ahe 3lidh Sratult Democrat.
• • _ ... M .
BXOKZIBR^ -Proprietor
NEW SERIES,
A weekly Democratic i,^
Y HARVEY SICKLERa
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et paid within six months, <2.50 will be charged
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advertasing.
or . j j I . i
W make three] four, tiro ('Aree tixl one
one square weeks weeks mo'th'mo lAjWio' th year
Tot)! 1,25 2,25 2,671 3,0 i 5,00
do 200 'M 3,25 3.50 45 j 6,00'
3 do 300 3,75 4,75 5,50 j 7,00 9,00
ft Column 400 4,50* 6,50 8,00 10,00 15,00
1 ?„ 600 6 -50 10 00 12,001 17,00 25,00
I do 800 ' 7,00 14,00 18,00 25,00 35,00
I do'. loioo^ 2 ' 00 ' 17 ' 00 22.00,26,00-40,U0
A TORS and AUDI
TOR'S NOTICES, of the usual length, 12,50
OBITUARIES,- exceeding ten lines, each ; RELI
GIOUS and LITERARY NOTICES, not of genara
intarast, one half too regular rates.
Business Cards of one square, with paper, $5.
JOB WORK
ef all kind* neatly executed,"and at prices to suit
he times.
All TRANSIENT ADVERT I SEMENTS and JOB
WORK ir-ust be paid for, when ordered.
fiEO S.TUTTON, ATTORNEY AT LA AY
T Tunkhonnock, Pa. Office in Stark'a Brick
-eak, Tioga atieet.
HSt. COOPER, PHYSICIAN Jt SURGEON
• Newton Centre. Luzerne County Pa.
R.R. A W. E LITTLE, ATTORNEYS AT
LAW Officeoa Tioga street, TunkhanntickPa
I \TH. M. PI ATT, ATTORNEY AT LAW, 0
\ flea in Start's Brick Block Tioga St., Tunk
heunork, Pa.
£{h fluejiler Hmtse,
HARRISRURG, PENNA.
The undersigned having lately purchased the
n SURHLER HOUSE " moperty, has already com
menced such alteration* and improvement* as will
reader this old and popular Uoase equal, if not supe
riar, to any Hotel in the City of Harriaburg.
A continuance of the public patronage is refpect
fully solicited.
J GEO. J. BOLTON
WALL'S HOTEL,
LATE AMERICAN HOUSE/
TUN KHAN NOCK, WYOMING CO., PA.
rlllS establishment has recently been refitted an
furnished in the latest style Every attention
will be given to the comfort and convenier.ee of those
was patronise the House.
T. B. WALL, Owner and Proprietor ;
Tunkhanneck, September 11, 1861.
NORTH BRANCH HOTEL,
MESIIOPPEN, WYOMING COUNTY, PA
Wm. H. CORTRIGHT, Trop'r
HAVING resumed the proprietorship of the abov
Hotel, the undersigned will spare no effort
render the bouee an agreeable place of sojourn -
•11 who may favor it with their custom.
1 Win. II CORTRIGIIT.
Jnee, 3rd, 1863
gleans fMel,
TOWANDA., PA.
D- B- BARTLET,
f Late ef Birainard nonsii, Elmiba,N.Y.
PROPRIETOR.
The MEANS HOTEL, D one of the LARGEST
aid BEST ARRANGED Houses in the country—lt
is ttted up ia the most modern and improved style,
•ed SO pain ere spared to make it a pleasant and
agreeable stopping-place for all,
t 3, n2l, ly.
CLARKE, KEEfIEWO.,
MABL'KACTUBE R* AND WUOLKSALB DEALERS IB
LADIES', MISSES' & GENTS'
silk u\ Sassimere flats
ABD JOBBERS IB
HATS, CAPS, FURS, STRAW GOODS,*
PARASOLS AND UMBRELLAS,
BUFFALO AND FANCY ROBES,
CORBER OK LEONARD STREET,
jXdaW Swmbii
. *. CLARK, \
A e reeET, £
a tuilH. >
M7GIIAIAN,
M OILMAN, he* permanently located in Tunk
• bannock Borough, and respectfully tenderhi
professional service* to the citizens of this placeand
■erroundlng country.
