The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-09-29
THE COURT OF CLAIMS.

This court meets at the Capitol two week.
from to-day, on October II, AFTER a vacation
since June last. Its regular term, as fixed
by law, Is on the first Monday in December
The present Is but n continuation Of Its last
December term.
The labor performed by this court Is al
most unknown, except by those brought in
Immediate contact with IL. 1t has tried and
decided during the present term 100 cases,
Of which IS were decided for the claimants
and n for the United States. There have
been Al cases appealed to the Supreme Court,
some by the claimants and some by the Uni
ted States. When it is remembered that the
judges sit as jurors to try questions Of fact
as well as Judges to try questions Of law;
that all causes are heard upon dispositions,
the number and amount Of which swell the
record sometimes into large volume, and
that every decision must be given In the
form Of written opinion, which is printed
In the official reports of the court, this labor
will become apparent.
The dignity and ability of the members OF
the court, and the magnitude Of the cascs
tried. have raised this court 10 q position but
little inferior In importance to that Of the
Supreme Court. Expected to do Justice to
the claimants, and at the same time protect
the interests Of the Government to do their
duty In the disbursement OF the money
placed at their command, aud at the same
time satisfy Congress, they arc placed in an
embarrassing position, from which they can
and have only extricated themselves by the
greatest ability, the most unceasing labor
and the strictest and most upright integrity
The establishment of Court OF Claims |,
proper cause of congratulation among
those who may have dealings with the Gov
eminent. 1t gives greater confidence In the
integrity OF the Governmeut-afrords greater
security for the payment Of honest claims
and greater certainty OF the detection OF
dishonest ones. Every man is better salts
Hcd in conducting his business with tho Gov
eminent to know that he can present his
claim before q judicial tribunal, and have 1t
adjudlcated upon tho same principles as are
applied between private individuals, before
the same courts and with the same rights
of appeal, &C., &c.
kNSb blSabSi SOhhuNuNS AlA bhS
mept 10 know that those having DEALING
with it will not be compelled to await tn
delays and depend upon the decision of a
irresponsible departmental oflcer-irrcspor
sible because the responsibility is SO divide
among tho various officers and department
as to leave only a modicum for each one
who Is at once the representative Of the de-
PENDANT and the Judge who decides the case
and from whose decision there Is no appea
except to Congress, where the responsibility!
is yet more divided; for an instance Of which
witness tho action of the Senate upon tb,
treaty with Denmark for the purchase Of thu
island Of St. Thomas.
There is nothing which makes man &
well satisfied with defeat as that he has la
an opportunity TO meet his antagonist on
fair field, aud put forth his entire power
opposition to him. This opportunity is a
forded In the Court of Claims unto clair
ants against the United States, while, If
feated in the Departments, he always fee
that II he had been afforded = fair chance |
would have been victorious.