Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1861-12-12

independent supreme Court.
One of the unfavorable consequen
ces of the present rebellion, is the en-
tire suppression, in many places, o
all ordinary means Of administering
civil justice by the officers and in the
forms of existing law. This is the
case, in whole or in part, in all the in
surgcnt States, and as our armies ad
vance upon, and take possession o
parts of these States, the practica
evil becomes more apparent. There
are no officers to whom the citizens o
other States may apply for the enforce
mcnt of their lawful claims against
citizens of the insurgcnt States.
There is a vast amount Of debt con
stituting such claims. Some have es
timated it as high as 5000, 900. 900
due, in large part, from rebels t.
loyal citizens, who are even now ma
king great sacrifices in the discharge
of their patriotic duty to support tho
Government Under the circnmstan
ces, have been urgently solicited tc
establish by military power, Courts tc
administer summary justice in such
cases. | have thus far declined to dc
it, not because had any doubt that
the end proposed, the collection o
debt, was just and right in itself, but
because have been unwilling to &C
beyond the pressure of necessity il
the unusual exercise of power but the
powers Of Congress, | suppose, are
equal to the anomalous occasion, and
therefore | refer the whole matter tc
Congress, with the hope that plar
may be devised for the administrators
of justice in all such parts of the in
surgent States and Territories as may
be under the control of this Govern.
ment, whether by voluntary return
to allegiance and order, or by the
power of our arms. 1t is, however
not to be permanent institution, bu,
a temporary substitute, and to cease
as soon as the ordinary courts can be
re-cstablishcd in peace. 1t is impor
tant that some more convenient means
should be provided. if possible, for the
adjustment Of claims against the Gov.
ment, especially in view Of their in
creased Dumbcr by reason Of the war
1t is as much the duty of the Govern
mcnt to render prompt justice against
itself in favor Of citizens as it is to
administer the same against private
individuals.
The investigation and adjudication
OF all claims in their nature, belong
to the judicial department. Besides
= IN is srs ssPPasent q, that the a.! attention { Q
engaged for some time to come with
great national questions. 1t was in
tended by the organization of the
Court of Claims mainly to remove this
branch of business from the halls oI
Congress, but while the Court has
proved to be an efficient and valuable
means Of investigation, it, in gene
raj degree, fails 20 effect the object oI
it's creation for want Of power to make
its judgments final. Fully aware OF
the delicacy not to say the danger ot
the subject, commend to your care
ful consideration, whether this powe,
of making judgments final may no,
be properly given to inc court, reserv,
ing the right of appeal on questions
of law to the Supreme Court, with
such other provisions as experience
may have shown to be necessary.
ask attention to the report of the
Past Master Ennor,l NJ a. rllu,..-
is a summary statement Of the c9ndl.
tion of the department
The revenue from all sources during
the financial year ending on the soil
of June, 1861, including the annual
permanent appropriation of seven
hundred thousand dollars for the trans
portation of free mail matter, was
5000, ,296.40, being about two pei
cent, less than the revenue Of 1860.
The expenditures were $l3, 606, 7O9.lI.
showing decrease of more than
eight per cent, as compared with
those OF the previous year, and lcav.
ing an excess Of expenditures over the
revenue for the last financial year oi
over S547, ,402.7l.
The gross revenue for the year end
ing June 80. 1862, is estimated at an
increase of four per cent. on that oI
1860, making $S, ,6s3, 600, which should
be added to the earnings of the de-
partment for carrying free matter
viz: $700,OO0-making $9,3S2, 600
The total expenditures for 1862 are
estimated at $l2,52s, 900, leaving an
estimated deficiency Of $3,345 900 to
be supplied from the Treasury in ad.
dition to the permanent appropriation
Tue present instruction shows,
think, that the extension of this Dis.
trict across the Potomac river, at the
time of establishing the Capital here
was emincntly wise, and consequently
that the REIMBURSEMENT of that por.
ton of it which lies in the State o.
Virginia, was unwisc and dangerous
l submit for your consideration the
cxpcdiency Of regaining that part o
the District, and the restoration of the
original boundaries thereof through
negotiations with the State of Vir
ginia.
The report of the Secretary of the
Interior with accompanying details
exhibits the condition of the several
branches of the public business of tina,
department. The depressing infu
ences of the insurrection have beer
especially felt in the Patent and Gen
eral Land Offices. The cash receipts
from the sales of public lands during
the last year have exceeded the ex
penscs of our land system only abou,
5000, 900.
The sales have been entirely sus
pended in the Southern States, while
the interruption to the business of tho
country and the diversion Of larg.
numbers of men from labor to militia
ry service has obstructed settlements
in the new States aud territories 0
the Northwest.
The receipts Of the Patent Office
have declined in nine months abou
100000, rendering large reduction