Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-12-05


dence OF the successful operation of the Home
stead act, under the provisions of which
1,l6e533 acres of the public lands were entered
during the last fiscal yPar-more than one
fourth OF the whole number of acres sold or
Otherwise disposed Of during that period
IL h hesnmaIed that the receipts derived from
penses incident to the survey and disposal OF
the lands entered under this Act, and that pay
mepts IN cash to the extent Of some forty or
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 wosld
otherwise vest. The homes tead policy was
established only after long and earnest resis-
lance; experience proves its wisdom. The
Iapds, in the hands of industrious settlers,
whose labor creates wealth and contributes to
the public resources, are worth more 10 the
Upiteo States than If they had been reserved
as a soliiude for future purchasers.
Ihe lamentable events of the last four years,
ana me sacrifices made by the gallant men of
our Army and Navy, has swelled the records
OF the Pension Bureau TO Unprecedented
extent On the 3Oth day of June last, the total
number of pensioners was $3.50, requiring for
their annual pay, exclusive of expenses the
sum of SSC23,445. The number of applications
that have been allowed since that date will re-
quire Jorge increase of this amount for the
next fiscal wear.
The meanr for the payment of the stipends
due, under existing laws. TO our disabled SOL
diers and sailors, ard to the families of snch
have pcrished in the service of the country,
Will 10 doubt be cheerfully and promptly
granted. A grateful people will not hesitate
to sanction any measures having for their OBJ
iect tie relief of soldiers mutilated and fami-
lies made fatherless in the efforts TO preserve
our national existence.
The report OF the Postmaster General pre-
seDts an encouraging exhibit of the operations
of the Pest Office Department during the year.
The revenues of the past year from the 10y al
SIates hlCne exceeded the maximum annual
receipts from all the States previous to the
rebellion, in the sum Of Sc 6,039,O9i; and the
annual average increase of revenue during the
last four years, compared with the revenues
OF the four years Immediately preceding the
rebellion, was s3,533,si5. The revenues of the
last fiscal year amounted to S4,556, 15S, and
the expenditures to Sl3,6g, ,72s, leaving a sur
plus OF receipts over expenditures Of Ss6l, ,i30
Progress has been made in restoring the pos
tai 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 system,
which limits the compensation for ocean ser
vice 10 the postage earnings, are recommended
to the careful consideration of Congress.
1t appears, from the ref Ort of the Secretary of
tDe navy, mat while, at the commencement of
the present year. there was in commission $50
vessels of all classes and descriptions, armed
with 3oto guns and manned by 51,Ooo men. the
number OF vessels al present in commission is
liz, with $50 guns and l2,12S men, BY this
prompt reduction Of the naval forces the Px-
ptnses OF the Government have been largely
diminished, and number of vessels pure chased
for naval purposes from the merchant marine
nave been returned to the peaceful pursuits of
commerce.
Since the suppression OF active hos stilities our
forelgn squadrons have been re. established, :,
arc consists Of vessels much more fficient
than those employed on similar service pre-
yious to the rebellion. The suggestion for the
er enlargement of the navy 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 a different
Location aud mora ample grounds for the Ma
val Academy.
In the report of thd Secretary of War. a gen.
eral summary is given of the military cam
palEns of 1854 and 1865 ending in the suppress
sion of armed resistance 10 the national author
lty in the msurgent States. The operations of
he-gencral administrative Bureas of the War
department during the past year are detailed.
and an estimate made of the approximations that
VIII be required Tor military purposes in the
fiscal year commencing the 3Gth day of June.
iSb6. The national military force on the Ist of
May, lSG5. numbered 1,UCO.5I6.
IL Is proposed 10 reduce the military esta0-
Ilshmen 10 peace footing, compromising
fifty thousand troops of all arms, organized so
as to admit of an enIarge-entby filling upth
ranks to eighty-two thousand six hundred, if
the circumstances OF the country should re-
quire an augmentation OF the army. The VOL
unteer force has already been reduced by the
discharge from service of over eight hundred
Thousand troops, and the Department is pro-
ceedlng rapidly IN the work OF further reduc-
tion.
The war estimates are reduced from S5l6,-
24C. .l31 10 S33, ,sli, ,i61, which amount, in the
opinion OF the Department, is adequate for a
Il u
ment in each Bureau and branch of the service
exhibit dIligent economy worthy of cOmmen-
datiOn. Reference is also made in the report
10 tie necessity OF providing for uniform
militia system, and 10 the propriety of making
suitable provision for wounded and disabled
officers and soldiers.
Ject OF vital interest 10 its honor and prosperi-
~, and should command the earnest considera-
tion OF Congress. The Secretary OF the Trea.
sDry will lay before you full and detailed
of tha
last fiscal year, Of the first quarter of the
present fscal year, of the probable receipts
and expenditures for the other three quarters,
and the estimates for the year following the
3Uth OF June, 1866. / might content my self
with reference TO that report in which you
Will find all the information req uired for your
deliberations and decision.
But the paramount importance of the subject
so presses itself on my own mind. that can
not but lay before you my views of the measures
which are required for the good character, and
i might also say, for the existence of this peo-
pie. The life ef q republic lies certainly in the
energy, virtue, and Intelligence of its citizens:
but II Is equally true that good revenue sys-
TEN is the life OF an organized government /
meet you At r time when the nation has yoIun.
iarily burdened itself with debt unprece-
dehted in our annals. Vast as is its amount, il
faces away into nothing compared with the
countless blessings that will be conferred upon
our country and upon man by the pTeseTyatio
of the nations life.
Now, on the first occasion of the meeting of
Coneress since the return of peace, it is OF the
utmost importance TO tolnaugurate a Just policy,
which shall at once be put in motion, and
which shall commend itself 10 those who come
after us for its continuance. We must aim at
nothing less than the complete efacement of
the financial evils that necessarily followed q
state of civil war. We must endeayor TO ap-
ply the earliest remedy to the deranged state of
the currency, and not shrink from deyising a
policy which, without being Oppressive to the
people, shall Immediately begin to effect a re-
duction of the debt and. if persisted in, dis
charge it fully within definitely fixed num-
Der of years.
1t is cur first duty to prepare in earnest for
our recovery from the eyer-inCrPasing evils of
an lrledeemable currency, without a sudden
revision, and yet without untimely procrasti-
nation. For that end, we must each in our re-
spectlye positions, prepare the way. L hold it
the duty of the Executive TO insist upon fru-
gallty In the expenditures; and a sparing econ
omy is itself great national resource. OF the
banks TO which authority has been given TO
issne notes secured by bonds Of the United
States, we may require the greatest moderation
snd prudence, and the law must be rigidly en-
forced when its limits are exceeded.
We may, each one of us, counsel our active
and enieTprising countrymen TO be constantly
on Their guard. TO liq uidate debts contracted in
Il paper currency, ond, by conducting business
as nearly Es possible on a system of cash nav