Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-12-20
VOLUME XXX. No 5l3

! CerlfCu lrOlu lulS oOuTCo BIC oullCieuL w CO|
er,, the expenses incident to the survey an
/ disposal OF the lands entered under this Ac
and that payments in cash to- The extent {
from forty,to fifty per cent. will be made b
settlers swho.may thus. at saay time ac9uir
title before the expiration of the period a
which it would. otherwise vest. The home
stead policy was established only after. lopl
and earnest resistance; experience proves it
wisdom. The lands, in the. hands Of indus
I'trious settlers, whose labor creates wealtl
and contributes to the public resources, art
worth more to the United States than if the
had been reserved as solitude for future
purchasers.
%. The lamentable e3entsofthe last four years
and the sacrifices made by tie gallant; mer
of our Army and Navy, have swelled' the
Pension Bureau to an unprecedented extent
On the Both day Of June last, the total mum:
Der Of pensioners was. S5,936, requiring for
their. annual, pay, exclusive Of expense, the
sum Of 5000, AS. The number Of appliea.
tious 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 tho stipehds due, under existing
laws, to our disabled soldiers and sailors, and
to the families of such as have perished in
the service OF the country, will no doubt be
cheerfully and promptly granted. A grateful
people will not hesitate to sanction any ,nlea-
sures having fer their object the reliof' of the
soldiers mptilated and families made father
less iu the efforts to- preserve our national
existence ..4...s;..,~ =.
The report of the Postmaster General pre-
sents an encouraging exhibit Of the. opera.
tions, of the, Post Office Department daring
the year. The revenues of the past year from
the loyal States alone exceeded the maximum.
annual receipts from all the States previous
to the rebellion, in the sum Of S6,63aG9I; ;
aud the annual increase Of revepue during the
last four years, compared WITH the revenues
of tho four years Immediately preceding the,
was $685., S45. Tie revenues of
the last fiscal year a,n nounted to $l4 $50 l58,
and the expenditures to Sl3,694, ,T2S, leaving
a surplus of receipt over expenditures OF
$96l ,430. Progress has been made in re.
storing the postal service in The Southern
States. The views presented by the Post
master General against the pollcJ Of grant.
ing subsidies 10 ocean, mail steamship lines
upon established routes, aud in favor of con-
tinuing the present system, which limits the
for ocaan service to the pos
tage earnings, arc recommended to the care
ful consideration Of Congress.
1t appears, from the report Of the Sccreta
ry Of lhe Navy, that while, at the commence
inent of the present year, there we're in com.
mission $50 vessels Of all classes and .descrip.
lions, armed with 5000 guEsSand manned by
$1,000 mcn, the numbcrof vessels ut present
N commission is Hi with'S3G guns and r..
LIS men. BY this prompt reduction otithe
naval forces The expenses of The government
nave been largely diminished, and number
of vessels, purchased for naval purposes from
.he peaceful pursuits u Commerce: Is1 Srrcu &C
he suppression of active hostilitics our for
,igu squadrons have been re-estabishcd, ard
consist of vessels much more efficient than
hose employed" on similar service previous
o the rebellion. The suggestion for the en-,
argemcnt Of the navy yards, and especially
or The establishment OF one iu fresh water
or iron-clad vessels, is deserving OF consid-
.ration, as is also the recommendation for
lilferent location ana more ample grounds
or the Naval Academy.
In the report Of the Secretary of War,
general summary is given of the military
campaigns of 1864 aud 1865, ending ia the
Of armed Resistance to the no.
onal authority in the insurgcnt States. The
operations Of tie general administration Bu-
'eaus Of the War Department during TIE.
,ast year arc detailed, aud an estimate made
II the appropriations that will be required
ur military purposes in the fiscal year COM
nencing the 30th day Of June 1865. The
national military force on the lst of May,
1865, numbered / ,O00,5l6. 1t is proposed to.
-educe the military establishment to peace
ooting, compreheuding fifty thousand troops
ot all arms, org 4Aized so as to admit of an
by filling up the ranks 80 eighty.
.wo thousand six hundred, if the circunl-
stances OF the country should require an aug.
nentation of the army. The volunteer force
las already been reduced by the discharge
rom service of over eight hundred; thousand
.roops, aud the Department is proceeding
'apidly in tue work oil further reduction,
The war estimates are reduced from $5lG,-
,4O, ,l5l 10 SS3,Sl4.4Gl, which amount, in
he opinion Of The Department, is adequate
Or a peace establishment. The measures of
,etrencbment i'll each Bureau and branch OF
he service exhibit a diligcnt economy wor.
lily of commendation. reference is also
made in, the report to, the necessity of provi-
ling for uniform, militia system, and .he.
of making suitable provision for
Wounded and disabled officers and soldiers.
The revenue sys,sln of the country is q
subject Of vital INTEREST," to its honor aud pros,
oerlry, and should command the earnest con,
,ideration ot Congress. The Secretary Of
The Treasury will lay before you lull and
detailed report Of the receipts and disburse
nehts Of the last fiscal year, of the first
quarter of tho present fiscal year, ofltbe
probable receipts and expenditures for the
,ther three quarters, and The estimates for
he year tolluwing The -SO.h, of June, 1866.
m,ght cunteat myself with reference to
hat report, in which YOU will fud all the
required. ior you deliberations
and decision. But the paramount importance
Il the subject So presses itself son my OVID
mind, that / cannot, but lay before you my
views Of the measures which are required
TOR the good character, and, | might almost
cay, for The existence of this people. The
life of republic lies certainly in tho energy,
virtue. and intelligence Of its citizens: but