The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-12-11

benefit to the people by placing before
them, In more acceptable and intelligi-
bic form, the laws which SO deeply concern
their interests and their duties. [ am in
formed by some, whose opinions respect,
that all the acts OF Congress now in force,
and OF permanent and general nature,
might be revised and rewritten, so as to
be embraced in one volume, or, at most in
two volumes, of ordinary and commercial
size, and respectfully recommend to
Congress to consider on the subject, and
if my digestion 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 present insurrection is the entire sup
preston in many places OF all the ordinary
means of administering civil justice by the
officers in the form of existing law. This
is the case in whole or in part in all the
/ insurgcnt States-and as our armies ad-
vance aud take possession of parts of those
States the practical evil becomes more ap>
parent There are no courts nor officers
| to whom the citizens of other States may
apply for the enforcement of their lawful
claims against citizens of the inSurgent
States, and there is vast amount OF debt
constituting such claims some have esti-
mated it as high as $500 900 900, due in
large part from insurgents in open rebel
| lion TO loyal citizens who are even now
making great sacrifices in the discharge of
their patriotic duty to support the Govern
meHt. Under these circumstances, / have
been urgently solicited to establish, by
military power, courts to administer sum
mary Justice, in such cases have thus
far declined to do it, not because | had
any doubt that the end proposed the col
lection of the debts-waS just and right IN
itself, but because | have been unwilling
to go beyond the pressure of necessity In
the unusual exercise of power. But the
powers of Congress, | suppose, are equal
to the anon lous occasion. and, therefore,
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 Territo =
ries as may be under the control of this
Government, whether by voluntary re-
turn to allegiance and order, or by the
power of our arms
This, however, is not to be peEmaneDt
institution, but temporary institute, and
to cease as soon as the ordinary Courts can
be re established in peace. 1t is impor-
tant that some more convenient means
shall be provided, if possible for the ad-
justment of claims against the Gov
ernment, especially in view of their in
creased number, by reason of the war. 1t
is as much the duty of Government to ren
der prompt justice against itself III favor
of citizens, as it is to administer the same
between private individuals. he investi-
CATION and adjudication of claims in their
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 tue 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, 1t, in d
great degree, fails to effect the object of its
creation for want OF the power to make its
judgments fnal 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 report of the
: Postmaster General the following being
, summary statement of the condition of
: the Department The revenue from all
h. g o,,I1r.r I'm
80, 1861, including the annual permanent
appropriation of 800 900 for the trans
portation of free mail matter, was 50 ,O49 )
296, Az, being almost two per cent. less
than the revenue for 500. The expendi-
lures were SI3 606,759 H. Showing a
decrease of more than per cent. as COM
pared with those OF tRe previous yesr, and
leaving an excess of expenditures over the
revenue for the last fiscal year OF 81 ,557,
, 462.79. The gross revenue for the year
ending June 80. 1868, is estimated at an
increase OF four per cent. on that of Iobl
; making 20, ,6S3 900, to which should be
added the earnings of the Department in
carrying free matter, viz S7O0,U0O, ma
king 50 3S3 900.
The total expenditures for 1863 are es-
: timated at sl2 ,52S goo, leaving an esti-
mated deficiency of SO, 45 900 TO be sup
pied from the Treasury IN the permanent
appropriation.
The present insurrection shows, L think,
that the extension of this district acTos:
I 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 unwise
and dangerous. submit for your con-
sideration the eynediency of aconlrlng thai