, 1861-12-04


By mere omission, presume, Congress has
failed to provide Chaplains for the hospitals
occupied BY volunteers. This subject was
brought to my notice, and WAS induced to
draw up the form Of letter, one copy Of which
properly addressed to each Of the persons and
at the dates respectively named and statcd in
schedule containing also the form Of the let
ter, marked "A,'' md herewith transmitted.
These gentlemen, understand, entered upon
the duties designated at the times respectfully
stated in the schedule, and have laboEed faith
fully therein ever since. 1 therefore recon-
mend that they be compensated at the same
ratc as Chaplaills in the army. I further sugg-
gest that general provision be made for Chap
lalns to serve at hospitals, as weH lis with regi-
ments
Nayy presents in detail tho opera
tions Of that branch of the service,
and the activity and energy which have char
acterlzed its administration and the results Of
measures to increase its efficiency and power.
Such have been the additions, by construction
and purchase, that it may almost be said
navy las been created and brought into service
since our difficulties commenced. Besides
blochadlng our extensive coast, squadrons
larger than ever before assembled under our
flag hare been put afleat and have performed
deeds which have Increased Our naval renown.
would invite spccllattentlonto to the rccommeT-
dation OF the Secretary Of the Navy for more
perfect organization Of the navy By introduc-
ing additional grades in the service. The
present organization is defective and unsatis-
factory, and the suggestions submitted by the
Department.wlll. it is believed, if adopted, OBJ
yiate the difficulties alluded to, promote har-
n1ony, and increase the efficiency Of The navy.
REORGANIZATION OF TIRE SUPREME COURT
There are three vacancies on the bench Of
the Supreme Court, two By the deeease Of
Justices Daniel and Mclean, and one by
the resignation Of Justice Campbell. I have
SO far forborne making nominations to
fill 1thcse vacancies, for reas ons which Twill now
state. Two Of the outgoing judges resided
within the States now 0rcrrun by revolt, so
that If successors were appointed in the same
localities, they could not serve upon their cir
cnits, and many Of the most con1petent men
there probably would not take the personal
hazard Of accepting to serve even here upon
the Supreme Bench. have been unwilling to
throw all the appointments northward, thus
disabling myself from doing justice to the
South On the return Of peace, although
MAY remark that to transfer to the North
one which has heretofore been in the South,
would not, with reference to territory and
population, be unjust. During the long and
brilliant Judicial career Of Judge Mclean, his
circuit grew into IN empire altogether too
large for any one Judge to give the Courts
therein more than nominal attendance, rising
in population from 1,47Oo00 in 1851, to
6,151 ,405 in 1860. Besides this, the coun-
try has generally outgrown our present
judicial system. # uniformity was ut all
the States shall be accommodated with
Circuit Courts, attended By Supreme
Judges, willie in fact Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Iowa, Kansas, Florida, Texas, California and
Oregon have never had any such courts. Nor
can tlis be well rcmedicd without i change Of
the system, because the adding Of Justices to
the Supreme Court enough for the accommo-
dation of all parts Of the country with Circuit
Courts, would create Court altogether too
dangerous for judicial body OF any
sort, and the evil Of it be enc that will
increase as new States come into the Union.
full. Ii useful, no State should be denied them;
ifnot useful, no State should have them. Let
them be provided for Ill or abolished rs to
all. Three notifications occur to me here,
which I think would be an improvement upon
our present system. Let the Supreme Court
be Of convenient number III every event; then,
first let the whole country be divided into Cir
cults OF convenient size, the Supreme Judges
| to serve in i numDrr of them corresponding
to their own number, and independent Circuit
Judges be provided for all the rest OF, second
| II, the Supreme Judges be relieved from Cir
cult duties and Circuit Judges be provided for
all the Circuits; OF. thirdly, dispense with
Circuit Courts altogether, leaving the Judicial
function wholly to the District Courts and an
independent Supreme Court.
COD1FT1SG TIE NATIONAL LAWS.
respectfully recommend to the considera,
| tion Of Congress the present condition ot
The statute laws, with the hope that Con
remedy for the many ineonveniencics and
evils which constantly embarrass those CIT
gagged in the practical administration of them.
| Since the organization of the Government
| Congress has enacted some 5000 acts and joini
resolutions, which fill more than 6,OOO closely
| n nj arne :,
| volumes. Many Of these acts have been drawI
| in hustc and without sufficient caution, so thai
| their provisions arc often obsure in themselves
Or in conflict With each other, and at least sc
doubtful as to render it very dificul
for even the best informed persons tt
Law really is. It seem ito me very i'm
| portant thai the Statute law should be made rs
| plain and Ineligible as possible, and be re
| duced to as smalla compass as may be consist
cnt with tlie fullncss and precision Of the vii
Of the Legislature, and the perspicuity Off
language. These we'll done, would, think
| greatly facilitate the labors Of those whose du
ty ii is to assist in the administration Of TIL
laws, and would be a lasting benefit t.
the people, by placing before them il
| q more accessible and more intcl1igfbl
form the laws which SO deeply concern thei
Interests and their duties. l am informed b,
some whose opinions respect, that all th'
acts Of Congress now in force, and Of i perma
ncnt and general nature, might bc revised AMI
rewritten SO as to be embraced in one volume
or at least two volumes, of ordinary and con
venIcnt size, and respectfully recommend tt
Congress to consider the subject, and if m.
| suggestion be approved, to devise such plal
as to their wisdom shall seem most proper 70
the attainment OF the end proposed
MILITARY COURT FOR TILE SOUTH.
One Of the unfayorab1c consequences Of III
present insuErcction, is the entire suppression
in many places Of all ordinary means Of admin
istcTing civil justice by the officers, and in til
forms of existing law. This is the case in Who'll
or In part in ill tho fnsnrgent States; and a
our armies advance upon and take possession
Of parts Of these States, the practical evil be
comes more apparent. There are no courts 0
officers TO whom the citizens Of other State
may apply for the enforcement Of thei
lawful Claims against citizens c
Some have estimated it as high as zoo, 900 90
dollars, due in large part from insurgents l.
open rebellion TO loya1 citizens, who are eve
now making great sacrifices in the discharg
OF their patriotic duty to support tue Cover
mcnt. Under these circumstances haE
been urgently solicited to establish by mil
tary power, courts to administer su1nma1
Justice in such cases. l have thus far dt
clined to do it, not because I had an
deuht that the end proposed-the co1lectio
Of debt-Tas just and right III itself, but bt
| cause I have been unwilling to 30 beyon
the pressure Of necessity in the unusual excl
else Of power. But the powers Of Congress
suppose, gre equal to the anomalous occs
sion, and therefore I refer the whole matter
Congress with the hope that plan may b
all such parts OF the insurgent States and Tel
rItoriee rs may be under, the control of thi
Government, whether by Il voluntary return
allegiance and order, or By the power of or