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

tanning also The form Of the letter Qetter
marked J, and herewith transmitted
Tie gentlemen understood entered upon
the duties designated at the times respectfully
stated ia the schedule, and have labored faith.
fully there ever since. therefore recomA
mend that they be compensated At the same
rates as Cbapains in the army, further sug
gestlng that general provision be made for
Chaplains TO serve at Hospitals as well as with
regiments.
The report Of the Secretary OF the Navy
presents iG detail the operations Of that
branch of the service, the activity aud ener-
by which have ohsraeterzsd its adninistra-
tion and the results Of the measures 10 in
crease its efficiency and power.
Such have been the additions by construc-
tion aud purchase, that it may almost be sid
a Navy has been crested aud brought into
serve since our difficulties eommenced.-
Besides blockading our extensive coast, sqnad-
roDs larger thao ever before assembled uuier
our flag, have been put afoat and performed
deeds which have increased oue Naval rea
nowa.
Iwould invite special attention to the re-,
commeudatiou of the Secretary for a more
perfect organization of tho Navy, by intro
ducing additional grades in the service The
present organization is defective and unsatis
factory, and the suggestions submitted By the
Department viii, it is believed, If adopted,
obsiate the difficulties alluded to, promote
harmony, and increase the efficiency Of the
Navy.
There are three vacancies on the bench Of
the Suplem Court; two by the decease of JUS.
tlces Daniels aud Mclean, aud one by the ress
igoatiou of Justice Campbell. | have so for7
borne making nominations to Gil these yacan
cies for reasons which / now state: Two Of
the on, going Judges resided within the Staies
low overuu by revolt, so that if their success
sors we're appointed in the same localities,
they could not uaw. serve Npoa their circuit, and
msny of the NEST compstent men there props
ably would not lake the personal hazard Of ac-
eeptng TO serve, even here, upon the SupIeme
bench. have been unwilling to throw ali
tbe appointments Northward, thus disabling
myself from doing justice 20 the South, en re-
tarn Of peace although | may remark that 70
traBsfer to the North one which has hithettQ
been 10 ibe Seuh, woald not, wlrh reference
to territory aud population, be unjust
During the long aud brilliant judicial career
of Judge N Leau, bis circuit grew into an EN-
pre- sllogether too large for any o0s Judge to
give the courts therein more than nominal at
tendance, rising in populs tion from I,470,0I8
ia 1880, to 6,15l 400 in 1860. Besides this,
the country generally has out grown our prea-
epl Judicial system, If uniformity was at all
intended, the system, requires hat all the
States shall he accommodated with Circuit
courts attended by Supreme Judges, While In
TACT, Wisconsin, Mionesota, Iowa, Kansas,
Florida, Texas, California aud Oregon have
never had any such Courts.
Nor can this we'll be remediod, without a
change Of the system, because the adding of
Judges to be Supreme Court, enough for the
accommodation OF all psrts Of the country with
Circuit Courts, would create court altogether
too numerous for judicial body ofany sort
Aud the evil, il it be one, will increase as
new States come into the Union. Circuit
Courts are useful, or they are not useful. If
useful, 40 State should be denied them. If
not useful, no State should have them. Let
theal be provided for all, or abolished to all.
Three notifications occur to me, either of
which ! think would be an Improvement upon
our present system. Let the Supreme Court
be- of convenient number 10 every event
Then first, let the whole country be divided
into circuits of convenient size, the Supreme
Judges to serve in number of them cores
poudlng TO their owa number, aud independent
Circuit Judges be provided for all the rest; or,
secondly, let the Suprema JUICES be relieved
from Circuit Judges provided for all the Cir
cults; or, thirdly, dispense with the Circuit
Courts altogether leaving the judicial funo
ll.-e a.,1
depens Supreme Court.
respectfully recommend to the considera.
tion of Congress the present condition of the
Statute Laws, With the hppe that Congress
will be able to find an easy remedy for many
of the incnnveDences and evils which CONSTANT
ly embarrasa those engaged in the practical
administration of them. Since the organiza-
tion of Government, Congress has enacted some
five thousand acts aud joint resolutions, which
Gil more than six thousand closely printed
pages, and are scattered through many vol-
umes.
Many Of these acts have been drawn 10
haste and without sufficient caution, SO that
their provisions are often obscure III them
selves, or 10 conflict with each other; or at
least so doubtful as 20 render il very difficult
for even the best informed person 10 ascertain
precisely what the statute law really is. 1t
seems to me very important that the statute
laws should be as plain and ineligible as
posibIe, and be reduced to as small compass
as may consist, with the fullness and precls'
ion Of the Legislature and the perspicuty OF
ITS language. This, well done, would, think
greatly faoiiltste the labors of those whose
duty Il is 10 assist ID the administration OF the
laws, aud would be lasting benefit to the
people by placing them, IN more aeceptioie
and intellglble form, the laws which so deeply
concern their interests aud thsir duties am
informed by somo whose opinion | respect,
that all the acts Of Congress new 10 force, and
Of nermauent and general nature, might be