The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-12-12

: ''Ue' o'iou Vi Oougress tue present coDdl
ton OF the statute law, With the hop,
that Congress will be able to 6nd an cas-,
remedy for many Of the inconvenience
: and evils which constantly embarras
those engaged 10 the practical admins
tration OF them. Since the org ssnisatior
OF the Government. Congress has enacted
some i've tbou-and scis and joint resolu
tlons. which fill more than six thousa nd
closely printed pages, and are scattered
through 1any volumes. Many of these
acts have been drawn 10 haste, and With
out sufficient caution. 80 that their provi-
sions are often obscure 10 themselves. or
In conflict with esch other. or at least 40
doubtful as to render it very difficult for
even the best Informed persons to ascer.
tain precisely what the statute Law really
Is. 1t seems to ne very important that
the statute laws should be made as plain
and in'elligible a. possible. and be re.
duced to as small compass as may con
sist with the fullDess and precision of the
will OF the legislature and the perspicuitJ
of its language. This, well done, would
think. greatly facilitate the lsbors of
those whose duty it is to assist in the ad :
DiDistr alton OF the laws, and would be q
lasting benefit to the people. BY placing
before theU IN a more accessible and in
telligibIe form the laws vhich 20 deeply
concern their interests and their duties.
am informed by some whose opinions
| respect. that all the acts of Cons ress
now In force. and Of permanent and sen,
eral nature. might b. revised aud rewrit-
ten, 20 a. to he embraced 10 one voluue e,
or at least in two volumes. of ordinary
and convenient rize; and | respectfully
recommend to Congress to cpn.iler the
subject. and il NY suggestion be approsed,
to desi-e such pian o. to their wisdom
shall sees most proper for the sttanment
OF the end proposed.
! One of the unsvoid able consequences
OF the present insurrection is the entire
suppression in uaoy places oil all the
ordinary means of ad Dini,tering civil JUS
tice By the officer, 10 the form OF existing
law. Thi- Is the case 10 whole or in part
in all the io-urgent States. and as our
armies advance upon sod take possession
OF parts OF those States the practical evil
becomes uore aud more apparent There
are no court nor oficeI- to whom the cit
izeus of other State. may apply tor the
enforcement of their lawful claim. sgsinst
citizens Of the insurgent States. and there
is vast amount Of debt con- titutiDg -ucb
claims; soUe have esti sted it as high as
$500 900 600, due 10 large part from in
surgents in open rebellion to loyal citizens
who are even now making great sacrifices
in the di-cbsrge of their patriotic duty to
support the Government Under these
circu Dsta Dces. have been urgently soli
cited to establish. by military power,
courts to administer summary justice in
such cases
have thus far declined to do it. not
because | had any doubt that the end pro
po-ed--the collection Of the debts-was
just aud ri. BIT in itself. tut because have
been unwilling to 90 beyond the pressure
of necessity 10 the unusual exercise OF
power But the powers of Congress. |
suppose, are equal to the anon aous oc.
ca-ion. and therefore. | refer the whole
IN natter to Congress, With the hope that
plan may be devised for the sd miuistrs-
ton of justice 10 all such parts of the iu-
surgent States and Territories IS may be
under the control of this Government,
whether by voluntary return to allegi
ance and order. OF by the power of our
arms.
This, however, is not to be permanent
institution, but ten porary substitute, and
to cease as soon a. the ordinary Courts
can be re established IN peace. 1t Is i'm
portant that ,ome more convenient means
shall be provided. if possible, for the sd
justusnt OF claims again-t the Govern
ment. especially in view of their increased
plumber. by reason OF the var. 1t is As
much the duty OF Go'ernment to render
prompt justice sgain,t itself 10 favor OF
citizens, az it is to administer the same
between private individuals.
The insesti. alton aud adjudication of
clsius 10 their nature beloug to the judi
cial department. Besides, it is apparent
that the atteution Of Congress will be
uore than u-eslly ems aged for soue time
to come with great National questions. -
1t was intended by the organization of
the Court Of CLAIMS mainly to remove
this branch of tu.i0es- from the halls OF
Congress; hut while the Court has proved
to be an effective aud vslusble OraDs of
iDve-tigatIon. it. iu great degree. fails to
eff ct the object Of it, creation. for want
Of the power to make IT. judeme ats final
Fully aware OF the delisacy, not to say
the danger of the subject | commend to
YOUR careful coDsiderstioD whether this
power OF akins Judgment final may not
properly be gwen to the Court, resersing
the xht of appeal on questions of Law
to the Supreme Court. with such other
provision, az experience Usy have shown
to be necessary.
| ask attention to the report OF the Post
m aster General. the followi"g. being
summary statement of the condition OF the
Department. The revenue from all sour