ALL WORK WARRANTED, TO GIVE SATIT
IION.
.Office over Tutton's Lew Office near the Pos
•ffioe _________ _____________
* NEW
TAILORING SHOP
-rfbir having had a sixteen years prac
The 4uW. 'n catting and. making clothing
Keel experience .. -in this line to the citizen* o
offin NffiMh
gjcf ol*o* and vieiaity. M find hie shop the
Tbeee wiehiag to get FtU wu
•ee to get them. R, 6kit
Je*bi
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.
THE RESTORATION OF THE SOUTH.
EKN STATES AGAIN URGED
UPON CONGRESS.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS, dec.
Fellow-citizens of the Senate and House of
Rtpreseutativei ;
After a brief interval the Congre?s of the
United States resumes its annual legislative
labors. An all-wise and merciful Provi
dence has abated the pestilence which visit
ed our shores, leaving its calamitous traces
upon some portions of our country. Peace,
order, tranquillity, and civil authority have
been formally declared to exist throughout
the whole of the United States. In all of
the States civil authority has superceded
the coercion of arms, and the people, by
their voluntary aclion.are maintaining their
governments in full activity and complete
operation. The enforcement of the laws is
no longer "obstructed in any State by co r.-
binations too powerful to be suppressed by
the ordinary course of judicial proceedings"'
and the animosities engendered bv the w-r
are rapidlv yielding to the benefictent influ
ences of our free institutions, and to the
kindly effects of our unrestricted social and
commercial intercourse. An entire restor
ation of fraternal feeling must be the earnest
wish of every patriotic heart ; and we will
have accomplished our grandest national
achievement when,forgetting the sad events
of the past, and reim-mK-ring only their in
structive lessons, we resume our onward
career as a free, prosperous, and united
people.
In mv message of the 4-th of December,
1865,'-.ongress was irsf uucd ofthe meas
ures which had been iiLStittit.il by the Exe
cutive with a view to the gradual resto a
tion of the States in which t'ie insurrection
occurred to their relations with the General
Government. Provisional Governors bad
been appointed, Conventions call -d. Gov
ernors elected, Legislatures assembled, and
Senators and Representatives chosen to
the Congress of tiie United States Courts
had been opened for the enfoi cement of
laws long in abeyance. The blo. kade bad
bei n removed, custom-hou-es re establish
ed, and the internal revenue laws - |Hit in
force, in order that the people might con
tribute to the national income. I'osial op
erations had been r:iiewed,and efforts were
being made to restore tin into th. ir fonner
condition of efficiency. The .States them
selves had been asked to lake pait in the
high function o amending the ( gnsiiiut'on
and of thus sanctioning tip- extinction of
African slavery as one of the legitimate re
sults of our internecine struggle.
llaving progressed tin*- fur, the Execu
tive Department found that it had accom
plished nearly all that was within the scope
of its constitutional author ty. One tinner,
however, yet remain to I**. done before the
work of restoration could be completed, aml
that was the admission t<> Congress of loyal
Senators and Representatives from tie-
States whose people had rebelled agu fist
the lawful authority ot tfieGeheral Govern
ment. This question devolved upon the re
spective Houses, which by the Const itui ion,
are made the judges of the elections, re
turns, and qualifications of their own mem
bers, and its consideration at once engaged
the attention of Congress.
