Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-12-15

sure to be a source OF danger, 9iScofo' anu
trouble. We shall but fulfil our duties as
legislators by according equal and exact
justice to I'LL men," special privileges to none.
The Governmentis subordinate to the people;
but, as the agent and representative OF the
people, it must be held superior to monopo-
lies, which, i'll themselves, ought never to be
granted, and which, where they exist, must
be subordinate and yield to the Government.
The Constitution confers on Congress the
right to regulate commerce among the sever
al States. 1t is of the first necessity, for the
maintenance of the Union. that 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 advantage
of it for purposes of local revenue, the COM
merce between States might be injuriously
burdened, or even virtually prohibited. 1t
is best, while the country is still young, and
while the tendency to dangerous mouopolies
of this kind is still feeble, to use the power
Of Congress so as to prevent any selfish I'M
pediment to the free circulation Of men and
merchandise, A tax on travel and merchan-
disc, in their transit, constitutes one OF the
worst forms of monopoly. and the evil is IN
creased if coupled with a denial OF the choice
of route. When the vast extent OF our
country is considered, it is plain that every
obstacle to the free circulation of commerce
between the States ought to be sternly guard
ed against by appropriate legislation, within
the limits of the Constitution.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT. ~ ..,.-
The report of the Secretary of the lnterl-
or explains the condition Of the public lands.
the transactions of thu Patent Office and the
Pension Bureau, the management OF our In
dian affairs, the progress made IN the con-
struction of the Pacific railroad, and furnish
es information in reference to matters OF local
interest in the District of Columbia. 1t al
so presents evidence of the successful opera
ton of the Homestead Act, under the pro-
visions of which l ,160, 533 acres Of the pub
lie lands were entered during the last tlscal
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 sui
6cient to cover the expenses incident to the
survey and disposal of the lands entered un--
der this act, and that payments IN cash 70
the extent of from forty to fifty pei. 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; expe-
rience proves its wisdom. The lands, III
the hands of industrious settlers, whose Ia
Dor creates wealth and contributes to the
public resources, are worth more to the Unl-
ted 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 gallant
men of our Army and Navy, have swelled
the records of the Pension Bureau to an I'M
precedented extent On the Both day OF
June last, the total number of pensioners
was 1856, requiring for their annual pay,
exclusive of expenses, the sum of S., O23,-
AS. The number of applications that have
been allowed since that date will require
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 fam
lilies of such as have persisted in service of
the country, will no doubt be cheerfully and
granted. A grateful people will
not hesitate to sanction any measures having
for their object the relief of soldiers mutilat-
ed, and families made fatherless in the eff
forts to preserve our national existence.
POSTAL SERVICE.
The report of the Postmaster General pre-
sents an encouraging exhibit of the opera
tons of the Post Office Department during
the year. The revenues of the past year
from the loyal States alone exceeded the
maximum annual receipts from all the States
previous to the rebellion, in the sum of &c.
OBS, 091; and the annual average increase
of revenue during the last four years, COM
pared with the revenues of the four years
preceding the rebellion, was
So, $50, 045. The revenues of the last fiscal
year amounted to S14, $50, 1853, and the ex-
penditures to $13.694, 1928, leaving sur
plus of receipts over expenditures Of $751;
1870. Progress has been made in restoring
the postal .ervice in the Southern States-
The views presented by the Postmaster Gen.
eral 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 earnings
are recommended to the careful consideration
of Congress. SD.
1t appears, from the report of the Secreta-
ry of the Navy, that while, at the commence
ment Of the present year, there were in com
mission $50 vessels of all classes and descrip-
tons, armed with 5000 guns and manned
by 1000 men, the number of vessels at
present in commission is III with $50 guns
and u, l2S men. BY this prompt reduction
of the naval forces the expenses Of the Gov
ernmcnt have been largely diminished, and
number of vessels, purchased for naval pur
poses from the merchant marine, havo been
returned to the peaceful pursuits Of commerce.
Since the suppression Of active hostilities.
our foreign s1uadrons have been re-establish-
ed, and consist of vessels much more efficient
than those employed on similar service previ-
Gus to tilc rebellion. The suggestion for the
enlargement Of the navy-yards, and especial
ly for the establishment of one in fresh wat
er for iron-clad vessels, is deserving of con-
sideration, as is also the recommendation for
Ia dos