The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-12-09

prosperity than has ever bsfore been
known. The removal Of tho monopoly
Of slave labor is pledge that those regions
will be peopled by numerous and enter
prising population, which will vie With any
in the Union in compactncss, inventive ge-
MUS, wealth and industry.
Our Government springs from and was
made for the people-not the people for
tho Government. To them it owes allegi-
snce; from them it ne ust derive its courage,
strength and wisdom. But while the Go
vernment is thus bound to defer to the
people, from whom it derives it's existence,
it should, from the very consideration Of
its origin, be strong in its power of re-
sistance to the establishment Of inequali-
ties. Monopolies, perpctuities and class
free government, and ought not to bo
allowed. Here there is no room for favored
classes or monopolies; the principle of our
Government is that of equal laws and
freedom of industry Wherever monopoly
attains foot-bold, ~ is sure to be a source
but fulfil our duties as legislators by ac-
cording "cqual and exact justice to all
men, special privileges to none. The
Government is subordinate to the people;
but as the agent and representative of the
people, it must oe held superior to mono
poles, which, in themselves, ought never
to be granted, and which, where they exist,
must be subordinate and yield to the Go
vernment.
The Constitution confers on Congress
the right to regulate commerce among the
several States. 1t is of the first necessity,
for the maintenance Of the Union, that
that commerce should be free and unob-
structed. 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 commerce between
States might be injuriously burdened, or
the country Is still young, and while the ten
dency to dangerous monopolies of this
kind is still feeble, to use the power Of
Congress so as to prevent any selfish i'm
pcdimcnt to the free circulation of men
and merchandise. A tax on travel and
merchandise, in their transit, constitutes
one OF the worst forms of monopoly, and
the evil is increased if coupled with
denial Of the choice of route. When tho
vast extent of our country is considered,
it Is plain that every obstacle to the free
circula ton OF CO .nmerce between the States
ought to be sternly guarded against by
appropriate legislations, within the limits
of the Constitution.
The report of the Secretary Of the Inte-
rior explains the condition Of tie public
lands, the transactions of the Patent Office
and the 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 District of
Columbia. It also presents evidence of
the successful operation Of the Homestead
Act, under the provisions OF which /, ,16O-
533 acres of the public lands were entered
during the last fiscal 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 arc 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 settlers, who may thus Mt any
time acquire title before the expiration Of
the period at which it would otherwise
vest. The homestead policy was estab-
Eshed only after long and earnest resist
ance; experience proves its wisdom. The
lands, in the hands of Industrious 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 solitude for future pur-
chaSerS.
The lamentable events OF the last four
years, and the sacrifices made by the gal
liant 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 pen
sioners was 1896, requiring for their an
nual pay, exclusive of expenses, the sum
of So, 023 AIS. The number Of applications
that have been allowed since that date will
require a large increase Of this amount for
the next fiscal year. The means for the
payment of the stipends due, under exist
ing laws, to our disabled soldiers and
sailors, and to the families Of such as have
pcrished in the service OF the country, will
no doubt be cheerfully and promptly
granted. A grateful people will not hesi-
tate to sanction any measures having for
their object the relief of soldiers mutilated
and families made fatherless in the efforts
to preserve our national existence.
The report of the Postmaster General
presents an encouraging exhibit of the
operations of the Post Office Department