Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-12-13

commend to Congress to consider the
subject, and, if my suggestion be ape
proved, to devise such plan as totheir
wisdom shall seem most proper for the.
attainment Of the end proposed.
ADMINISTRATORS or JUSTICE IN sHeR.f
DED STATES. 4a
One of the unfayorable consequences
Of the present insurrection, is the entire
suppression, in many places, of all ordi-9
nary means Of administering civil JUS
tiee 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 advance upon and
take possession of parts of those States
the 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 law
full claims against citizens of the insur-
gent States, and there is a vast amouns
of debt constituting such claims Some
have estimated it as high as 5000, 600,
600, due in large part from insurgents
in open rebellion, to loyal citizens, who
are even now making great sacrifices in
the discharge of their patriotic duty to
8 lpport the Government. Under these
circumstances, have been urgently So
licited to establish, by military power,
Courts to administer summary justice in
such cases. have thus far declined
to doit, not because had any doubt
that the end proposed--the collection
of the debt-was just and right in it
self, hut because have been unwilling
to GO beyond the pressure Of necessity
in the unusual exercise of power; but
the powers of Congress, I suppose, are
equal to the anomalous occasion, and.
therefore I nafsr the whole matter to-
Congress Nj tn the hope that the plan
may be advised feH the administration;
of justice in all such. parts. of the insur-s
gents States and territories az may be-
under control of This Governments.
whether, by voluntary Hsturn to, alle-.
glance and order or by the power Of our
arms. This, however, not to be per-
manent institution hut a temporary sub
stitute, and to cease as soon as the or
binary courts can be re- established In
peace.
- COURT OF CLAIMS.
1t is important that some more, con-.
yenient means should be provided, if
possible, for the adjustment of claims.
against the Government, especially in
view of their increased number by rea-
son of the war. It is as much the duty
of the Government to render prompt
justice against itself in favor of citizens
as it is to administer the same between
private individuals. The investigation.
and adjudication of all claims in their
nature belong to the judicial depart
ment, besides it is apparent that the att
tention of Congress will be more than
usually engaged for some time to come
with great national questions. It was
intended by the organization of the
Court of Claims mainly to remove this
branch of business from the halls Of
Congress, but while the Court has proved
to be an effective and valuable means of
investigation, it in a great degree fails
to effect the object Of its creation for
want of power to make its judgments
final. Fully aware of the delicacy, not
to say the danger of the subject, / cons
mend to your careful consideration
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 as experience
may have shown to be necessary.
posToFFIcE DEPARTMENT.
[ ask attention to the report of the
Postmaster General The following
being a summary statement of the con
dition of the Department: The reve-
nue. from all sources during the fiscal
year ending 30th June, 1861, including
the annual permanent appropriation of
500, 600 for the transportation of free
mail matter, was 50, ,049, 296. 40; being
about 2 per cent. less than the revenue
of 1860. The expenditures were s13,- !
COG, ,709.11; showing decrease of more
than 8 per cent, as compared with those.
of the previous year, and leaving an ex.
cess of expenditures over the revenue
for the last fiscal year of over $685.
1921. The gross revenue for the
year ending June 30, 1868, is estimated
at an increase of per cent. on that of
1861; making ss,6s3,O0O to which
should be added the earnings of the
Department for carrying free matter,
viz; 500, 900, making s9, 1882 900. The
total expenditures of 1863 are estimated
at 1852 900, leaving an estimated de- Z
6ciency of s3,345, 900 to be supplied
from the treasury, in addition to the
permanent appropriation.
EXTENSION OF THE DISTRICT OF CO.
LUMR1A. I5
The present insurreotion shows,
think, that the extension of this District
across the Potomac river, at the time of
establishing the capital here, was emil
nently wise, and consequently that the
REIMBURSEMENT of that portion of it
which lies in the State Of Virginia was
unwise and dangerous. l submit, for
your consideration, the exPediency Of
rejoining that part of the District, and
the restoration of the original boundries
thereof, through negotiations with the
State of Virginia.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of the In
terror, with the accompanying document,
exhibits the condition of the several
branches of the public business per-
tanning to that Department. The de-
pressing influences of the insurrection
have been especially felt in the opera
tions of the Patent and General Land
Office. The cash receipts from the
sales of public lands during the last year
have exceeded the expenses of our land
system only about 100000. The