The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-12-14


the tendency TO dangerous menopolies of
this kind is still feeble, TO use the power
OF Congress so as to prevent sDy selfish inn
pediment to the free circulation of men and
mercha ndise. 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 denial ofthe choice
o! route. When the vast exlant ofonr coun-
try is considered, it is plain that every OBJ
stacle 10 the free circulation of commerc
between the States ought to be sterile
regarded against by appropriate legislation
within the limits Of the Constitution.
( The report of tbe Secretary of the Interior
explains the condition of the public lands,
the transactions of the Patent Office and the
Pension Bureau the management of our In
dia affairs, the progress made In the construc>
ton Of tn Pacific Railroad, and furnishes
information in reference to matters of local
interest in the DIstr ct OfColumbia. 1t also
presents evidence of the successful opera
tion of the homestead act, under the provis-
ions of which 1,IG0, ,533 acres of the public
lands were entered during the last fiscal year
more tn one-fourth of the whole number
Of acres sold or otherwise disposed Of during
derived from this source are sufficient 10
cover the expenses incident to the survey and
disposal of the lands entered under this act,
ana that payments in cash to the extent of
from forty 10 fifty Per cent, will be made by
settlers who may thus az any time acquire
little before the expiration Of the period at
which it would otherwise vest The home-
sted policy was established only after long
and earnest resistance experience proves its
wisdom. The land, in the hands of indus
.rious settlers, whose labor creates wealth
and contributes to the public resources are
worth mere to the United States than ifthey
had ceen reserved as solitude fer future
purchasers.
Tho 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 unpre-
cedented extent. On the Both day of June
last, the total number of pensioners was
S5,9S6, requiring for their annual pay, ex-
elusive of expenses, the sum of S, ,023, 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 dis
abled soldiers, and to the families of such
as have perished in the service of the coun-
try, will no doubt be cheerfuly and prompt
ly granted. A grateful people will not
hesitate 10 sanction any measures having
for their Object the relief of soldiers mutiIa-
ted and families made fatherles in the efforts
to preserve our national existence.
The report Of the Postmaster General pre-
sents an encouraging exhibit of the opera
tions Of the Post Office Department during
the wear. The revenues of the past year
from the loyal States alone exceeded the
maximum annual receipts from a II the States
previous to the rebellion, in the snm Of S.
OBS, ,09l and The annual average increase of
revenue during the last four years, compared
with the revenues of the four years immedi-
ately preceding the rebellion. was s., $685.
S45. The revenues of the last fiscal year
amounted to Sl4 $50, ,159, and the expendi-
lures to Sl3.694, ,72S, leaving surplus of
receipts over expenditures Of SS6l, ,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 estab-
li,hed routes, and in favor of continuing
the present system, which limits the cont
pensatiou for ocean service to the postage
earnings, are recommended to the careful
consideration of Congress,
1t appears, from the report of the Secreta-
ty of the Navy, that while, al the commence
ment of the present year. III re were in COM
mission $50 vessels ofall classes and descrip-
tions, armed " lii 5000 guns and manned
by 81 900 men. the number of vessels at pre-
sent in commission is III, with $50 guns
and II, l2S men. BY this prompt reduction
of the naval forces the expenses of the Gov
ernment have been largely diminished, and
number of vessels, purchased for naval
purposes from the merchant Marines have
been returned TO the peaceful pursuits Of
commerce Since the suppression of active
hoslilites our foreign. .squadrons have been
re-esta blshed, and consist OF vessels much
more efficient than those employed on SINH
lar service previous to the rebellion. The
suggestion Tor the enlargement of the navy
yards, nd especially for the establishments
of one in fresh water for iron clad vessels, is
deserving of consideration, as is also the re-
commentator for a different location and
more ample grounds for the Naval Academy.
In the report OF the Secretary OF War
general summary is given of the mill
tary campaigns of 1865, ending in the
suppression of armed resistance to the ma
tional authority in the insurgent States.
The operations Of the general administra-
tive Bureau of the War Department du-
ring the past year are detailed, and an
estimate made OF the appropriations that
will be required for military purposes ia
the fiscal year commencing the 3Oth day
of June, 1865. The national military
force on the lst of May, 1865, numbered
1,000,6l6 men. 1t is proposed to re-
duce the military establishment to
peace footing, comprehending fifty thou
sand troops of all arms, organized 50 as
to admit of an enlargement by filing up
the ranks to eighty-two thousand six
hundred, if the circumstances OF the
country should require an augmentation
of the army, The Volunteers force has al