Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-12-07
generally out grown our present Judicial

by Supreme Judges, while In f-ci Wiscon-
sin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kensas, Florida, Tcx-
as, California and Oregon never have had
any such Courts, nor can they be we'll rem
edied without a change Of the system, be-
cause the adding of Justices to the Supreme
Courts would create a Court altogether too
dangerous for judicial body of any sort,
and the evil OF il be one that viii increase
as new States come into the Union. Cir.
cult Courts are useful, or they are not use.
ful. II useful, no State seould be denied
them. IL not useful, no State should have
them Let them be provided for ell OF
abolished to ALL v
Three notifications occurred to me here,
which think would be improvements up.
on our present system. Let the Supreme
Court be Of convenient number in any
event, then, 6rst let the whole country be
divided into circuits of convenient sizl and
the Supreme Judges TO serve in number
Of them corresponding to their own mum.
Der, and Independent Circuit Judges be
provided for the rest. Or, Secondly, The
Supreme Judges be relieved from circuit
duties, and Circuit Judges provided for all
the circuits-or, birdlv, dispense with Cir,
cua Courts, leaving the judicial functions
wholly 10 the District Courts aud an iude.
pendent Supreme Court.
respectfully recommend to the consije-
ration of Congress the present condition Of
the statute laws, with a hope that Congress
will So able to fad an easy remedy for tho
many inconveniences aud evils which con-
stsntly embsrsss those engaged in the prac.
tical administration of them.
Siuce the organization Of the Govern.
ment, Congress has enacted some 5000
acts and jnint resolutions which will make
more than 6o0o closely printed pages and
are scattered through many volumes. -
Many of these acts have been drawn in
haste snd without sufficient caution, so that
their provisions arc often obscure in them.
selves, or conf ct with each other, or Mt
least so doubtful as TO render it very difficult,
for even the best informed persons. to as.
certain precisely what the statute law really
is. 1t seems to me very important that the
statute law should be made as plain and in
teligable as possible and be reduced as to
small compqss as may be consistent with
the fuIlness and precision If the will of the
legislature, ard the porspicuity Of its Lao,
guagA. These well dore would, think,
gr,aly facilitate the labor of those vi ose
duty it is to assist in the administration oi
tho laws, aud would be lasting benefit to
the people by placing them in a more &C.
cessble and inteligable form, the laws
which SO deeply concern their interests and
duties.
am informed BY some, whose opinion |
respect. that all the acts Of Congress which
are in force, aud Of permanent and gene
raj nature, might be revised and rewritten.
so as to be embraced in one volume, or at
least Two volumes, of ordinary and con-
veniont size, and respectfully recommend
to Congress TO consider the subject, and if
my suggestion be approved, to devise such
a plan rs to their wisdom shall seem most
proper for the attainment Of the eud pro-
posed. > a rs .
One of the unfavoFable cons quences of
the present insurrection is the entire sup
preston in many places of all ordinary
means Of administering justice by the Off
GERS, aud in the f rms OF existing law
This is the case inwhole or in part in all
the insurgent States aud as our armies ad-
vance upon and take possession of these
States, the practical evil becomes more ap-
parent. 4
There are no courts or officers TO whom
the citizsns Of other States may apply for
the enforcement of their lawful claims
against citizens of the insurgent States, and
there is vast amount of debt, consttu-
ting such claims. Some have estimated il
as high as S200,oOo,0oO due in large part
from insurgents in open rebellion to loya
citizens, who are even now making great
sacrifices in the discharge of their patriotic
duty to support the Government. Undel
those circumstances have been urgently
solicited, to establish by military power
courts to administer summary justice il
such cases.
| have thus far declined to do it, not be
cause l had any doubt that the end pto
| posed for the collection of debt was JUS
and right in Itself, but because | have beeI
unwilling to go beyond the pressure of ne
c-ssity in the unusual exercise Of power
but the powers of Congress / supppse'
were equal to the anomalous occasion, an,
therefore, l refer the whole matter :
Congress with the hope that plan ma
he devised for the administration of justc
in all such parts of the Insnrgent States an
| Territories. as may be under the control of
! government. wheIher by the voluntarily relul
| TO allegiance or order; or by the pHver OF OF
| arms This, however, is not 10 be q permane
| institution but Temporary substitute, and
cease ms sooR as The ordIBary Courts can be r
established in peace. ... ..
II is important that some more convenie
| means should be provided, if possible, for u
| adjustment of claims against the Govern nment, G
/ ptcially in view of Their increased numbers, !
rrason of war IL is as much the duty OF q
! Gnyernment TO reader prompt justice against
self and in favor OF other eItizens as IT ls adml
ister The same between private Individuals
The lave -tiyaion and adjudication Of all aims in tn
nature tsong o the Judicial epariRent sides IL /, a
parent tn Il tile at en- ion Of Cohgr wi be more III
usually rrgagpd Tor some time 90 come with great
! tioia quest Qua twas tntendrd ny The "rganilai
fh our of 'iahns mlin. 10 remOy' ti bran b "f d
81 the hat o. OngTess b ~ VIII the G''r
prosed 10 he r tive and 'aiuaIe means Of inv 81
lion in great degre fai- 10 effect the'oljecl its ere
alton fol Of pow 10 make sjadgrn+ Is hnal "
y aware OF hr dol cacy, no 10 say he danger OFT 81
/ ject commeHd 10 your e'reiu CO. sidefat wheit
this power q making Judgment ina may not he pr pe
/ y given r. the our reseTv ng the right OF ant cal
questions Of b the ~ rene ourt with such ON
provisions as eTpedenee may have shown 70 be neeess
ssk attention 10 ihe report NJ the Postmaster enet
the fGowing being summary statement OF tie eondi
Of the department. The revenue from all sources uft
The fiscal y-aT ending 3Jn Juss lsbl iuclndnf anna
permanent aYropraton OF 500. o. for the transport