In the meantime, the Executive Depart
ment — no other plan having been proposed
by Congress—continued its efforts to per
fect, as far as was practicable, the resto a
tion of the proper relation between the ci
tizens of the respective States, the States,
and the Federal Government, extending,
from time to time, as the public interest
seem to requite, the judicial, revenue, and
postal systems of the Country. With the
advice and consent of the Senate, the r.p
cessary officers were appointed, and appro
priations made by Congress for the pay
ment of their salaries. The proposition to
amend the Federal Constitution, so as to
prevent the existence of slaverv within tln-
United States or any place subject to their
jurisdiction was. ratified by the requisite
number of States, and on the 18th day of
December, 1865, it was officially declared
to have become valid as a part ot the Con
stitution of the United States. All of tie-
States in which insurrection bad existed
promptly amended their Constitutions, so
as to make them conform to the greai
change thus effected in the organic law of
the land ; declared null and void all ordi
nance-sand laws of ecession ; repudiated
all pretended debts and obligations created
for the revolutionary purposes ol the insur
rection ; and proceeded, in good faith, to
tho enactment of measures for the projec
tion and amelioration of the condition of
the colored race. Congress, h .wever, yet
hesitated to admit any of these States to
representation ; and it was i?t until to
wards the close of the eighth month of the
session that an exception was made iff fa
vor of Tennessee, by the admission of her
Senators and Representatives,
I deem it a subject of jff'.found regret
that Congress has thus far failed to admit
to sea;s loyal Senators and Representatives
from the other States, whose inhabitants,
with those of Tennessee, had ejgaged in
the rebellion. Ten States—more than one
fourth of the whole number —remain with
out representation ; the seats ol fifty mem
bers in the House ot representatives and of
twenty members 111 the Senate arc yet va
cant—not by* their own consent, not by a
failure of election,but by the refusal of
gresfl to accept their credentials, ThtdflW
misaion, it is believed, would have accom
plished much towards the renewal and
"TO SPEAK HIS THOUGHTS IS EVERT FREEMAN'S *IGHT."-Tk#il#ffer#B.
TUiYKHANNOCK, PA., WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12. 18.66
strengthening of our relations as one people
and re-noved serious cause for discontent
on the pait of the inhabitants ot those
States. . It wouid have accorded with the
great principle enunciated in the Declara
tion of American Independence, 'hat no
people ought to hear the burden of taxation,
and yet. be denied the right of representa
tion, It would have been in consonance
with the express provisions of the Constitu
tion, that "each State shall have at least
one Representative," and "that no State,
without its consent, shall be deprived of its
equal suffrage in the Senate," These pro
visions were intended to S'-cure to every
State, and to the people of every State, the
right of representation in each House of
Congress ; and so important was it deemed
bv the framers of the Constitution that the
equality of the States in the Senate should
be preserved, that not even by an amend
ment of the Constitution can any State,
without its consent, be denied a voice in
that branch ot the National Legislature.
It w true, it has been assumed that the
existence of the States was terminated by
the rebellious acts of their inhabitants, and
that the insurrection having been suppress
ed, lliey wi re thenceforward to be con
sidered merely as c-"queted territories
The Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
Departments of the Government hav •,
however, with great distinctness and uni
form consistency, refused to sanction an
a-sumption so incompatible with the nature
of our republican svslt m: and with the pro
fessed objects of the war Throughout the
recent legislation of Congress, the undenia
ble fact makes itself apparent, that these
ten political communities are nothing less
than States of this Union. At the very
commencement of the rebellion, each House j
declared, willi a unanimity us remarkable I
as it wa- significant, that the war was not
waged, npoti our part, in any spirit of op
presaion, nor for any purpose of conquest
or subjugation, nor purpose .f overt hi <>w
iugor interfering with the tights or estab
lished iiiftitutions of those Slates, but to
defend and maintain the supremacy of the
Constitution and all laws made in pursu
ance thei'Hjf, and to preserve the Union
wall all the dignity, t quality, and rights of
the several Stales unimpaired ; and that
as soon a- these obj -cts weie "accomplish
ed the War ought, to cease." In some in
stances Senators were permitted to contin
ue their leg.slaxive functions, while in other
instances Representatives wets elected and
•idinittt-d to scats after their Stares ha 1 for
nialU declared their right to withdraw from
:lie Union, and were endeavoring to main
tain that right by force of aims. All >flhe
Stat's whose people were in insurrection,
is States, were included in the apportion
ment ot the direct tax of twenty millions
of dollars annually laid upon the United
States by the act approved sth August,
1st)I. Congress, by the act of March 4th,
1861, and by the appoitionment of repre
sentation thereunder also recognized their
presence a> States in tie Union ; and they
nave, for judicial purposes, been divid.d
into districts, as States alone can be divided.
