Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-12-12

the greatness OF ltJ evil, IN the point Of view o
| public economy, becomes more and more appar
ent Slavery was essentially monopoly 0
labor, and as such locked tho states whore j
prevailed against the incoming Of free industry
Where labor was the properly OF tho capitalist
Che white man was excluded from employment
| or had but the second best chance ot finding it
and the foreign enigrant turned away from thC
region where bis condition would be 70 ptaclr
Gus W it'll the destruction Of the monopoly
Tree labor viii hasten from all paris OF tna CIV
ilized world 70 assist in developing various and
lmmeasurablo resources which have hitherto lain
dormant. The eight or nine states nearest the
Gull OF Mexico have soil oi exuherant erti!
ily, climate friendly TO long life, and can sus
taln denser population than Is found as yer in
any part OF our country. And the future lu11x
OF population to them will be mainly from the
North or from the most cultivated nations in Eu.
rope. From the suherlngs that have attended
them during our late Struggle let Us look away to
the future, which Is sure TO be laden Tor them
with greater prosperity chan mas ever before
been known. The removal OF the monopoly Of
slave labor 10 a pledge that those regions Will be
peopled by numerous and enterprisi1g 1opu.
latlo1, which will vie with anv 10 the Union n
compactness, inventive genius, wealth and in
dusry.
Our Government springs from and was made
ior the people-nOt the people for tho Govern
ment To them ii owes allegiance from them
it must derive its courage, strength, and WIS
dom. But, while the Government is thus bound
to defer to the people, from whom it derives It's
existence, it should, from the very cOnsidera ion
OF Its orgln be strong IN its power Of resistance
70 the establishment Of inequalities MonopO-
pies, perpetutles, and class legislation are con-
trary 90 the genius OF free government, and
ought not to be allowed Here, there Is no room
for iay0ret classes or monopOlles the puucpe
OF our Government IS that Of equal laws and
freedom Of industry Wherever monopoly at
tains ioothod 1t is sure 70 be a source OF dam
ger, dl4c)rl, and trouble. We shall but fulfil
our duties as legislators by according equal
and exact justice 10 all men special privileges
10 none. The Government ls subordinate to th:
people , but, as the agent and representative Of
the people, i must be held superior to monoples,
which, IN themselves, ough never to be granted,
and which, where they exist, must be subordln-
ate and yield to the Government
The Constitution conies On Congress the right
to ogulat3 commerce among the several States.
Il ls VI the frs. necessity, for the maintenance
OF the Union, that that commerce should bl free
and anobstructed No State can DO justified 10
any device to tax the transit of travel and cym.
merce between states The position OF many
States Is such that, II they were allowed to take
advantage Of Tor purposes Of local revenue, the
commerce between States might be njunously
burdened, or even virtually prohibited. ltsl
best, while the country is sill young, and while
the tendency to dangerous monopolies Of tins
kind is still feeble, to use the power Of Congress
80 as to prevent any selfish lmpeliment to the
Tree circulation ot men and merchandise. A
tax on travel an merchandise, 10 taclr transit, !
constitutes one Of The worst forms OF monopoly, |
and the evil IS increased il coupled with denial
OF the choice OF route. When the vast extent Of /
or country is considered, 1t is plain that every
obstacle to the free circulation OF commerce be- |
tween the States ought 10 be sternly guarded /
against BY appropriate legislation, within the
limits Of the Constitution.
The report Of the Secretary Of th e Interior ex-
plains the condition Of the public lands, the tran
'ac!ions Of the Patent Office and toe Pension /
Bureau, the management Of our Indian Affairs, /
the progress made in the construction Of the Pa. /
'lac railroad, and furnishes information in refer
snce TO matters Of local interest in the District of
Joumbls. IL also presents evidence OF the sue
,essfll operation Of the Homestead Act, uuder
he provisions Of which l,l60,j33 acres Of the
public lands were entered during the last fiscal
,eM-more than one-i0urih Of the whole number
't acres sold or otherwise disposed of during that
period. Ii is estimated that the receipts derived
rom THIS source are sufficient to cover the ex.
lenses incident 70 the survey and disposal of The
Auds entered under this Act, ald that payments
q cash TO the extent Of from forty TO fiy per
's3t viii be made bf settlers, who MAJ thus at
my time acquire title before tGe expiration Of the
leriod At which it would Otherwise vest. The
l5mesiead policy was established ony afer !olg
nd earnest rssslaucsi experience proves It's Wis
ION. The lands, in the hands Of indus rious set.
lers, whose labor creates wealth and contributes
o the pubic resources, are worth more to the
jnlIed States than II they had been reserved as
oAtudc for future purchasers.
The lamentsbe events Of the last four Years,
nd the sacrifices made by the gallant men oi our
rmy and navy, have svelled the records Of the
'enHon Bureau to an unprecedented extent. On
he JOth day OF June last, the total number Of {
was S5,9S6, requiring for their annual
ay, exclusive OF expenses, the sum Of SS,023, ,ii5.
he number OF sppucatons that have been allowed
nce that date Will require large increase Of this
mount for the next hsca year. The means for .
he payment OF the 'upends due, under existing {
.Ss, to our disabled soldiers and sailor, and TO
he families Of such as have persisted in the soryce
( the country, will no doubt be cheerfuy and
romp,ly granted. grateful people will not {
estate 10 sanction any measures having for their {
beet the relief of soldiers mutiaed and families I
lade faIhtrless in tie Efforts to preserve our ma.
Ional sXlstencs.
The report Of the Postmaster General presents /
n encouraging exhibit OF the operations " the a
ost Office Department during the year The |
avenues OF the past year from he loyal States IL
lone exceeded the maximum annual receipts from '
] the States previous to the rebellion, in the /
an OF S60JS 09l and the annual average in. 5
rsase OF revenue during the last four years, COM L
lrtd with the revenues Of the four years inme- q
ately preceding the rebelh n, was S3533, ,Si5. n
he revenues Of the last fiscal year amounted to J
1906 l5S and the expenditures TO Sl369i,- s
y, leaving surplus OF receipts over expepdi- a
Tres of SS6l,f30 Progress has been made IN q
storing The postal service in the southern States u
he views presented by the Postmaster General a
,ainsi the policy OF granting subsidies to ocean u
ail steamship lines upon established routes and "
favor OF continuing the present system, which
mts the compensation Tor ocean service 10 the U
os,age earnings, arc recommended 20 the careful q
'nsidemiion OF Congress. !
1t appears, from the report Of the Secretary OF Il
lie Navy, that while, at the commencement Of Il
ie presen, year, there were in commission $50 C
.ssels of all classes and descriptions, armed with 5
)O0 guns and manned by'5l 900 men, the uum. d
" oi vessels at pre,ent in commissions M, 4
ith $50 guns and II, l2s men BY this prompt 3
.ducton Of the naval forces the expenses Of the /
ovenment have been largely diminished, and o o
lmber Of vessels, purchased for naval purposes 81
=. a. . -. -. -. 80 - IN