The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-12-04

iuincSs and precision vi the viii ot the
legisturc and the pros perity 1T its Language.
Th,se, well done, would, think, greatly
facilitate the labors Of those whose duty it
is to assist in the administration Of the laws,
and would be a lasting benefit to the pco-
pie by placing before them a more acccssi
DIE and intelligent form, the laws which so
deeply concerns their interests and their
duties.
am informed by some whose opinions re-
80 ct, th,t all the acts Of COnsress now in
force, and OF a permanent and general nature
might he revised SO 10 to he embraced in one
volume, or ut least two volumes Of ordinary
aud onveniei,t size, and respectfully recon.
mend 70 Congress to considrr the subject. and
ii my suggestion be q proved to devise such
plan as to their wisdom sh III seem must proper
for the attainment OF the end proposed.
One of the unfavorable consequences Of the
present insurrection is the entire suppression
in many places, OF all ordinary means Of ad
min;stering civil just :e by the officers. and in
the forms OF existing law. This is the case in
whole or in p,rt in all the insurgent States and
40 our arms adv .ncc upon aud take possession
OF parts Of these States, the practical evil be.
comes more apparent
There are no courts or officers to whom the
citizens OF other states may apply for the ell
fOrcements Of their lawful claims against ci-
xels Of the iiisurgent states, and there is vast
amount Of debt constituting such claims Some
have cstimated it ~ high rs $2O, OOO,O %, due
IN large part from insurgents ia open rebellion
to lOya: citizens, who are even nnw making
great sacrifces III the discharge OF their patri.
otto duty to support the Government under
these circumstances. y
l have been urgently solicited tn establish by
military power cOur N administer summary
justice in such Cases, | have thus far declined
to do it, not because had any doubt that the
end proposed the collection Of debt was just
and right in Itself, but because ! have been ul-
willing to go beyond the pre- sure Of necessity
in the usual exercise Of power. but the powers
Of Congress suppose are equal to the anoinal-
Gus occasion, ANA therefore | refer the whole
matter to Congress will, hope that plan may
he devised Tor the administration Ut justice III
all such parts OF the insurgent states and ter i.
tories aS may be under control OF this Govern:
mrnt, whether BY u voluntary return to allegi.
a,,c. AMI order Or by power vi our arms. his
however, mt t. be perm ncnt institution,
but II temporary substitute and to cease .O,I,
AS the ordinary courts can be re.est.bishcd in
place.
Il is important tcat some mere convenient
means n wild bc provided il possible for the
"uuS utCHs W hS siAsSS WIG S'SSiuuSHsi
especially in view Of their increased number
BY reassh OF the war. II is as much the duty
ei the Government to r"ncer prompt justice
against itself in favor Of ctizrns as 1t Is ~ ad.
minister the same between private individuals
The investigation and Wjudic ton OF all
claims in thei, nature belong to the judicial de
p,rtmcnt, besides it is apparent that the atten
ton OF Congress will b. more than usually en-.
gagged some time to come with the great ma.
tiollsl aues,,ons. 1t was inteniei by the 0rgs
n;zatipm Of the Court Of Claims. mainly ~ re-
move this brsncn ut business from the halls
OF Congress, hut while the Court has PROVE. tI
be AL effective an valuable means OF investi'
CATION, it in Il degree :ai's to effect tie object
Of its creation for want OF power to make its
judgments 6nal Fully aware OF the dclic,cy
not 70 say the danger Ut the subject. l comm ..d
t., your careful consideration whether his pow.
er of making judgments tim,l m'v mt be- pa OPP
eriy given 10 the Court rev rising the right al
aprn.al or questions OF iav M til. Sup enc
t'Ou,t with such other provisions As experience
NAV have shown u be necessary.
