Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-12-06

tails occupied bJ Volunteers. This sub
icct was -broughtto my notice and was
Induced to draw W the form of a letter,
one form of which. properly addressed to
each of the persons, and at the dates re-
spectively named and stated in the sched-
lIic containing also the letter, marked A.
and herewith transmitted
Those Generals entered upon the duties
designated, at the times respectively sta
ted in the schedule, and have labored faith
fully therein ever since. ] thercforth rec
emnend that they be compensated at the
same rate as chaplains in the army.
further suggest that general provision be
made for chaplains to serve at hospitals as
we'll as with regiments.
The report of the Secretary Of the Ma
W presents, in detail, the operations Of
that branch of the service, and the actiyi-
ty and energy which have characterized
its administration and the results Of meas
ures to increase its efficiency and power
Such have been the additions by con-
structon and purchase, that it may almost
be said that a navy has been created and
brought into service since our difficulties
commenc ed. Besides blockading cur ex-
tcnslve coast, squadrons larger than ever
before, assembled under our flag, have been
put adoat and performed deeds, which
have increased our naval renown.
wouli invite special attention to the
recommendation Of the Secretary of the
Navy for more perfect organization Of
the Navy, by introducing additional grades
in the service. The present organization
is defective and unsatisfactory, and the
suggestions submitted by the Department
WILL it is believed, if adopted, obviate the
difficulties alluded to, promote harmony,
and increase the efficiency of the Navy.
There are three vacancies on tie bench
Of the Supreme Court. Two by the de-
cease of Justices Daniels and Mclean, and
enc by resignation of Justice Campbell
I have SO far forborne making nominations
to Gil these vacancies, for reasons which !
will now state
Two of the outgoing judges resided
within States now overrun with revolt, SO
that, were successors appointed within the
same localities, they could not serve up
on the circuits and many Of the most com
Te;ert 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 re-
mark, that to transfer to the North
one which has been heretofore in the South
would net, 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 nominal attendance-risingi in
population from 1.470,00 in 1881, to g.
ISL ,405 in 1860.
Besides this the country has generally
outgrown our present judicial system. If
unifcI nifty was at all intended the system
requires that all the States shall be accom-
modated with circuit courts attended by
supreme judges, when in fact, Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Florida, Texas,
California and Oregon have never had any
such court, nor can this be well remedied
without a change of the system, because
the adding Of justices to the supreme court,
enough 70: the accommodation of all parts
of the country with circuit courts, would
create court altogether too dangerous
for a judicial body Of any court, and the
rule of it be ono that viii increase, as new
states come into the union.
Creuit courts are useful or they are not
useful. If useful, no State Should be de-
MED them ; if not useful, no state should
have them. Let them be provided for all
or abolished as to all. Three modlfca-
tions occur to me here, which I think wo' d
be an Improvement upon our present sys-
tenn. r. - .r. ID.
Let the Supreme Court be of sufficient
number in every event. Then first, let
the whole country be divided into circuits
of convenient size, the Supreme Judges to
serve in number of them corresponding
to their number, and independent Circuit
Judges provided for all the rest, Or Sec
ondiy, the Supreme Judges be rested from
Cireuit duties, and Circuit Judges be pro-
videI for all the circuits. Or thirdly,
dispense with Circuit Courts altogether,
leaving the judicial functions wholly to the
district courts, and an independent Su-
preme Court.
I respectfully recommend to the consid-
Grafton of Congress the present condition
of the statute laws, with the hope that
Congress will be able to find an easy rem
edy for the many Inconvenience and evils
which constantly embarrass those engaged
in the practical administration of them.
Since the organization of the govern
meat Congress has enacted some 5000 acts
and joint resolutions, which fill more than
six thousand closely printed pages, and are
scattered through many volumes.
Many Of these acts have been drawn in
haste ard without sufficient caution, so
that their provisions arc often obscure in
themselves, OF in conflict with each other,
or at least so doubtful as to render it very
difficult for the best informed persons to
ascertain precisely what the Statute law
really is.
1t seems to me very important that the
statute law should be made as plain and
as possible, and be reduced to
as small compass as may consist with the
fullness and precision of the legislature
add the perspicacity of its language.
These, we'll done, would greatly facili-
tate the labors of those whose duty it is
to assist in the administration Of the laws,