The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-12-10
In sdaNion to- ome p.lticalar cases spoken Of more

e scribed. and others are emil, civ omitted: 40 thai A,
h grant crime. NAV n. commi,,ed viii, I,p,un,,v
:. The scale of punisbment /. MI In ali cages pradu.
ted accorJine 10 The degree and nature of ,he M
; fence. and IL often r.nds,sJ mor. nn.nu,i nv ,h
diff, emf modes of imn,iso,m.n, NJ nsn;,.u,i,r,
| confinement. IN The d,aersot States
/, MANY laws Of a nsrmaneo, char.cter have beeu
introduced iDto app, on, ia,ion bills. and II Il ofe,
diff ,ult 10 d~rtermine whistler Inc na,ticular cIaus,
expi,e co with The trmpora,v act Of which II IL a mar
or continues In r. RE. II has alan freouen,Iv ia,
pened that epactmeuts aud orovisiop. nf law b,v.
been introduced into bills. with the title or genera
subject of which thsv have little or no conn.xio,
or relation In this ,nod, of lepislation so manv
ensctmpntsh av,. bee,, he med upon each o,her and
f often with but little consideration that. in ma,v in.
stances, il ia difficult 10 search out and deter lime
what is The law.
The government Of the United States il empbat.
icaIly a govern. ment OF written Ia VS.. The statutes
should. the, efore. AZ Gar az practicable. not only he
made accessible TO all. but be EXPRESSED in IA, guay.
50 plain and sim,,le as to be understood bv ali. aid
arranged in such method AZ 10 give perspicu,,v to
every subject MANY of the States have revised
their public acts with great and manifest beneGt.
and | recom,nend that provision he make By law
for the apDoiutm, nj of a commission Ia revise the
pubic statutes q. the Unite, States ar, anptI mo them
in order, suppIyine Deficiencies. correcting incon.
gruiiies, simplifying their language. and reporting
them TO G ngress for ITS action
An act Of Congress approved 3Oib September,
1850, contained a provision Tor the extension of The
Capitol, according TO such plan as might be appro-
we'd by the President. and appropriated one hun.
DIR d thousand dollars to be experled under his d..
~TectIon, by such architect as he should appoint TO
execute the same. On exami ling the various plans
which had been submitted by the different arcbi.
tects, in pursuance Of advertisement by a commit
tee of the Senate, no one was found TO he entirely
satisfactory, and it was therefore deemend advisa.
BILE to combine and adopt the advantages ofseveraI.
The great obiec, to he accomplished was 10 make
such addition as would aft nd ample and convent.
ent halls for the drliheratiors of the two Houses
of Congress. with sufficient accommodations for
spectators. and suitable apartments for the commit
tees and officers of the two branches of the Legi.la.
ture. II was also desirable not to mar the harmo.
ny and beauty of the present structure, which, asa
specimen of architecture. is so universally admired.
Keeping these objects IN view ] concluded to make
the addition by wings, detached from the present
building, yet connected with it by corridors This
mode OF enlargement will leave the present Capitol
UniEjured, and afford great advantages Tor ventila.
ton and admission of light, AID will enable the
work TO progress without interruptiug the deIiber.
atoms of Congress. To carry this plan into effect.
! have appointed an experienced and competent
architect. The cornerstone was laid ou the 4th Of
July last, with suitable ceremonies. since which
time the work has advanced with commendable ra.
pidity, and the foundations Of both wings are now
nearly complete.
again M 10 your favorable regard The
interests of The District of Columbia, aud deem it
only necessary to remind YOU. that although its in.
habltants have no voice in the choice OF represents
tatives in Congress, they are not the less entitled TO
q Just and liberal consideration in your legislation.
My opinions on this subject were more fully ex-
pressed In my last annual communication.
Other subjects were brought to the attention Of
Congress in my1ast annual message, to which I
would respectfully refer. But there was one OF
more than ordinary interest, to which again invite
your special attention. allude to the recommen-
dation for the appointment Of a commission to set
tie private claims against the United States. JUS
tice to individuals. as well as 10 the Government,
ilnperatively demands that some more convenient
aud expeditions mode than an appeal TO Congress
should be adopted.
It's deeply 10 be regretted that in several instan-
ces officers of the Government, in attempting TO