The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-07

the department shall be made Such provision would
seem The more expedent inasmuch as the department
cannon IN macy cases exercise the power conferred by
law IN advance, and not an appeal from the col
eelors decision, without delaying the business Of the
importer and The government Many OF this char
acer arse IN distant sections OF the Union where such
necessary delay would often prove Of serious detrmenl
70 all concerned. The parties would thus all their
egai rights IN any event and the department could often
prevent the necessity and expense OF litigation BY afford
ing relief
gested that some regulation should be made by law as 10
costs IN suits against public officers under The revenue
and collection laws, and also 10 enable The department 10
bring up such cases for final decision 10 the Supreme
Court, whatever may be the amount in controversy
Such process would settle the law In such cases ana
thus constitute the rule OF administration and prevent
much expensive litigation. Salts involving the same
principles are often upon the docket the same time and
The decision OF one ought 10 be sufficient 10 control The
disposition oil all Some additional powers To enable the
court an cases involving the construction OF law
10 consolidate suits against collectors whether instituted
by the same or different parties, would answer all the
purposes oil justice, and prevent the unnecessary multi
plcanon oil costs. II rs also respectfully suggested
whether the provisions OF the act OF AID July ls3 An
act concerning suits and costs in courts OF the United
States-mght not be extended modified as To suits
against public ohcers Tor acts under the and col
lection laws, as 10 make fixed and specific regula
tons limiting the allowance and amount of Under
the provisions oil existing laws plaintiffs within the
State with the collector may commence suit against him
IN State courts, and the defendant, by petition 10 the cir
cult court, can have the suit removed and entered the
docket OF that court AS the defendant in such will
,
privilege, II is suggested whether such suits might not
properly be required be brought originally the federal
courts which would be additional disadvantage the
plaintiff and would prevent the unnecessary accumulation
OF costs
Ii is desirable that the laws respecting the
navigation and commerce OF the United States should an.
dergo careful revision and arrangement These enact
mens have been accommodating for more than halt
fury, and many OF their provisions complex, If not
conflicting Others still unrepealed, though they have
long been napplcable TO the condition of our commerce.
and of the country. repeal of obsolete and useless
provisions and proper arrangement Of the residue
der appropriate titles, with judcious amendments and adj
dtions, and the whole comprised within single statute,
connected series OF statutes, 10 be readily
fened 10 and understood, would be OF great
public utility, promise more uniform and faithful ad-
ministraon OF the laws, and afford more certain pro-
tecon to the interests oil the government and the com
meTclal community
Further legislation in connexion with portions OF our
commerce is undoubtedly necessary Our coasng laws,
however wise and useful in the infancy of the country,
contain many provisions still in force which, in conse-
queDce of the increased facilities which steam offers for
transportation by land and water over our lagey-ex-
tended territory not only totally useless but impose
vexatious and embarrassing restraints the coaswise
and interior commerce, without furnishing any adequate
security to the public revenue. In consequence oil this
state of the laws importers often obliged, at in
considerable expense, TO nrust their business with the
custom houses 10 agents supposed TO be well yersed
therein and the difficulty the part OF the officers OF
the customs, as well as importers, of correctly under
standing and applying the provisions of such complex
litigation, augments the business at the custom houses
and at this department. and gives 10 the operation of law
that uncertainty which il is the duty of every wise gov
THoS. CORWIN,
Secretary OF the Treasury.