Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-12-08

litll W Tue
The Constitution cOnfers on Congress the rishi
to regulate commerce among the several States
II is Of the first necessity, for the maintenance
Of the Union, that that commerce should be fires
and unobstructed. No State can be justified in
any DEVICE to tax the transit Of travel and com
merce between States. The position Of many
States is such that, il they were allowed to take
advantage of it for the purposes Of local reye
nue.. the comnerce between States might be IN
juriously burienei. or even prohibited. IL i
best, while the country IS still young. and while
the tendency to dangerous monopolies OF TINS
Kind is sill feeble, 70 use the power Of Congress
so as TO prevent any selfish impeachment 10 the
free circulation Of men and merchandise. A tax
on travel and merchandise, ia their transit, con
s,itufes one of the worst forms ofmonOpoly, and
the evil is increased II coupled with denial o.
the choice Of route. When the vast extent Ct
our country is considered. it is plain that every
obstacle TO the free circulation Of commerce be
tween the States ought to be sternly gusrdei
against by appropriate legislation, within the
limits Of the Constitution.
The report Of the Secretary Of the Interior OK
plains the condition Of the public lands. the
transactions Of the Patent Office and Pension
Bureau. the management of our Indian affairs
the progress made in the construction OF the
Pacific railroad, and furnishes information IN
reference to matters Of local interest in the DIS
trio; OF Columbia. II also presents evidence
the successful operation Of the Homestead Act
under the provisions Of which l,l6O,5jS acre
of the public lands were entered during the last
fiscal year-more than one-fourth Of the whole
number of acres sold CT otherwise disposed o.
during that period. I, IS estimated that the re
ceipis derived from this source are sufficient &c
Ia tpctl,ut tn fha and
disposal Of tbs lands entered under this Act.
and that payments in cash to the extent Of from
forty to 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 would
otherwise vest. The homestead policy was e.
tablished only after long and earnest resistance
experience proves its wisdom. The lands in the
hands Of industrious settlers. whose labor ere
ates wealth and contributes TO the public re
sources, are worth more 10 the United States
than If they had been reserved as solitude for
future purchasers.
The 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 unprecedented extent
On the 30th day of June last, the total number
Of pensioners was s5, $50, requiring for their an
nual pay. exclusive Of expenses. the sum Of IS
OPS, 4i5. TIE 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, 10 our disabled soldiers and
sailors and 10 the families Of such as have per
ished in the service ofthe country, viii co doubt
be cheerfully aud promptly granted. a CRATE
fu people will not hesitate 10 sanction any meas
having for their object the relief Of soldier:
mutilaiel and families made fatherless in the
efforts to preserve our national existence.
The report Of the Postmaster General pre-
sents an encouraging exhibit Of the operations OIL
the Post Office Department during the year
The revenues Of the past year from the loya
States alone exceeded the maximum annual re.
ceipts from all the States previous q, the rebel
lion, in the sun Of SO .O3S ,OJl; AMI the annua
average increase Of revenue during the last foul
years, compared with the revenues Of the foul
years Immediately preceding the rebellion. VA
s., $50, SIS The revenues Of the last hscl
year amounted 70 Sli .5SS. l5S, and the eIQen
ditures 10 Sl3 .G4i, rs, leaving a surplus Of re
ceipis over expenditures o; 1851, $40. ProEres!
has been made in restoring the postal service il
tie Southern States. The views presented By
the Postmaster General against the policy o
granting subsidies 20 ocean mail steamship line
u
uing the present system. which limits the com
pensition for ocean service to the postage earn
I ings, are recommended &C the careful cous:ierl
ton Of Congress.
Il appears, from the report Of the Secretary O
the Navy, that while At the commencement o
| the present year, there we're N commission 50
vessels az all classes and descriptions, arme
with 5000 guns and manned by 81 0)0 men, tn
number q vessels at present in commission
! IL, with $50 guns anl l2,l2S men. b thu
I promp: reduction e the naval forces the expen
/ ses Of the Government have been largely dimin
I shed, and a number q vessels. purchased &
/ naval purposes from the mercantile marine
I have been returned to the peaceful pursuit, O
| commerce Since the suppression Of active hos
| Utilities our foreign squadrons have been re
/ established, and consist Of vessels much NOR
I eficien; than those employed on similar ssrvic
previous to the rebellion. The suggestion for ;h
| enlargement II the navy yaris, AMI espec 'lll
| Tor the establishment OF one in fresh wl'er 70
! iron-clad vessels IS deserving Of consideration
As l. also the recommendation far a different 10
I cation and more ample srounl- for the Nava
Academy
I In the report Of the Secretary Of War. a gen
.ral summary IS given of;he military campaign
/ o. 1864 and 1868, ending in the suppression O
armed resistance 10 the national authority in IN
| insurgent States The operations Of the genera
I Administrative Bureaus Of the War Department
/ during the past y.ar are detailed. an9 an Cs;i
mate made Of tn appropriations that will b
required FOR military purposes IN the fiscal yea
commencing the S0th day Of June, 1865. Th'
national military force on the LIST Of May. 1855
numbered 200. $40 men. II is proposed to re
| duce the military establishment TO a peace foot
| ing, compreherding fly thousand troops Of n
arms, org lniIed So A. TO admit Of an enlarge
| ment by hlling up the ranks 10 eighty two thou
sand .1 hundred, If the circumstances Of tn
! country should require an augmentation Of III
Army The volunteer force has already bceI
reduced by the di.charge from the service o
! over eight hundred thousand troops, and IN
| Depattmen: IS preceding rapidly in the work o
| further reduction. The war estimates are re
duced from S5Gl .2i0, Isl TO 3,S1i, i6l ,Whicl
amount, in the opinion Of the Department, !
| ADEQUATE for peace establishment. The meas
ures Of re;renchment in each Bureau and brancl
Of the service exhibit 4 diligent economy WORTH
Of commendation Reference is also made il
the report to the necessity Of proviiing for
uniform militia system. and 10 the propriety o
making suitable provision FOX wounded and dis
sbed officers aud soldiers
The revenue system Of the country is subies
OIL VIAL - ANs uSuNt Aill
should command the earnest consideration o
Congress The Secretary OF the Treasury vii
lay before you full and detrilel report Of III,
receipts aad disbursements Of the last fiscal y.a
Of the FIRST quarter Of the present fiscal year
of the probable receipts and expenditures fol
the other three quarters. and the estimates fol
the year following the 50Ih Of June, 1866.
might content myself With reference to thai
report. in which you will fud all the informa-
ton required for your deliberations and deci.
ion. But the paramount impo ts1ce Of the
subject so presses itself on my own mind, thai
cannot but lay before you my views Of the
measures which are required for the good char
acter. and. might alsJ say, for the existence
Of this people. The life Of republic lies GER
isinly in the energy, virtue, and intell gence Of
its cititiEens but It is equally true that good
revenue system is the life Of sn organized gov
eminent. meet you at time when the nation
has voluntarily burdened itself With debt IN
preceiented IN our annals. Vast as is il.
amount, il fades away into nothing when COM
pared with the countless blessing that will be
conferred upon our country and upon man by
the preservation Of the naien's life. Nov, on
the first occasion Of the meeting Of Congress
since the return Of peace. il Is Of the utmost i'm
portance to Insugurate just policy which shall
at once be put in motion, and which shah CON-