Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-12-12

service since our difficulties commenced.
Besides blocksding our extensive eoast
squadrons larger than ever before assem-
bled under our flag, have been put aaoat
and performed deeds which have increased
our naval renown. would invite special
attention to the Recommendation Of the
Secretary of the Navy for more perfect
organization of the navy, BY introducing
additional grades in the service.
The present organization is defective
and unsatisfactory, and the suggestions
submitted BY the department will, it believ-
ed ifadopted, obviate the difficulties al
sluded too promote harmony, and increase
the efficiency of the Navy.
SUPREME COURT.
There are three vacancies on the Bench
Of the supreme Court; two BY the decesse
of Justices Daniel and Mclean. and one
by the resignation Of Justice Campbell. l
have so far forborne making nominations
to fill these vacancies, for reasons will
now state. Two of the outgoing Judges
resided within the States now oyerrun by
revolt, so that if successors were appointed
in the same localities they could not serve
upon their circuits, and many Of the
most competant men there probably would
not take the personal hazard Of accepting
to serve even here upon the Supreme Bench.
I have been unwilling to throw all the
appointments northward thus disabling
myself from doing justice 10 the South on
the return of peace althoug b may remark
that to transfer to the North one which
has heretofore been in the South, would not
with reference to territory and population
be unjust.
During the long and brilliant judicial
career of Judge Mclean, his circuit grew
into an empire altogether too large for any
one Judge TO give the Courts therein more
than q nominal attendance, rising in pop
ulation from 1,47O, 900 in 1881 to 6,l5l,-
4O5 in 1860. Besides this the country
has generally outgrown our present Judi
cial system. If uniformity was At oil in
tended, the system require. that OIL the
States shall be accommodated with Circuit
Courts, attended BY Supreme Judges while
in fact Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas
Florida, Texas, California, and Oregon
have never had any such Courts. Nor can
this be we'll remedied without change
of the system, because the adding
of Justices to the Supreme Court enough
for the accommodation of all parts of the
country with Circuit Courts, would create
a court altogether too dangerous for ju-
dicial body Of any sort, and the evil Of it
be one that will increase as new States
come into the Union. Circuit Courts are
useful or they are not useful. Ifuseful no
State should be denied them if not useful
no State should have them. Let them
be provided for all Or abolished - 70 ell.
Three notifications occur to me here,
which think would be an improvement
upon our present system. Lei the Su-
preme Court be Of convenient number
10 every event. Then, first, let the whole
country be divided into Circuits Of conve-
nient size, the Supreme Judges to serve
number of them corresponding to their
own number, and Independent Circuit
Judges be provided for all the rest; or sec
ondly, the Supreme judges be relieved
from Circuit duties, and Circuit Judges
provided for all the circuits; or, thirdly,
dispense with Circuit Courts altogether
leaving the judicial functions wholly to
the District Courts and an independent
Supreme Court.
THE STATUTE LAWS.
1 respectfully recommend to the CON
sideration of Congress the present condi-
tion Of the statue laws, with the hope that
Congress will be able to find easy rem
edy for the many inconveniences and evil
which constantly embairass those engaged
in the practical administration of them.
Since the organization Of the Govern
ment Congress has enacted some 5000
acts and joint resolutions, which fill more
than 5000 closely printed pages. and are
scattered through many volumes. Many
of these acts have been drawn in haste and
without sufficient caution, SO that their
provisions often obscure in themselves OF
IN conflict with each other, or at least sc
duubtful as to render it very difficult fo'
even the best informed persons to ascer
tain precisely what the statute law really IS
1t seems to me very important that the
statute law should be made as plain and
intelligible as possible, and be reduced te
as small compass as may consist with
the fullness and precision Of the will Of the
legislature aud the perspicuity Of its Ian
guage. These we'll done would, think
greatly facilitate the labors of those whose
duty it is to assist in the administration Of
the laws, and would be lasting benefit Il
the pople by placing before them in NOR
accessible and ineligible form the law
which so deeply concern their interests aut
their duties.
lam informed by some whose opinions
I respect, that all the acts Of Congress
now in force and permanent general na
ture, might be revised and rewritten so q
to be embraced in one volume, or at leas
two volumes of ordinary and convenien
size; and respectfully recommend 4
Congress to consider the subject, and if NJ!
suggestion be approved, TO devise such
plan as to their wisdom shall seem mos
proper for the attainment Of the end pro
posed.
NORTHERN CLAIMS IN REBEL STATES.
One Of the nnfavorable consequences o
the present iusurrection is the entire sup
preston in many places Of all ordinar!
means Of administering civil justice BY th
officers, sud in the FORMS Of existing law