Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-12-11

| the lnauTBCnt states ana as our armies ad.
vance upon and take possession Of parts
OF hose States, the practical evil becomes
more apparent
There are no courts nor officers TO whom
the citizens Of other States may apply for
the enforcement Of their lawful claims
against citizens of the nsurgent States,
and there is vast amount Of debt consti.
tuting such claims. Some have estimated
it as high as 5000 900, 900 due in large part
! from insurgents in open rebellion 10 loyal
citizens, who are even now making great
sacrifices in the discharge of their patriot
ic duty to support the Government I'm
der these circumstances | have been ur-
gently solicited to establish, by military
power, courts to administer summary JUS
tice in such cases. / have thus far declin-
ed 10 do it not because | had any doubt
that the end proposed-the collection of
the debts-was just and right in itself, but
! because ! have been unwilling to 90 be-
yond the pressure Of necessity in the un-
usual exercise of power. But the powers
! OF Congress, | suppose. are equal to the
anomalous occasion, and therefore | refer
the whole matter to Congress, with the
hope that a plan may be devised for the
administration of justice in all such parts
Of the insurgent States and Territories { s
may be under the control OF this Govern
ment, whether by II voluntary return to
allegiance and order, or by the power Of
our arms.
This, however, is not to be permanent
institution, but a temporary substitute,
and 10 cease as soon as the ordinary courts
! can be re. established in peace. 1t Is I'M
portant that some more convenient means
i should be provided, if possible, for the al
justment of claims against the Govern
ment, especially in view of their increased
number by reason Of the War. 1t Is as
much the duty of Government to render
prompt justice against itself in favor oi
citizens as it is to administer the same
between private individuals. The invest
igation and adjustment OF claims IN Their
nature belong 10 the judicial department.
Besides, it is apparent that the attention
OF Congress will be more than usually en-
gagged some time to come with great ma
tioEal questions.
1t was intended by the organization OF
the Court of Claims mainly TO remove TINS
branch of business from the halls OF Con-
gress, bat while the Court has proved TO
bc an effective and valuable means OF IN
yestigation, it, in great degree, tails 10 et
feet the object of its creation Tor
want of the power to make its Judgment
final. Fully aware of the dcliCacy, not to
10 say the danger OF the SUBJECT, COM
mend TO your careful consideration wheth.
er this power of making judgments tnal,
may not properly be given to the Court,
reserving the right OF appeal, on questions
Of law, to the supreme Court. with such
other provisions rs experience may have
shown to be necessary.
| ask attention to the report OF the
Postmaster General, the following being
summary statement of the condition oi
the Department. The revenue from all
sources during the fiscal year, ending June
80, 1861, including the annual permanent
appropriation OF 100000 for the trans
portation of free mail matter, was S9Olh>
462 40, being almost two per cent. less
than the revenue. for 1860 The eXpen-
ditures were Sl3,G0G,759 II showing a
decrease of more than eight per cent. as
compared with those of the previous year,
and leaving an excess OF expenditures
over the revenue for the last fiscal year OF
4,557, ,462 - The gross revenue for the
year ending June 3Oth, 1868, IS estimated
at an increase Of four per cent. on that OF
1861, making SS GS3 600, to W hich should
be added the earning. OF the department
in carrying free matter, viz; SlOO'OOO,
making S0,5S3 900
The total expenditures for 1863 are es'
timated at ST., ,52S, 600, leaving an estima-
timated deficiency Of So. $4,000, to be
supplied from the Treasury, in addition TO
the permanent appropriation.
The present instruction shows, thlak,
that the extension of this district across
the Potomac river at the tiMo Of cstab-
fishing the Capital here, was cmirentiy
wise, and consequently that the relinquish-
ment of that portion of it which lies with
in the State OF Virginia, was nnwlse and
dangerous. submit for your considera
ton the expedency. of regaining that part
of The district and the restoration OF the
original boundaries thereof through ne
gntiations rth the State Of Virginia.
The repol t Of the Secretary of the lnte'
rior, with the accompanying documents,
exhibits the condition Of :he several BRAN
ches of the public business pertaining to
that Department. The depressing intiu-
enceS OF the insure CllOn nave UetH t0ic-
cially felt in he operations Of the Patent
and General Land Offices.
The cash receipts from the sales OF pub
lie lands, curing the past year, have ex-
ceeded tho expenses of our land system
only about S2OO,0O0. The sales have been
entirely suspended in the Southern States,
while the interruptions TO the business oil
the country and the diversion of large
numbers of men to military service,
have restricted settlements in the new
States and territories of the Northwest.
The receipts of the Patent Office have
declined in nine months about 100000,
rendering a large reduction Of the force
employed necessary, to make 1t seIl'sns'
tanning.
The demands upon the Pension Office
will be largely increased by the insurrec
ton. Numerous applications for pensions,
based upon the casualties OF the present
war. have already been made. There is
reason to believe that many who are now
uron the pension rolls, and in receipt of
the bounty of the Government, are in the