I'lli* satne recognition appears in the recent
fegi-lation in reference to Tennessee,which
ovideidh rests upon tho factthat the func
tions of the >tate wt-ie not destroyed by
rite rebellion, but merely suspended ; and
that principle is of course applicable to
th.se States, which, like Tennessee,
tt'-mpted to renounce their places in the
IT • '• J
J *tton*
The action of the Executive Department
of the Government upon th s subject has
been iqilady d finite and uniform, and tin
purpose of the war was specific dly stated in
the Proclamation issued by my predecessor
on the 22d day of September. 1802. It was
then solemnly proclaimed and declared that
"hereafter, as heretofore, the war will— be.
prosecuted for the object of practically ie
storiug the constitutional relation between
I he United States and each of the States and
the people thereof, irr which States that re
lation is or may be suspended or disturb
ed," '*
The recognition of tho States by the Ju
dicial Department of the Government has
also been dear and cmclus ve in all pro
eeedings affeetit g thero a-< Slates, had in
the. Supreme, Ciicu t and District Courts
In the admission ofSenaturs and Ilepre
sentutivf#from any and all of the Stales,
there can be no just ground of apprehen
sion that persons who are disloyal will he
clothed v.th the powers of l gislation ; fori
this could not happen win n the Constitu
tion and the jaws are enforced by a vigi
tant and faithful Congress. Fucb house is
made the "Judge of the elections, returns
and qualifications of its own m mliers," and
may, "with the concurrence of two-thirds,
expel a member." When a Senator or
Representative presents his certificate of
election, lie may at once be admitted or re
p-cted; or should there be any question as
lo hi* eligibility, bis credentials may be te-
Icrrvd for investigation to the appropriate
committee-
be upon evid.-nce satisfactory to tiio J ous ?
of which he thus becomes a member, that
•he possesses the requisite Constitutional
aud legal qualifications. If refused admis
sion as a member for want of due allogians
to the Government, and returned to his
constituents, they are admonished that
none but persons loyal to the United States
will be allowed a voice in the Legislative
Councils of the nation, and the political
power and moral influence of Congress are
thus effectively exerted in tho interest* of
loyally to the Government and fidelity to
the Union. Up-n this question, so vitally
affecting the restoration ot the Union and
the permfth ncy of our present form of
goverumout, my convictions, heieiofore ex-
pressed, bate undergone no change; but*
on the contrary, tlieir eomctness has been
confirmed by rifhction and lime. It the
admission of loval un-tubeis to seats in the
respective House ot Congress was wise and
expedient a year g<>* it is no less wise and
expedient now. If this onomalous condi
tion is right now—if. in the exact condition
of these Stales at the present time, it is
lawful to exclude them front repiesuntation.
I do not see that the question will be chang
ed bv the efflux of time. Ten years hence,
if these States remain as they are, the right
of representation will be no stronger —the
right of exclusion will be uo weakir.
The Constitution of the United States
makes it the duty of the President to re
commend to the consideration of Congress
" such measures as he shall judge necessa
ry or expedient." I know of no mcasurq
more imperatively demanded by every con
sideration of national interest, sound poli
cy, and equal justice, than the admissions
of loyal members froin the now unrepre
sented States. This would consummate
the work of restoration, and exert a most
salutary influence in the re-establishraent
of peace, haimony and fraternal feeling.—
It would tend greatly to renew the confi
dence of the American people in the vigor
and stability of their institutions. It wu'd
hind us more closely together as a nation,
and enable us to show to the world the in
herent ami recuperative power of a Gov
ernment tonn<led upon the will of the peo
pie, and established upon the principles of
liberty; justice and intelligence. Our in
creased strength ami enhancee prosperity
would irref'ragably demonstrate the fallacy
4.fthe arguments against free itisikuiioii
drawn tiom our recent national ijprders
by the enemies of republican government.
The admission of loyal niemoers from the
State now excluded from Congress, by al
laying doubt and apprehension, would turn
capital now awaiting an opportunity for
investment, into the channels of trade and
industry. It would alleviate the present
coud tion of tlne States, and, by inducing
emigration, aid in the settlement of fertile
regions how urn uliivated, and had to an
increased production of thost staples which
have added >."> greatly to the wealth of the
nation and the commerce of the world. —
New fields of enterprise would he opened
to our progressive people, ami soon the de
vastations of war would be repaired, ami
all traces of our domestic differences effac
ed fhni the mind of our countrymen.
