The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-12-13

4u0 OOustltutlOu COulcTo Ou OOukLOso bhO
| right to regulate commerce among the sever
al States. 1t is of the frst 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 ipjuriously
burdened, or even virtually prohibited. 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 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 denial of the choice
of route. When the vast extent of our coun-
try is considered,i 1T is plain that every ossta-
Gle to the free circulation of commerce be-
tween the States ought to be sternly guarded
against by appropriate Legislation, within
the limits of the Constitution.
The report of the 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
dian affairs, the progress made in the con-
struction of the Pacific Railroad, aud fur
nishes information in reference to matters of
local interest In the District of Columbia. 1t
also presents evidence of the successful OPP
Grafton of the Homestead Act, under the
provisions of which l, l60, ,j33 acres of the
public lands were entered during the last is-
cal 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 disposal
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 Homestead po-
Icy was established only after long aud ear
nest resistance experience proves its wis
dom. The lands, in the hands of industri-
Gus settlers, whose labor creates wealth and
contributes to the public resources, are
worth more to the United States than if they
had been reserved as a solitude for future
purchasers.
The lamentable events of the lost 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 un-
precedented extent. On the Both day of June
last the total number of pensioners was
IS .986, requiring for their annual pay, ex-
elusive of expenses, the sum of SIS, S,023. AS.
The number Of applications that have been
allowed since that date will require large
| increase of the amount for the next fiscal
year. The means for the payment Of the
stipends due under existing laws, to our dis
abled soldiers and sailors, aud to the fami-
lies of such as have perished in the service Of
sfa rrtll A..nhf ha oh haarftrllu n
promptly granted. A grateful people will
not hesitate 70 sanction any measures having
for their object the relief of soldiers mutt
lated and families made fstherless 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 year. The revenues of the last year from
the loyal States alone exceeded the maxi
mum annual receipts from all the States pre-
vious to the rebellion, in the sum of Sc 6.03S,-
09l and the annual average increase Of reve-
nue. during the last four years, compared
with the revenue of the four years immedi-
stely preceding the rebellion, was s., ,533. .S45.
The revenus of the last fiscal year amount
ed to S14, ,556. .l5S, and the expenditures to
SIS, ,694, 728, leaving surplus of receipts over
expenditures of SS6l ,430. Progress has been
Southern States The views presented by
the Postmaster General against the policy Of
granting subsidies to ocean aud mail steam
ship lines upon established routes, and in
favor of continuing the present system W hich
limits the compensation for ocean service to
the postage earnings, are recommended to
the careful consideration of Congress.
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-
tions, armed with 5000 guns and manned by
81 900 men, the Dumber of vessels at present
in commission Is liz with $50 guns and y,
l2S men. By this prompt reduction of the
naval forces the expenses of the Government
have been largely diminished, aud number
of vessels, purchased for naval purposes
from the merchant marine, have been re-
turned to the peaceful pursuits of COM
merce.
Since the suppression of active hostilities
our foreign squadrons have been re-estab-
lished, and consist of vessels much more ef-
fcient than those employed on similar SER
vice previous to the rebellion. The suggss-
ton for the enlargement of the navy yards,
and especially for the establishment of one
in fresh water for iroo-clad vessels, is de-
serving of consideration, as is also the re-
comme ndation for different location and
more ample grounds for the Naval Acade-
my.
In the report Of the Secretary Of War,
general summary is given of the military
campaigns of 1864 and 1865, ending in the
suppression of armed resistance to the ma
tionai authority 10 the insurgent States. The
operations of the general administrative bu-
reaus of the War Department during the last
year are detailed, and an estimate made of
the appropriations that will be required for
military purposes in the fiscal year COM
mencng the Goth day of June, 1866. The
national military force on the 1st of May,
posed to reduce the military establishment to
a peace footing comp mprehending Afty thousand