The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-12-13

PoTtahce 10 his recommendation for increasing
the corps OF cadets 10 the greatest capacity OF
I the military academy. By mere omission,
presume, Congress has failed to provide chap
lainS Tor hospitals 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 deliver
ed 10 each Of The persons, and at the dates re-
Spectlveiy named, and stated in a schedule COZ
tanning also the form of the letter marked A,
and herewith transmitted. These gentlemen,
understand, entered upon the duties designated
al the Time respectively stated in the schedule,
and have labored faithfully therein ever since,
anu therefore recommend that they be compen-
sated at the same rate as chapIains in the army, g.,
and further suggest that general provision be
made Tor chaPlalns TO serve at hospitals as well
as with regiments.
Inc report OF the Secretary of tie Navy
presents IN detail the operations of that branch
ol the service, the activity and energy which
nave characterized its administration, and the
results OF measures TO increase its efficiency and
power. Such have been the additions, By con-
structIon and purchase that IT NAV almost be
SAID navy has been created and brought into
service since our difficulties commenced. Re-
sides blockading our extensive coast, souadrons
larger than ever before assembled under our fac
have been put ahoat, and performed deeds
which have increased our naval renown.
would invite special attention to the re-
commendation of the Secretary for more per-
feet organization of the navy, by introducing
additional grades in The service. The present
organization is detective and unsatisfactory. and
the suggestions submitted 6v :he department
will, it is believed if adopted, obvIate the diff
cutIes alluded to; promote harmony, and in
crease the efficiency of the navy.
There are three vacancies on the bench of
the Supreme Court, two by the deceasp Of Jus,
nces Daniel and Mclean and one by the resig-
nation Of Justice Campbell. I have so far for
borne making nomi nations to FIJI these vacan-
cies, for reasons which | will now state Two
OF the outgoing Judges resided within the States
now overrun by revolt, so that if successors
were appointed in the same localities they could
not now serve upon their circuits, and many of
the most competent men there probably would
not take the personal hazard of accepting TO
serve even here upon the Supreme Bench. |
mehis Northward, thus disabling myself from
doing Justice to the South on the return of peace
although I 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,
hrs circuit grew into an empire, although too
large for any one Judge TO give the courts there
IN more than nominal attendance, arising in
population from one million four hundred and
Seventv-fve thousand and eighteen in 1880, to
, six millions one hundred and fity-one thousand
four hundred and FIVE in 1860. Besides this
the country generally has outgrown our present
judiciary.
If uniformity was at all intended, the system
requires that all the States shall be accomoda-
ted with Circuit Courts, attended BY Supreme
Judges while, in fact, Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Iowa, Kansas, Florida, Texas, California and
Oregon have never had any such Courts Nor
can this we'll be remedIed without change OF
the system, because the adding of Judges to the
Supreme Court, enough for the accommodation
of ali parts o! the country with Circuit CoDts,
would create q Court altogether too numerous
for judicial body OF any sort-and the evil of
it IS which will increase as new States come
into the Union. Circuit ConrtS, too are useful
or they are not useful. IF useful, no State
should be denied them. IF not useful, no State
should have them. Let them be provided for
all, or abolished as TO all. Three notifications
occur to me, eth Of which. I think, would be
an Improvement on our present system Let
The Supreme Court be- Of convenient number in
every event then lst, let the whole country
be divided into Circuits OF convenient size, the
Supreme Judges 10 serve 10 number OF them
corresponding to their own number, and inde-
pendent Circuit Judges be provided for all the
rest or, secondly, let the Supreme Judges be
relieved from Circuit duties, and Circuit Judges
provided for all the Circuits or, thirdly DIS
penss with Circuit Courts altogether, leaving
the judicial function wholly TO the District
Courts and an independent Supreme Court
| respectfully recommend TO the consid-ra-
ton of Congress the. present condition of the
statute laws with the hope that Congress will be
able to find an easy remedy for many ofthe in
conveIences and evils which constantly embar-
rass those engaged in the practical admnIstra-
ton of them. Since the organization of the
government. Congress has enacted some five
thousand acts and joint resolutions, which will
fill more than six thousand closely printed pa
ges, and are scattered through MANY volumes
MANY Of the acts have been drawn in and with
the suifcI ent caution, so that their provision
are often obscure in themselves or in conflict
with each other, or at least SO doubtful as to
render it very difficult for even the best
informed person to ascertain precisely what the
statute law really is. 1t seems to very
important that the statute laws should be made
as PLAIN and intelIigIble as possible, and be re-
duced TO as small compass as may consist
with the fullness and precision of the will
of The Legislature, and the perspicuitv of ITS
language. This, we'll done, would, think,
greatly facilitate the Iabors of those whose duty
! i is TO assist in the administration of the laws,
and would be fasting benefit to the people by
placing before them in more accessible and