Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-12-10

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amounted TO $6,O24 $50 10; leaving balance Of
revenue over the proper expenditures OF the |
year Of S703 ,299 90
The receipts for hostages during the year lex
GLIDING the foreign hostages collected for and
payable TO the British post oftice) amounted to
Sc, 345,747 81, being an increase OF 1897 ,6l0
79, or 1855 100 per cent over the like receipts
for the preceding year.
The reduction OF postage, under the act OF March
last, did not take effect until the commencement the
prcsent fiscal year. The accounts for the first quarter
ander the operation Of the reduced rates. will not be
settled before January next; aul reliable estimate
of the receipts Tor the present year yet be made
1t is believed, however, that they will fall tar short oil
those OF last year. The surplus OF the revenues now
hand is, however, large that further approprl-
alton from the treasury, in aid of the OF the
Department. is required for the current fiscal year
but additional appropriation for the year ending
June 30h lS53,wi probably be found necessary when
the receipts Of the first two quarters OF the fiscal year
are inlly ascertaned.
In his last annual report the Postmaster General re-
commended reduction Of postage 10 rates which he
dscmrd us low could he prudeptly adopted, unless
Congress prepared 10 appropriate IRON the Teasn
nv, for the support of the Department. sum more
than EQUIV aent 10 the mail services performed ~ It
for the Government. The recommendations OF the
Postmaster encral in respect 10 letter postage, ex
cept letters from audit California and Oregon,were
substantially adopted by the last Congress. He now
recommends adherence 10 the present letter rates. and
ad, Uses against further reduction until Justhed Dy
the revenue of the Department.
lie also recomms nds that the rates oil postage on
printed matter be SO revised rs render them more
simple, and uniform in their operation upon all
classes Of printed matter. submit the recon- inenda-
tons of the report TO your favorable confederation
The public statutes OF the United States have now
been accommodating for than sixty years and in
terSperscd with private acts, are scattered through
numerous volumes, and, from the cost oil the whole,
have become almost inaccessible TO the great mass oil
- lN.na ~, Nnphn NJ
gruity and imperiecton Of hasty legislation AS II
seems be generally conceded that there is no com
mou law Of the United States 10 supply the detects
Of their legislation, il is most important that that leg
isation should be perfect possible defining every
intended 10 be conferred, every crime intended
10 be made punishable and prescribing the punishment
10 b. Inflicted In addition 10 some particular cases
spoke Of more at length, the whole criminal coae Is
now lamentaby defective. Some offences are imper-
frctly described, and others entirely om'teu so
that hagrnn crimes may be committed with impuniy
The scale Of punishment is not IN all cases graduated
according 10 the degree and nature OF me oHehce anu
is often rendered unequal BY the different modes
of imprisonment, or peniteniiary eengncmen, IN 'he
different States. :.
| MANY laws of permanent character have been in
troduecd into appropriation bills, and IS otter d
cult to determine whether the particular clause expires
with the temporary Of which it part or contln'
ues IN force II has also frequently happened that en-.
aclments aud of law have been introduced
into bills with the title or general subject oil which
they have little connection or relation. IN TINS
/ mode of legislation so many cnacments have pccn
heaped upon each other and often with but he con-
sideraton that, in many instances 1t is difhcut 10
search out and determine what is the law.
! The Government OF the United States is cmphatical-
In a government of written laws The statutes should
therefore as far as practicable not only be made Acces
sble to ALL but be expressed in language so paln and
simply as 10 be understood by all, and arranged III
ssch method 10 give perspicuity to every SUBJECT
MANY Of the States have revised their public acts win
great and manifest benefit; and recommend that pro
Visions be made by law for the appointment oil COM
mission to revise the public statutes OF The omteo o'e
arranging them in order, supplying dchciencies' cor
rccting ncongruites simplifying their language, a0
reporting them TO Congress for It's action.