In our efforts to preserve " the unity of
Government which constitutes us one peo
ple," by restoring the States to the condi
tion whicltthey held prior to the rebellion,
we should be cautious, lest, having rescued
our nation from perils of threatened disin
tegration, we r< sort to 4 consideration, and
in the end absolute despotism. a< a remedy
for the n currence of similar troubles. The
war having terminated, ami with it all oc
casion for the exercise of powers of doubt
ful constitutionality, we should hasten to
bring legislation wuhin the boundaries
pi escribed by the Constitution, and to re
turn to the ancient landmarks established
by our fathers for the guidance of succeed
ing generations. ''The Constitution which
at anV time exists, until c tanged bv an ex
plicit and autbet tic act of the whole peo
ple, is sacredly obligatory upon all.'' '"lf,
in the opinion of the people, the distribu
thin or modification of the constitutional
powers be, in anv particular'wifing, h t it be
corrected by an amendment in the way in
which the Constitution designates. Hut
let there be no i-hange by us. rpation, for
it is the customary weapon by Vliicli free
Governments are destroyed." Washing
ton spoke these words to his countrymen
when, followed by their love and gratitude,
he voluntarily retired from the cares of
public life. "To keen in a'l tilings with
in the p; le of our constitutional powers,
and cherish the F deral Union as the only
rock of saf ty," were prescribed by Jcft'ei
son as rules of action to endear to his "conn
try men the true principles of their Consti
tution, and promote a union of sentiment
and action equally auspicious to their hap
piness and safety.''
Jackson held that the action of the Gen
eral Government should always be strictly
confined to the sphere of its apniopriate
rhitie-, and justly and forcibly urged that
our Government is n<-t to be maintained
nor our Union preserved "by invasions of
the rights and powers of the several State*,
lli thus attempting to make our General
Government strong, we make it weak. Its
true strength consists in leaving individuals
and States as much as possible to them
selves; 111 making itself felt, not in its pow
er, but in its beneficence; not in its control
but in its protect tun ; not in binding the
States more closely to the centre, but leav
ing each to move unrestructdl in its proper
constitutional orl-it.' These are the teach
ings of men whose deeds and set vies have
made tin m i lustrious, and who, long since
wit'drawn from scenes of life, have left to
heir country the rich legacy of their
i xamp'e, their wisdom, and their patriot
ism. Prawing ftcsh inspiration frotn their
lessons, let us emulate them in love of
country and respect for th e Constitution
and th> laws.
Tl.e report of the Secretary of the Treas
ury affords much information respecting
the revenue and commerce of the country.
His views upon the currency, and with
reference to a proper adjustment of our
revenue system, yitcrnal as well as impost,
are commended to the careful considera
tion of Congress. In roy I$M annual mes
sage I expressed ray general views upon
theso subjects. 1 need now only call atten
tion to the necessity of carrying into every
department of the Government a system
of rigid accountability, through retrench
ment, anu wise economy, With no excep
tional nor unusual expenditures, the op
pressive burdens of taxation can be lessoned
by snch a modification of our revenue laws
as will be consistent with the public faith,
and the legitimate and necessary wants of
the Government.
The report presents a much more
factory condition of our finances than one
year ago the most sanguine could have
anticipated. During the fiscal year end
ing the 30th June, 1805, the last year of
the war, the public debt was increased
♦941.902,537, and on the 31st of October,
1865, it announced to $2,740,864,750
On the 31st day of October, 1866, it had
been reduced to 12,551,310,006, the dimi
notion, during a period of fourteen munths
commencing September 1, 1865. and end
ing October 31, 1866, having been $206,-
379,565, In Jie last annual report on the
>tate of the finances, it was estimated that
during the three quarters of the fiscal
year ending the 30tb of June last, tlfe'
debt would lw increased $112,194.947. —
During that period, however, it was re
duced $31,196,387, the receipts of the
year having been $89,905,905 more, and
the expenditures 8200,529,235 less thau
the estimates. Nothing Could more clear
ly indicate than these statements the ex
tent and of the national re
sources, and ftbt rapidity and safety with
winch, under ©nr form of government,
great military and naval establishment can
be disbanded, and expenses reduced from
a war to a peace footing.
