Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-12-06

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country's delverance from its present tria
have induced them to contribute to the su.
port of the Government the whole of thei
limited acquisitions. This fact imposes p,
culiar obligations to economize in disburst
ment and energy in action.
The revenue IRON all sources, including loans
for the financial year ending ou the 3Oth day G
June, 1861, was $50 935 800, 81 and the expendi
lures for the same period, including payments o
account of the public debt were $s457s s, ,O34, "a
leaving balance i'll the Treasury, on the lst da
July. OF ~, 257, ,o65 80 From the first quarter @
the hnanclal year, ending the 30th of September
1861 the receipts from all sources, in ncluding tn
balance from July LIST, were $1O2 532, ,5O9 q, ant
the expenses were sos, ,239 1888, ,09 leaving u bal
ance on the ist OF October 1881. of g. 292 776 IS
Estimates for the remaining three quarter of tn
year, aud for the financial year Of 1862 togethe
with his views OF the ways and means for meeting
the demands, contemplated by them, will be sub
mitted to Congress by the Secretary OF Treasury
1t is gratifying to know that the expenses
made necessary by the rebellion are not be
yond the resources Of the loyal people. and tt
believe that the same patriotism which ha
thus far sustained the government will con
| tinue to sustain it until peace and Union shall
again bless the land.
Respectfully refer to the report of the Secre
tary Of War for information respecting tn,
numerical strength of the army and for rec
concentrations having in view an increase
of its efficiency and the we'll being of the va
rous branches of the service entrusted to his
care. 1t is gratifying to know that the patri
otism of the people is equal to the occasion
and that the number oftr0ops rendered great
lied me to call into the field.
his report which make allusion to the credit
able degree of discipline already attained by
our troops, and the excellent sanitary condi-
ton of the entire army. The recommends
ton Of the Secretary for an organization Of
the militia upon a uniform basis Is a subject
Of vital importance to the future safety of the
country, and is commended to the serious at
tention Of Congress. a large addition to the
regular army, IN connection with the defect
ion which has so considerably diminished the
number of its officers, gives peculiar impor-
lance to his recommendation for increasing
the corps of cadets to the greatest capacity OF
the mi lltary academy.
BY mere omission, presume, Congress has
failed to provide chaplains for the hospitals
occupied by volunteers. This subject was
brought to my notice, and was induced to
draw up the form Of a letter, one copy of
which have properly addressed to each of
the persons and at the dates respectively
named, and stated in schedule, containing
also the form of letter, marked CA" and
herewith transmitted. These gentlemen, l
understand, entered upon the duties designat-
cd at the times respectively stated in the
schedule, and have labored faithfully therein
I nd hat
be compensated at the same rate as chaplains
in the army. | further suggest that general
provisions be made for chaplains to serve at
hospitals as we'll as with regiments.
The report Of the Secretary Of the Navy
presents in detail the operations of that
branch of the service, and the activity and
energy which has characterized its admins
tration, and the results of measures to in
crease its efficiency and power. Such have
been the additions, by construction and pur
chase that it may almost be said a navy has
been created and brought into service since
our difficnltes commenced Besides block
aiding our extensive coast, squadrons larger
than ever before assembled under our flag
have been put ahoat, and performed deeds
which have increased our naval renown.
would invite special attention to the re-
commentator of the Secretary of the Navy
for more perfect organization of the navy,
by Introducing additional grades in the ser
vice. The present organization is defective
and unsatisfactory, and the suggestions sub
mitted by the Department will, it is believed,
if adopted, obviate the difficulties alluded to,
promote harmony and increase the efficiency
of the navy.
There are three vacancies in the bench of
the Supreme Court two by the death of JUS
tees Daniels and Mclean, and one by the
of Justice Campbell. have so
far forborne making nominations to fill these
vacances, for reasons which | will now state.
Two of the outgoing Judges resided within
the States now overrun by revolt, so that if
successors were appointed in the same locali-
ties they could not serve upon their circuits,
and many of the most competent men there
would not take the personal hazard of accept
ing to serve, even were those upon the Su.
preme Bench unwilling to throw all the ap-
pointments northward, thus disabling myself
from doing justice to the South, on the return
of peace although l may remark that to
transfer to tho North one which has hereto
fore been in the South would not with refer
ence 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
a nominal attendance, rising in population
from 1,470, 600 in 1881 to G,151 ,405 in 1860.
Besides this, the country has generally out
grown our present judicial system, if uniform
itv was at all intended This system re
quires that all 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 well remcdied without change of
the system, because the adding Of Justices to
the Supreme Court intended for the accomo-
dation of all parts of the country with Circuit
Courts would create Court altogether too
dangerous for judicial body of any sort.
The evil if it is such, is one that will
increase as new States come into the Union
Circuit Courts are useful, Or they are not USE
full. If useful, no State should be denied
them if not useful, no State should have
them. Let them be provided to all, or abol-
shed as to all
Three notifications occur to me here, which
think would be an improvement upon our
present system. LIT the Supreme Court b,
Of a convenient number in every circuit; then,
first, let the whole country be divided into a
circuit of convenient size, the Supreme
Judges to serve, or number of them, cores
ponding to their own numbers and independ-
ent circuit judges be provided for all the rest :;
or, secondly, the Supreme Judges be relieved
from circuit duties and circuit Judges be pro-
vided for all the circuits or, thirdly, des-
pense with Circuit Courts altogether, leaving
the judicial functions who ly to the District
Courts and an independent Supreme Court
l respectfully recommend to the considera-
ton of Congress the present condition of the
statute law, with the hope that Congress will
be able to find an easy remedy for the many
inconvenience and evils which constantly
embarrsss those engaged in the practical ad-
ministration of them. Since the organiza-
ton of the Government Congress has enact
ed some $4,000 acts and joint resolutions,
which fill more than 5000 closely printed
pages, and are scattered through many vol
umes. Many of these acts have been drawn