purchasers.
The lamentable events Of the last four years,
ard the sacrifices made by the gallant men of
our army and navy, have swelied the records of
the Pension Bureau to an unprecedented ex
number of pensioners was SIS ,9S6, requiring for
their annual pav, exclusive of expenses the
sum Of SS,023 AS. The number of applications
that have been allowed since that date will re-
quire 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 fimi-
lies Of such as have perished in the service of
the country, will no doubt be chesrfuIIy and
promptly granted. A grateful people win not
hesitate to sanction any measures having for
their object the relief OF soldiers mut,lated, and
families made fitherless in the efforts to pre-.
serve our national existence.
The report of the Postmaster General pre
sents an encouraging exhibit Of the operations
Of the Post Office Department during the year.
The revenues Of the past year from the loyal
States alone exceeded the maximum of the an
nual receipts from all the States previous to the
rebellion, in the sum of sc, ,03o 09l; and the
annual average increase OF revenue during the
last four years, compared with the revenues of
the four years Immediately preceding the re-
bellion, was So ,533.s45. The revenues of the
last fiscal year amounted to Sl4, $50. 1853, and
the expenditures to S13. .694. .72s, leaving a sur
plus of receipts over expenditures of 1851 ,430
Progress has been made in restoring the postal
service in the Southern States. The views pre-
policy of granting subsidies TO ocean mail
steamship lines upon established routes, and in
favor of Continuing the present system, which
limits the compensation for ocean service to the
postage earnings. are recommended to the care
ful consideration of Congress.
1t appears, from the report OF the Secretary
of the Navy, that while, at the commencement
of the present year, there we're in commission
$50 vessels Of all classes and descriptions, arm
ed with 5000 guns, and manned with 81 900
men, the number of vessels at present in com
mission Ia lit, with $50 guns aud 12,l25 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 returned to the peaceful |
pursuits of commerce. Since the suppression
OF active hostilities our foreign squadrons have
been re-established, and consist OF vessels much
more efficient than those employed on similar |
service previous to the rebellion. The sugres.
ton for the enlargement Of the navy yards. and
for the establishment of one in fresh |
water for iron-clad vessels, is deserving Of con-
as is also the recommenda tion for |
different location and more ample grounds for !
the Naval Academy.
In the report of the Secretary of War. gen
eral summary is given Of the military campaigns
of 1874 and 1860, ending in the suppression of
armed resistance To the national authority in
he insnrgent States. The operations of the
general administrative Bureaus of the War De.
partment during the past year are detailed, and
IN estimate made Of the appropriations that
will be required for military purposes in the fis
,ai year commencing the Both day Of June,
ls66. The national military force on the lst
" May, 1865, numbered ,000, SIG men. Il is
proposed to reduce the military establishments