The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-12-06

ton oil Congress the present conui'ion VI "uo
u. s. laws. with the hope that Congress will
be able to find an easy remedy for many OF
the Inconvenience and eyilswbich constantly
embarrass those engaged in the practical adj
,ninistratlon OF them. Since the organization
of the government. Congress has enacted
some 5000 acts and joint resolutions which
gil more than 5000 closely printed pages
and are scattered through many volumes
Many Of these acts have been drawn IN haste
and without sufficient caution, 80 that their
provisions arc obscure In themselves, or IN
conflict with each other, or ut least 80 doubt
ful AZ to render !: 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 DO made as plain and IN
tellieablc as possible, and be reduced to az
small compass Us may consist with the ini
ness and precision Of the will OF the les'sia'
ture, and the perspicuity OF its language
These well done, would think greatly Ia
ciliate the labors of those whose duty 1t Is u
assist in the administration of laws, and
would be lasting benefit to the people by
placing before them In more accessible ana
Ineligible form the laws which 80 deeply
concern their interests and their duties.
] am Informed by some whose opinions.
respect, that all the acts of Congress now 10
force and of permanent and general nature
might be revised and re written 30 rs to Dt
embraced in one volume; or ut most two
volumes, of ordinary and convenient size
and respectfully recommend to Congress 70
consider the subject and il my suggestion De
approved to devise such plan as to then
wisdom shall seem most proper Tor the at
tainment Of the end proposed,
One OF the unavoidable consequences oil
present instruction is the entire suppression
in many places of all ordinary means OF I'D,
ministering civil justice by the officers, and
in the forms of existing law this Is the case
in the whole or in part in all the insurgenl
States. and us our armies advance upon and
take possession of parts OF those States. the
practical evil becomes more apparent. There
are no courts nor officers to whom the citizens
of other States may apply for the enforce
ment OF their lawful claims against citizens
of the insurgent States, and there is Hyas'
amount of debt constituting such claims.-
Some have estimated 1t as high as two hun
dred millions Of dollars due in large part
from insurgents in open rebellion to loyal
citizens who are even now making great
sacrifices in discharge of their patriotic duty
to support the Government.
Under these circumstances ! have been
urgently solicited to establish by military
power courts to administer summary justice
in such cases. have thus Tar declined to do
1t, not because had any doubt that the end
proposed, the collection of the debts was just
and right in itself, but because have been
unwilling to 90 beyond the pressure OF
necessity in the unusual exercise OF power
but the powers of Congress, ] suppose, art
equal to the anomalous occasion, and, there
fore, refer the whole matter TO Congress,
with the hope that plan my be devised for
the administration Of Justice in all such parts
of the nsurgent States and territories as may
be under the control of the government,
whether by voluntary return to allegiance
and order, or by the power OF our arins.-
This, however, is not to be q permanent in
stitution, but temporary substitute and to
cease as soon as the courts can be re-estab.
lished in peace.
Ii is important that some more convenient
means should be provided, ifpossible, for the
adjustment of claims against the government,
especially in view of their increased number
by reason of the war.
Ii is as much the duty ofthc Government
to render prompt justice against itself, in
favor of its citizens, as it is to administer the
same between private individuals. The in
yestigation and adjudication OF claims in their
nature belong to the Judicial Department,
besides, it is apparent that the attention OF
Congress will be more than usually engaged
for some time to come. with the great nation
al question. 1t was intended by the organ.
ization OF the court of claims, mainly. tn re-
move this branch of business from the Halls
of Congress, but while the Court has proved
to be an effective and valuable means of in
vestigation, il in 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 commend to your careful considera-
ton, whether the power ofmaking judgment
final, may not properly be given to the court,
rcserving the right of appeal in questions, OF
law to the Supreme Court, with such other
provisions as experience may have shown to
be necessary.
/ ask attention to the report of the
Postmaster General, tho following being a
summary statement of the condition OF the
department
The revenue from oil sources during the
fiscal year ending June 3Oth, 1861, including
the annual permanent appropriation OF 81,
0O0, 900 for the transportation OF Tree mail
matter, was 5000 296 40, being about .
per cent. less than the revenue for lS6O.-
The expenditures were SI3 ,G0G,75 ii, show.
ing decrease of more than per cent as
compared with those Of the previous year,
and leaving an excess of expenditure over
the revenue for the last fiscal year OF over
$751;, 400 II. The gross revenue for the
year ending June 3Otb, 1868 is estimated at
an increase Of per cent, of that of 1861 ,
making $685. 900, to which should be
added the earnings Of the Department in
carrying free matter, viz 800 900, making
80 ,3S3, 900. The total expenditures for 1861,
are estimated at Sl2,52S 900, leaving an
unestiinatcd deficiency Of SO, l45,000 to DO
supplied from the treasury in addition to the
permanent appropriation.
The present instruction shows, ! think,
that the extensions of the district across the
Potomac river ut the time Establishing the
capital here was cnincntly wise, and con-
sequcntly that the REIMBURSEMENT OF that
portion Of ii which lies within the State OF
Virginia, was unwise and dangerous. |
submit for your consideration the cxpediency
Of reclaiming 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 to that Depart
ment. The depressing influence of the in.
surrection has been especially felt in the op-
erations of the Patent and General Land OF.
fees. The cash receipts from the sales OF
public land during the past year have ex-
ceeded the EXPENSES of our land system only