During the fiscal year ending the 30tb
of June, 1866, the receipts were $558,032-
620, and the expenditures $520,750,940,
leaving an available surplus of $37,281,
680, It is estimated that the receipts for
the fiscal year ending the 30th of June,
18C7, will be $476,061,386, and that the
expenditures will reach the sum of $316,-
428,078, leaving in the Treasury a surplus
of $158,33.308. For the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1868, it is estimated that the
receipts will amount to $436,000,000, and
that the expenditures will be $350.*247,t>41
—showing an excess ot $85,752,359 in
favor of the Government. These estima
ted receipts may be diminished by a re
duction of excise and import duties; but
after all necessary reductions shall have
been made, the revenue of the present and
of following years will doubtless be'suffi
cient to cover all legitimate charges upon
the Treasury, and leave a large annual
surplus to be applied to the payment of
the principal of the debt. There seems
now to be no good reason why taxes may
not be reduced as the country advances
in population and wealth, and yet debt be
extinguished within the next quarter ola
century
The report of the Secretary of War fur
nishes valuable and important information
in reference to the operations of his De
partment during the past year. Few vol
unteers now remain in the service, and
they are being discharged as rapidly as
th p can be replaced by regular troops.-
The army has been promptly paid, careful
lv provided with medical treatment, well
sheltered and subsisted, and is to be fur
nished with breech-loading small arms.—
The military strength of the nation has
been unimpaired by the discharge of vol
unteers, the disposition of unserviceable
or perishable stores, and the retrenchment ■
of expenditure. Sufficient war material to
meet any emergency has been retained,
and, from the disbanded volunteers stand
ing ready to respond to the national call,
large armies can be rapidly organized
equipped, and concentrated, bonifica
tions on the coast and frontier have re
ceived, or are being prepared for more
powerful armaments; lake surveys and
barber and river improvements are in
course of energetic prosecution. Prepara
tions have been made for the payment of
the additional bounties authorized during
the recent session of Congress, under such
regulations as will protect the Government
from fraud, and secure to the honorably
discharged soldier the well-earned reward
of his faithfulness and gallantly. More
than six thousand maimed soldiers have
received artificial limbs or other surgical
apparatus; and forty one national eemeta
ries, containing the remains of 104,526
Union soldiers, have already been estab
lished. The total estimates of military
appropriations i 5525.205,669.
It is stated in the report of tho Secreta
ry of the Navy, that the naval force at
tlds time consists of two hundred and sev
enty-' igbt armed with two tliou
:and three liundrtd and fifty-one guns.—
Of these, one hundred and fifteen vessels,
carrying one thousand and twenty-nine
guns, are in commission, distributed chief
iy among Mfven squadroons. The number
iofinen in the sendee is thirteen thousand
six hundred. Great activity and vigil
ance- have been displayed bv all the squad
toons.and their movements have been judi
oiotisly and i ffi iently arra tged in such 1
manner as would best promote American
commerce, and perfect the rights and in
terests of our countrymen abroad. The
vessels unemployed are undergoing re
pairs, or are laid up until their services
may be required. Most of the iron-clad
fleet is at League Island, in the vicinity of
Philadelphia, a place which, until decisive
action should be taken by Congress, was
1 selected by the Secretary of the a*
J the most eligible location for that class of
i vessels. It is important that a suitable
| public station should be provided for the
j iron clad fleet. It is ioteuded that these
| vessels be in proper condition for any emer
gency, and it is desirable that the bill ac*
cepting League Island for naval purposes,
j which passed the Houte of Kepreteata-
'FBItMS, 18.00 PBH.
tives at its last session, should receive final
action -t an early period,in order that there
may be a suitable public station for tbie
class of vessels, as well as a navy-yard of
area sufficient for the wants of the service,
on the Delaware river. The Naval Pen
sion fund amounts to $11,750,000 having
been increased $2,750,000 during the
year. The expenditures of the Depart
ment for the fiscal year ending 30th of
June last were $43,324,526 and the esti
mates for the coming year amount to $23,-
568,436. Attention is invited to the con
dition of our seamen, and the importance
'of legislative measures for their belief aud
improvement. The suggestions in behalf
of this deserving class ol our fellow citizens
are earnestly recommended to the favora
ble attention of Congress.