{ ask attention to the report Of the Postmas
ter General, the following being IL SUNNI nv
staten. ut OF the condition Of the Department
The revenue from all sources during the seal
year, ending goth June, 1861 Including the
annual permanent appropriation Of $7OO.O0O
for the transportation OF free mail m liter " IS
S9.049. CSC ~. bring about per Cent less than
the yere;ue Ut leGO.
The expenditures wcTc $l36, O06, 7O9 II,
showing Il decrease Of m,'re than per cent
rs composed with those Of the previous year.
and leavin an excess If rxpe diture- over the
revenue Tor thd last fiscal year vi over $55.'
462 II.
Tie gross revenue for the year ending June
Goth, 1853. is estimated ut All increas" OF pei
! cent. on that ct 1861, making $3.50 900, IL
| which would he added the earnings Ot the De
o rtm.nt for. carrying free matter, viz: S!OO,.
900. m king $9,3s2,tH 49,.
The total exp nditnres for le6 are estimated
at &l2, 5Ab. 0D, leaving an estimated deficiency
OF - 34S,',00 4, be supplied from tn: Treasur,
in addition to the permanent appropriations -
| The presen instruction shows, think. tina
the extension II this District acr,,ss the | OTTO
mac river ut the tim. Of establishing thu Capt
tai here, was rmineRtiy wise, and consequent
" that the reIin,uishm mt nf that portion oi il
! which lies in the State OF Virginia, was unwi>e
and dangerous.
/ submit 70 your consider .tion the expedien
CIV If reganing that part Of the District, anj
the r. st. alton ot the original boundaries there
OF, through negotiations with the State OF Va
The r. port Of the Src'y Of the Interior, will
the accump ,nying documents, exhi ITS the c'Ill
.1ition OF the several branches OF the p',o;i'
business pc tanning to that department. ih'
depr. ssing influences OF the instruction hay,
been especially felt in the OPERATIONS "f tht
Pate mt and Gen-r Land Offices. The Gas!
receipts from the sale Of pubic laMls turin:
the last year have excec'ed the EXPENSES o
our Land system only about $20O, O!O
The sales have been entirely suspended il
the southern states, while the interruptions t,
the business OF the country, and the divers"''
OF large numbers OF men from Labor to mlitlr.
service, have Obatacied settlements in the new
states and territories OF the nor Invest.
The receipts ut the Patent office have dcclin
ed in nine mont ~ ~ out s 900, rendering
large raiu, ton OF the force employed necers:
~ to make it sci sustaining. The demand
upon the Pension office will be largely increas
Ell by the insurrection-nuner Us application
for pensions aacd upon the cs'usnalltics Vt til
existing ar have already beer, m de.
Tnerc is reason 70 believe thu. m my who ar
now upon the pension rolls, in receipt Ut tn
bounty Of the Government, are in the ranks Il
the i,,surgent army, or giving THIN aid All
comfort The Secretary Oi the Interior has Il
rected the suspension OF the payment vi tn
penslba Of such people On proof vi their d,s
loyalty. .a a-.s ..a.E.
! recommend that Congress authorize tn:
officer to Cause the names OF such persons
b. stricken from the pension rolls. $500. ...
The relations OF the G vcrnln,nt with Oh
Indian tribes, have lately hcen disturbed b
, the in.urr ct,on, esprci lily in the Northern S,
perintendcncy, ami that Of New Mexico.
The indian country south o, Kansas il j
possession OF the insurgents from rrx,s ~
, A,k,n-as The agents Ut the U ) app0nts
; sine. the 9th ot March. Tor this superintendent
cy, have been unable t. reach their posts, viii
tile mo.tot those woo were in office before tn
time, hive e-pDused the insu, rrc,iouary caus
am, assumed the exercise to power VI agcn
by virtue Vi commissions from the iIsurrectiO
isis. -
Il has been stated in the public press that
portion Of tn. se India,s have e., organised
\ military force. and ar. att ,ched to the ~ q
OF tn. insurgents, Al housh the Govern,ne
his no official information upon the suffice
Ii r