Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-12-10
VOL. 10 NO. 26.

cult Courts altogether, leaving the judicial
function wholly to the District Courts and
and an Independent Supreme Court.
L respectfully recommend to the consid,
Grafton of Congress the present condition
OF the statute laws, with tie hope that Con.
gress viii be able TO find an easy remedy
Tor the many Inconvenience and evils
which constantly embsrrass those engaged
~ the practical administration Of them -
Since the organization Of the government,
Congress has enacted some 5000 acts aud
joint resolutions. which fiji more than 600
closely printed pages, and are scattered
through many lnmes, Many Of these
acts have been drawn In haste, and wIth~
out sufficient caution, 50 that their brovis-
IONS are often obscure ia themselves. or in
conflict with each other, and ut least so
doubtful MS to render it very difficult f,r
even the best informed persons to ascertain
precisely what the statute law really is. Is
seems to me very important that the statute
law should be made as plain and intelligi-
bic as possible. and be reduced to as small
a compass as may consist With the fullnpss
and percision Of the will of the Legislature
and the srerspiedity Of its languaye.-
These, well done, would, think, greatly
facilitate the labors of those whose dutv il
Is to assist in the administration of the
laws, and would be lasting benefit to the
people, by placing before them, in a more
accessible and ineligible form, the laws
which 20 deeply concern their interests and
their duties.
| am informed by those whose opinioos
respect that all the acts of Congress now in
force, and of permanent and general ma.
mi ha
to be embraced in enc volume. or nj least
two volumes of ordinary and CONVENIENT
size and | respectfully recommend 10 Con.
gress to consider the subject. and, il nv
suggestion be approved, to devise such a
plan as TO their wisdom shall seem most
proper for the attainment of the end pre-
posed.
One Of the unfavotable consequences OF
the present insurrection is the entire sup
preston in many places Of all ordinary
means OF administering civil justices by
the officers and in the forms of existing law.
This IS the case, in whole or in part, in all
the insurgent States, and, as our armies ad
vance upon and take possession of parts Of
these States, ,he practical evil becomes
more apparent. There are no courts or
officers to whom the citizens of other States
may apply for the enforcement Of their
lawful claims against citizens of the insur-
gent States, and there is vast amount of
debt constituting such claims. Some have
estimated it as high as 5000, 900 900 due in
large part from insurgents in open rebellion
to loyal citizens, who are even now making
great sacrifices 10 the discharge OF their
patriotic duty to support the government.
Under these circumstances, ] have been
urgently solicited to establish, by military
power, courts to administer summary JUS
tees IN such cases. / have thus for de-
cllned to do it, not because had a.y doubt
that the end pruposed-the collection os
debt-was just and right in itself, but be.
cause have been unwilling to go beyond
the pressure OF necessity in the UNUSUAL
exercise OF power; but the p"wers of Con-
gress, | suppose, are equal to the anornal-
Gus occasion, and therefore | refer the
whole matter to Congress, with hope that
plan may be devised for the administers
ton OF justice in all snch parts Of the in
surgent States and Territories as NAV he
under vUntrUi or tnTs government, wnether
by voluntary return to allegiance and or
der. or by the power of our arms; this,
however, not to be permatent institution,
but temporary substitute, and to cease as
soon as the ordinary courts can be re-es-
tabiisheG IN peace.
1t is important that some more convent
ent measures should be provided. if possi-
BILE, for the adjustment Of claims against
the government, especially IN view of their
increased number by reason of the war
1t is as much the duty of the government
10 render prompt justice against itself in
favor of citizens, as it is to administer the
same between private individuals. The in
vestigati0n and adjudication 90 all claims
in their nature belong to the judicial de-
partment. Besides, II il apparent that the
attention Of Congress Will be more tha,
usually engaged for SEINE time 10 come with
great national questions. 1t was intended,
10y the organization of the Court e Claims
mainly 10 remove this branch Of business
from the halls of Congress; but, while the
court has proved 10 be an effective aod val
liable means of investigation, il in great
degree fails to effect the object of its crea-
ton, for want Of power to mako its iudg-
ments final. Fully aware Of the deicacv.
not to say the danger, OF the subject. |
commend to your careful constellation
whether this power of making judgments
final may not be properly given to the
court, reservinG the right of appeal, on
questions of law, to the Supreme Court,
with such other provisions ns experience
may have shCwn to be necessary.
j ask attention to the report of the Post
master General, the following being a sum.
mary statement Of the condition of the
Department: The revenus from all sour
ces during the fiscal year, ending Both June
1861, including the annual permanent sp
preparation of 800 600 for the ,ransrorta.
ton Of free mail matter, was 50 649, 296. 40,
being about two per cent. less than the rev.
enue ct 1850. The expenditures were 3d.
COG, i09 u, showing q decrease Of more
than per cent as compared with those Of
the previout yearf and leaving an excess of
expenditures over the revenus for the last
fiscal year Of 81 1857 ,462 IL The gross
revenue for the year ending June 30th.
1868. is estimated at &C increase of per
cent, on that Of 1861, making SS.683. 600,
tn which should he added the earnings Of
the Department for carrying free matter.
viz: 100000; making So 600. The
total expenditures for 1863 are estimated
at Sl2,518, 900 leaving an estimate def
cheney Of S3,3i5,O tn be supplied from
the treasury, in addition to the permanent
appropriation.
The preseDt instruction shows, think.
that the extension Of this District across
the Potomac River. at the tine Of estab.
fishing the capital here was eminently wise,
and consequently that the relinquishment
of that portion Of it which lies in the State
of Virginia was unwise and dangerous.
submit for your consideration and expedi-
ency Of retaining that part of the Distrist,
and the restoration of the original b1unda.
ries thereof. through negotiations With the
State of Virginia.
The report of tie Secretary Of the In
tericr. with the accompanying documents,
exhibits the condition Of the several
branches Of the public business pertaining
to that Department.
The depressing influences Of the inssr-
rection have been especially felt in the OPP
erations Of the Patent and General Land
Offices.