The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-12-04

, spectively named and stated in schedule
containing, also, the form Of the lette
marked A, and herewith transmitted
These gentlemen, understand, entered
! upon the duties designated at the time,
respectively stated in the schedule, ant
have labored faithfully therein ever since
therefore recommend that they be com
pensated at the same rate as chapains II
the army. further suggest that gen
eral provision be made for chapains e
serve at hospitals as well rs with regi
ments.
TIE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the Secretary Of the Ma
w presents in detail the operations OF
that branch of the service, and the aetiv-
ity and energy which have characterized
its administration, and the results OF
measures to increase its efficiency and
power. Such have been the additions by
construction aud purchase that it may al
most be said navy has been created aud
| brought into service since our difficulties
commenced. Besides blockading our ex-
| tensive coast, squadrons larger than ever
before assembled under our flag have been
set atioat, and performed deeds which
have increased our naval renown
would invite special attention to the re-
commentator of the Secretary of the Ma
W for more perfect organization of the
Navy by introducing additional grades
into the service The present organiza-
tion is defective and unsatisfactory, and
the suggestions submitted by the Depart
mcnt will, il Is believed, If adopted, OBJ
yiate the difficulties alluded to, promote
harmony and increase the efficiency Of the
Navy
STATUTE LAWS
| respectfully recommend TO the con-
sideration of Congress the present condi-
tion of the statute laws, with the hope
that Congress will be able to find remedy
for the many Inconvenience and evils
which constantly emharrass those engaged
in their practical administration. Since
the organization of the Government Con
gress has enacted some five thousand
acts and Joint resolutions, which fill more
than 1000 closely printed pages, and are
scattered through many volumes. Many
Of these acts have been drawn in haste,
and without sufficient caution, so that
their provisions are Otter obscure in them
selves or in conflict with each other, and
Mt least SO doubtful as to render il 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 laws should be made ii.
plain as poss ible, and be reduced to as
small compass rs may consist with the
fullness and precision of the will of the leo
islature and the perspieuity of its language.
These well done would think, greatly
/ facilitate the lahors of those whose duty
| il is to assist in the administration of tie
| laws, and would be lasting benefit t,
the people by placing before them in 1
more accessible and ineligible form the
laws which SO deeply concern their inter
est and their duties. | am informed hy
some whose opinions / respect that all III,
acts Of Congress now in force and of per
manent and general nature might be re.
viscd and rewritten so as to be embraced
in one volume. or at least two volumes o.
ordinary and convenient size, and | re.
spect.ully recommend to Congress to con.
slider the subject, and if my suggestion
be approved, 10 devise such plan n, il
their wisdom shall seem most proper fol
the attainment Of the end proposed.
SUPREME JUDGES.
There are three vacancies on the bench
of the Supreme Court, two by the deceas,
, of Justices Daniel aud Mclean, and on,
by the resignation of Justice Campbell
| have 50 far forbornc making nomination
, to fill these vacancies for reasons which
now state. Two of the outgoing Judges
resided within the States now overthrow
hy revolt, so that If successors were APP
pointed in tile same localities they coult
not serve upon their circuits, and many o
, the most competent men there, probably
would not take the personal hazard of &C
eepung 70 serye even here upon the Su
preme bench. | have been unwilling t
throw all the appointments Northward
thus disabling myself from doing justic
, to the south on the return of peace, nj
though ! may remark, that to transfer 4
. ihN A'ttth oUI NItt has ttittbtniC ptSI
: in the South would not, with reference Il
j the territory and population, be unjust
! During the long and brilliant judicia
career of Judge Mclean, his circuit gre,
into an empire altogether too large for an
one Judge to eiye the courts more thai
nominal attendance, rising in population
: from 100000 in 1881 to q, ISL ,405 i
! 1860. Besides this, the country has gen
orally outgrown our present Judicial sy,
tenn If uniformity was at all intended
the SYSTEM required that all the State
shall be accommodated with circuit court
attended by supreme Judges, willie in fac
WISCONSIN, ainneeota, Iowa, Kansas, E!a
rida, Texas, California, and Oregon, hay
: never had any such courts. Nor can thi
be we'll remedicd without change Of tn