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

the Military Academy.
By mere omission, presume, Congress
has failed to provide Chaplains for hospi-
tails occupied by volunteers. This subject
was brought to my notice, and | was in
duced to draw up the form of letter, one
copy of which, properly addressed. has
been delivered to each of the persons, and
at the dates, respectively named, stated in
a schedule containing also the form of the
letter (letter marked A } and herewith
transmitted.
The gentlemen l understood entered
upon the duties designated at the dunes re-
spectively stated in the schedule aud have
labored faithfully there ever since. l
therefore recommend that they be compen-
sated at the same rate as Chap aims in the
Army, further suggesting that general pro
vision be made for Chaplains TO serve at
Hospitals as well as with regiments. The
report of the Secretary of the Navy pre-
sents in detail be operations of that branch
of the service, the activity and energy
which have characterized its administra-
ton and the results of the measures TO in
crease its efficiency and power.
Such have been the additions by con
struction and purchase, that it may almo st
be said Navy has been created and
brought into service since our difficulties
commenced. Besides blockading our ex-
tensive coast, squadrons larger than ever
before assembled under our flag, have
been put afoat and performed deeds which
have increased our naval renown.
would invite special attention to the
\ af ba
more perfect organization of the Navy, by
introducing additional grades in the SER
vice. The present organization is defect
i've and unsatisfactory and the suggestions
submitted by the Department Will, it is be-
lieved, if adopted, obviate the difficulties
alluded to, promote harmony and increase
the efficiency of the Navy.
There are three vacancies on the bench
of the Supreme Court two by the decease
OF Justices Daniel and Mclean, and oEe
by the resignation of Justice Campbell
have so far forberne making nominations
to ill these vacancies for reasons which l
will now state Two OF the outgoing Judges
resided within the States now overrun by
revolt, so that if their successors were ap-
pointed in the same localities, they could
not now serve upon their circuit, and ma
! I Y of the most competent men there proba-
bly, would not take the personal hazard of
accepting to serve, even here, upon the
Supreme Bench. l 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 20 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 an empire altogether too large for
any one Judge to give the Courts therein
more than a nominal attendance, rising in
population from I,470,0lS in 1880, to
! 6,l5I, ,4O5 in 1860. Besides this, the
country generally has outgrown our pres
ent judicial system. If uniformity was at all
intended, the system requires that all the
States shall be accommodated with Circuit
Courts attended by Supreme Judges while
in fact Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kan
sas, Florida, Texas, California and Ore
gon have never had any such Courts
Nor can this well be remedied, without
\ a change OF the system, because the add
ing of Judges to the Supreme Court enough
for the accommodating of al parts OF the
country with Circuit Courts, would create
/ d Court altogether too numerous for a ju-
I dicial body of any sort Aud the evil If i
be one, will increase as new States come
into the Union. Circuit Courts are usefu
or theY are not useful 1t useful, no STATE
should be denied them. Ii not useful, AC
State should have them. Let them b
provided for all, or abolished by all.
Three notifications occur to me, either
of which / think would be an improve
ment upon our present system. Let the
Supreme Court be of convenient number
in any event. Then, first, let the whole
country be divided into circuits of conven-
lent size, the Supreme Judges to serve IL
number of them corresponding to thell
own number, and independent Circul
Judges be provided for all the rest; or
secondly, let the Supreme Judges be re-
lieved from Circuit duties, and Circus
Judges provided for all the Circuits or
thirdly, dispense with the Circuit Courts
altogether, leaving the Judicial functions
wholly to the District Court and an inde
pendent Supreme Court.
respectfully recommend TO the con
sideration of Congress the present condi
ton of the Statute Laws, with the hops
that Congress will be able to find an easy
remedy for many of the Inconvenience
and evils which constantly embarrass those
engaged in the practical administration o
them. Since the organization OF Govern
ment, Congress has enacted some tiv'
thousand actsand joint resolutions which I'll
more than six thousand closely printed pa
ges, and are scattered through many vol
umes,