Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-12-11

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The recommendations by the Post Mas.
ter General in respect 10 letter postage
except on letters 10 or from California and
Oregon, were substantially adopted by
the last Congress. He now recommends
AN adherence to the present letter rates,
and advises no further reduction until JUS
tilted by the revenue Of the department
He also recommends that the rates of
1 ostage on printed matter be so revised
a. 10 render them more simple and more
Uniform in their operation upon all class
es Of printed matter. submit the rec
ommendaiion Of the Report TO your ia
vorablc consideration.
The puLlic statute. Of the United
States have now been accumulaiing for
more than sixty years. and in,erspersed
with private acts, are scattered through
numerous volumes, and from the cost Of
the whole, have become almost inaccessi-
Bile Ia. the great mass Of the community.
They also exhibit much Of the incon-
grnity and imperfectiun Of hasty legisla-
tion. AS Il seems TO be generally Sec
ended that there is no general law of the
United States 10 supply the defects Of
their Legislation should be as perfect as
possible, defining every power intended
10 be conferred. every crime intended TO
be made punishable, and prescribing the
punishment 10 be inflicted. In addition
TO some particular cases spoken of more
at length, the whole criminal code is now
laineniabiy defectiye; rome offences are
described. and oihtrs are en-
iirely emitted, sothai fragrant crimes may
be committed with impunity. Tie scale
OF punishment is net in all cases grsdna-
ted aces riding 10 the degree and nature If
the offeice, and is often rendered ore
unequal by the different mode. Of impris-
cnment or penitsriiary confinement in the
different States. Many laws Of Ier-
character have been introduced
into appropriation bills, and il is often DIFF
fcult 10 determine whether the particu-
lar clause expires Nth lie temporary act
Of which il is a part, or continuts in
force. II also frequently happens, that
enactnents, and provisions Of laws, have
been introduced into bills with the title,
or general subject Of which, they have
little or no connection or relation. I'm
this mode Of legislation, so many enact
ments have been heaped on each ether,
and often with but little connection, that in
many instances il Is difficult 10 search out
and determine " hst is the law. The 20, :
ernm.ni Of tie United States j. cinphaii-
cally government Of written laws-the
statutes, should, therefore, so far as prac-
ticahle, not ,riy be made accessible 10 all,
but BE- expressed in language SO plain and
simple as to be understood by all, and ar
ranged in such method as to give perspi-
Guilty 70 every subject. Many Of The
States have revised their public acts With
great and manifest benefits and rccom-
mend that provision be made ly Law for
the appointment Of commission TO revise
The public statutes Of tie United States,
arranging them in order, supplying def
cisncies, correcting incongrnities, simpli-
flying their language, and reporting them
10 Congress fur lis action.
An sct CT Congress approved 30:h Sep.
TENDER, 1850, contained provision for
the extension Of the Capitol, acc, riding TO
such plan as might be approved lay the
President, and appropriated $lC0,oo0 TO
lie expended, under his direction, Ly sn,h
as he Should APRON: 10 execute
the SANE. On examining The various
plans which had Iced submitted hy differ
eIi architects, in pursuance Of IN adver-
tisenent by con mhiee Of the Senate, no
Ione was found 20 be entirely satisfactory,
laid it was therefore, deemed advisable 10
combine and adopt tho advantage Of sew
,trsl. Tie great object to teaccomplish-
ed wak, 10 make su,h an addition az would
,,sf1ord ample and convenient halls for the
deliberations 81 tie Two houses of Con-
gress, with sufficient accommodations for
slettat.fs, and suitable apartments for the
Cor. n,itites and officers Of the two branch
es Of the Legislature. 1t was also desir-
able not 10 mar the harmony and beauty
|uf Tie present structure, which, as !
|>I,cimt VI architecture, is so universal
|ly adnired. Keeping these objects in
|.nw, | concluded to make the addition BY
lwires detached frrm the present building
YET coLns cien whit by corridors. This
mode OF enlargement leaves the rres. n,
capitol uninjured, and affords great adj
vantage for ventilation ard the a1missicr
|of light, and will enable the work 10 pro-
lgress without in'crruptirg tie delihera.
|lians Of Congress. To carry this pla,
into effect Iha,c app, inte1 an experien-
ICED and competent architect. The corner
stone was laid on the Fourth Of July last
with suitable ceremonies. Since which
time the work has progressed with com
Imendalle rapidly, and the foundations oi
10Th wings are nearly completed.
! again commend TO your favorable reg
ird The interests Of the district Of Cclum.
,ia, and deem il only nsssary 10 REMIND
lyon, that although its inhabiiant. have nc
l:hoice ofr~presentatiycs in Congress, they
are MT the less emitted to just and lbe-
raj consideration in your Legislation. My
,pinions on this subject were more fully
Expressed in my last communication
Other subjects were bro'tto the attention
IF Congress in my last annual message, ia
(which | would respectfully refer, bul
|there was one Of more then ordinary inte-