Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-12-12

some W nose OplniOn respect, tnaV Hll ehC
acts Of Congress now in force, and of per
manent and general nature, might be revised
and rewritten, so as to be embraced in one
volume, or, at most, in two volumes, of ordi~
nary and commercial size, and / respectful lly
recommend to CONGRESS to consider on the
subject, and if my suggestion be approved to
devise such plan as TO their wisdom shall
seem most proper for the attainment OF the
end proposed.
One of the unavoidable Consequences of the
insurrection is the entire suspension, IN
many places, of all the ordinary means CT
administering civil justice by the officers anc
the forms of existing law This is the case
in whole, or in part, in the insurgent States,
and ss our armies advance and take possess
ion of parts of those States, it becomes more
apparent.
There are no courts or officers to which the
citisens of other States may apply for the en-
forcement Of their lawful claims against the
citizens of the insurgent States, and their
vast amount of debt. constituting such claims
some have estimated at two hundred million
of dollars due, the large part from insurgents
in open rebellion, to loyal citizens who are
even now making great sacrifices in the dis
charge of their patriotic duty to support the
Government
Under these circumstances I have been -ur-
gently solicited to establish by military pow
er Courts to 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 the debts, was just
and right in itself, but because have been
unwilling to go beyond the pressure of ne
cessity, in the unusual exercise of power. -
But the powers of Congress, | suppose, are
eqnal to the anomalous occasion. and there
fore refer the whole matter to Congress with
the hope that plan may be devised for the
administration of justice in all such parts of
the insurgent States and territories as may
be under the control of this Government,
wither by voluntary return to allegiance
and order, or by the power of our arms
This, heweveI, not to be permanent lnstl>
tuition, but temporary substitute, and to
as soon as the ordinary courts Can be es-
tablisbed in Ieace. 1t is important that
some more convenient means should be pro-
vided, if possible, for the adjustment of
claims against the Government, especially in
view oftheir increased number by reason of
the war
1t is as mach the duty Of Government to
render prompt justice against itself in favor
of citizens, as it is to administer the same
between private ipdividuals-the iDvestiga-
ton and adjudication OF claims ia their hands
belong to the judicial department Besides,
il is apparent that the attention of Congress
will be more than usually engaged 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 the business from the Halls OF
Congress But while the Court has proved
to be an effective and valuable means of in
vestigation. it fails in great degree to effect
the object of its creation for want of power to
make it's judgments final. Fully aware OF
the delicacy, not to cay the danger, OF this
subject commend TO your careful consider
alton whether this power of making judg-
ments final may not properly be given TO the
Court, reserving the right of appeal on ques-
tons 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 Post
master General, the following being a sum-
mary statement of that Department The
revenue from all sources during the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1861 including the an
ual permanent appropriation of seven hun
dred thousand dollars for the transportation
of free mail matter, nine millions, forty nine
thousand two hundred aud ninety-six and
forty cents, being about TIVE per cent. less
than the revenue.
For 1860, the expenditures were SAB sos,
$50 IL, showing a decrease of more than
eight per cent, as compared with those of
the present year, and leaving an excess of
expenditures over the revenue for the last 6s-
cal year, of 81 557 462 II. The gross rev.
enue for the year ending June Both. 1868, is
estimated at an increase of tour per cent, up
on that of 1861. making So 683 900, tc
which should be added the earnings Of the
Department ia carving free matter, viz !:
$700, 900. making SO, ,383,000 The total ex-
penditures for 1863 are estimated at Sl2, $50,
900, leaving an estimated deficiency of three
millions one hundred and forty FIVE thous
and dollars to be supplied from the Treasu
~, in addition to the permanent appropria
tions.
The present insurrection shows, | think,
that the extention Of this district across the
Potomac river art the time of establishing the
Capital here was eminently wise, and conse-
quently that the REIMBURSEMENT OF that por~
ton of which lies within the State OF Vir-
ginia was unwise and dangerous. | submit
for your consideration the expediency of re-
gaining that part of the district, and the
restoration of the original boundaries there
of, through negotiations with the State of
Virginia.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior,
with the accompanying documents, exhibits
the condition of the several branches of the
public service (P and 81 pertaining to that
Department. The depressing influences of
the insurrection have been especially felt in
the operations of the Patent and General
Land Offices.
The cash receipts from the sales of public
lands during the past year have exceeded the
expenses of our land system only about two
hundred thousand dollars. The sales lave
been entirely suspended in the Southern
States, while the interruption to the business
of the country and the diversion of large
numbers of men from labor to military SER
vice, have obstructed settlements of the new
States and Territories of the Northwest.
The receipts of the Patent Office have des
clined in nine months about 800 900, rem
dering large deduction of the force en-
ployed necessary to make it self sustaining.
The demands upon the Pension Office will
be largely increased by the insurrection.
Numerous applications for pensions, based
upon the casualties of the existing war,
have already been made. There is reason to
believe that many who are now upon the
pension rolls, and in receipt of the bounty of
the Government, are in the ranks Of the in