Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-12-06

the future, which is sure to be laden for them
with greater prosperity than has ever before
been known. The removal of the monopoly
of slave labor is pledge that those regions
will be peopled by a numerous and enterprt-
sing population, which will vie with any in
th, Union in compactness, inventive genius,
wealth and industry.
Our Government springs from and was
made for the people--not the people for the
Government. To them il owes allegiance;
from them it must tderiveits courage strength
and wisdom. But while the Government is
thus bound to defer to the people, from
whom itderiyes its existence, it should, from
the very consideration Ofits origin, be strong
limits power of resistance tOgthe establish
iIient'of inequalities. Monopolies, perpetui-
ties and class legislation are contrary to the
genius of free government, aud ought not to
be allowed. Here, there is no room for IA
vored classes or InOnOpoliesi theprinciple of
our Government, is that of equal laws, and
freedom OF industry. Wherever monopoly
attains foothOld it is sure to- be,a source
of danger, .discord and trouble We shall
but fulfill our duties as Legislators by ac-
cording equal and exact justice to all men"
special privileges to none The Government
is subordinate ITO the people; bnt, 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 sub
ordinate and yield to the Government,
/ sThe Constitution confers on Congress the
right to regulate commerce among the sew
eral States 1t is of, the first. necessity, for
the, maintenance of the Union, that that
commerce should be free and unobstructed.
NoaStabe can be Justified in. any device to
tax the transit of travel and commerce be-
tween States The position of many States
is such thatsif they were allowed TO take
advantage Of it for purposes of local reve-
nue., the commerce between States might be
'injuriously buTdened, or even virtually pro
hiDited. 1t 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 so as to prevent
any selfish impeachment to the free circula-
ton of men and merchandise. A tax on
travel and merchadise, in their transit, con-
stitutes Que of the worst forms of mQnopo-
ly, and the evils increased II 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 cir
culation OF commerce between the States
ought to be sternly guarded against by ap-
propriate legislation, within the limits Of
the Constitution. --.-...-.......-
The report of the Secretary of the In
terror explains the condition Of the public
lands, the transactions OF the Patent Once
and the Pension Bureau, the management
of our Indian affairs, the progress made in
the construction of the Pacific railroad, and
furnishes information in reference to mat
tiers f'local interest in the District of CO.
lumbia. 1t also presents evidence of the
successful operation of the Homestead Act,
under the provisions of which 1,l60,533
acresof thepublic lands'were entered dur
ing 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 dispoS-
al 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 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 settlere, whose labor ere.
ates wealth and contributes TO the public re.
sources, are worth more to the United States
future purchasers. Del. H... r''.Hru raf
The Iamentable events of the last four years,
aud the sacrifices made by the gallant men of
our Army aud Navy, have swelled the records
Of the Pension Bureau to an unprecedented ex-
tent. On the 3Oth day Of June last the total
number of pensioners was IS 1856, requiring for
their annual pay, exclusive of expenses, the sum
of SS,023,445. The number of applications that
have been allowed since that datewill require a
large increase of this amOhnt for the next fiscal
year. The means for the payment of the sti-
pends due, under existing laws, to our disabled
soldiers and sailors, and to the families Of
such as have persisted 10 the service of
the country, will no doubt be- cheerfqly
and promptly gfantel.T,A grateful people
will not hesitate to sanction. any measures
having fOr.their'Object the relief of soldiers
mutilated and families made fatherlesss in
the efforts toipreserve our national exist
lence. ,4r >IgnJ u..iFF2 t-. a4irrgl
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 annual
receipts from all the States previous to the re-
beliOn, in the sum Of S6,038, ,09l; and the an
nual average increase of revenue during the
the four years immediately preceding the re-
,bellion, was $3,53B,S45. The revenues of the
last fiscal year. amounted to Sl4556, l59, and
the expenditures to $l3,694, 72S, leaving sur
plus Of receipts over expenditures Of 1851, 43O.
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 established routes, and
in favor Of continuing the present fsystem
which limits the compensation for ocean ser
vice tothe postage earnings are recommended
to the careful consideration Of Congress. /" u
1t appears, from the report of the Secretary
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-
tions, armed with 1000 guns and manned by
81, 900 men, the number of vessels at present
in commission is III, with 800 guns and H.
l28 men, By this prompt reduction of the
naval forces the expenses Of the Government
have been. largely diminished, and o 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 hostities our foreign
sduadrons have been re-established, and con-
sist of vessels much more efficient than those
employed on similar service previous to the
rebellion The suggestion for the enlarge
ment of the nAyy-yards, and especially for
the establishment of one il fresh water for
iron-clad vessels, is deserving Of consideration,
as is also the Recommendation for different
locatian and more ample grounds for the
Naval Academy
a. In thereport of the Sec v of'lW ara general