The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-12-09

representative Of the people, 1t must be held
superior to monopolies, which. in themselves,
ought never to be granted, and which, where
they exist, must be subordinate and Weld to
the Government.
The Constitution conlers on Congress the
right TO regulate commerce among the sever
al States. 1t is of the first necessity, for the
maintenance of the Union, that that com
merce should Re free and uuobstrucled. No
State can be justified in any device TO tax
the transit of travel and commerce between
States. The position OF many States Is snch
that; if they were allowed to take advantage
of it for purposes of local revenue, the com
merce between States might be injuriously
burdened or even virtually prohibited. 1t is
best, while the country is still young. and
Will. the tendency to dangerous monopoes
Of this kid is still feeble, to use the power
OF Congress so a to proven; any selfish i'm
pediment to the free circulation of men and
merchandise. 4 tax on travel and merchan-
disc, III their transit, constructs one OF the
worst forms Of monopoly, and the evil is
increased if coupled with a denial of the
choice of route. When the vast extent of
our country is considered. it is plain that
eyery obstacle TO the free circulation Of com
merce between the States ought to be sternly
guarded against by appropriate legislation.
within the limits of e Constitution.
I The report of the Secretary of the Interior
explains the condition of the public lands,
the transactions of the Patent Office and the
/ Pension Bureau. the mana cement of our
Indian affairs, the progress made in the con
! s,ructiou of the Pacific Railroad, and furn-
! ishes Information in retereuce to matters of
I local interest in the pistr+et OF Columbia
( 1t alSD presents evidence Of the successful
( operation of the Homestead Act, under The
/ provision. Of which 100 533 acres of the
public lands were entered durug the last
! fiscal year-more than Onc~tourtL of the
/ whole number of acres sold or otherwise dis
posed of during that period. 1t Is estimated
that the receipts derived from this source
sufficient 20 cover the expenses incident 10
the survey and disposal of the land. entered
uu Ter this Act, and that payment in cash to
the extent Of from forty to fifty per cent. will
~be made by settlers, who NAV thus at aay
time acquire title before the expiration Of he
period al which it would Otherwise vest. The
homestead policy was established only after
long aud earnest resistance: experience
proves its wisdom The lands, IN the hands
# industrious settlers, whose labor crea es
wealth and contributes TO the pablic re-
sources. are worth more to the United States
than If they had been reserved as "a solitude
for future purchasers.
The lameutable events Of the last fnIr
wears, aud the sacrifices IN de by the gal
liant men OF our Army and Navy. have
s.e,ed the record, of the Pension Bureau
10 AN unprecedented extent. On the Both
dav % Jane last the total number OF peu-
siouers was 81 $50. requiring for their an
uu4l pay. exclusive of expenses, the sum
Of :, o.. rs. The number Of applications
that have been allowed suce that da:. will
require a large increase Of this amount for
the next fiscal year. The means for the pay
meul OF the .tpcuIs due. under existing laws.
to our disabled soldiers and sailors. and to
the families OF such as have persisted in the
service oflhe country. will 10 douhl he cheer
fully AID promptly granted. i grateful pso-
pie will MT hesitate to sanction any measure.
hay;ng for their object the relief Of soldiers
mutil,tpl and families made fa,h"rless IN
tn otfJrts to preserve oar national existence.
The report Of IA. Po ,mastcr General pres
ents III encouraging exhibit OF tie opera.
ton o! the Post Office Department during
the year. The revenues of the past year
from the loyal States alone exceeded the
MAXIMUM annual receipts 'r IN all the States
previous TO the rebellion in the sum o. So.
U3~ ,U3l and the annual avr.age increase OF
revenue during the last four years, CONF AIRED
with the revenues Of the four years imme
dia;ely preceding the rebellion. was Si.j3i,'
50. The revenues OF the last fiscal We, yea
lures to $l3.6ol72s. leaving .. surplus o
f receipts over expenditures of S-jl .i3o.-
, Progress has been ma e il. restoring the
postal service in the Sruthern States. The
!, views presented by tine POStmaste. Genera
| against the policy OF graulirg subsidies Il
ocean mail steamship line, upon established
, routes, and in favor o. continuing the prese Al
I system, which limits tie compensation FL
ocean service to the postage earnings, and
| recommended to the care vi consideration o
Congress.
1t appears from the report Of the Secreta
~ of the Navy, that while. 1T the confluence
2 men, Of the present yea, there were in CON
mission 80 vessels OF all classes and des
: cripiions armed with 5000 guns and naunec
: bY u 900 men, the number Of vessels e
D.. present in com mission i, II with $50 gun
= and 2,l2- men. By this prompt reduction
/ of the naval ip-ces the expenses Of he Gov
r eminent have been largely diminished. and
. number of vessels. purchased for naval pur
e poses from the merchant marine, have beer
; returned To- the peaceful pursuits OF cammerce
Z Since the suppression of active hostilitiss on
foreign sqGadrOus have been re-established
: and consist OF vessels much more -ifcien
vious TO the rebellion. The suggestion 70
e the enlargement Of the navy yards, and es
: pee allv for the establishment Of one in fresl
! water for iroa-clad vessels, is deserving q
/ consideration, as IS also the recommendation
l for different location aad more ample ground
: for the Naval Academy.
; In the report of the Secretary Of War,
general summary is given of the miitar
campaign OF ls5 and 1861. ending in tn
I suppression of armed resistance To the IA
I tiopa Authority in the insurgent States
n The operations Of the general administrative
n Bureaus Of the War Department during TN
past year are detailed. and an estimate made
+ Of the apprO; riations that will he required 70
n military purposes in the fiscal year. commnc
:. ing the 3O;h day of June, 1856. The la
y tiona military force on the LIST of May, 1865
i numbered ,O0O,Jl6 men. 1t is proposed t,
D reduce the military establishment to peace
o footing, comprehcnding fifty thousand troop
e of all arms. organized 50 as to admit of al
j. enlargement by filling up the ranks to eighty
. two thousand six hundred, if the circu nstanc
: es of the country shall require an augment t
ton Of the army The volunteer force ha
alreany been reduced b. the discharge from
f service of over eight hundred thousand troops
| and the Department is proceeding rapidly IL
A the work of further reduction. The wal
estimates are reduced from S5l6, 240, Isl I,
: S33. 81 ,i6l, which amount, IN the opinion
Of the Department, is adequate for Il peace
: estabisha ent The measures of re.renc b
. mcnt in each B ireau aud Branch of the ser
9 vice exhibit dIigent economy worthy o
, com neniation. Reference is also made il
the report to the necessity OF providing for
p uniform militia system, and 10 the prophet,
q. of making suitable provision for wounded
and disabled officers and soldiers
2 The reven e system of the country is
e subject of vital interest to its honor auf
4 prosperity and should command the earnes