The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-12-12

very difficult for even the best informed
persons to ascertain precisely what the
statute law reallysis. il seems to me very
important that statute law should lie made
as plain aud intslligible as possible, and
be reduced 10 as small compass as may
coKsist with the faIlneSs and precision Of
the will Of the Legislature and the perspi.
Guilty Of it's language. These well done
would, think. greatly facilitate the a.
bors Of those whose duty 1t is 10 assist in
the administration Of the laws; aud would
be lasting benefit to the people, by plac-
ing before them 10 more accessible and
Ineligible form the laws which so deep
ly concern their interests snd their duties.
! lam informed by some, whose opin-
ions respect, that all the acts Of Con-
gress now in force. and Of general ma
ture might be revised and rewritten so
as TO embraced in one volume, or at atleast
two volumes. of ordinary and convenient
size; AID !. respectfully recommend to
Congress to consider the subject, aud if
my suggestion be approved, to devise
such q plan as in their wisdom shall seem
proper for the attainment of the end pro.
posed. .a
One Of the unfayorable consequences Of
the present insurrectiou is the entire sup
preston IN many places Of all ordinary
means Of administering civil justice by
the officers. and in the forms Of existing
law. This is the case, in whole, or in
part. in all the insurgeht States; and as
our armies advance upon and take posses.
sion Of parts Of these States the practical
evil becom's more apparent. There are
no courts, or officers to whom The citizens
Of other States may apply for the enforce
ment Of their lawful claims against
citizens of the iDsurgent States. and
there 10 vast amount Of debt consti-
tuting such claims. Some have csti
mated it as high as $500, 100000, due
in large part from insurgents in open
rebellion to loyal citizens. who are
ever now making great sacrifices in
the discharge Of tbisr patriotc duty, to
support the Government under these cir
cumstauces. l have been urgently solic-
tied to establish, by military power,
Courts to administer summary justice in
such cases. l have thus far declined to
do ii; not because had any doubt that
the end proposed the collection Of debt
was just and right, in itself, but because
have been unwilling to 90 beyond the
pressure ofuecessity. in the unusual ex-
ercise Of power; but the powers of Con
gress, suppose, are equal to the anoma
I, llous occasion. and therefore refer th'
whole matter to Congress. with the hop,
that plan may be devised for the ad
ministration Of justice in all such part
i, Of the insurgent States and Territories 81
a may be under control Of this Government
3 whether by a voluntary return TO allegi
ance and order, or by the power of ou
=. arms; this, however, not to be perma
Dent institution, but temporary substi
!. tute, and to cease as soon as the ordina
ry Courts can be re established in peace
!. 1t is imporianI that some more conve
!, nisnt means should be provided, ifpossi
!; bic, for the adjustment Of claims agains
!, the Government; especially in view o
!. their increased number by reason of th'
q war. Ii is as much the duty Of the gov
ernment to render prompt justice agains
a itselfin favor Of citizens ss it to admin
!. lister the same between private individu
4 ale. The investigation and adjudication
q Of all claims in their nature belong to tn
!. judicial department, besides it is appa
n rent that the attention Of Congress will b
!. more than usually engaged for some tim
i. to come with great national questions.
f. It was Intended by the organization
70 the Court of Claims. mainly to remov
Il this branch Of business from the Halls
ga Congress; but while the Court has prov
in ed to be an effective and valuable mean
,is Of investigation, it. in a great degree fai
mr. to effect the object Of It's creation for wal
v of power to make it's judgments fna
@es @ Fully aware of the delicacy, not to 50
sd danger, OF the subject, l commend
ma your careful consideration whether th
n, power Of making judgments final ms
Al. not be properly given TO the Court, r
nv serving the right Of appeal on question
"a. a. Of law to the Supreme Court, wllh SUI
u. other provisions as experience may ha
IN shown to be necessary.
la. l ask attention to the report OF t
ir. Post Master General; the following bel
to. a summary statepept Of the condition
dy the Department.: The revenue from
hat sources during the fiscal year ending &c
he June. 1861, including the annual perm
lev nent appropriation Of $7,09o,0OO for
uld transportation of free mail mater, was
ate O4e, ,296, 40, being about two per cent /
id, thar the revenue of 1860. The expen
rec lures were $l3,6O6.7O9.1l, showing
/, / decrease Of more than 3per c'nt, as &C
bon pared with those of the previous year,
,me leaving an excess Of expenditures over
sry revenue for the last fiscal year Of o
TRY S557, ,462.7l. The gross revenue for
izs. year ending june 80. 1858, ia estima
mi. at Id increase of per cent on that OF
,wu making $s, ,683, 900, to which should
Ices added the earnings Of the Department
md. carrying free matter, viz: e70o,Oo0,
we'd king SO, ,ssa 900. The total sxpenditu
Ices for 1858 are estimated at SIC. .528,C @
dly leaving an estimated deficiency of
ber, S45,o0 to be supplied from the treas
!, to iu addition to the permanent spprop
dent tion. ....a,.
The present insufreotiOn shows, I IL
mai. hat the extension of this District ac
ndi, the Potomac River at the time Of es
,ops fishing the capital here,wa emine
oasv W wise; and consequently the relinqu