Nebraska advertiser., 1861-12-05

TIE best informed persons to ascertain precise
~ what the statute law really is. 1t seems
to me very important that the statute law
should be made as plain and ineligible as
possible, and be reduced TO as small a compass
as NAV consist with the ~fullness and p~recifiou
of the will Of the legislature and the perspic-
uity OF Its language. These well none would
1 think, greatly facilitate the Iabors Of those
whose duty it is he assist in the administration
of the laws, and would be a lasting benefit to
the people by placing before them in a more
accessible and inteliigible form the laws which
so deeply concern their interests and their du-
ties. l AM informed by some, whose opinions
l respect, that all the acts of Congress now in
force and of permanent and general nature,
might be revised and rewritten so as 70 be
embraced in one volume, or at least tho vol
umcS of ordinary and convenient size, and /
respectfully recommend to Congress to con-
slider the subject, and if my suggestion be APP
proved, to devise such a ptan as to their wis
dom shall seem most proper for the attain
nent Of the emp proposed.
One Of the unfauorable consequences of the
present instruction IS the entire suppression
in ma ny places of all ordinary means of ad-
ministering civil justice by the officers, and in
the forms of existing Law. This is the case
whole or in part, in all the insurgen! States,
and as our armies advance upon and take pos
session of parts-of those States, the practical
evil becomes more apparent. There arm no
courts or officers to whom the citizens of OF her
Safes may apply for the enforcement of their
lawful claims against citizens Of the insurgent
States and there is a vast amount Of debt
constituting such claims. Some have eStima-
ted il as high as $2QJ,O00,0U0 due in large
part from insurgents in open rebellion, to loyal
citizens, who are even now making great sac
rigces in the discharge of their patriotic duty
to support the government
Under these circumstances / have been ur-
gently solicited to institute. by military pow
or, courts to administer summary justice in
such cases. l have thus far declined to do il,
not because | have had any doubts that the
end proposed-the collection of the debt-was
Just and right in itself, but because l have
been unwilling to go beyond the pressure of
necessity in the unusual exercise of power
but the powers of Congress, l suppose, are
equal to the anomalous, and therefore l refer
the whole matter to Congress, with the hope
that some plan may be devised for the admin
~istration of justice in all such parts of the in
surgent States and territories as may be I'M
der control of the government, whether by a
voluntary return to allegiance and order, or by
the power of our arms. This, however, is
not to be a permanent institution, but a tenn
porary substitute, and to cease as soon as the
ordinary court can be re-established in peace.
1t is important that some more convenient
means should be provided, if possible, for the
adjustment of claims against the government,
especially, in view of their increased number
by reason OF the war. 1t is as much the duty
of the government to render prompt justice
against itself in favor Of It's citizens, as it is to
administrate the same between private indi-
viduals. The Investigation and adjudication
of all claims in their nature belonging to the
judicial department besides, it 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, MAN.
" 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 eff
feet the object Of its creation for want of pow
er to make It's judgements final. Fully aware
85f The delh.acy, not to say the danger of the
subject, I commend to your careful corsidera-
ton whether the powerOfmaking judgements
final may not be properly given to the court,
r~eserying the right of appeal on questions of
law to the Supreme Court. with such other
provisions as experience may have shown to
be necessary.
l ask attention to the report of the Post
master General, the following being a sum-
mary statement of the condition of the depart
ment. The revenue from all sources during
the fiscal year ending 20th June, 1861, incIu-
ding the annual permanent appropriation of
$4,000 for the transportation of mail matter
was S9,O49, 296 40, being about two per cent
less than the revenue of 1860. The expend-
itures were SIS, sc, 7O9 IL, showing decrease
of more than eight per cent as compared 18th
those of tie previous; and leaving an. excess
of expenditures over the revenue of the last
zeal year Of over S5,557 1852 Il. The,
gross revenue for the year ending June Both
1863, is estimated at an increase of four per
cent on that of 1861, making $8,683, O09; to
which should be added the earnings of the
department for carrying free matter, viz; $500
OOO-making S9,182,O00. The expenditure
for 1868 are estimated at 1925, 900, leaving
an estimated deficiency of SO ,345,OO0 to be
supplied from the Treasury, In addition to the
permanent appropriations.
The present instruction shows, | think,
that the extension of this district across the
Potomac river at the time of establishing the
river here, was eminently wise, and conse-
ouentlv that the REIMBURSEMENT of that por-
ton of it which IS in Virginia, was unwise
and dangerous. l submit for your consider:
alton the expediency of regaining the original
boundaries through negotiations with the
State of Virginia,
The report of the Secretary of the Interior
With the accompanying documents, exhibit
the condition of the several branches of pub
lie business pertaining to that Department.
The depressing influences of the insurrection
have been especially felt in the operations of
the Patent and General Land Office. The re-
ceipts from the sales of public lands during
the last year, have exceeded the expenses
of our land system only about $2O0,0O0.-
The sales hove been entirely suspen ded In
the Southern Staaes, while the interruption
of the business of the country. and the d.
Aersion of large numbers of men from labe.
to military service, has INSTRUCTED settlements
in the new States and Territories of the north
west.
The receipts Of the patent Office have de-
clined in nine months about one hundred thou
sand dollars, rendering a large reduction of
the force employed necessary to make 1t SELF
sustaining. The demands upon the pension
o. nE.a- LII l. - 49, AhaT IN