An act Of Congress approved 3Oh September, 1901
contained provision for the extension o' 'he EaPito
according to such plan might be approved oy ihe
President and appropriated one hundred thousand dol
lars 10 be expended under his direction by such arch
tcc he should appropriate TO execute the same. VI
examining the various plans winch had oeeh snomue'
BY different architects, in pursuance OF an advertise
mcnt bv q committee OF the Senate, no one was iounC
10 be entirely satisfactory and 1t vas therefore deem
ci advisable TO combine and adopt the advantages oil
several
The great object 10 DO accomplished was 10 make
such an addition as would afnrd ample and convencn
halls for the deliberations OF the two ouses Of Coh
gress with sufficient accommodations for spectators sn'
suitable apartments for the committees and oitcers
the two branches OF the Legislature II was also de
srsbe not the harmony and beauty OF the pres
cut structure which, specimen oil archItectnre,
10 universally admired Keeping these objects IN view
| concluded TO make the addition by wings, detached
FROM the present buildings, yet connected with oy
corridors. This mode OF enlargement Will leave tue
present Capitol unnured, aud afford great
Tor ventilation and the admission OF light, and VIII en-
able the work 10 progress without nterrpunS tue ee
bcrations of Congress. To carry this plan Into efec
have appointed an experienced and competent archi
tcct The cornerstone was laid on the 4h OF july
last with suitable ceremonies, since which time ih'
work has advanced with commendable rapIdny, ant
,h.c Or bOih wings nearly complete
AGAIN commend 10 YOUR favorable regard the inter
ests Of the District of Columbia AMI deem it only nee
cssary to remind you, that although its lnhaoitan'
have voice in the cholce OF representatives. ~ W"
cress they are not the less entitled TO just ana ioer
consideration in your legislation My Opinions on 'h
subject more fully expressed III my last anhua
communication n
Other SUBJECTS were brought 10 the attention OF Con
gress in my last annual message, to which would re-
specully refer. But there one o. more thai or
binary interest to which again invite your special al
tention. allude 10 the Recommendation Tor the ap
pointment of commission 10 settle private claims
saust the Uutcd States Justice 20 individuals as wei
as 10 the Government impcratiyey demands that som
more convenient and expeditions mode than an appea
to Congress should be adopted.
Ii is deeply 10 be regretted that in several instance
officers Of the Government, in attempting TO execute
the law for the return of iugitYes IRON TABOR, nave
been openly resisted, and their efforts frustrated an
defeated By awess aud violent mobs that IN one cas-
such resistance resulted iO the death oil an es'ihiao
.,c and ma others serious injury ensued 10 those oil
cers and 10 ndi, aals who were using their endeav
ors 10 sustain the laws Prosecutions have been ins
tued against the alleged oencers's so lar as lney voa
be identified, and are still pending hafe resMue'
it as my daty in these cases, to g,ye all "a NsI
nv power 10 the enforcement OF the laws, anu shH'
continue TO do so wherever and whenever their execu
ton may DO resisted. - :.
The act of Congress for the return Of ugitives Iron
labor is one required and demanded by The expires
words Of the Constitution.
The Constitution declares, hat no person heIo !:
service or labor in one State under the laws thereof
escaping into another, shall, III consequence OIL any
law or regulation therein, be discharged from suct
service or labor, but sh all be delivered up on Claim
the party to whom such service or LABOR may DC uue
This constitutional provision equally obligatory upof
the I>gisative the Executive, anu the Judiciai We
partments &C the Government and upon every ci'zei
OF the United States. G., -.
Congress. however must, from necessity hrst &C
upon the subject by prescribing TIE Proceeonss 10
ssry TO ascertain thai the prison IS cgWe, a"u lux
means TO be used for his restoratiV9 =" '''e e."
This was done by act passed during the il!s' ei
President Washington, which was amended Dy ina
enacted by the last Congress- and 1t now remains io
the Executive and Judicial Departments to take care
that these laws be faithfully executed ms inIuncuoi
of the Constitution perenptory and as Dinuhg u
auy other; il stands exactly on the same iounaaloh
that clause which provides for the return oil inSiVe
from Justice or that which declares that no Dill VI al
tander or er most fGcto law shall be passed. or ina
which provides for an equality OF taxaon according
the census or the clause declaring that all duties shai
be uniform throughout the United States or the impor
tant provision that the trial Of all crimes shall DC oy jury
These several articles and clauses OF the CONSTITUTION
all resting the same Authority must Stahu Ut iai "
gether Some objections have been urged against 'h'
details Of the act for the return OF iugitres from aoor
but worthy of remark that the main opposition
urged against the Constitution itself, ami proceeds iron
persons and classes Of persons, many Of whom declare
their wish 10 see that Constitution overturned They