Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-12-07

Distrlct OF Columbia, Ii also presents evidence
of the successful operation OF the Homestead
Act, under the provisions OF which ,lbO,5S3
acres OF the public lands We're entered during
the last fiscal yegr-more than one-tourth of the
whole number OF acres sold or otherwise dis
posed OF during that period, II Is estimated
that the receipts derived from this source are
sufficient TO cover the expenses incident 10 the
survey and disposal OF the lands entered under
this Act, and that payments in cash 10 the eN-
tent OF nom forty 10 hlty per cent VIII be made
by settlers, who may thus az any time acquire
title before the expiration of the period AT which
Il would otherwise vest, The homestead policy
was established only after long and earnest re-
sistancei experience proves it, wisdom, The
lands, in the hands of industrious settlers whose
labor creates wealth and contributes TO the pub.
lie resources, are worth more 10 the United
States than il they had been reserved a. soil
tude for future purchasers
PENSION BUREAU,
The lUmeutable 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 3Oth day of June last, the total number
OF pensions was S., 9S6, requiring for their annual
pay, exclusive of expenses, the sum of SS023
li5, The number of applications that have been
allowed since that date will require a large in
crease of this amount for the next fiscal year
The means for the payment of the stipends due,
under existing laws, to our disabled soldiers
and sailors, and to the families of such as have
doubt be cheerinlly and promptly granted. A
grateful people will not hesitate 10 sanction any
measures having for their object the relief Of
soldiers mutlated and families made tatherless
in the efforts 10 preserve the national existence
PosToFFICE DEPARTMENT,
The report ofthc Postmaster General presents
an encouraging exhibit of the operations of the
Postolice Department during the year The
revenues of the past year from the loyal State.
alone exceeded the maximum annual receipts
rom all the States previous to the rebellion, in
the sum Of S6,039, 09t; and the annual AVERAGE
increase Of reve nue. during the last four wears
compared with the revenues OF the four yeo-
Immediately preceding the rebclli', -
unlimited NJ nr the last fiscal wear
- ~ 81, 556, i5S, and the expenditures
" SEanJ4 rs, leaving a surplus Of receipts over
expenditures OF 1851 4;O. Progress has been
HW aae 10 restoring the postal service in the
IN .GCd States. The views presented by the
postmaster General against the policy of grant
ing subsidies 10 ocean mail steamship lines upon
established routes, and in favor OF continuing
the present system, which limits the compeusa-
for ocean service TO the postage earnings, are
recommended TO the careful consideration Of
Congress.
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
II appears from the report Of the Secretary
of the Navy, that while, nj the commencement
Of the present year, there were in commission
$50 vessels of all classes and descriptions,
armed with 5000 guns and manned by 5l,OOO
men, the number of vessels at present in COM
mission is III with $40 guns and ~ t2S men.
BY this prompt reduction of the naval forces the
expenses of the Government have been largely
diminished, and a number of vessels, purchased
for naval purposes from the merchant marine
have been returned to the peaceful pursuits Of
commerce Since the suppression Of active
hostilities our foreign squadrons have been re-
established, and consist of vessels much more
efficient than those employed on similar service
previous to the rebellion. The suggestion for
a on al he II q WV rGs md
ally for the establishment of one in fresh water
for irOp-clad vessels, il deserving of considcra-
ton, d. is also the recommendation for diff
lerent location and more ample grounds for a
Naval Academy.
WAR DEPARTMENT.
In the report Of the Secretary of War, gen
eral REPORTS 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 of the
general administrative bureaus of the War De-
partment during the past year are detailed, and
an estimate made of the appropriations that
will be required for military purposes in the
fiscal year commencing the Both day of June,
1866. The national military force on the LIST OF
May. 1865, numbered ,QQ0,516 men, II is pro
posed to reduce the military establishment TO a
peace footing, Comprising fifty thousand troops
of all arms, organized so az 10 admit of an en-
largement by filling up the ranks to eighty-tWo
thousand 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
Their reduction, The war estimates reduced
from S5l6, 2lO, l3I TO S33,sI4 I61, 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
commentator. Reference is also made in the
report to the necessity of providing for a uni
fOrD mil - If
making suitable provision for wounded and dis
abled officers and soldiers.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
The revenue system of the country ia q subject
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 a full aud 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 June, 1866 |
might content myself with reference to that
report, in which you will find all the information
required for your deliberations and decision
| But the paramount Importance of the subject 20
impresses llSef upon my mind, that | cannot
but lay before you my views Of the measures
which are required for the good character, and,
might almost way, for the existence Of this
people The life Of a republic lies certainly in
the energy, virtue, and intelligence of its citi-
zens; but it is equally true that good revenue
system Is the life of an organized government.
meet you at a time when the nation has YOlun-
tarlly burdened itself with debt unprecedented
in our annals. Vast as il its amount, it fades
away into nothing when compared with the
countless blessings that will be conferred upon
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 ipau-
| gurate just policy, which shall at once be put
| in motion, and which shall commend Itself to
III n iF9 pNr,fiY
| We must aim at nothing less than the complete
placement of the financial evils that necessarily
followed state Of civil war. We must endeaV-
or 10 apply the earliest remedy IS the deranped
state of the currency, and NOT shrink from de-
vlsing policy which, without being oppressive
TO the people, shall Immediately begin TO effect
reduction Of the debt, and, if persisted in dis
charge 1t fully within definitely fixed number
ofiyears.
NATIONAL CURRENCY.
II is our first duty to prepare in earnest
for our recovery from the evcr-increasing
evils of sa rredeemable currency. without q
sudden reyulsion, and yet without untimelv
representation. Fer that end, we must
each IN OR respective POSITIONS, prepare the
way. hold il the duty of the Executive to
insist upon frugafity in the expenditures
and SOARING economy is itself a great
National resource. OF the Banks to which
authority has been given to issue notes Sc
cured by bonds Of the United States. we
may require the greatest moderation ard
prudence, and the law nlust be rigidIv.eu
forced when it's lnlts are exceeded IVo