The report of the Postmaster General
presents a most satisfactory condition of
the postal service, ami submits recommen
dations which deserve the consideration of
Congress The revenues of the depart
ment for the year ending June 30,1866,
were $14,386,989, and the expenditures
2*15,352,0/9, showing an excess of the lat
ter 0f5965,093. In anticipation of this
deficiency, however, a special appropria
tion waa made by Congress in the act ap
proved July 28, 1866. Including the
standing appropaiation of $700,000 for
free mail matter, as a legitimate portion
of the revenues yet remaining unexpend
ed, the actual deficiency for the past year
is only $265,093—a sum within $51,141
of the amount estimated iu the tiunual re
port of 1864. Ihe decrease of revenue
compared with the previous year was one
and one fifth per cent., and the increase of
expenditures, owing principally to the en—
laig- of the mail service in the South, •
was twelve per cent. On. the 30th of
June last there were in operation six thou
sand nine hundred and tliiity mail routes,
with an aggregate length of one hundred
and eighty thousand nine hundred and
twenty-one miles, an aggrega'e annual
transportation of seventy one million eght
hundred and thirty seven thousand nine
hundied and fourteen miles, and an
aggregate annual cost, including all ex-*
penditures, of $8,410,184. The length
ot railroad routes is thirty two thousand
and ninety two miles, and the annual
transportation thirty million six hundred
nine thousand four hundied and sixty
miles. The length of steamboat routes is
fourteen thousand three hundred and
forty six mtfes, and the annual transporta
tion three million four hundred and eleven
thousand nine hundred and sixty two
miles. Ihe mail set vice is rapidlv in
creasing throughout the whole country,
and its steady extension in the Southern
btates indicates their constantly improving
condition. The growing importance of
the foreign service also merits attention.
Lhe Post Office Department of Great Brit
ain and our own have agri ed upon a pre- •
limnarv basis for a new Postal Conven
tion, which it is believed will prove emi
nently beneficial to the commercial inter—
tcrests of the L nited States, inasmuch as
it contemplates a reduction of the interna
tional letter postage to one half the exist
ing rates ; a reduction of postage with all
other countries to and from which corres
pondence is transmitted in the British
mail, or in Closed mails through the Uni-
Kingdom ; the establisnment of uni
form and reasonable charges for the sea
and territorial transit of correspondence
in closed mails ; aud an allowance to each.
Post Office Departrn t r.t of the right to
use all mail communications established
under the authority of the other for the
despatch ot correspondence, either in open
or closed mails, on the same term those
applicable to the inhabitants of the country
providing the means of transportation.
r l he report of the Secretary of the In
terior exhibits the condition of those
branches of the pub'ic service which are
committed to his supervision. During
the iast fiscal year four million six hun
dred and twenty—nine thousand three hun
dred and twelve acres of public land were)
disposed of, one million eight hundred and
ninety—two thousand five hundred and six
teen act es of which were entered under
the homestead act. Ihe policy originally
adopted relative to the public land's has
undergone essential modifications. Imme
diate revenue, and not their rapid settle
ment, was the cardinal feature of our land
svstem. Long experience and earnest
discussion have resulted in the conviction
that ihe early devetopement of our agri
cultural resources, and the diffusion of an
energetic population over our va-t territo
ry, are objects of far gieater in pottance
to the national growth and prosperity than
the proceeds of the sale of the land to the
high- st bidder in open njjrket. The
pre-emption laws confer upon the pioneer
who complies with the terms they impose
the privilege of purchasing a limitid
portion of "utioffered lands' at the mini
inum price. The homestead enactments
relieve the settler from the payment ot"
purchase money, and secure hiui a perma
nent home, upon the condition of ri-eidonce
for a term of years. This liberal policy
invites emigration from ihe old, and lroin
the more crowded portions of the new
world. Its propitious resulteare undoubt
ed, and will be more signally manifested
when time shall have given to it a wider
development.
Congress has made liberal gran's of
public land to corpoiatian*, in aid of the
construction ot railioads aud other internal
improvements. Should this policy here
after prevail, more stringent provisions
will be required to secure a faithful
1 applioatiou of the fund, The title to the
1 lauds should not pan, by patent
VOL. 6 NO. 19,