Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-12-08

cord, and trouble. We shall but >ulhli our du-
tiesas Legislators by accnrdips~equai end exact
Justice 10 all meo," special yhvileges to nome
| The Government is subfdinate TO the people;
but, as the agent an5representatIve OF the peo-
ple il must be- >.deld superior to monopolies
which. in thedselSes, ought never to be grant
ed. and wbice, where they exist, must be subor-
dinate and yield to the Government.
The Constitution confers on Congress the
right to regulate commerce among the several
Statos. it is of the first necessity, for the main
tenance of the Union, that commerce should be
free and unobstructrd. No State can BE- justi-
fed in any device to tax toe transit oftravel 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 rev
enue the commerce between States might be in
juriously burdened or even virtually prohibited.
1t is best, while the country is still young, and
the tendency to dangerous monopolies of this
kind is still feeble to use the power of Congress
so rs to prevent any selfish impediment to the
free circulation of men aud merchandise. A tax
on travel and merchandise, in their transit, con-
stitutes one of the worst forms of monopoly, and
the evil is increased if coupled with denial of
the choice of route. When the vast extent of
our country is considered, it is plain that every
obstacle 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 ofthe Interior ex-
plains the condition of the public lands the
transactions of ihe 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 matter of local interest in the Dis
trics of Columbia. 1t also presents evidence of
the successful operation of the Homestead Act,
under the provisions of which l. $50 533 acres of
public lands were entered during the last fiscal
year-more than one-fourth of the whole num-
Der of acres sold or otherwise disposed ofduring
that period. 1t is estimated that the receipts
derived from this source are sufficient to cover
the expenses incident to the survey and dispo-
sal of the lands entered under this Act, and the
payments in cash to the extent Of from forty to
fiftv per cent will be made by settlers, who may
thus at any time acquire title before the expira-
ton of the period at which it would othetwise
vest. The homestead policy was established
only after long and earnest resistance: expert
ence proves lis wisdom. The lands, in ,be
hands of industrious settlers, whose labor crP-
ates wealth and contributes to the public re-
sources are worth more to the United States
than if thev had been reserved as solitude for
future purchases.
The lamsntable 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 10 an unprecedented ex-
tent On the 3Oth day of June last; the total
number of pensioners was S5 966, requiring for
their annual pay, exclusive of expenses, the sum
of SS,O23445 The number ofapplications that
have been allowed since that date will require
a large increase of this amount for the next fis-
cal year. The means for the payment of the
stipunds due under existing laws, to our disa-
bled soldiers and sailors, and to the families of
such as have perished in the service Ofthe coun-
try, will no doubt be cheerfully and promptly
granted. A grateful people will not hesitate to
sanction any measures having for their object
the relief of soldiers mutilat, 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 during the year. The
revenues ofthe past year from the Loyal States
alone exceed the maximum annual receipts from
all the States previous 70 the rebellion, in the
sum of $6,38,09l; and the annual average in
crease of revenue during the last four years,
compared with the revenues of the four years
immediately preceding the rebellion, was 49,
533,S45 The revenues of the last fiscal year
amounted to $14,556258, and the expenditures
to Sl3,694, 728, leaving surplus of receiptsov
expenditures of 1851, ,439. Progress has been
Southern States. The views presented by the
Postmaster General against the policy of gaant-
subsidies to ocean mail steamship lines upon es-
tablished routes and in favor of continuing the
present system, which limits the compensation
for ocean service to the postage earnings, are re-
commended to the careful consideration of Con-
gress.
1t appears, from the report of the Secretary Of
the Navy, that while, at the commencement of
AZ S90
vessels of all classes and descriptions, armed
with 5000 guns and 81, 900 men, the number of
vessels at present in commission is III, with
$50 guns and l2,l28 men. By this prompt re-
duction of the naval forces the expenses of the
Government have been largely diminished, and
a number of vessels, purchased for naval pur-
poses from the merchant marine, have been re-
turned to the peaceful pursuits Of commerce.
Since the suppression of active hostilites or for
eign squadrons have been re-established, and
consist of vessels much more efficient than those
employed on similar service previous to the re-
belion. The suggestion for the enlargement of
the navy yards, and especially for the establish
ment of one in fresh water for iron-clad vessels,
is deserving of consideration, as is also the re-
commentator for different lobation and more
ample grounds for the Naval Academy.
In the report of the Secretary of War, gen.
eral summary is given of the military campaigns
of 1864 and 1865, ending in the suppression of
armed resistance to the national authority in the
insurgent States. The operations ofthe gener.
al administrative Bureaus of the War Depart
ment during the last year are detailed, and an
estimate made of theappropriations that will be
required for military purposes in the fiscal year
commencing rhe 30th day Of June, 1866. The
natsonal military force on the 1st of May, 1865,
numbered 1000, Sic men. 1t is proposed to re-
duce the military establishment to peace foot
ing, comprehending fifty thousand troops of all
arms, organized so rs TO admit of an enlarge
ment by filling up the ranks to eighty-two thou
sand six hundred, if the circumstances of the
country should require an augmentation of the
army The volunteer force has already been
reduced by the discharge from service of over
eight hundred thousand troops, and the Depart
ment is proceeding rapidly in the work of fur
ther reduction. The war estimates are reduced
from $516, ,24O, 13l TO $50, ,8I4 46l, which amount
in the opinion of the Department, is adequate
for peace establishment. The measures ofre-
trenchment in each Bureau and branch of the
service exhibit diligent economy worthy of
eommendation. Reference is also mace in the
report to the necessity of providing for uni
form militia system, and to the propriety of
making suit able provision for wounded and dis
abled officers and soldiers.
The revedue system of the country is a sub
iect of vital interest to its honor and prosperity,
and should command the earnest consideration
of Congress The Secretary Of the Treasury
will lay before you full and detailed report of
the receipts and disbursements of the last fiscal
year, of the first quarter of the present fiscal
year, of the probable receipts and expenditures
for the other three quarters, and the estimates
for the year following the Both of Jnne 1867
might content myself with a reference to that
report in which you will find all the informa-
ton required for onr deliberations and decision
But the paramount Importance of the subject SO
presses itself on my mind, that cannot but lay
before you my views OF the measures which are
required for the good character and 1 might al
most soy, for the existence of this people. The
life of republic lies certainly in the energy, vir-
tue and intelligence of its citizens; but it is
equally true that good revenue system is the
life OF an organized government. Inject you at
a time when the nation has voluntarily burden
ed itself with debt unprecedented in our an
nails Vast as is its amount, it fades away into
nothing when compared with the countless
blessings that will be conferred our country and
upon man by the preservation of the nations
life Now, on the first occasion of the meeting
of Congress since the return of peace it is of the
utmost importance to inauguarate ajust policy,