Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-12-13
BEDFORD. Pa FRIDAY, DEC. 13. 1861


recommend to Congress to coonder on the
! subjeot, and if nay suggestion be approved, 10
devise such plan as TO their wisdom shall seem
most proper for the attainment of the end pro-
posed
4 One of the unavoidable consequences Of the
lnsnrrecfion is the entire suspension, 10 many
places, of ali the ordinary means of administer
ing civil justice by The officers and the forms
OF existing law. This is the case in whole, or
10 part, ln the insurgent States, and as our
armies advance aud take possession of parts Of
tbose States, it becomes more apparent.
There are 20 courts or officers to which the
ciiizsus of other States may apply for the en~
torcemeut of their lawful claims against the
ciiizens of the insurgent States, aud their vas.
amenht Of debt, constituting such claims, some
have estimated as two hundred millions of dol
lars due, the large part from insu gents in
open rebellion, TO loysl citizens who are even
now maxi ng great sacrifices in The discharge of
'nelr patriotic duty to support tue Government.
Under these circumstances | have been ur-
gently solicited toe establish by military pow
er Courts to administer summary justice in
such cases have thus far declined to do il,
notsbecause | had any doubt that the end pro-
posed, tbe collection of the debts was Just aud
right in itself, but because was unwilling to
60 beyond The pressure OF necessity, ia the un
usual exercise of power. But the powers Of
Iongress, suppose equal to the ansma-
lous occasion, and | therefore refer the whole
ma ter to Congress With the hope that a plan
may be devised for the administration Of JUS
tiee ia ali Suoh parts Of the iusurgeut S'ates,
and territories may be under the control Of
tbs Government, whether by a voluntary re-
turn TO allegiance aud order, or By the power
OF our arms. This, however, not to be per-
,mpuent institution, but temporary substitute
and to cease as soon as the ordinary courts
can be re- established in peace. Il is lnpor
tant that soule more convenient means should
be provided, if possible, for the adjustment of
| claims against the Government, especially in
view of their decreased number bs reason of
the war.
L is as much the duty of Government to
render prompt justice against itself ID favor of
citizens, as it is to administer The same be-
/ tween private indigiduaIa the investig g ton
and adjudication OF claims in their hands be-
long 10 The judicial department Besides it il
apparent that the attention of Congress viii be
more than unusually engaged for some time to
INTENDED by the organization OF the GonIi OF
Claims, m4ialy to remove this branch Of The
business from the Halls Of Congress But
while the Court has proved to be an Elective
and valuable means Of Investigation, it fails
IN great degree to effect the object Of its Gre
alton for want of power to make ITS judgments
final. Fully aware Of the delicacy not to say
the danger, OF this subject, commend to your
careful consideration whether this power of
making judgments 6nal may pot properly be
given to the Court reseryipg the right of ap-
peal on questions Of law to the Supreme Court
- With such other provisions as experience
may have shown to be necessary.
ask attention 10 the report of the Posts
master General, the following being sum
mary statement of that Department = The rev-
enue from all sources during the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1861, ineluiiDg the annual
permanent Appropriation Of 500, 900 for the
transportation of free mail matter, 50 049,
296 40, being about two per cent. less than
| the revenue.
For 1860, the expenditures were S43,606,-
$50 IL, showing decrease Of more than eight
per cent, compared with those of the press
ent yesr, and leavog an excess OF expendi-
lures over the revenue for he last fiscal year,
oi S4.557 1862 Il. The gross revenue for the
| year ending Juae Both, 1868 is estimated at
an increase OF four per cent upon that Of 1861,
making S8 6S3, 900, to which should be ads
ded the arpines of the Department ID carrying
free matter, viz 500 600, making SO $685.
| 600. The total expenditures for 1868, are
estimated at ST., $40 600, leaving an estima,s
ed deficiency of $3,l45.0G0 to be supplied
/ ~, 81
nent appropriation.
The present insurreet;on shows, l think,
that the extension Of this district across the
/ Potomac river at the time of esta bIishing the
| Capitol here was eminently wise, aud conse-
! quenlly that the REIMBURSEMENT Of that por
! tion of it which lies within the State of Vir-
! gnia vas unwise and dangerous. submit
/ for your consideration The expediency of regain
log that part Of the district, and the restora-
ton of the original boundaries thereof. through
negotiations with the State of Virginia.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior
with the accompanying documents, exhibits
the condition of the several branches Of the
public service tP 2 and 81 pertaining to that
Department The depressing Influences of
the iUsurreetion have heen especially felt in
the operations of tho Patent aud General Land
Offices.
The cash receipts from the sales of the pub
lie lands during the past year have exceeded
the expenses of our land system only about
$500 ,000 The sales have been entirely suss
pended in the southern States, while The in
terrnption to the business of tie country and
the diversion of large numbers of mep from
labor to military service, have obsGucted set
clemens in the new States and Territories Of
tho Northwest.
The receipts of the Patent Office have de-
clined in nina months about 100000 rcnders
in large deduction of the force employed neo-
oessary to make it selfsustaining.