The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-12-06


cult duties, and circuit judges be provided
for all the circuits or, thirdly. dispense with
circuit courts altogether. leaving the judicial
functions wholly to the district courts and an
independent supreme court.
REVISION OF FEDERAL STATUTES. !
respectfully recommend to the consldera-
ton of Congress the present condition OF
the statute laws. with the hope that Congress !
will be able to find an easy remedy for many |
Of the Inconvenience ard evils which con-
stantly embarrass those engaged in the prac-
tical administration of them. Since the Or
ganzation Of government Congress has en-
acted some 5000 acts and joint resolutions,
which fill more than 900 closely printed pages
and are scattered through many Volumes
Many of these acts have been drawn in haste /
ard without sufficient caution, SO that their
provisions are often obscure in themselves
or in conflict with each other, or at least SO
doubtful as to render it very difficult for
even the best informed persons to ascertain
precisely what the statute law really is. Ii
seems to me very important that the statute
laws should be made as plain and inteiligibe
as possible. and be reduced to as small a
compass as may consist With the iullness and
precision of the will of the Legislature and
the perspicaity of its language. This well
done would ! think, greatly facilitate the Ia
bors of those whose duty it is to assist in tie
administration @! the laws. and would be d
lasting benefit to the people by placing before
them in a more accessible ard !nte!islb!e
form the laws which so deeply concern their
interests and their duties | am informed by
= SOME whose opinions respect that all the
: acts of Congress Tow Il force, Of Il per!na-
nent and general nature, might be revised
$ and rewritten so as to be embraced in one
volume, or at least two volumes OF ordinary
| and convenient SIZE and respectfully re
commend to Congress to consider the sub
|, ject, and if NY suggestion be approved, to
5 devise such plan as to their wisdom shall
: seem nest proper for the attainment Of the
/ end proposed.
rROVI>ION,I. MODES OF JUSTICE.
! One of the unfavoraLln consequences of
the present instruction is the entire sup
preston. in many places, Of all ordinary
means Of administering civil justice hy the
{, officers and IN TIE forms of existing law.---
, This is the case in whole or in part in al the
= inSrgcnt states. and as our armies advance
t upon and take possession Of parts Of these
+ states. the practical evil becomes more appa-
: rent There are 10 courts nor officers 10
i Vi HON the citizens of other states NAV apply
= for the enforcement of their lawful claims
against citizens Of the ln>uryciIt states, and
J. there is vast amount Of debt constituting
| such claims. Some have e>timatcdit Is high
: as S20O000,00O due in large part from in
t Surscnt> Iii open rebellion. to loyal citizens.
+ who axe even now making great sacrifices in
u the discharge OF their patriotic duty to sup
{ port the government. Under these crcunl-
i stances. have been urgently solicited To cS-
Il tahlish by military power. courts 10 adnlHl~-
d ter summary justice in such cases. have
t thus far declined to DO it. not because had
y any doubt that the end proposed. the collcc-
i; ton Of the debts. WIS right IL Itself. bat hc-
Y cause nave been unwilling to % beyond
. the pressure OF Necessity in the usual eNer-
Is else of power But the powers OF (onsr,>
/ suppose, are equal to the anomalous occa-
T. son. and therefore rctrc the whole mattel
u to Congress-. with the hope that plan M!
- be- devised for the administration Of ju>,ic:
| in all such parts OF the in>urgcmt states and
T. territories as may he under control OF thi>
Is government. whether hv a voluntary return
1, to allegiance and order. or by the power o.
tt our arms this. however, is not To tc a pc;
:, mancnt Institution, but temporary suh>tl
- ,itc. and TO cease Is soon a> the Ordinary
N courts can be re-cstabliShed in peace.
1llf COURT OF CLAIMS.
G. 1t is important that seine mere convenien
le means should be provided if possible for the
er adjustment ,t claims against the government
It. especially in view Of their increased numbc
as by reason of the war. Il is as much the du
" of government to render prompt justic
against itself in favor of citizens as il is t,
administer the same between private inli
y vidua'>. The investigation and adjudication
a o. claims Ill their nature belong to The judi
y cial department: besides it is apparent tina
nl the attention Of Congress vii be- more tina,
Fl! USUALLY engaged for SOME .imc 10 come wit
d great national questions. 1t was intendc
il b, the organization of the court Of claims
ca mainly to remove this branch of bushes
les from the rolls of Congress. but while III
II court has proved to be an effective and valu
ne able means of investigation. it in a great Il,
'at gree fails to effect the great object for whic
III it was created. for want Of powerto make il
judgments final. Fully aware of the delic.
re- g. not to say the danger. of the subject,
'rc commend to your careful con>idcratio'
&c whether this power of making judgments +
he nal may not properly be given to the cour
is re>ervins the right Of appeal on questions
ie- law to the supreme court. with such 9th,
30 provisions as experience may have shown t
Al be necessary
I'd" The POST OFFICE.
ask attention to the report of the pos
master general. the following being a sun
CT mary statement of the condition Of the IL
OF par.ment: the revenue from all sources du
he ing the fiscal year ending June 80. 1861, i.
SO GLIDING the annual permanent appropriate
the of 100000 for the transportation of Fl,
tie. mail matter. was 9.Ol9,296 40 being abo,
hin two per cent less than the revenue.
II For 1860, the expenditures were Sl36OG
al 30 II. showing a decrease of more tn.
elr eight per cent as compared with those of Il
ant previous year. and leaving an excess of {,
er- perd,ureS over the revenue for the last iiSc
ere year of over SJJ1 ,4G2 Il. The gross re
nn- enue for the year ending June 80 1868,
tn estimated at an increase of four per cent {
us that of 1861, making sS,G>3000, to viii,
al should be added the earnings of the dcpar
the mcnt III carrying free matter, viz: 10000
the making S9,3S300O. The total expenditure
ory for 1863 are estimated at Si2.jls.000, lea
'ng ing an estimated deficiency of $2l4j 900.
Fan be supplied from the treasury in addition
her the permanent appropriation.
rts
-; THE FEDERAL DISTRICT