Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-12-07

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der prompt justice against itself iu favor
of citizens, as il is to administer the same
between private individuals. The investi-
cation and Adjudication Of claim. n snoir
nature belong to the judicial department.
Besides, it is apparent that the attention
of Congress will be more than usually en-
gagged for some time to come with great
national questions. 1t was intended by
the organization Of the Court Of Claims
mainly to remove this branch of business
from the halls of Congress but while the
Court has proved to be an effective and
valuable means of investigation, it, in a
great degree, fails to effect the object of its
creation for want of the power to make its
judgments final. Fully aware of the deli
cacy, not to say the danger Of the subject,
| commend TO your careful consideration
whether this power of making judgments
final may not properly be given to the
Court; reserving the right Of appeal on
questions of law to the Supreme Court,
with such other provisions as experience
may have shown to be necessary.
[ ask attention to the re port of the
Postmaster General, the following being
a summary statement of the condition of
the Department; The revenue from all
sources during the fiscal year ending June
80, 1861, including the annual permanent
appropriation of 800 900 for the trans.
portation Of free mail matter, was SO, ,049 ).
29e, 40, being almost two per cent. less
than the revenue for 1860. The expendi-
lures were 3,606,7591 Showing a
decrease of more than g per cent as CON-
pared with those of the previous year, and
leaving an excess Of expenditures over the
revenue for the last fiscal year Of 81 ,557,
A62.79. The gross revenue for the yeai
ending June 80. 1863, is estimated at an
increase Of four per cent on that of 1861
making $s,6e3, 900, to which should be
added the earnings of the Department in
carrying free matter, viz i: 800 900, ma.
king S9,3S3 900.
The total expenditures for 1868 are es-
timated at S12 ,52s, 900, leaving an esti.
mated deficiency Of SO, las, 900 to be sup.
piled from the Treasury, in the permanent
appropriation.
The present insurroction shows, think
that the extension of this District across
the Potomac river at the time Of estab
fishing the Capitol here, was eminently
wise, and, consequently, that the relin
quishment Of that portion of it which lies
within the state Of Virginia was unwisC
and dangerous. submit for your con
sideration the expediency of acquiring tha
part of the District and the restoration o.
the origional boundaries thereof through
negotiation with the State of Virginia,
The report Of the Secretary of the in.
terror, with the accompanying documents
exhibits the condition Of the several bran
chos of the public business pertaining t.
that Department. The Oppressive inhueu
ces of the insurrection have been espec
tally felt in the operations Of the Paten
and General Land Offices
The cash receipts from the sale of pub
lie lands during the past year have ex-
ceeded the expenses of our land system on
ly about $500 900. The sales have beel
entirely suspended in tho Southern States
while the interruption of the business 0
the country, and the diversion of larg
NUMBERS Of men to military service have
obstructed settlements in tho new State
aud Territories of the Northwest,
The receipts of the Patent Office hav
declined in nine months about 100000
rendering large reduction Of the fore
employed necessary to make 1t selfssus
tanning
The demands upon the Pension ofia
will be largely increased by the insurres
ton.
Numerous applications for pensions
based upon the oausaltes Of the ezistini
war, have already been made. There
reason to believe that many who are no'
upon the pension roll, and in the receip
of the bounty of the Government, arc il
the insurgent army, or giving them al
and comfort The Secretary of the Int
rior has directed a suspension of the pay
meut of the pensions Of such persons ,upo,
proof of their disloyalty.
I recommend, that Congress authoriz
that officer to cause the names of such pei
sons to be stricken from the pension rolls
The relations of the Government wit
the Indian tribes have been greatly dis
turbed by the insurrection, especially i
tho Southern superin.endenoy aud in th'
, Of New Mexico The Indian eountr
/ south of Kansas is in the possession of Il
insurgents from Texas and Arkansas,
The agents of the United States Co
ernment appointed since the 4th of Marcl
for this superintendency, have been enab
TO reach their coasts, while the most
, those who were in Office before that tim
have espoused the insurrectionary oaui
: and assume, to exercise the poWors of agen
p by virtue of commissions from the insut
; rectionists.
T. 1t has been stated in the public pre-
5 that a portion of these Indians have bee
: organized as a military force and are a
! tached to the army of the insurgents. A
t though the Government has no official il
t formation upon this subject, letters hay
F. been written to the Commissioner of Ii
4 dian Affairs by several prominent Chief
= n;y;nn ,ssuronne of their lovoltv 10 N