The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-12-15

ed TO them; and then their future pros
perlty and condition must. after all. res
mainly on themselves If they fail. anc
so perish away, let us be careful that the
failure shall not be attributable to any de.
NAL OF justice. In all that relates to the
destiny of the freedmen, we need not be
too anxious 10 read the future; many in
cidents which, from speculative point OF
view, might raise alarm, will quietly SET
tie themselves.
Now that slavery is at an end or near
its end, the greatness of its evil. in the
point OF view of public economy. becomes
more and more apparent Slavery was
essentially monopoly of labor. and Is
such locked the states where it prevailed
against the incoming OF free industry
Where labor was the property of the cap
ltalist, the white man was excluded from
employment, or had but the second best
chance OF finding it: and the foreign emf
grant turned away from the region where
his condition would he So rrocariouS.-
With the destruction of the monopoly.
free labor will hasten from all parts OF
the civilized world TO assist in developinp
various and immeasurable resources which
have hitherto lain dormant. The eight or
nine states nearest the Gulf of Mexico
have Il soil of exhuberent fertility. a eli
mate friendly TO long life. and can sustain
denser population than is found as vet in
any part of our country And the future
influx to them will be mainly from the
North. or from the most cultivated ma
tions i'll Europe From the sufferings
that have attended them during our late
struggle, let us look away TO the future.
which Is sure 10 be laden for them with
greater Prosperity than has ever before
been known. The removal OF the mo-
nopolv of slave labor is a pledge that those
regions will be peoPled by numerous
and enterpri>lng population, which will
Vie with any in the Union in compaciness.
inventive Genius. wealth and industry.
Our government springs from and WAS
made for the peorle-not the people for
the government. To them it owes ale
elance; from them it must derive lis
courige. strength and wisdom. Bu..
while the government: Is thus bound to de-
fer to the people, from whom il derives liz
existence. it should. from the very consid-
Grafton OF Ifs or gin. he strong in lis pow
er ot resistance 10 the establishment oi IN
cqualilic>- Monopoiies. pcrpetuities. AMI
class legislation are contrary 10 the genius
"i free government ami ought not TO be
allowed. Here. there Is no room for IA
vored classes or monopolies the princi-
pie oi our government is that of equal
laws and freedom of industry. Wherever
monopoly attains a fooihold. ii i sure IL
he Il source of danger. di>corl and trouble.
We shall but fulfil our duties aS legislators
by according equal and exact justice 10
all men. special privileges TO none The
government l. subordinate 10 the people:
but. as the agent and representative of,
the people. ii must be held superior 10
monopolies. which, in themselves. ought
never 10 toe yrinted. and which. where
they exist. must be subordinate and Weld
10 the government.
The constitution conlers on congress
the ri "ht 10 regulate commerce among the
several states. 1t Is of the first necessity.
iOr the maintenance OF the | Mon. that
liiat commerce should le free and ur.ul-
structed- No stale can b. bejusiifi,rl in any
device 10 tax the transit of travel and
commerce between states The position
OF many states is such thai. ii they wer,
allowed 10 take advantage OF il Tor local
revenue. the commerce between stale,
irit bc iniuriuu>ly burIrned. or even
virtually prohibited 1t is best, while the
country Is still Young. and while the ten-
dency 10 dangerous monopulies of this
Kind l. still feeble, 10 use i'c power of
congress 80 a, TO prevent any selfish i'm
pc,liment TO the free circulation of men
and merchandise. \ tax on travel ami
merchandise, in their transit. constitutes
one OF the worst forms OF MONOPOLY. and
the evil Is increased if coupled with a de
nial of the choice oi ruuie. When the
vast extent of our country Is considered.
it Is PLAIN that every obstacle 10 the free
circulation of commerce between The
states ought 10 be siernly guarded against
10y appropriate legislation, within the lill-
lis OF the constitution.
The report Of the secretary of the inte-
rior explains the condition of the public
lands. The transactions of the patent office
and 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 inieres, i'm the District of
Columbia Ii also presents eyidence Of
the successful operation OF, the homestead
act. un'ler the the provi>in,, OF which
|, ,lio,535 acres of the publ lands were
entered during the hast fiscal year-ii.ore
imam one-foLrih of The whole number OF
acres sold or otherwise disposed OF during
that period Ii Is estimated that the rs-
ccipt> derived from this source are sufficient
10 cover the expenses incident. TO The sur
vey and disposal Of The Lands entered un-
der this act, and that payments in cash
10 ths extent OF from forty 10 fifty per
cent. will be made by the settlers, who
may thus IA any time acquire title before
the expiration OF the periol al which ii
would otherwise vest. The homestead
policy WAS established only after long and
earnest resiStence: experience proves IL
wisdom. The lands, in the hands of in