Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-09


temporary st bstitne, and 20 as the orc
Dary courts can be re-sstsblished in peace.
lt is important that some convenient NEAR
should b, provided If possible, for the adjustment
claius against the Government, especially in view o
their Increased number by Of the war. II is q
much the duty OF governments TO render p'ompt usct
against itself in favor Of cizens it is to admipiste
the same between private individuals The investigation
aud adjudication of clams IN their nature belong ht
judicial department. besides, it is apparent that tb,
attention OF Congress will be than usually engaged
for some time to come with great national questions
IL wgs intended by the organization OF the Court O
Claims mainly to remove this branch ef business from
the balls OF Congress bu. while the Court has proved
to be effective and valuable Of investigation
it, in great degree fails to ee;t the object of is crea
ton for want Of power 10 make its judgments final
Fully aware Of the decacy, not to say the danger Of h
suect Icommend to your careful consideration vhethr
this power OF making Judgments fual may not properly
be given 20 de court reserting the right Of sppss
questions of law 10 the Supreme Court with such o;he
provisions as experience may hsw shown to be necef
slry.
Iask attention to the report Of the Postmaster Gene
raj, tie following being summary statement of the
condition OF the department:
The revenue from ell sources during the fiscal year
ending June so 1861 including the annual appropriation
Of hundred thousand dollars for the ransporta
ton of free mail matter was nine million forty.ai G
thousand two hundred and niney-sx dollars and forty
cents, being about two per cent ess than the
for 1860 The expenditures were thrtecn million SIX
hundred and six thousand hu,dred ard fifty nine
dollars and eleven cents, showing decrease OF more
than eight per cent compared with those Of the pre-.
vious year, and leaving Of expenditures over
the revenue for the les. ca year Of over five hundred
and nifty thousand four hundred aud sxty.two
dollars and ssventyone cents The gross for
the year ending June 30, 1862, IA ctmaod at in-
crease OF four per cent that Of 1861 making eight
million Fix hundred aud sixtythree thousand dclars
which should be added the earnings Of the department
in carrying free matter, viz seven hundred thousand
dollars; making nine million three hundred and eighty
three thousarddolars The total expenditures for sG2
estimated at twelve million five hundred and twenty
eight lhogsand dollars leaving estimated deficiency
OF three million one hundred and forty.fve thousand
dollars to be fupped from the Treasury, in addition
the p, rmanent appropriation.
The present naurrecon shows, think, that the ex-
tension Of this District the Potomac river at the
time Of establishing the Capital here emincnty ssc,
aud consequently that the roinquishmen of that pOr
ton Off which lies within the State OF Virginia
wise aud dangerous submit for your consideration
the eIpedency Of regaug that part Of the District and
the restoration Of the original boundaries thereof through
negotiations with the State of Virginia.
The report Of the Secretary of the Interior with the
accompanying documents exhibit the condition of the
several branches Of the public business pertaining
that department The depressing Influences of the in
surrecon have been especially felt in the operations Of
the Patent and General Land Offices The cash receips
from the sales of the public lands during the past year
have exceeded the expenses Of our land system only
about two hundred thousand dollars The sales have
been entirely suspended 10 the Southern States while the
Interruptions the business Of the country and the di
version Of large numbers Of from labor TO military
service have obsrucLed settlements in the States
aud Territories Of the Northwest
The receipts of the Patent OfSce have declined in
nine months about one hundred thousand dollars
derng large reduction Of the force empoyed necessa
~ TO make it sefsustsinipg.
Tie demands upon the Pension Office will be largely
increased by the insurrection. Numerous applications
for PENSIONS based upon the casualties Of the existing
war; have already been made There is 10 believe
that many who upon the pension roll and in
cpt OF the bounty Of the Government are in the ra ks
of the nsurgent army, giving them aid and comfort
The Secretary of the Interior has directed suspension
Of the payment Of pensions OF such persons upon proof
OF their dsloyay. recommend that the Congress
horize that officer to the Of such persons
TO b, stricken rom the pension roll
The relations Of the Government with the Indian tribes
have been greatly disturbed by the nsurrectiop espe
cialy in the Southern Superntendency and in that Of
New Mexico. The Indian country south Of Kansas is in
possession OF the insurgents from Texas and Arkansas
The agcs Of the United States appointed since the Ith
OF March for this superntcndeucy, have been unable to
reach their poss while the of those Who we're 10
ocs before that time have espoused the nsurrectionary
cause and assume 10 exercise the powers Of agents by
virtue OF their commission from the insurrectonsts.
It hes been stated in the public press that portion CT
these Indians have been organized as military force,
and are attached to the army Of the insurgents Although
the Government has no official information upon the
subject letters have been written 10 the Commissioner
Of Indian Afairs by several prominent chiefs giving
Of their loyalty to the United States, ard
pressing wish for the presence Of the federal troops TO
protect them ]; is believed that upon the repossession
of the country BY the Federal forces, the Indians will
readily all hostile demonstrations and resume their
former relations TO the Government.
Agriculture, confesseiy the largest interest Of the
ton has not department bureau, but cerkskip
only assigned TO 1t in the Government While 1t Ia for
that this great interest is independent in It's
nature not to have demanded aud extorted more from
the Government Irespectfuy ask Congress to consider
whether something cannot be given voluntarily with gen
era advantage Annual reports exhibiting the condition
Of our agriculture, commerce. and manufactures, would
present fund Of information OF great practical value to
the country. While make no suggestion as to Details
the opinion tha. agricultural and statistical
bureau might probably be Organized.
The execution Of the laws for the suppression Of the
African slave trade has been conied to the Department
Of the Interior II is subject Of ofcongrstuatou that the
efforts which have been made for the suppression ofths
nhuman traffic have been recently attended With unusn-
Al success Five vessels fitted out for the slave trade
have been eeized and condemned Two mates engaged
in the trade and person in equppitg vessel as
SLAYER have been convicted and SUI eced TO the penal
Of fac and imprisonment, and one captain, taken wi
ac,rgo of Africans board his vessel has been cor
vced OF the highest grade Of offence under our laws the
punishment of which IL death.
The Territories Of Colorado, Dicotah, and Nevada.
created BY the last Congress- have been organised and
civil administration has been inaugursted therein IN
der suspces especially graf,Og when Is considered
that the leaven OF found existing In some OF
these new countries when the Federal oticers arrived
there The abundant natural resources OF these Terri
tories With the secury aud protection afforded by Or
panizsd government will doubtless invite TO them large
mmgralon when peace shall restore the business OF the
conn,rv 10 its accustomed channels submit the reso
u,iops of the Legislature of Colorado which evidence
the patriotic spirit OF the people OF the Territory SO
far the authority Of the United States has been upheld
in all the Territories is hopOd it will be in the fu
urs commend their interests and defence to the
lirhtened and generous care OF Congress.
recommend to the favorable consideration Of Con-
srsss the interests of the District OF Columbia The in
surrecon has been the Of much suffering and
rfce ts inhabants and a. they have representa-
tive in Congress- that body should not overlook their
iust claims upon the Government.
At your last session joint resolution was adopted
horzng the President TO take for facilitating
proper representative Of the industrial interests Of the
United States at the Exhibition Of the industry Of all
tons to be held at London in the year 1862 regret