Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-12-11

made II is believed. however, that they will fall far
short of those OF the last year Tue surplus ofhe
enuas now on hand is however so large that no furth
or ap2ropr alton from the lsnry IN ad OF the feve
nues of the Department is required of te current MS
cal wear but an additional appropriation for the year
ending June 30 1853 will probably be iounf necessary
when the receipts of the first two quarters OF the nscai
year are fully ascertalned
In his last annual report the Postmaster
General recommended reduction oi pos
tage TO rates which he deemed as low as
could be prudcntly adopted, unless Con-
gress was prepared 10 appropriate form the
support Of the Departments sum mole than
equivalent to the mail services performed
by ii for the Government. The recomnen-
daions OF The Postmaster General, in re-
spect to letter postage, exception letters from
| and to California and Oregon, we're SUBJ
staniaIIy adopted by the last Congress-
He now recommends adherence to the
present letter rates, and advises against a
further reduction until justified by the reve-
nue of the Department.
He also recommends that the rates Of
postage on printed matter be so revised as
10 render them more simple, and more uni
form in their operation upon all classes Of
printed matter. | submit the recommen-
datons Of the report TO your taYorasie con-
deration.
The public statutes Of the United States
have now been accommodating for more
than sixty years, and, interspersed with
private acts, are scattered through numer-
Gus volumes, and, from the cost Of the
whole, have become almost inaccessible TO
the great mass ofthe community. They
also exhibit much of the incongru.ty and
imperlection Of has'y Legislation. As it
seems to be generally conceded that there
is 40 scommon law" Of the United States
to supply the defects oftheir Legislation, 1t
is most important that that legislation should
be al perfect as possible, defining every
power intended to be conferred, every crime
intended to be made punishable, aud pre-,
scribng the punishment 10 be inflicted
In addition TO some particular cases spoken
Of more at length, the whole criminal code
is now lamentabIy defective. Some often
ces are imperiecty described, and others
are entirely omitted; so that fragrant cruises
may be committed with impunity. The
scale Of punishment is not Ill all cases
graduated according TO the degree and ra
t1re Of the offence, and is often rendered
more unequal by the different modes Of i'm
Prisonment, or penitentiary confinement,
in the different States.
Many laws Of permanent character
have been introduced into appropriation
bills, and it is often difficult 10 determine
whether the particular clause expires with
the temporary act ofwhich it's a part, er
continues in force. 1t has also frequently
happened that enactments and provisions
oil law have been introduced into bills, with
the tile or general subject Of which they
have little or no cOnneXion or relation. In
this mode OF Legislation SO many enact.
mens have been heaped upon each other,
and often with but little consideration, that
in many instances, it is difficult to search
out and determine what is the law.
The Government Of the United States
is omphatically government Of written
laws. The statues should, therefore, as
far as practicable, not only be made acccs-
slbIe to all, but be expressed in language
so plain and simple as TO be understood by
all, and arranged in such method as to
give perspicuIty 10 every subject Many
Of the States have revised their public acts
with great and manifest benefit; and |
Recommend that provision be made by law
for the appointment of a commission 10 re-
wise the public statutes OF the United States,
arranging them in order, supplying dcf>
cieucies, correcting incongruili"s, simPii-
flying their language and reporting them 10
Congress !or its action.
An act of Congress approved 30th Sep
tember, 1850, contained a provision for the
extension ofthe Capitol, according to such
plan as might be approved by the Presi.
dent, and appropriated one hund red thou.
sand dollars to be expended under his di-
rection, by such architect as he should ap-
point 10 execute The same. On examining
the various plans which had been submits
ted by diff rent architects, in pursuance Of
an advertisement by committee Of the
Senate, no one was found to be entirely
satisfactory, and it was therefore deemed
advisable TO combine and adopt the advan-
tages Of several.
The great object to be accomplished was
TO make such an addition as would afford
ample and convenient halls for the deliber-
alions OF the two Houses of Congress, with
sufficient Accommodations for spectators,
and suitable apartments for the committees
and officers OF the two branches ofth LIE.
gisature. 1t was also desirable not TO mar
the harmony and beauty of the present
structure, which, as a specimen of architec-
ture, is so universally admired. Keeping
these objects in view, concluded to make
the addition by wings, detached from the
present building, yet connected with il by
corridors. This mode Encouragement will
leave the present Capitol unnjured, and
land afford great advantages for ventliton
and the admission Of light, and will enable
the work 10 progress without interrupting the
deliberations Of Congress. To carry This